Roma will want to put the 2023-24 season behind them after all the turbulence it entailed, but there were some moments and players from within it that deserve recognition.
It was a disappointing season on the whole for Roma, who admitted defeat with their Jose Mourinho project and, even after stabilising things under Daniele De Rossi, couldn’t get into the Champions League places.
Yet just because a team fails to meet its objectives, there can still be some standout components. Thus, following on from the end-of-season player ratings, the Giallorossi Yorkshire tradition continues for an eighth year of selecting some awards – but this time there’s one major difference.
For the first time ever, the Player of the Season award at the end has been chosen by a vote within our Giallorossi Yorkshire group*, so read to the end to see who the most popular choice was for that all-important category.
(*If you’re a Roma fan from or based in Yorkshire, and want to connect with others in our WhatsApp group, please get in touch via email at giallorossiyorkshire@gmail.com.)
First up are four site-chosen awards, and then there’s the grand finale with the Player of the Season award.
Signing of the season – Leandro Paredes
Embed from Getty ImagesThe most effective new face Roma brought in for the 2023-24 season was a familiar one, as Leandro Paredes returned for a second spell with the club. A few eyebrows were raised at the time, since he hadn’t had the best 2022-23 with Juventus, but a reasonable fee was negotiated with PSG for his signature.
Paredes was tasked with filling the void left by Nemanja Matic, who was characteristically a different type of defensive midfielder. In his own way, though, Paredes became just as fundamental – arguably even more so – than his predecessor had been.
Initially, the Argentine’s second spell with Roma was a little lukewarm in terms of what he was offering, but as the season progressed – and particularly once under the tutelage of his former defensive-midfield companion De Rossi – Paredes improved. It became hard to imagine a Roma lineup without him.
Also eager to take on extra responsibilities over dead balls, including from the penalty spot, Paredes ended up as one of the most trusted players in the Roma squad.
And for just €4m – nearly six times less than what Roma sold him for in 2017 – you could even argue he was one of the best value-for-money signings in the entire league.
Most improved player – Mile Svilar
Embed from Getty ImagesIt would have been challenging for even the most devoted Roma fan to give a detailed overview of Mile Svilar’s qualities at the start of his second season in Serie A, but by the end of it, he has become one of the safest bets to remain a regular starter for De Rossi’s side next term.
This was the season in which Rui Patricio was finally toppled as Roma’s first-choice goalkeeper, and Svilar’s claim for the role became more vindicated the more he played. He played a crucial role in net, not just in Europe but also in the league.
When De Rossi decided to make Svilar his main keeper, he never looked back. Even when Roma had nothing to play for by the end of the season, he was still selected over the departing Patricio, who by then had become his mentor.
Svilar is still only 24 years old – he reaches his quarter-century in August – and the sense now is that Roma may have stumbled upon their long-term number one. In terms of a previously underused player proving themselves, Svilar has set quite the example over the past few months.
Goal of the season – Paulo Dybala v Torino
Half of the 16 goals Paulo Dybala scored for Roma in 2023-24 were actually penalties, but the vast majority of the other half were sensational.
Against Torino in February, Dybala memorably scored his first hat-trick in Roma colours – and the first treble anyone has scored for the club in Serie A since 2016 – to earn his side a 3-2 win. It was his middle goal on the day that stood out the most.
The move started all the way back with Svilar. In a display of composure in possession rarely seen all season, Roma calmly passed the ball from one end of the pitch to the other. Nine of the 11 Roma players on the pitch played a pass within the move.
Towards the end, Dybala took over possession from compatriot Paredes and played it to Chris Smalling (who, for some reason, was on the right wing!). Smalling laid it off to Bryan Cristante, who played a sideways pass to Dybala, who was almost 30 yards out.
The Argentine attacker smartly shifted the ball onto his stronger side with the outside of his boot and venomously caught Torino keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic off guard with a lethal effort that curled into the bottom corner of the net.
Assist of the season – Bryan Cristante to Gianluca Mancini v Empoli
One of the main assets Cristante has in his locker is his threat from attacking set pieces, especially corners where he loves to get to the near post and flick the ball into dangerous territory.
Yet in Roma’s biggest win of the season, back in September against Empoli, Cristante used a different part of his anatomy for a similar result.
Having earlier set up a Dybala goal and then scored a rocket of his own from outside the box, the midfielder made a third goal contribution to help wrap up the 7-0 win.
As the corner was swung in by Riccardo Pagano, Cristante flicked the ball with the outside of his boot towards the six-yard area, where compatriot Mancini was able to convert first-time with his head.
Player of the season – Gianluca Mancini
As stated, the choosing of the Giallorossi Yorkshire player of the season this year has been a collaborative effort between members of our group. There were a range of choices, with as many as five different players receiving votes, but the winner was… Gianluca Mancini.
Receiving 46% of the vote, Mancini was a worthy winner. He’s been a popular player at Roma for a while now, feeling like a representative on the pitch with his combative qualities and commitment.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe words of some of our members sum up what Mancini has meant to Romanisti, especially this season:
One of the best defenders in Serie A and probably the best CB Italy have at the moment. Really helped to drag the team and was unleashed under DDR especially with that successive run of goals. Shame about the OG Vs Leverkusen.
Tom
Stellar all year
Arron
– Only Cristante beats him in minutes played in the league this season.
– Goals in big games at big moments from the CB position
– Seems to have remained sensible with yellow cards again this season which has made him available when required in big moments
– Ultimate warrior for the shirt
Kier
With 49 appearances and seven goals across all competitions – including that iconic three-game scoring streak in April involving a winner in the derby and goals in both legs of the Europa League triumph over Milan – and more interceptions than any of his teammates in the league, Mancini stood up to be counted when not everything around him was going so well.
He embodies what most fans want to see in the team and, while he still has his flaws, has increased his maturity and gained more appreciation from neutral observers, which seems a fair benchmark by which to measure his progress.
When you think of the Roma squad, you think of Mancini as one of the focal points. He deserves his honour as the Player of the Season.
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