Despite Reggae Boyz winger Leon Bailey being labelled as a flop for his short loan stint at AS Roma, Italian insiders Filippo Biafora and Annalisa Ferrante say he was unfortunate and that it hasn’t dented the reputation of Jamaican players.

Bailey trained with English Premier League (EPL) club Aston Villa on Friday for the first time since his loan spell at Roma was terminated on Wednesday. Manager Unai Emery says the 28-year-old is in contention to make the matchday squad for Sunday’s trip to Newcastle.

“Leon Bailey, he came back as well, thinking to help us quick. His adaptation is not necessary — he knows us and he is coming here fit. For Sunday, he is going to be available,” Emery said.

Bailey’s inclusion would be a surprising twist, having agreed to spend the season on loan in the Serie A.

However, he was unable to make a real impact, missing 16 games through injury. He only appeared in 11 games across all competitions, failing to score but did register two assists including his final game where Roma lost 3-2 to Torino in the Coppa Italia round of 16.

Biafora, reporter at Rome based-newspaper II Tempo, says Bailey’s battle to stay fit was his biggest downfall.

“He was out for two months after getting injured on his first day, and then had ongoing physical problems once he returned,” Biaford told the Jamaica Obsever. “He has spent much more time out than in so, of course, his performance on the pitch has not been satisfactory, but it couldn’t be otherwise when you have a new injury every time.”

Ferrante, a senior editor and reporter at LaRoma24 and TeleRadioStereo, also admits that injuries contributed to Bailey’s struggles but said his performances did little to change the narrative.

“He often looked on the fringes of the game and struggled to get involved in the attacking flow. It wasn’t a lack of effort, more an issue of adapting to the system and the tempo,” she told the Observer.

Both journalists say Bailey was accepted in the dressing room but failed to win over the supporters due to his inconsistency in the team.

It’s understood that talk of replacing Bailey began following Roma’s 2-1 league defeat to Juventus on December 20. After coming off the bench in the 53rd minute, he was replaced in the 73rd through injury which left manager Gian Piero Gasperini frustrated.

Biafora says the club was left with no other option but to move on from Bailey.

“It was honestly a very unfortunate situation,” he said. “The injury at the end of the first training session, with two months out, is something unheard of. There was probably also a lack of commitment to the daily work. Gasperini has very demanding training methods, and from what I understand, Bailey didn’t always agree with them.”

Bailey is the second Jamaican in three years to endure an unsuccessful spell in Italy’s top flight, following former Mount Pleasant striker Trivante Stewart, who made just four substitute appearances for Salernitana during the 2023-24 season before being moved on.

However, Biafora and Ferrante don’t believe Bailey’s struggles will cause Italian clubs to overlook players from the island.

“I don’t think there will be any particular impact on the future of other Jamaicans in Serie A. If the players are strong, they are welcomed, whether they are Canadian, Australian, or Jamaican,” Biafora said.

“I don’t think this will affect how Jamaican players are viewed in Italy. Italian football tends to judge players individually. Bailey’s spell should be seen as a one-off, shaped by timing and circumstances rather than nationality,” Ferrante said.

Reggae Boyz winger Leon Bailey attempts a cross in his AS Roma debut against Inter Milan in the Serie A on Saturday October 18, 2025 at the Stadio Olimpico.

EMERY…his adaptation is not necessary — he knows us and he is coming here fitAFP

BIAFORA…his performance on the pitch has not been satisfactory.

FERRANTE…he often looked on the fringes of the game and struggled to get involved in the attacking flow