What the hell has gone wrong for Tammy Abraham?

Carlo Garganese

• 8 Nov 2022 09:15 GMT
• 4 min read

What has happened to Tammy Abraham?

The giant Englishman was one of the best strikers in Serie A during his first season at Roma but is enduring something of a crisis in his second campaign.

Abraham completed a €40 million transfer to Jose Mourinho's side in 2021 - with another €5m in bonuses - after finding himself surplus to requirements at Chelsea. (The Blues do have a buyback option on Abraham for €80m, though in 2024).

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The Englishman enjoyed a wonderful first season at the Stadio Olimpico, scoring 27 goals in all competitions from 53 games.

This included some key goals in big matches, including the Rome derby and the winner versus Leicester to put Roma in the final of the UEFA Europa Conference League.

The Giallorossi would go on to win that final against Feyenoord to claim their first European title in over 60 years.

It was an historic achievement from Roma and Abraham had played a key role in it.

Abraham had created some individual history too as he became the highest scorer of all time for a Roma player in their first season. The previous highest debut season scorers were Gabriel Batistuta and Vincenzo Montella, who both scored 21 goals.

There was strong interest from major Premier League clubs over the summer. Arsenal, in particular, were interested in making Abraham their new number nine.

Mourinho’s fatherly relationship with Abraham convinced the striker that Roma was the place to be as they attempted to build on last season’s Conference League success. In the end, Arsenal signed Gabriel Jesus.

It has proved to be the right call from Arsenal as, while Jesus has flourished in taking the Gunners to top of the Premier League, Abraham has struggled badly.

He has scored just two Serie A goals and three in all competitions from 18 games.

His finishing has been very wayward at times as he is underperforming his xG of 7.14 by over five goals in Serie A.

This has included some high-profile misses, with one picture of Mourinho looking stunned after Abraham missed an open goal versus Verona going viral last week.

The 25-year-old has not scored in Serie A now for two months and has just one goal in all competitions in his last 12 games.

Abraham looks completely bereft of confidence, his body language is poor and he paints the picture of a player who is desperate to get back on the goal trail.

He is also offering very little to Roma’s overall game, with just one assist all season – which came back in August.

Abraham’s struggles have had a knock-on effect on the Roma team as a whole. Mourinho’s side have scored a paltry 16 goals in 13 league games, only Torino have scored less in the top half of Serie A. By comparison, leaders Napoli have double Roma’s tally with 32 goals.

Roma were considered as dark horses for the Serie A title by many experts at the beginning of the season, but are already out of the Scudetto race in sixth position – 10 points behind Napoli.

Some have blamed Paulo Dybala for Abraham’s decline this season. The Argentine joined on a free transfer from Juventus and was a revelation before his injury.

He has been comfortably Roma’s best player this season but his presence has altered the way Abraham plays compared to last term. Dybala became the focal point in attack, whereas last year it was Abraham.

However, Dybala has been injured for the last month and his absence has not resulted in any improvement in Abraham’s form.

The goals will surely return for Abraham, but for now he is in crisis. A crisis that may cost him a place in England’s World Cup squad.