Balerdi arrives in Rome for medical tests and contract signing

Defender Balerdi has arrived in Rome to complete his transfer to AS Roma. The Argentine was photographed at Ciampino airport with supporters as he touched down in the capital on 29 August, confirming the club's swift move in the market.

Roma are intensifying their pursuit of Zenit winger Luiz Henrique, with the club reportedly moving closer to the Russian side's valuation and now seeking to reach personal terms with the Brazilian. Luiz Henrique, 25, has emerged as a concrete target in the final phase of the transfer window after weeks dominated by other names. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has been seeking an attacking winger to complete his squad, and the player fits that requirement despite presenting a different profile to the one Roma have chased throughout the summer. Henrique is left-footed and plays primarily as a right winger, whereas Gasperini's stated preference has been for a right-footed attacker capable of playing from the left flank. However, his versatility—he can operate across the entire attacking line and play on the left or in a central position—offers the coach tactical flexibility as a tactical option. Roma are in direct contact with Zenit San Pietroburgo regarding a potential transfer. The player was proposed to the club, and Roma have now asked the Russian side to clarify the conditions and costs of any deal. According to reporting from Angelo Mangiante, Fabrizio Romano, Alfredo Pedullà, and Gianluca Di Marzio, negotiations are actively under way. The club has closed the gap between its own offer and Zenit's asking price and is now focused on securing the player's agreement to the move. The emerging path comes at a decisive moment in the market, following weeks when Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Malick Fofana dominated Roma's attention as targets. The coming hours will determine whether Roma intend to commit fully to Henrique or treat him merely as an alternative held in reserve.

Luiz Henrique has emerged as Roma's leading target for an attacking addition as the transfer window enters its final phase. The Zenit winger has overtaken Malick Fofana and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens in head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's list of priorities for the left-wing position. The Brazilian represents a change in approach: a natural left-footer rather than the right-footed winger originally sought to play on the left and cut infield. Roma and Zenit have reportedly reached an outline agreement on the fee and payment terms for the transfer. However, key details remain to be finalised between the clubs, and Luiz Henrique's personal approval of the move to Rome is still required. The acceleration on this avenue follows difficulties in Roma's pursuit of Chelsea's Bynoe-Gittens. With time running short, director Tony D'Amico is pursuing a more straightforward option that can be completed quickly and provide Gasperini with the offensive reinforcement needed. Fofana remains a possibility on the fringes, as does Bynoe-Gittens, but Luiz Henrique has made the decisive move in recent hours. According to Brazilian journalist Raisa Simplicio, the agreement with Zenit represents a significant first step. The focus now shifts to persuading the Brazilian himself to complete the transfer to the capital.

Roma's prospects for the 2026–27 season drew mixed assessments from prominent radio commentators on 29 August, with particular focus on the squad's readiness and the still-unresolved left-wing forward slot. Roberto Pruzzo told Radio Radio Mattino that Roma are "a strong squad, stronger still if they sign the left-sided forward," but stressed the importance of Paulo Dybala's physical condition: "I have the feeling that much of what will make Roma stronger than last season will depend on Dybala's condition more than the transfer campaign. Castro is one of the best available on the market; I'm convinced he'll have more playing time than people think. I hope Rodrigo Mora gains confidence and personality." Sandro Sabatini, also on Radio Radio Mattino, was harsher: "The left-sided forward position at Roma has become a joke—it's been going on for over a year and a half and still hasn't been filled. A Dybala like the one we saw against Fiorentina, we haven't seen in ten years. Mora's start pleased me, but if the shirt had said Baldanzi on it we'd have talked about a good Baldanzi performance. He certainly stood out with meticulous marking of Fagioli." Earlier on Radio Radio pomeriggio, Giancarlo Padovan remarked that Roma were "the team that played best among those who featured on the opening day," and that Gasperini's tactical approach, "once absorbed by the players, is an idea that can take them far. I don't know if it's in the Champions League or the domestic campaign, but Rome can get into the top 24, and after that we'll see." Luca Marchetti noted the squad's structure under Gasperini: "one piece is still missing, at the level of names that warning light keeps flashing." He praised Mora as "strong and bold—someone not physically structured, who reads the play early." Paolo Cannavaro discussed the left-back situation: Wesley was initially deployed at right-back, but no replacement has arrived; without a signing, Devyne Rensch will play left-back as "an adapted player." Federico Camelio raised tactical concerns: "Mora is not a winger, not a Papu Gómez, nothing like him. The manager has made two choices on the flank and still nobody arrives." Daniele Ordine suggested if the market deals close as expected—"adding a Kessié and not selling Koné"—Roma would field "a squad of real substance" capable of reaching the knockout stages.

