AS Roma Moves Funtasia Water Park to Rome to Ease Evan Ferguson’s Transition
Determined to help new Irish striker Evan Ferguson feel at home in Italy, AS Roma has taken an unexpected — and hilarious — step: relocating the Funtasia water park from Drogheda to the heart of Rome.
While adjusting to a new city like Rome — with its stunning weather, historic landmarks, delicious cuisine, and stylish locals — might sound like a dream, Roma’s management is taking no chances when it comes to player comfort and well-being.
“We’ve really improved in how we support our players off the pitch,” said Giorgio De Marco, AS Roma’s dedicated player liaison officer, as he welcomed what he thought was the now-closed Funtasia arcade from Ferguson’s hometown of Bettystown.
Instead, a logistical mix-up resulted in the transportation of the full Funtasia water park from nearby Drogheda. “Maybe Evan feels homesick sometimes, so we bring a little piece of Meath here for him. He can go down the waterslides after training to relax,” De Marco added with a smile.
The club has also taken extra steps to simulate the familiar surroundings Ferguson left behind. Streets around the young striker’s apartment and along his route to the training ground are reportedly being populated with locals styled to resemble the average “fashion-agnostic” residents of County Meath.
“Moving to Rome can be overwhelming. We want Evan to feel like he never left Ireland,” De Marco explained.
However, despite the genuine effort, tensions rose when this journalist jokingly proposed replacing Ferguson’s pasta-heavy Italian meals with Ireland’s iconic chicken fillet rolls. De Marco reportedly reacted with passionate resistance — a true sign of just how seriously the club is taking this integration effort.