Genuine flu or transferitis – Player out of training after Manchester City make contact

Manchester City target Wesley’s sudden absence from Roma’s matchday squad has inevitably raised eyebrows.

Earlier reports already flagged City’s interest. Now Italian outlets are adding a layer of intrigue to the situation.

Roma left Wesley out of the squad to face Sassuolo on Friday. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the issue in his press conference.

“We will have to do without several players. Wesley did not train today either. We will assess him in the next few hours, because he is dealing with a rather strong flu,” Gasperini said.

On the surface, the explanation is straightforward. Wesley missed training and is ill. Roma are short of options. However, the timing is curious.

That coincidence has fuelled speculation. As we covered earlier, there is direct contact from Manchester City to assess the conditions of a possible deal in this window. So it’s fair to ask whether Roma are simply protecting a key asset amid growing Premier League interest, even if the explanation on the record is purely medical.

For now, Gasperini’s comments remain the only official explanation. Yet with City monitoring closely, every small development around Wesley now carries extra weight as the window moves on.

Is it genuine flu or transferitis?