Leonardo Balerdi is set to become Roma's fifth summer signing, joining from Olympique Marseille on loan with a right of purchase that can become an obligation based on certain appearance thresholds. The Argentine defender, who holds Italian citizenship and was born in 1999, is expected to arrive imminently and will sign a contract through 2031. The deal is valued between €15 and €20 million in total and was completed in just over 48 hours through quiet negotiations by the Roma hierarchy. Bareldi's path to Roma stretches back years. In 2025, then-sporting director Ghisolfi pursued him, while last summer Gasperini specifically requested the signing. However, Marseille's valuation proved prohibitively high at that time; only now, with the French club needing to offload players, has the operation become feasible. Sporting director D'Amico had identified Balerdi while working with Gasperini at Atalanta in summer 2024, following a Europa League semi-final meeting between the clubs. That interest stalled over valuation concerns. D'Amico had also negotiated with Marseille over defender Aguerd in recent days, but the Moroccan declined a loan move, bringing Balerdi back into focus. At 27, Balerdi will join Roma's growing contingent of Argentine players at Trigoria: Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé, Santiago Castro and Nahuel Molina.

Roman radio stations aired mixed reaction to Roma's performance against Fiorentina and the club's transfer strategy. Sandro Sabatini (Radio Radio Mattino) highlighted the ongoing struggle to secure a left-sided attacker, saying: "The Roma left winger has become a joke, it has been going on for over a year and a half and still hasn't arrived." Sabatini praised Paulo Dybala's display, noting: "A Dybala like the one against Fiorentina we haven't seen in 10 years." He offered a measured assessment of Rodrigo Mora's debut, stating: "Mora's start pleased me, but if the shirt had said Baldanzi we would have spoken of a good Baldanzi performance. He certainly stood out in a scrupulous marking of Fagioli." Nando Orsi (Radio Radio Mattino) set higher expectations for Mora given his transfer fee, saying: "Mora was paid quite a bit and for that reason I expect him to be decisive from the start. We need continuity and for him to be decisive in the important phases of a match." Roberto Pruzzo (Radio Radio Mattino) assessed Roma as strong and noted that resolving the left-wing issue would make them stronger still. He highlighted Santiago Castro as one of the best available signings on the market, stating: "I am convinced he will have more playing time than we think." Pruzzo concluded: "I hope Mora gains confidence and personality." Pruzzo also suggested that Roma's overall strength this season may owe more to Paulo Dybala's form than to the summer's transfer activity, and expressed optimism about the squad's trajectory.

Gigi Garzya, a former player of both Lecce and Roma, assessed the upcoming Serie A match between the sides on Monday, highlighting the challenges each team faces. Lecce secured their first away win of the season at Venezia with a strong second-half display, though Garzya noted they had to absorb the hosts' tempo for much of the match. He praised midfielder Olaf Gorter for his quality and personality, and singled out the summer arrival of Ilić as evidence of Lecce's market ambition. On Roma's preparations under Gasperini, Garzya said the squad has been reinforced with players who strengthen it, though he acknowledged the departure of Zeki Çelik as significant—though Nahuel Molina possesses sufficient quality and competitive hunger to offset that loss. He outlined the tactical challenge: "A thing Roma must pay attention to is that Lecce is a team that doesn't give you anything for free; in that it's a bit like Roma, all things considered. Rhythm, ball recovery, rapid transitions, a very mobile attack." With the Champions League now part of Roma's fixture list, Garzya stressed the need for at least six reliable defenders in the squad, given the physical demands of Gasperini's system and the volume of matches. He praised the addition of Konstantinos Koulierakis as a carefully targeted choice, reflecting Gasperini's approach of never approving signings merely to inflate numbers. On Roma's ambitions for the season, Garzya urged focus on maintaining Champions League status as a priority. "It is early to say and ultimately the transfer market might not yet be finished," he stated. "We will also see what the others do by the close. Certainly you must do everything to maintain the Champions League position, because Roma must play this competition regularly. Then we'll see if appetite comes with eating."

Leonardo Balerdi arrived in Rome on 29 August after Roma and Marseille agreed terms for the Argentine defender. The 24-year-old touched down at 17:30 local time, greeted by supporters who secured initial selfies with him before he underwent medical checks and signed his contract. The deal is structured as a loan worth 1 million euros with a right of conversion to an obligation of approximately 15 million euros, conditional on appearances and European qualification. Bareldi replaces Jan Ziółkowski, who is departing to Monza. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini had requested an experienced defender rather than a young prospect to develop, and Balerdi completes a defensive line already containing Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, Mario Hermoso, Daniele Ghilardi and Konstantinos Koulierakis. Roma aim to have him available for the fixture against Lecce on Monday.

