AS Roma are weighing up a move for Raphael Guerreiro, the Portuguese left-back who departed Bayern Munich at the end of June after three seasons in the Bundesliga. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini sees the Euro 2016 winner as a solution to strengthen his squad's defensive depth ahead of the new Serie A campaign.
Guerreiro, 31, has been without a club since leaving the Bavarian outfit on a free transfer. Bayern's sporting director Max Eberl praised the defender's professionalism, noting he "could always be relied upon on the pitch, and characters like him enrich every dressing room." Over his three seasons at the Allianz Arena, Guerreiro made 29 appearances last term, contributing six goals and three assists, though persistent muscle injuries limited his availability throughout his tenure.
Roma's Left-Back Dilemma
Roma's interest stems from a genuine tactical need. Gasperini currently has only Morocco international Anass Salah-Eddine available at left-back, forcing the coach to deploy Brazilian winger Wesley on the flank during Roma's dominant opening fixtures—commanding 4-0 victories over both Fiorentina and Lecce using a back-three formation. Guerreiro's versatility could provide the Italian club with multiple solutions across the left side of defence, midfield, and attacking roles.
The Portuguese defender's journey since departing Munich has been circuitous. Summer reports linked him with Bayer Leverkusen as a successor to Alejandro Grimaldo, while Portuguese champions Benfica expressed interest. Neither materialised. AC Milan briefly considered Guerreiro as a potential replacement for Pervis Estupiñán, but that opportunity evaporated when the Colombian's proposed move to Aston Villa collapsed.
A move to Serie A would represent Guerreiro's next chapter after eight years in Germany, where he earned 69 caps for Portugal and became a cornerstone of Borussia Dortmund's midfield before his 2023 switch to Bayern. Roma's pursuit could finally provide clarity on where the experienced defender will spend the final years of his career.
