Baldini criticises Italian football leadership, calls for serious administrators

Wesley spoke to Sky Sport after Roma's draw with Inter, reflecting on a performance where his side started well but lost focus after the break. "We knew it would be tough against this Inter side—they're one of Europe's best teams and you can't afford mistakes, which unfortunately happened," the Brazilian left-back said. "We managed to execute our game plan and I'm happy with that. In the second half, though, we came out distracted, conceded two goals, and both we and they had chances to win it. We've shown we deserve to be in this league position. After the break we can't make the same mistakes again—now we need to rest." Roma drew level with Inter's attacking quality but surrendered control after half-time, conceding twice before the match finished level. Wesley stressed the squad's underlying merit despite the lapse in concentration, a concern Gian Piero Gasperini will address during the international break ahead of Roma's next fixture.

Roma held Serie A champions Inter to a 2-2 draw at the Stadio Olimpico, a result head coach Gian Piero Gasperini described as one that should give the club satisfaction and confidence. Manu Koné opened the scoring for the Giallorossi and added a second in the first half after a VAR check, but Lautaro Martinez scored twice for Inter—one early in the second half and another later in the same period—to secure a point for the visitors. Gasperini acknowledged the turning moment came when Inter reduced the deficit early in the second half. "It was a game where both teams could have won at one point, but the goal early in the second half changed things a bit," he told DAZN. "Inter are a great team, they can always score, but we didn't give up. This match should give us satisfaction and confidence." When asked about how far Roma currently stand from Inter, Gasperini stressed the need for consistency and improvement across the squad. "We have to be happy with the path we're taking and the quality we're bringing to these matches. There's a lot of positive energy in this team, we need to continue on this path," he said. He noted that Roma had created space in the first half and threatened on the break, but was forced to make a defensive change when Leonardo Balerdi came off. "I had to make a change at the back because we were struggling. Balerdi had to come off, and it's a shame, but Dybala and Soule held firm until the end." Gasperini emphasised that Roma are focused on their own performance rather than the title race. "We're looking at our own game; we need to be aware that under certain conditions we can be a good team. We need to see consistency in our matches. After the break, we'll have plenty of games to play, and we'll need to improve across the entire squad because the schedule will be truly demanding."

Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the media after Roma drew with Inter in a fifth-round Serie A fixture where both teams arrived level on points. The match went to the wire at the Stadio Olimpico, with Inter scoring early in the second half to take the lead, but Roma refusing to surrender and creating chances throughout. Gasperini emphasised the positives despite the dropped points. "I believe this match should give us satisfaction and awareness," he said. "There are margins for improvement for everyone, even for Inter. We must be happy with the path we are taking and the quality we are putting into these matches, not just condition and enthusiasm. There are many positive energies in this squad and we must continue like this." He acknowledged physical tiredness in the second half forced defensive changes, noting that Balerdi had to withdraw from the match. "His performance was outstanding," Gasperini said of the defender. "We took him because we knew his value. His injury — cramps — is nothing serious but was crucial. We had to make another change at the back which prevented us from making changes in midfield or attack." On midfielder Manu Koné's substitution, Gasperini explained: "It was my choice. He had clearly dropped off in midfield. He doesn't have 90 minutes from the start of the season — he went all the way through the World Cup, and his stamina at the moment is not what it was last year. But Pisilli did well, as did the others who came on." The coach also praised Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé for playing the full match. Regarding Roma's recent vulnerability at the start of second halves, he said: "Probably yes, and the way we conceded the goal was superficial, presumptuous if you like. But I must say that even in difficulty at 2-1, Roma always tried to win. We had an obvious chance with Malen; Inter had chances too but we never gave up." Gasperini reflected on the bigger picture: "We played a great match against a team that was very well. For me the value is even higher." Looking ahead, Gasperini outlined his challenge: "We will necessarily have to use the squad, rotate from the start without losing competitiveness and we can do that. In these first five matches I relied on a core from last season to give the new players a way to settle in, and I am convinced they will be protagonists. After the break the calendar will be hard — we restart with Como and Real Madrid. There it becomes a different championship, a marathon. But I have faith. I see a homogeneous squad and even the substitutes always come in well."