Roma return to the Champions League after eight years with a curious contradiction: a squad seasoned in European competition but largely inexperienced in the continent's top tier. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, the giallorossi have navigated knockout stages, difficult away trips and high-pressure evenings in recent seasons, yet a significant portion of the squad presents as Champions League debutants when their record in the competition itself is examined. The drawn opponents—Real Madrid, PSG, Manchester United, Sporting, Lille, Fenerbahçe, Slovan Bratislava and AEK Atene—underscore the magnitude of the step up. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen stand as the principal points of reference, each with around 50 Champions League appearances. Behind them Nahuel Molina brings roughly 40 such matches from his time at Atlético Madrid, followed by Mario Hermoso, equally accustomed to the highest level of European football. The picture shifts sharply thereafter. Bryan Cristante and Lorenzo Pellegrini have played in the Champions League, though Roma's last participation dates back to the 2018–19 season. Other squad members have sampled the competition only briefly, while a substantial portion will encounter it for the first time. Key players such as Manu Koné, Wesley, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Niccolò Pisilli and Santiago Castro have either never played it or collected minimal appearances. Yet Roma should not be labelled a European-inexperienced side. The club built a genuine identity in the cups: Cristante, Pellegrini, Gianluca Mancini, Mile Svilar and the core nucleus lived through the Conference League triumph in 2022, the Europa League final of 2023 and numerous knockout campaigns. Dybala, Evan N'Dicka, Koné, Pisilli and Matías Soulé have progressively accumulated international experience outside the Champions League but in matches where pressure, emotional control and reading momentum matter most. Here lies the true uncertainty: Roma possesses European aptitude but lacks a true Champions League identity. Errors recoverable in Europa League risk becoming instant goals against Real Madrid and PSG. The new League Phase format demands Gasperini navigate eight different fixtures without building a classic group-stage rhythm. The task ahead is not to teach Roma what a European night means, but to elevate what they have learned over five years.

Gigi Garzya, a former player of both Lecce and Roma, assessed the upcoming Serie A match between the sides on Monday, highlighting the challenges each team faces. Lecce secured their first away win of the season at Venezia with a strong second-half display, though Garzya noted they had to absorb the hosts' tempo for much of the match. He praised midfielder Olaf Gorter for his quality and personality, and singled out the summer arrival of Ilić as evidence of Lecce's market ambition. On Roma's preparations under Gasperini, Garzya said the squad has been reinforced with players who strengthen it, though he acknowledged the departure of Zeki Çelik as significant—though Nahuel Molina possesses sufficient quality and competitive hunger to offset that loss. He outlined the tactical challenge: "A thing Roma must pay attention to is that Lecce is a team that doesn't give you anything for free; in that it's a bit like Roma, all things considered. Rhythm, ball recovery, rapid transitions, a very mobile attack." With the Champions League now part of Roma's fixture list, Garzya stressed the need for at least six reliable defenders in the squad, given the physical demands of Gasperini's system and the volume of matches. He praised the addition of Konstantinos Koulierakis as a carefully targeted choice, reflecting Gasperini's approach of never approving signings merely to inflate numbers. On Roma's ambitions for the season, Garzya urged focus on maintaining Champions League status as a priority. "It is early to say and ultimately the transfer market might not yet be finished," he stated. "We will also see what the others do by the close. Certainly you must do everything to maintain the Champions League position, because Roma must play this competition regularly. Then we'll see if appetite comes with eating."

Roma will learn the full league-phase schedule for the UEFA Champions League on 29 August, with the phase running from 8–10 September through 27 January. Real Madrid, Sporting, Lille and Slovan Bratislava will visit the Olimpico, while Roma travel to face PSG, Manchester United, Fenerbahçe and AEK Athens. The club has already sold 40,000 cup subscriptions, with the Curva Sud and Distinti Sud sections sold out. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini appears set to keep the starting eleven largely intact following Roma's convincing opening display against Fiorentina, fielding it again away at Lecce on Via del Mare. Rodrigo Mora is on course to start alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in attack, with a battle between Giorgio De Marzi and Nahuel Molina for the right-back position. Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, Mario Hermoso, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné are expected to retain their places. Defence headaches persist: Devyne Rensch will miss the Lecce trip due to a left-flexor problem and continues treatment, while Lorenzo Pellegrini continues his recovery work on an individual programme.

Roma will not strengthen their wing-back options before the transfer window closes, barring late surprises. With Devyne Rensch sidelined by a left flexor injury, Gian Piero Gasperini will rely on four defenders to cover the flanks until January: Giorgio De Marzi and Nahuel Molina on the right, and Wesley on the left. Molina featured prominently in Roma's opening match against Fiorentina last Monday, while Lulli has also impressed in recent action. The Oosterwolde deal collapsed following additional medical checks, and with Balerdi's arrival imminent to complete the centre-back contingent, Roma have decided against further recruitment in the defensive ranks. The club's focus has instead shifted to signing an attacking left winger rather than a fourth midfield full-back, a decision made in light of the positive performances from Lulli. Any further wing signings remain possible in the final days of the market, but none is planned at present.