Balbo on Soulé's personality, Balerdi's fit under Gasperini and Castro's wait behind Malen

Edoardo Bove's agent, Diego Tavano, has revealed that the midfielder was pushed out of Roma on 30 August 2024 after a bitter clash with the club's management, naming president Lina Souloukou and sporting director Florent Ghisolfi. Speaking to Radio Bruno Roma, Tavano said the former Giallorossi midfielder never wanted to leave the club. Tavano said Bove and he had been given technical indications that they had hoped to respect, but they did not expect to be forced out completely. He said the management, led by Souloukou and Ghisolfi, offered two options that they did not like and did not want to pursue: Nottingham Forest, and probably Olympiakos, given the shared ownership, or Brest. Tavano said Bove felt he had done a lot for Roma, having come off an important season under Mourinho in which he scored in the Europa League semi-final and was one of the protagonists. He added that he had a very strong disagreement with the club's management of the time that day. On Bove's move to Fiorentina, Tavano said the agent had managed to secure a loan with an option to buy at the last minute. He said it was not what they wanted, but it was a solution. He said Fiorentina would surely exercise the option because the player had made a strong start in Florence. Tavano also recalled that one of Bove's greatest emotions of his life was returning under the Curva Sud and to the Stadio Olimpico, hearing his name sung by the Roma crowd. "Edoardo is Roman and Roma through and through, and Roma is truly inside him," he said. Tavano also spoke about the young Slim Bouaskar, who he said had been featured by Roman newspapers after he was stopped at an event at the Canottieri Aniene club. He pointed to the Guardian including Bouaskar among the 60 most important talents in the world. Tavano said he is Bouaskar's manager and therefore biased, but said the player had signed a three-year contract with Roma under a project to play up an age group, which went very well last year. He said the same was supposed to happen this season, to then judge whether the player had the making of a first-team player. He said it had stalled a little this season because the management had changed, although the coach remained the same, and said he expected continuity with the Under-18 side. He said the player had been called up by the Tunisian senior national team, which he said showed he is an absolute talent. "It's a shame because he grew up at Roma," Tavano said, adding that Roma would decide what to do and how to protect themselves, with the utmost respect for their choices, and that they were not picking a fight. Tavano also said he sees Inter more as the anti-Roma and praised Gian Piero Gasperini, whom he said was the right kind of coach for a club like Roma after the loss of Mourinho. He said Gasperini's total pressing game was shaped in part by Sebastien De Maio, whom Tavano described as his first strong player and who had been important for Gasperini in developing his style. He added: "Gasperini is a very strong coach and let's hope we continue to do well."

Radio pundits have shared their views on Roma's attacking transfer plans, with the club's first choice reportedly a winger who can play on the left with a burst of pace. Camelio, speaking on Radio Radio Pomeriggio, said the club first needs to establish which transfer formula it can use, and argued that Endrick is not a winger but a second striker. Ferrajolo, also on Radio Radio Pomeriggio, described Endrick as an attacking winger who can operate on either flank depending on the team's needs, adding that he is not a pure first striker but an attacking winger. Pugliese said Roma's first choice remains a winger who can play on the left, even though the coach changes systems and rotates players. He said Roma are looking for a loan with an option to buy. According to Pugliese, a deal for Endrick was practically complete in the summer until Mourinho got involved, with the Portuguese coach continuing to be one of the player's main admirers. Roma could also work on Gittens, but Pugliese believes one of the two will arrive rather than both. He does not rule out Sporting for Endrick, pointing out that the Portuguese club know Fonseca well, the coach who developed him at Lyon, and that Sporting are playing in the Champions League. Vocalelli, also speaking on Radio Radio Pomeriggio, called Endrick a top player in world football. He noted that at 20 he has already collected 24 appearances for the Brazil national team. Vocalelli said that if Endrick were to join Roma he would be welcomed with open arms, and that he could play alongside Soulé and Malen.

