Ranking Roma’s Youth, #3: Wesley França

The 2010s were largely a time of frustration for the Giallorossi at full-back, and particularly right-back. The position has been more tragicomedy than treasure trove, with many a veteran transformed into a stop-gap solution on the wing, resulting in a seemingly permanent weak spot in the starting eleven. Enter Wesley, the young Brazilian dynamo Gian Piero Gasperini has sought out for seasons, and who Roma signed this summer for €25 million plus €5 million in bonuses—a costly bet that just might pay off in the most explosive way.

Number Three: Wesley França

Age: 21

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Position: Right-Back

Shades of: A young, Monaco-era Maicon with a dash of Achraf Hakimi’s vertical burst

Who Is He?

Wesley Vinícius França Lima, born in the Maranhão city of Açailândia (the land of acai), is the kind of footballer who carries his story in the way he runs—head up, chest forward, and ready to punch a hole through the touchline if needed. After starting his youth career for local side Clube Atlético Tubarão, Wesley transferred to Flamengo’s youth sector in 2021 and quickly rose from a promising youth to a full-fledged first-team regular in Brazil’s most scrutinized footballing fishbowl.

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The mere fact that he hit 97 league appearances (136 across all competitions) at Flamengo before turning 22 gives you some indication of how he played, and how he survived the weekly gauntlet of expectations at the Maracanã. Despite his youth, he’s started in domestic competitions, he’s gotten a taste of continental play in the Copa Libertadores, and he’s capped it off with significant minutes in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup before transferring to Roma.

That quick rise has earned him appreciation from the Brazilian National Team, which handed him his first senior cap in March. Getting into the Seleçao at age 21 tells you how the Brazilian footballing system views him; he combines pace with swagger in a way that you’d expect from a Brazilian NT stalwart.

Roma and Gian Piero Gasperini brought Wesley to the capital after a prolonged negotiation that reportedly cost €25 million plus €5 million in bonuses. That’s a massive outlay for the Giallorossi, and it’s a statement of intent from Gasperini and management about just how they see Wesley developing in the coming seasons. Roma’s been home to many a Brazilian over the years; Roma’s new right-back joins a lineage that runs from Falcão to Cafu to Aldair to Maicon. There’s no doubt that, given this level of investment, Roma hopes that Wesley’s name will one day fit in with those legends for club and country.

What Can He Do?

I promise that comparing Wesley to Maicon and Hakimi isn’t due to laziness on my part. I’m simply trying to emphasize how Roma’s new right-back combines physical dominance and explosive verticality in a way we haven’t seen at the Stadio Olimpico in quite some time.

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Simply put, if Gasperini could custom-order a right-back from a catalogue, Wesley would be somewhere between “express delivery” and “add to favorites.” He’s the kind of player who can spend 90 minutes treating the flank like his own personal race-track—without necessarily losing his defensive integrity.

Physically, Wesley is built in the Maicon mold: he’s a broad-shouldered and sturdy player who is more than willing to use that physicality to lean on an opponent to get the ball free. Roma legend Cafu himself praised Wesley’s “physical presence” and attacking drive, saying:

“He’s very strong in attack, has personality, and likes to play as part of the team. He’s got a good physical profile and can’t be stopped easily when going forward. At the moment, in Brazil, he’s the best signing you can make for that position.”

As of right now, the biggest knock against Wesley is his work in the final third. While his low, whipped deliveries can be powerful, his crosses too often float harmlessly away or miss the intended runner (unfortunately, this prospect sounds all too familiar to Romanisti). The margins for error are tight for a defender playing in Serie A; if he can improve this weakness, Wesley will go from an exciting prospect worth nearly €30 million to one who’s worth… well, who knows where the market will be in a year, but quite a lot.

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Who Can He Become?

While this transfer is definitely a gamble from Gasperini and Co., it’s the kind of gamble that could pay off very quickly, in the most satisfying way possible. Gasperini’s time at Atalanta is littered with wing-backs who became system-defining players—Robin Gosens, Hans Hateboer, Davide Zappacosta, to name a few. While all of those players found major success with Gasp, Wesley might just be his most exciting project yet. The raw ingredients are all there for a superstar: elite stamina, a dominant frame, and a fearlessness driving forward that makes him a constant outlet for any creative player on the pitch.

If he masters the timing of his runs and sharpens his delivery, Wesley could quickly evolve into one of Serie A’s most complete right-backs. The vision isn’t far-fetched, as many Flamengo supporters have already called him the best in Brazil at his position, and the endorsement Cafu provided isn’t exactly something he would hand out lightly.

As always, when a player moves from Brazil to Europe, one of the biggest challenges for Wesley will be adapting. Serie A simply asks different questions than the Brasileirão. Positioning is more disciplined, for starters, and as a result, space for players like Wesley is scarce. Simultaneously, any mistake is punished ruthlessly—just ask Roma’s former right-backs. Wesley will need to learn when to hold his position, when to surge forward, and how to make his forays truly count. Thankfully, he’s got one of the best managers for player development of the past decade in his corner. With Gasperini’s help, the sky may truly be the limit.