Nahuel Molina says AS Roma felt like the right move because of the club's size, its supporters and the progress the team has made. The defender has joined on a deal worth €13m plus up to €4m in performance-related bonuses, with the contract running to June 2030. He also picked the Number 20 shirt, a new choice for him in his career.

Roma's pull

Molina put it plainly to football-italia.net: "I chose Roma because I think it's a huge club, with such passionate fans. The team is strong and has done good things in recent years, so all this took me here." That is the core of the move. Roma finished 3rd in Serie A in 2025 and ended the league season with five straight wins, while also collecting 16 points from 8 Europa League games.

He added that he had already spoken to teammates who were part of the reason he chose the club. "I already spoke to some of my teammates and they are among the reasons that took me to choose Roma, because I know them well," Molina said. The picture he gives is not of a rushed decision, but of a move that felt comfortable from the start.

A fresh start in Serie A

Molina also framed the switch as a reset. "I wanted something new, a new beginning, a new challenge. I think a change can help motivate you," he said. He has already played 7 matches in 2026, which suggests he arrives in Rome with some rhythm behind him rather than as a long-term project waiting to be built from scratch.

There is a football side to the fit as well. Molina previously played for Udinese from 2020 to 2022 before moving to Atletico Madrid for €20m, so Serie A is not new territory. He said Italian football is "always very difficult" and "very tactical," and that he does not hold back on the pitch.

He also said he is comfortable on the right and in a three-man defence, which should help him settle into Gian Piero Gasperini's system. On the evidence available here, the move makes sense on both sides: Roma get a defender who knows the league, and Molina gets the change he says he wanted.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →