Roma add two captains: De Roon arrives from Atalanta, Balerdi joins on loan from Marseille

Two captains in a single day. That's what Roma just added, moving in the transfer market to bring in Marten De Roon from Atalanta and Leonardo Balerdi from Marseille. This isn't just squad depth: both players are used to wearing the armband, and that carries weight in the locker room.

Start with De Roon, 35, who has a long history with Atalanta: a decade split across two stints in Bergamo, where he rose to become the club's captain. Now he's reunited with Gian Piero Gasperini, the coach who managed him at Atalanta and now runs the show at Roma. The Dutchman, a regular for the Netherlands national team as well, had lost his footing under Maurizio Sarri, Atalanta's current manager, and that sped everything up.

Gasperini explained how the deal came together in just two days:

I got in touch with Luca Percassi and they decided to give him the freedom to do what he wanted after everything he gave Atalanta over so many years. He really wanted to come to Roma.Gian Piero Gasperini

De Roon's transfer was reportedly sealed for 1 million euros (about $1,000,000), a modest fee for a player of his pedigree, confirming that the player's own will was the deciding factor.

Balerdi, the other captain coming in

The other name is Leonardo Balerdi, a 27 year old Argentine center back joining on loan with an option to buy. Balerdi has racked up more than 200 games in European soccer, split between Borussia Dortmund and Marseille, where he also ended up wearing the captain's armband. His season took a bitter turn earlier this year: he had been included on Argentina's preliminary 26 man list for the World Cup, but an injury kept him off the final squad.

Gasperini didn't hide his satisfaction with the double signing:

We've brought in two captains. Balerdi is at his best right now.Gian Piero Gasperini

While Roma added talent, they also said goodbye to someone: Neil El Aynaoui is leaving the club for Leipzig. Still, the armband at Roma remains with Bryan Cristante, another player who also came through Gasperini's ranks at Atalanta.

The sporting backdrop helps explain why Roma decided to strengthen the squad right now. The team opened Serie A with a resounding win, 4-0 over Fiorentina, and visits Lecce on Monday. On top of that, Roma is back in the Champions League this season for the first time since 2018-19, so the schedule's demands will be steeper. This isn't the only major addition in the market: back in June, Roma had already brought in forward Santiago Castro from Bologna for 35 million euros (about $40 million).