Diego Tavano, agent of Edoardo Bove and of Roma Primavera goalkeeper Slim Bouaskar, has spoken on Radio Bruno Roma's programme "Quelli che la Roma", reviewing Bove's departure from the club, the film made about his story and the future of Bouaskar. Tavano said the film "In un battito" will be released in cinemas from 16 November, following two preview screenings, one in Rome and one in Milan, which he said had been an incredible success. He said: "Everyone expects a simple documentary, so some stolen images here and there. In reality, behind this film there is a deep story. It is a real film, and there is a profound story of a boy who suffered, who after the event he had, which in the end was a fortunate event, lived 14 months of incredible emotions." He added that the cameras had been with the family from Careggi onwards, from the third day after the event, and followed Bove until his first goal for Watford, which he described as closing the story of a young man who hit rock bottom and, with great resilience, showed that one should never give up. Tavano said he had discussed the film with the production companies, Rai and Sky, and urged them to show it in all schools: "In the era of the bully and the maranza, we need boys like this, who are for me wonderful examples for our children." On Bove's exit, Tavano said the player never wanted to leave the club. He said the agent and player's relationship was cemented on 30 August 2024, when, in his words, "we were shown the door". He said there had been technical indications which they would have liked to respect, but did not expect Bove to have to leave completely. He said the club's management, led by Souloukou and sporting director Ghisolfi, offered two options that they did not like at all: Nottingham Forest, and probably Olympiakos, because of the same ownership, or Brest. Tavano said Bove felt he had done a great deal for Roma, having come off an important season under Mourinho in which he scored in the Europa League semi-final and was one of the protagonists. He recalled a very strong clash with the club's management of the time that day, and said that in the end they won, because he managed to secure a loan to Fiorentina with an option at the last minute. He said Fiorentina would surely exercise that option, as Bove had made a great start in Florence. Tavano said Bove has already described, and repeats in the film, that returning to the Curva Sud and hearing his name from the whole Roma crowd at the Stadio Olimpico was one of his greatest emotions of his life. He said Bove is Roman and a Roma fan. On Watford, Tavano said Bove is doing very well. He lives in London, in the same building as Riccardo Calafiori, and the two are together very often, two or three floors apart. He described the Championship as a league of high level, fourth in the world for revenue, and said he hopes it will be a transitional season before a return to Serie A. Asked about Roma's season, Tavano said he sees Inter more as the anti-Roma. He praised Gian Piero Gasperini, whom he said he knew well, recalling that Sebastien De Maio was his first strong player and was important to Gasperini's development of his total pressing game. He said: "For me Gasperini is a coach who is not a discovery and is not rushing things, because in my opinion Trigoria and Rome need coaches of this personality, like Mourinho and Gasperini. So it doesn't surprise me. He is an extremely strong coach and hopefully we will keep doing well." On Gasperini's comments about aiming for the Scudetto, Tavano said a healthy presumption is essential to win, and that the club has everything needed, a solid presidency and a coach with the right mentality. He said: "We are Roma, we are in Rome! This word is strong. It is essentially what we deserve. If we have seen so many Scudetti won by a team called Juventus, based in Turin, why can Roma, called Roma, not excel?" He praised the Friedkin family, noting that early criticism over their silence had faded, and said the stadium's silence during the anthem and rival fans filming it on their phones showed the club's greatness.

Santiago Castro has been named the best Serie A goal of October for his strike against Genoa, which helped Roma to a 2-0 win in the seventh matchday of the league season. The Argentine forward has scored only one goal since joining Roma in the final summer transfer window, and that was the effort against Genoa. The goal showcased the technical qualities of the centre-forward. Surrounded by three Genoa defenders inside the penalty area, Castro found space from nothing, struck a sudden and precise shot, and beat the goalkeeper to send the ball into the net. The award came ahead of the spectacular overhead kick by Orsolini against Lecce. The Serie A league's official account shared the award on social media, with video of the goal available to watch.

Santiago Castro has won the 'goal of the month' award for October with his strike against Genoa, a single but spectacular effort. The Argentine broke his duck against the Rossoblu with a delicate touch under the ball inside the penalty area, beating Riccardo Orsolini, who had scored against Lecce with an overhead kick. Despite limited playing time, Castro has been called up to Argentina by Scaloni and will be available for the friendlies against Uruguay and Costa Rica. He has started only two matches in the giallorossi shirt, but his opportunities should come after the November international break, with seven fixtures scheduled in just under a month.

