Leon Bailey has endured a difficult spell since leaving Aston Villa to sign for AS Roma.
Aston Villa fans wanted Bailey to succeed last season, but after two goals and four assists in 38 outings, he was loaned out to Serie A side Roma.
The winger missed the start of 2025/26 with a muscle injury, but eventually made his debut against Inter Milan on October 18.
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Bailey was praised during the Inter defeat, coming off the bench for the final 16 minutes of the tie.
He’s since made a further three league appearances, and the verdict coming out of Italy isn’t great.
Leon Bailey looks on during the Serie A football match between AC Milan and AS Roma
Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images
The Jamaican played 50 minutes as a second striker in a victory over Sassuolo before featuring as a right-winger off the bench versus Parma.
Most recently, Roma lost to AC Milan, with the Aston Villa loanee playing 39 minutes.
Following that tie, there have been calls in the Italian press for Bailey to improve.
Voce Giallo Rossa suggested there has been a ‘noticeable decline’ in his performances.
They wrote: “Leon Bailey is still searching for his best form for Roma. The Jamaican winger, who arrived in the summer from Aston Villa and made a strong impact in his first few outings, has seen a noticeable decline after his convincing minutes against Inter and Sassuolo.”
Elsewhere, Tutto Mercato Web described him as a ‘flash in the pan’ and urged him to step up following an injury to key forward Paulo Dybala.
Leon Bailey during AS Roma v FC Internazionale - Serie A Enilive
Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images
They wrote: “Roma are also expecting a turnaround from Leon Bailey. Arriving with high expectations, the Jamaican, also sidelined by injury at the start of the season, has been a flash in the pan so far.
“Beyond goals, these are things Roma will miss without Dybala over the next three weeks. And that’s also why the former Aston Villa player was signed.”
I Giallorossi have the option to make Bailey’s transfer permanent next summer for £19m, but based on current form, it seems unlikely that will happen.
Like Villa, Roma are in Europa League action this Thursday, facing off against Scottish giants Rangers.
The Italian side have endured a difficult start to their European campaign, sitting three points behind Unai Emery’s men after one win and two losses from their opening matches.