Anthony Taylor retires from refereeing after 20 years

Former Roma Primavera coach Gianluca Falsini has spoken about the rise of Emanuele Lulli, explaining how he moved the defender into the position he plays for Roma today. Speaking to Sky Sport, Falsini said: "At first he played as a midfielder inside the pitch, not as a winger, and with us he played as a right-back. When we played with three at the back he played as the fifth, as he is doing now with Gasperini." Falsini, now head coach of Como Primavera, worked with Lulli for two and a half years in the youth set-up. He said he had not expected Lulli to have this impact. The former Roma youth coach also praised the player's character and his background. Falsini said: "With Emanuele I had two and a half years of work, and my merit, which remains there, is having moved him into the position where he plays now at Roma. He is a boy with incredible moral qualities, and credit must be given to the family for doing a magnificent job with this boy. He used to come to the training ground knowing he was not among the best, but he had incredible potential. What he is doing well now is all down to him and to Gasperini, who has valued him."

Endrick's agent has said the Brazilian wants to stay at Real Madrid, but that his future depends on how much he plays. Michael Yormack, president of Roc Nation, the agency that manages the Brazilian's interests, spoke to SportsBoom. AS Roma continue to monitor the talented 2006-born forward, who they reportedly pursued in the summer and who could be targeted again in January if José Mourinho gives the green light. Endrick came on three minutes from the end against Leipzig, and his limited minutes remain an issue Real Madrid must address. Roma's interest is therefore tied to whether the player is willing to leave a club where opportunities are scarce, and to the stance of Mourinho, who would need to approve any move. Yormack said: "Endrick loves Madrid, he loves the team and his teammates, but in the end you have to think about the career, which is short and which Endrick wants to make the most of." He added: "I believe we will have to see how things go from now until the end of the year, before the next transfer window. He is a super talented young player who wants to play. I went to visit him a few weeks ago in Madrid, we had a good chat, he is impatient to play, so we will see what happens."

Tickets for the Roma away section at the Blu Energy Stadium in Udine go on sale from 16:00 today, Friday 23 October, via the TicketOne platform, priced at 40 euros. The sale will officially close at 18:00 on the day of the match. The ticketing window is firm: tickets cannot be bought directly at the stadium on matchday. Roma supporters are preparing to fill the away end at the Blu Energy Stadium. The article sets out all the information fans need to buy tickets for the away section, with the 40-euro price applying across the sale.

Lorenzo Pellegrini has suffered a high-grade, third-degree tear at the distal musculotendinous junction of the semitendinosus in his right thigh, and will be out for at least three months, probably longer. The injury was sustained in the second half against Slovan, and surgery is now being considered. Roma are preparing for Napoli at the Maradona with a serious lack of options. The diagnosis is a terrible one for a footballer, among the worst muscular injuries. The problem lies not in the muscle belly, which heals faster thanks to its rich blood supply, but at the point where the muscle joins the tendon close to the knee. It is the second consecutive operation Pellegrini faces. He signed a one-year contract in the summer, and this is probably his last at the club given the many physical problems of recent years. Last summer he missed the entire pre-season and returned to the pitch just twelve days ago against Como, playing three short spells before the new injury struck. The injury is a blow for Gasperini, who for at least the next three games must also do without Dybala, as well as Koné and Svilar. With the Maradona clash tomorrow, Roma face a full emergency and forced choices. Bryan Cristante could return in the closing stages, provided he is in acceptable condition to start from the first minute after knee inflammation. In a clash between veteran coaches, with Allegri on 325 Serie A wins and Gasperini on 300, there could also be room for some Primavera players such as Di Nunzio and Arena, at least on the bench.

Donyell Malen scored again on Tuesday evening against Slovan Bratislava, converting a penalty in an easy win for Roma. The Dutch forward, known as 'Bobby', has now scored 24 goals in 29 appearances since arriving in January. The article notes that he was the subject of doubts from some fans, who had been hoping for Zirkzee, and others who were frustrated by the failure to sign Raspadori. In Italy, Malen is regarded by many as a top striker, and in Europe he keeps company with players of the calibre of Mbappé, Haaland, Yamal and Raphinha, with Kane considered unreachable at the top. Stefano Carina, writing in Il Messaggero, said that former Italy coach Fabio Capello had described the Bundesliga, where Kane plays, as a league that is "poco allenante" (not very demanding). Malen is also refining other aspects of his game, including dropping deep to meet the ball carrier, cleaning up passes and creating space for team-mates to run into. Against Slovan Bratislava he set up Pellegrini twice, Mora once and Wesley once. With Dybala absent, Malen will need to rebuild his understanding with Soulé, and the weight of the attack rests heavily on his shoulders. Antonio Arena's teammate Santiago Castro can also wait his turn, with Malen described as ready for the challenge.

Referee Andrea Colombo has been appointed to take charge of Napoli against Roma, the eighth-round Serie A fixture set for Saturday 24 October at 18:00 at the Stadio Maradona. The match officials for the round have now been published. Colombo will be assisted by Bindoni and Rossi M., with Sacchi J.L. as fourth official. Aureliano has been named as VAR, with Meraviglia as AVAR. The appointments cover all ten fixtures of Serie A matchday eight, which runs across the weekend from Friday 23 October to Sunday 25 October. The rest of the round's officiating line-up includes Zanotti for Torino v Monza on Friday 23 October at 20:45, Bonacina for Cagliari v Bologna and Di Marco for Como v Sassuolo, both on Saturday 24 October at 15:00, and Arena for Lazio v Parma on Saturday 24 October at 20:45. On Sunday 25 October, Mariani referees Inter v Fiorentina at 12:30, Marinelli takes charge of Atalanta v Frosinone at 15:00, Sozza handles Genoa v Venezia at 15:00, Maresca referees Lecce v Juventus at 18:00, and Marcenaro is in charge of Udinese v Milan at 20:45. For Roma, the Napoli trip is a Saturday evening fixture at the Maradona, and the officiating crew for that match is now confirmed ahead of kick-off.