Roma Coach: "Caution Needed When Signing Players Participating in Africa Cup of Nations"

Gian Piero Gasperini, the coach of Italian club Roma, affirmed that the participation of his Moroccan international player, Nayel El Aynaoui, in the Africa Cup of Nations might temporarily affect his performance, but stressed that it is a natural part of any player's career.

Responding to a question regarding El Aynaoui's dip in form after participating in AFCON, during the pre-match press conference ahead of the Como clash, Gasperini stated: "The Africa Cup of Nations often causes such difficulties, but recovery comes with playing and training."

The Roma coach added: "This is not the first player to be affected; there are many such cases, which is why it is necessary to be cautious when signing players who participate in the Africa Cup of Nations between December and January."

The Italian coach continued: "El Aynaoui is an excellent player with great dedication, so we must be patient, and he will certainly return to a better level."

Gasperini emphasized that dealing with international players during continental tournaments requires patience and understanding, affirming his confidence in El Aynaoui's ability to return to outstanding performance with his team.