Manu Koné scored twice in the first half as Roma drew 2-2 with Inter at the Olimpico, a result that keeps both teams level at the top of Serie A on 13 points. Koné's performance in the opening 45 minutes was the dominant feature of a thrilling encounter: he recovered possession relentlessly, drove dangerous counterattacks and positioned himself perfectly to exploit vertical spaces. His two goals came from Paulo Dybala's creativity down the right, with Nahuel Molina's header setting up Koné's first-half brace. The opening goal arrived after 6 minutes—a perfectly-timed first-touch volley that Martinez could not stop. The second came at the 37-minute mark, a precise finish after Gianluca Mancini's soft touch. A lengthy VAR check from Lissone confirmed the goal's validity before the Olimpico erupted. With this performance, Koné entered Roma's history books as only the fifth player ever to score a first-half brace in a Serie A match against Inter at home, joining an exclusive group: Roberto Pruzzo (1980), Ciccio Graziani (1986), Abel Balbo (1995) and Francesco Totti (2013). The display demonstrated Koné's emergence as a complete midfielder—dominant in both defensive interception and lethal in the final third. Inter reorganised under Chivu in the second half and Lautaro Martinez's brace pulled the match level, handing the visitors another comeback. Koné's removal at the 60th minute—replaced by Niccolò Pisilli after an hour played at unsustainable intensity—coincided with Roma's loss of grip on the encounter. The draw extends Roma's drought in home fixtures against Inter, which now stretches back to 2016. Before the international break, the message is clear: Roma are genuine Serie A title contenders, and they have discovered in Koné a dominant force capable of controlling midfield while also proving decisive in front of goal.

Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the media after Roma drew with Inter in a fifth-round Serie A fixture where both teams arrived level on points. The match went to the wire at the Stadio Olimpico, with Inter scoring early in the second half to take the lead, but Roma refusing to surrender and creating chances throughout. Gasperini emphasised the positives despite the dropped points. "I believe this match should give us satisfaction and awareness," he said. "There are margins for improvement for everyone, even for Inter. We must be happy with the path we are taking and the quality we are putting into these matches, not just condition and enthusiasm. There are many positive energies in this squad and we must continue like this." He acknowledged physical tiredness in the second half forced defensive changes, noting that Balerdi had to withdraw from the match. "His performance was outstanding," Gasperini said of the defender. "We took him because we knew his value. His injury — cramps — is nothing serious but was crucial. We had to make another change at the back which prevented us from making changes in midfield or attack." On midfielder Manu Koné's substitution, Gasperini explained: "It was my choice. He had clearly dropped off in midfield. He doesn't have 90 minutes from the start of the season — he went all the way through the World Cup, and his stamina at the moment is not what it was last year. But Pisilli did well, as did the others who came on." The coach also praised Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé for playing the full match. Regarding Roma's recent vulnerability at the start of second halves, he said: "Probably yes, and the way we conceded the goal was superficial, presumptuous if you like. But I must say that even in difficulty at 2-1, Roma always tried to win. We had an obvious chance with Malen; Inter had chances too but we never gave up." Gasperini reflected on the bigger picture: "We played a great match against a team that was very well. For me the value is even higher." Looking ahead, Gasperini outlined his challenge: "We will necessarily have to use the squad, rotate from the start without losing competitiveness and we can do that. In these first five matches I relied on a core from last season to give the new players a way to settle in, and I am convinced they will be protagonists. After the break the calendar will be hard — we restart with Como and Real Madrid. There it becomes a different championship, a marathon. But I have faith. I see a homogeneous squad and even the substitutes always come in well."