Roman radio pundits have been debating a possible move for Brazilian forward Endrick, with contrasting views on whether he would suit Roma. On David Rossi's Rete Sport show, Rossi said Il Corriere dello Sport reported that both AC Milan and Roma were interested in the player, and that Endrick had said he would not join Milan because the club's symbol is the Devil. Rossi questioned whether that could be credible, adding that when a name is this obvious a deal rarely happens unless it is already done. He also said there was a danger Fonseca wanted Endrick at Sporting, where the player had felt at home under Fonseca at Lyon. "Endrick is a fantastic player," Rossi said. "Gittens may play on the left, but between him and Endrick there are, for me, three categories of difference." The debate comes as Roma are in the title conversation. Gianluca Piacentini named three reasons to believe in the scudetto: the league's strongest coach, room to improve through the January transfer market, and a levelled-down Serie A, which he said was shown by Lazio sitting top of the table. He said he hoped the race would be between Roma and Inter. Piacentini also criticised the 'atleta di Cristo' explanation, saying it was not a fair criterion for choosing a destination. Fabio Petruzzi said Endrick sees little of the pitch and may want to leave to play regularly, adding that if he has not played while Vinicius was suspended for four matches, he will never play. He said that if he were an attacker, Gasperini is the first coach he would want to work with, and that Endrick, a left-footed player, can play on the left. Mario Corsi said the Mora-Endrick comparison was a trap because the two are completely different players. He said Endrick has a strong shot, dribbling and heading ability, and that strong players must be signed. He said Malen should not be deployed on the wing because he must stay in the middle, and that Gasperini and D'Amico had not heard from Friedkin for a long time and were somewhat worried. "If they really want to win, they have to make this move." Francesca Ferrazza said Roma need two forwards with Pellegrini gone, and that Endrick offers the best value for money. Lorenzo Pes said Malen's frequent substitutions also happened last year, and that Retegui at Atalanta rarely finished matches. Valentina Catoni said that when Dybala is fit he always plays. Piero Torri recalled Mourinho saying Endrick would not leave Madrid, noted that the Brazil international has started only one match, and said Endrick is a second striker who would sit behind Soulé and Dybala. Roberto Pruzzo said Endrick wants to play and that Italian football has become a second-tier league. Nando Orsi argued Roma need a right-footed winger who plays on the left, and that Endrick would be of little use with Castro already in the squad. Mario Mattioli warned that bringing Endrick into the Roma dressing room could be an unwanted explosion, calling him very difficult to manage and saying he would have to play always and in every match. "He is not a dressing-room man," Mattioli said, adding that Endrick is not the man who says "let's arm ourselves and set off" when a common effort is needed.

Radio pundits have shared their views on Roma's attacking transfer plans, with the club's first choice reportedly a winger who can play on the left with a burst of pace. Camelio, speaking on Radio Radio Pomeriggio, said the club first needs to establish which transfer formula it can use, and argued that Endrick is not a winger but a second striker. Ferrajolo, also on Radio Radio Pomeriggio, described Endrick as an attacking winger who can operate on either flank depending on the team's needs, adding that he is not a pure first striker but an attacking winger. Pugliese said Roma's first choice remains a winger who can play on the left, even though the coach changes systems and rotates players. He said Roma are looking for a loan with an option to buy. According to Pugliese, a deal for Endrick was practically complete in the summer until Mourinho got involved, with the Portuguese coach continuing to be one of the player's main admirers. Roma could also work on Gittens, but Pugliese believes one of the two will arrive rather than both. He does not rule out Sporting for Endrick, pointing out that the Portuguese club know Fonseca well, the coach who developed him at Lyon, and that Sporting are playing in the Champions League. Vocalelli, also speaking on Radio Radio Pomeriggio, called Endrick a top player in world football. He noted that at 20 he has already collected 24 appearances for the Brazil national team. Vocalelli said that if Endrick were to join Roma he would be welcomed with open arms, and that he could play alongside Soulé and Malen.

Roman radio pundits have been debating a possible move for Brazilian forward Endrick, with contrasting views on whether he would suit Roma. On David Rossi's Rete Sport show, Rossi said Il Corriere dello Sport reported that both AC Milan and Roma were interested in the player, and that Endrick had said he would not join Milan because the club's symbol is the Devil. Rossi questioned whether that could be credible, adding that when a name is this obvious a deal rarely happens unless it is already done. He also said there was a danger Fonseca wanted Endrick at Sporting, where the player had felt at home under Fonseca at Lyon. "Endrick is a fantastic player," Rossi said. "Gittens may play on the left, but between him and Endrick there are, for me, three categories of difference." The debate comes as Roma are in the title conversation. Gianluca Piacentini named three reasons to believe in the scudetto: the league's strongest coach, room to improve through the January transfer market, and a levelled-down Serie A, which he said was shown by Lazio sitting top of the table. He said he hoped the race would be between Roma and Inter. Piacentini also criticised the 'atleta di Cristo' explanation, saying it was not a fair criterion for choosing a destination. Fabio Petruzzi said Endrick sees little of the pitch and may want to leave to play regularly, adding that if he has not played while Vinicius was suspended for four matches, he will never play. He said that if he were an attacker, Gasperini is the first coach he would want to work with, and that Endrick, a left-footed player, can play on the left. Mario Corsi said the Mora-Endrick comparison was a trap because the two are completely different players. He said Endrick has a strong shot, dribbling and heading ability, and that strong players must be signed. He said Malen should not be deployed on the wing because he must stay in the middle, and that Gasperini and D'Amico had not heard from Friedkin for a long time and were somewhat worried. "If they really want to win, they have to make this move." Francesca Ferrazza said Roma need two forwards with Pellegrini gone, and that Endrick offers the best value for money. Lorenzo Pes said Malen's frequent substitutions also happened last year, and that Retegui at Atalanta rarely finished matches. Valentina Catoni said that when Dybala is fit he always plays. Piero Torri recalled Mourinho saying Endrick would not leave Madrid, noted that the Brazil international has started only one match, and said Endrick is a second striker who would sit behind Soulé and Dybala. Roberto Pruzzo said Endrick wants to play and that Italian football has become a second-tier league. Nando Orsi argued Roma need a right-footed winger who plays on the left, and that Endrick would be of little use with Castro already in the squad. Mario Mattioli warned that bringing Endrick into the Roma dressing room could be an unwanted explosion, calling him very difficult to manage and saying he would have to play always and in every match. "He is not a dressing-room man," Mattioli said, adding that Endrick is not the man who says "let's arm ourselves and set off" when a common effort is needed.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini wants to bring in two attacking players, with a striker of pace and thrust the clear priority. Tony D'Amico publicly acknowledged last Saturday that finding such a forward is the aim, a quality the current squad palpably lacks and which was exposed in high-level matches against Manchester, Real and Inter. Endrick is seen as the ideal profile for his technical and athletic qualities. He was deployed in support of the main striker at Lyon a year ago, when Fonseca, who now wants him at Sporting, used him in that role. He has scored 8 goals and provided 8 assists in a few months, a sign of enormous potential that is still largely unexplored. Gasperini would pair him with Malen, with a playmaker behind the front line such as Mora, in a 1-2 attack, and would add a second attacking player alongside him. That second player would be a left-footed winger who can operate as a wide midfielder or a winger, with a profile similar to Moreira: versatile and able to be used in several roles or positions during a match. The alternative would be an attacking midfielder in the mould of Pasalic or Pellegrini, who could come in as part of the rotations. The target is not a deep-lying or central midfielder.

