Ferguson injured ‘trying to avoid a photographer’, ‘he’s very depressed’

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has revealed that striker Evan Ferguson’s latest injury came as the result of ‘trying to avoid a photographer’, and has admitted that the Republic of Ireland international has been left feeling ‘very depressed’. 

Injuries have been a constant issue for Ferguson in the early stages of his professional career. The 21-year-old missed a major chunk of the 2023-24 season with a cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and then a significant portion of the 2024-25 season with an ankle issue. 

The 2025-26 season, on loan at Roma, has also been stop-start due to recurring ankle injuries. 

Speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of Roma’s upcoming Serie A match against Cagliari, head coach Gasperini had an opportunity to discuss Ferguson’s ongoing battles with injuries and his current mental state. 

Gasperini on recurring Ferguson injuries: ‘He’s very depressed’

“The problem is his ankle,” Gasperini said. “It’s the fourth sprain he’s suffered. He was out for about a year with an ankle issue last year, so the situation has become a bit complicated. That’s what’s happened.

“We’re working to get him back on his feet, but every time he changes direction, the ankle seems to sprain. It’s one (ankle) or the other, but the one he had an operation on is the most problematic, which hasn’t completely solved the problem.”

Gasperini has previously called Ferguson unlucky with his injury record. There was certainly an element of misfortune with the way that Ferguson’s most recent ankle injury came about.  

“We’re all working to try and fix the situation. From a psychological point of view, he’s not very pleased and is very depressed. We’re trying to help him recover and get him back on his feet. It’s not easy, because it takes 12 weeks each time. Last time he got hurt avoiding a photographer. 

“Whenever he’s been available, he’s always played, but that’s part of the problem for this player. It’s gone better for him this year, last year he practically never played.”