Where Are They Now: Roma Loanee Mid-Season Report Card

Ezequiel Ponce, F Granada (Liga BBVA)

Ponce chose to be number nine upon his arrival to Spain, but he certainly hasn’t been playing like one. One of Roma’s most talented prospects, Ponce has only scored one goal this season and is averaging just two shots per match.

Moreover, the Argentinian wonder-kid is struggling to get playing time as of late. After starting nearly every match in the beginning of the season, Ponce was left on the bench or in the stands for three straight matches. He recently returned to playing, albeit in a substitute role.

Grade: F

Federico Ricci, W Sassuolo (Serie A)

Ricci began the season on the bench with the neroverdi, however he’s been starting lately due to injuries to both Domenico Berardi and Matteo Politano. The former Italy U21 international has put in a string of decent performances in the absence of both wingers, scoring his first two goals of the season in the last five matches.

Ricci is averaging one shot per match, one cross per match, one key pass made per match, one dribble completed per match, and two tackles made per match this season. While these numbers are in no way eye-popping, Ricci was thrust into a starting role out of necessity and has been serviceable; it’ll be interesting to see where he is in the pecking order in January when Berardi and Politano return from injury.

Grade: B-

Daniele Verde, W Avellino (Serie B)

Verde struggled to start the season, but has experienced a bit of a renaissance recently. The former Italy U21 international has two goals and an assist in his last three matches. He now has four goals and one assist in 14 league appearances this season.

If Verde can have a strong second half of the season, his development will be somewhat back on track following poor loan spells at Frosinone and Pescara last year. Although he’s not exactly on Roma manager Luciano Spalletti’s radar right now, Verde could conceivably convince a lower tier Serie A club to take a chance on him again next year, which he could then use as a potential springboard to the first team.

Grade: B

Lukasz Skorupski, G Empoli (Serie A)

Skoruspki has been sensational so far this season, keeping seven clean sheets in 16 league appearances. The Polish international now has the most clean sheets in Serie A. He’s also made 68 saves, which is the third most in the league.

‘Super Skorupski’ as he’s sometimes called, is averaging four saves per match, and has a clean sheet in two out of his last three matches. If he keeps up his play in the second half of the season, Skorupski could force his way into Roma’s goalkeeper conversation next summer. As good as Wojciech Szczesny has been this season, it would be unlikely that Roma would want to buy him permanently with Skorupski and Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson already under contract.

Grade: A+

Iago Falque, W Torino (Serie A)

Falque has been one of the best wingers in Serie A thus far, scoring eight goals and recording three assists en route to delivering three man of the match worthy performances in 14 league appearances this season.

The Spanish international is averaging two shots per match, two key passes made per match, and three long balls made per match. Roma could certainly use Falque right about now with Mohamed Salah departing for Africa Cup Of Nations soon.

Grade: A+