Roma drew 2–2 with Inter at the Olimpico in a match shaped by a stark contrast between the sides' first and second halves. Manu Koné scored twice for Roma—once to open the scoring early and again to double the lead—but Lautaro Martínez levelled before the interval ended and added a second in the second half, when Roma's resistance crumbled. The hosts began with intensity and control under Gasperini, but a pattern of conceding goals immediately after the restart proved decisive once more. Several Roma players arrived for the match with depleted energy; the upcoming international break will offer a chance to recharge. Mancini had a difficult afternoon and took responsibility for Roma's defensive lapses, notably on Martínez's first goal. Balerdi was composed and physical against Thuram, lasting just over an hour before withdrawal. Hermoso maintained positional discipline but lacked sharpness in execution. Wesley patrolled the flank tirelessly, shutting down Dimarco's advances repeatedly. Cristante operated as the engine room, covering more ground than any other Roma player. Koné's two-goal display was the bright spark—a particularly sharp irony given he could have joined Inter instead—though his early withdrawal raised questions about fatigue management. Dybala orchestrated Roma's attacking play in the first half with incisive passes that set up Koné's goals and fulfilled defensive duties, though he too faded after the break. Soulé provided quality when he found space, running the full 90 minutes with consistency. Malen troubled Bastoni with his movement and nearly broke through. Molina crafted the assist for Koné's opener with an impeccable header after reading the play perfectly. N'Dicka entered at the hour mark and worked to hold the defensive line steady, earning a yellow card for a necessary foul on Thuram. Pisilli came on at 59 minutes but lacked Koné's substance and appeared tentative. Rensch struggled to impose himself when Inter pressed hard. Ghilardi joined the proceedings at 65 minutes and quickly picked up a yellow card; his challenge on Thuram was insufficient. Koulierakis received a caution immediately upon entering late on. Svilar made a miraculous save from a corner and could not be faulted for the two Martínez finishes, maintaining his high standards throughout. Gasperini had urged the team to tighten up after the interval, yet Roma conceded again in the second half and allowed Inter back into the contest. The manager salvaged a point against a strong opponent, though the manner of the collapse—defensive errors and fatigue after 59 minutes of substitutions—left room for frustration. The international break arrives at a timely moment to restore freshness across the squad.

Gasperini's tactical gamble paid off as Roma came from behind to beat Atalanta, with five substitutions made by the 21st minute of the second half transforming a match the club was losing 1–0 after Ederson's goal. With Ndicka and Mancini struggling against Atalanta's counter-attacks, Gasperini brought on Molina, Soulé, Castro, Ghilardi and Balerdi in rapid succession. The changes proved decisive: Ghilardi and Balerdi immediately steadied the defence and neutralised Atalanta's transitions, while Castro came close with efforts that hit the post and crossbar. Soulé delivered the most telling contribution, providing an assist and scoring a goal in the 93rd minute—an impact matching what he produced in Roma's match at Lecce. Gasperini had stated before the match: "Titolari and riserve ormai non contano più, si gioca in sedici"—effectively that first-team status and substitutes no longer matter, the game is played by sixteen—and the field immediately vindicated him. The depth demonstrated reflects substantial improvement from the previous season. In a match such as Parma last May, the bench contained only Venturino and Vaz; Gasperini now has access to a squad rich with genuine alternatives capable of reshaping a match. The quality of those replacements gives him the tactical weapons to win even when games turn against Roma mid-contest.

