The numbers behind Leon Bailey’s struggles at AS Roma | OneFootball

Leon Bailey’s loan stint at AS Roma has come to an end, with parent club Aston Villa recalling the Jamaican following a difficult few months.

Far from the much-romanticised getaway the winger would have envisioned in the Italian capital back in August, Bailey’s time with the Giallorossi failed to really get going.

His move at the start of the season was met with great enthusiasm. Particularly so, when his step-father and agent, Craig Butler, told the Roman press to “expect everything from Leon”. While this temporary transfer had the promise of working out on paper, it never materialised on the field as injury woes and positional differences saw the Gasperini-led club never looking like shelling out the €22 million obligation to buy.

Another damning blow came with Roma not having a break clause in the contract, requiring Villa to agree to the termination of the loan spell.

So, as the dust settles, just how bad was Leon Bailey’s time in Rome?

Firstly, we begin in England. Compared to the numbers he put up for Aston Villa in 2023/24, Bailey’s form took a hit with several key, injury-inflicted absences the season after.

As per Transfermarkt, the right-sided speedster played in 14 fewer games across all competitions, as injuries to his hamstring and thigh, as well as some undisclosed knocks, kept him sidelined for a combined 13 days. Where before, he’d tallied 14 goals and 13 assists in 53 games, he trudged to two goals and four assists in 38, with just one of those coming in the Premier League.

This move to the ‘Eternal City’ should’ve been a fresh injection for the 39-capped ‘Reggae Boy’, with the chance for a permanent move to yet another top European league on the horizon. However, instead, it began in the worst possible way. Another injury to his thigh.

When he managed to regain fitness, Bailey had already sat out 59 days and eight matches for his new club. After joining in August, the Villa loanee made his debut off the bench against Inter. He continued to appear sparingly from the fringes through October, yet was hit with another hamstring injury at the start of November, this time keeping him out for 23 days.

While two games in December saw Bailey manage an assist against Midtjylland in the Europa League, as well as 10 minutes against Napoli, the festive period brought yet another blow, as further muscle issues kept him out for another 24 days and five matches.

Given his body’s continued struggles, it’s no wonder Bailey struggled to make an impact under the demanding Gian Piero Gasperini, and that draws us to the next point. The Jamaican seemed to be an injured square peg in a round hole. In fact, he was even tried as a striker at one point to no avail, as the Italian misadventure seemed never-ending.

Alas, now, after 11 goalless games in all competitions (seven in Serie A, three in the Europa League and one in the Coppa Italia), it’s back to the West Midlands for the skilful wide man.

GIFN | Max Bradfield