AS Roma's signing of Jayden Oosterwolde has hit an unexpected snag, with the club delaying his registration after medical tests raised fresh concerns about a muscle injury that has kept the Dutch defender out for several weeks.
What had looked like a formality turned tense on Monday. Oosterwolde landed in the city to a welcome from around twenty fans who gathered at Ciampino airport for photos and autographs before he was taken straight to the Campus Biomedico for his medical.
The physical tests did not go as planned, and as the hours passed, concern grew inside the club: the muscle problem, already known to Roma before his arrival, appears more serious than expected, with surgery even raised as a possibility.
As a result, Roma have put his registration on hold and requested further assessments, with Oosterwolde due to undergo more detailed examinations before the club decides whether to proceed with signing him from Fenerbahçe or pull out of the deal entirely.
The move, sought by sporting director Tony D'Amico to give Gian Piero Gasperini cover on the left side of defence, is set to be a loan with a buy option worth around €15m — reported to become an obligation if Oosterwolde reaches 15 appearances of at least 45 minutes each.
Roma's evening also brought a separate development in midfield. The club has renewed its interest in Franck Kessié, moving to challenge Juventus, who remain favourites for the Ivorian's signature. Gasperini's interest is personal: the coach worked with Kessié previously and would be glad to bring him back into his squad, while the player is said to be receptive to a Roma project.
Two factors need to fall into place before that deal can progress. Juventus would need to step back, or Kessié would need to decide not to wait any longer for them; on Roma's side, the club would first need to sell a midfielder to create space.
The prime candidate is Neil El Aynaoui, who has interest from several clubs including Crystal Palace. Roma are seeking around €35m for the Moroccan international, a fee that would fund a move for Kessié — without it, sporting director D'Amico is not expected to pursue the deal. As with Oosterwolde's situation, the coming hours are set to be decisive on both fronts.