Neil El Aynaoui is poised to leave Roma after just one season, with Crystal Palace having tabled an opening offer structured as a loan with a right of purchase that would convert to an obligation under certain conditions. Roma value the midfielder at €30–35 million and are seeking either a permanent sale or a guaranteed obligation to buy, neither of which Crystal Palace's initial proposal meets. Bayer Leverkusen has also shown interest, while Saudi Arabian clubs registered prior enquiries. El Aynaoui's potential departure would mark the near-complete dismantling of the squad built last summer by director of football Frédéric Massara under the supervision of head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Bought from Lens a year ago for €23 million plus €2 million in bonuses, El Aynaoui was among Massara's primary investments in summer 2025 and arrived following protracted negotiations for Richard Rios, whom Gasperini had identified as a target midfielder. Yet twelve months on, he has failed to establish himself as a central figure in Roma's project. Of the eight main signings Massara made that summer—El Aynaoui, Wesley, Ghilardi, Evan Ferguson, Bailey, Jan Ziółkowski, Vasquez and Zelezny, plus further arrivals during the season including Robinio Vaz and Donyell Malen in January—almost none remain integrated into the first-team plan. Bailey departed in January; Ferguson and Kostas Tsimikas have returned to their parent clubs; Zaragoza, Venturino and Zelezny have left; Ziółkowski is bound for Monza; and Robinio Vaz is joining Hull City on a paid loan with a purchase option. Only Wesley and Malen have endured as meaningful squad members—notably, both were explicitly endorsed by Gasperini himself. The wholesale reversal reflects a fundamental disconnect between Massara's construction and Gasperini's tactical requirements. The head coach arrived with precise ideas about player profiles: intensity, one-on-one strength, athletic capability, aggression, willingness to defend in open play, and specific positional characteristics. Much of Massara's market activity, the article suggests, proceeded on different criteria. El Aynaoui, aged 25 with international appeal and genuine quality—hardly a failed signing on financial grounds—has attracted bids from Champions League and Bundesliga clubs yet appears expendable to Roma's current thinking. A sale at €30–35 million would recoup the initial investment while generating profit useful for UEFA financial compliance, and would free capital to invest in a midfielder Roma believes better suited to Gasperini's system alongside an attacking winger the head coach has requested for weeks. Roma has already absorbed a year of transfer misalignment and is now attempting correction. Should El Aynaoui depart, Wesley and Malen will stand as the last substantial survivors of Massara's legacy—both players explicitly favoured by Gasperini. The club cannot afford further directional error; Tony D'Amico must construct a roster that is recognisable, coherent and durable, avoiding a return to similar discussions in August 2027 regarding the summer 2026 window.

Roma's final weeks of the summer transfer window will see not only the completion of Gian Piero Gasperini's squad but also a profound transformation of the group built in previous sessions—a wholesale dismantling of the roster assembled under former sporting director Florent Ghisolfi and Ricky Massara. Defender Jan Ziółkowski is poised to leave. The Polish centre-back has opened talks over a move to Monza, who are ready to pay approximately €1.2 million for a paid loan. Details of the buyout clause remain to be finalised, though one proposal links the cost of the loan to Ziółkowski's appearances—the more he plays, the lower the fee for Monza. Roma will not greenlight his departure until a replacement arrives. The primary target is Morato, a Brazilian centre-back at Nottingham Forest, with negotiations centred on a loan formula, though no agreement has yet been reached between the clubs. Thilo Kehrer of Monaco has also been evaluated as an alternative, as has Nayef Aguerd, the 1996-born Moroccan defender at Marseille, in a potential loan deal. More delicate is the situation of Neil El Aynaoui. The Moroccan midfielder has failed to build the tactical understanding with Gasperini required to become a cornerstone of the project, and Roma are ready to let him go after just one season if the right offer arrives. However, proposals from Germany so far have been structured only as loans with buyout clauses, while Trigoria prefers an outright sale. El Aynaoui's departure would force Roma to return to the market. Gasperini had identified Franck Kessié as his target, but the Ivorian is now close to joining Juventus, leaving Roma to find an alternative quickly. Ziółkowski and El Aynaoui could join a lengthy list of players who arrived under Ghisolfi and Massara but have since exited the project: Bailey, Ferguson, Tsimikas, Venturino and Zaragoza are cited, while Robinio Vaz is close to Hull City, with an agreement between the clubs pending the player's approval. The transformation reflects Gasperini's tactical preferences and the new sporting direction's priorities.