Roma Pushing for Peres... Again?

This isn’t a new rumor to say the least, as a quick perusal of the CdT archives shows not one, not two, but FIVE articles dedicated to a potential transfer of the Brazilian to the Capitoline side, but there’s obviously a lot of good sense behind this rumor. The right-back is 26, nearing his prime as a defender, and if there’s anyone that can fill the cleats left behind by Maicon Douglas Sisenando, it’s Peres. In 30 appearances last year for il Toro, Squawka shows that he had zero defensive errors, 32 chances created, and a mouth-watering three dribbles per ninety minutes. In short, he would fill a long-existing gap in Roma’s defense, and not just as a stop-gap.

If this transfer actually materializes, it would also give Roma more flexibility when deciding where to play utility man Alessandro Florenzi. He’s been primarily played as a right-back for the past two years to a certain degree of success, but many Romanisti are more interested in seeing the Roman elsewhere on the pitch, potentially as a midfielder or winger. Time will tell what such a transfer would mean for Florenzi, but his role in the squad is certainly the most likely to change if Peres begins to ply his wares at Italy’s other Olimpico.

With regards to the veracity of this rumor, I’m going to refer to a classic George W. Bush line:

There’s an old saying in Tennessee, I know it’s in Texas, it’s probably in Tennessee, that says "Fool me once, shame on... shame on you. You fool me, you can’t get fooled again."

I would be thrilled if this transfer ever came to fruition. Yet I’m extremely hesitant to even consider a Bruno Peres rumor a rumor anymore. Roma has been linked to him for so long that there must be definite interest, but until Torino either lowers their price (rumored to be around €20 million) or Walter Sabatini & Co. decide to pay up, that’s all this is going to be: definite interest. Perhaps Luciano Spalletti’s success in the second half of last season will finally get this deal done. Call me when it happens.