Roma's summer recruits have been involved in 36.5% of the club's goals this season, with 15 of the team's 41 strikes involving one of them. Gian Piero Gasperini has relied heavily on seven players who were not part of the squad in the last match of the previous campaign: Nahuel Molina, Marten de Roon, Leonardo Balerdi, Rodrigo Mora, Emanuele Lulli, Santiago Castro and Konstantinos Koulierakis. Lulli came up from the Primavera. Molina has been the most-used player, with 751 minutes, one goal and two assists. He is followed by De Roon (732 minutes), Balerdi (639), Mora (595), Lulli (546), Castro (370) and Koulierakis (225). Gasperini has given minutes to every summer arrival, including the Primavera graduate, showing confidence in the quality of the new players. Mora has been the most productive, with four goals and two assists. His recent form, with a sharp improvement in the latest matches, has eased doubts about the investment made in the summer, reported at €25 million plus 50% of a future resale, for a valuation of €50 million. Across all competitions, the new players have taken part in 15 of Roma's 41 goals. By comparison, at the same stage of last season, Massara's summer signings from that campaign had contributed to just three goals: Wesley with one goal, Ferguson with one assist and Tsimikas with one assist.

Gian Piero Gasperini can count on the return of Mile Svilar and Paulo Dybala for Roma's Serie A trip to Parma on 21 November, barring setbacks. The international break gives the coach a welcome boost as Roma aim to stay near the top of Serie A and climb the table in the Champions League. After two rest days granted by Gasperini, Roma reconvene at Trigoria tomorrow afternoon and train until Saturday morning. Dybala and Svilar will gradually rejoin the group. Svilar is due a further check-up after recovering from a stress fracture to the fifth toe of his foot. His rehabilitation, carried out between Belgium and Italy, has gone well, and he is set to be in goal against Parma on 21 November. Manu Koné and Nahuel Molina will also remain at Trigoria. Molina's omission has been decided by Roma; Scaloni has accepted the situation, making do with Balerdi, Soulé and Castro. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the break comes at the right moment to recover Dybala, the Joya, who is one of the key players for the squad. Roma are looking to stay in contention at the top of Serie A while working their way back up the Champions League standings.

Gian Piero Gasperini is set to have both Mile Svilar and Paulo Dybala available for Roma's trip to Parma on 21 November, barring any setbacks. The international break gives the coach a welcome boost as Roma look to stay near the top of Serie A and climb the table in the Champions League. Roma return to training at Trigoria tomorrow afternoon after two rest days granted by Gasperini, and will train there until Saturday morning. Dybala and Svilar will gradually rejoin the group. Svilar is due a further check-up after recovering from a stress fracture to the fifth toe of his foot. His rehabilitation, carried out between Belgium and Italy, has been successful, and he is expected to be between the posts against Parma on 21 November. Manu Koné and Nahuel Molina will also stay at Trigoria. Roma have ruled Molina out, with Lionel Scaloni having taken note and making do with Balerdi, Soulé and Castro. The article also links to a feature on the 13 Roma players called up by their national teams and the commitments they face during the break. Dybala's return is particularly important, as the club seeks to recover the Argentine forward, nicknamed La Joya, after the pause in Serie A.