Balerdi redemption story written: Roma have found Gasperini's perfect defender

Roma's January transfer planning is waiting on concrete signals from the Friedkin family in Houston, with the club's strategy expected to be defined this week. The break for international fixtures is seen as a crucial moment to plan the winter window, while Roma's aim remains to stay close to the top of the Serie A table. Il Tempo reports that, barring surprises, no members of the Friedkin family are expected to arrive in Rome. The club is also waiting to learn the outcome of its settlement agreement with UEFA, which will determine the room available for investment. Gian Piero Gasperini's direct contact for market matters and corporate affairs remains CEO John Galantic, with a meeting expected in the coming days. The technical area and sporting director Tony D'Amico have already set the priorities: a striker and a winger, ideally with the qualities of Moreira, who was pursued months ago. Endrick remains at the top of the wish list, although the deal is considered complex in several respects. Kvernadze's stock among the other profiles studied by the club has fallen, as he does not fully convince. Unlike the situation last summer, Gasperini's plans also include the possibility of signing a new midfielder, should the budget granted by the ownership allow it. Although satisfied with the performance of the department, the coach has begun to reflect on the difficulties of the season so far. Koné tends to stop from time to time, De Roon, while still reliable, is of significant age, and Pellegrini is getting less and less playing time. For these reasons, if there is room to manoeuvre, Roma will consider a addition in midfield.

Roma are flying in Serie A under Gian Piero Gasperini, but the players sent out on loan last summer are failing to live up to expectations, and up to 50 million euros could be at risk. The situation does not yet directly affect the coach's work, but it could soon become a thorny issue for Trigoria. Beyond disappointing returns and reduced minutes, there are millions that could evaporate in wages, buy-back options and the value of the players' registrations. Roma had hoped to recoup that money, and it now risks becoming a missed opportunity. The clearest exception is Neil El Aynaoui, who joined Leipzig last summer and has convinced everyone in Germany. The Moroccco international has quickly become a regular starter and a fixed point of the side, with Demichelis never dropping him in either the Bundesliga or the Champions League. He has yet to score, but his performances are in line with expectations and his importance to Leipzig has grown game after game. The buy-back option, set at 25 million euros, now looks like a formality. A minor physical problem has prevented him from answering Morocco's call-up, a setback that for now does not change the picture of his German adventure. If Leipzig continue to back him with this conviction, the buy-back becomes more likely, allowing Trigoria to bring in a significant sum and recover much of the investment made to bring him to the capital. El Aynaoui represents the exception among many loans that risk becoming a boomerang for Roma. He is the only one who, for now, seems to have found the right place away from Rome, and he could allow the giallorossi to close the loans chapter, perhaps, with a smile.

Dybala and Mancini have returned to training with the group at Trigoria, with both now in contention for Roma's trip to Parma on 21 November. The squad resumed work after three days' rest with thirteen players away on international duty, and Gian Piero Gasperini used the break to clear the injury list. Paulo Dybala is gradually overcoming a calf injury, while Gianluca Mancini has almost shaken off a muscle complaint. Their responses will be assessed over the coming days, but the chances of both being available at the Tardini are growing. There are also encouraging signs for Mile Svilar, who is still training apart from the group but has put his boots back on after weeks in a protective boot for a foot injury, boosting hopes of his return in goal against Parma. His recovery will also allow Pierluigi Gollini to recover more calmly from the back problem that cost him the last two matches. Gasperini is now looking ahead to the January window and will discuss the matter this week with sporting director Tony D'Amico and chief executive John Galantic. The coach's priority is to add offensive options with a profile offering pace and unpredictability. Three different options are on the club's list, though none has yet become a concrete negotiation. The internal discussions come against a backdrop of a cool and distant relationship between Gasperini and the Friedkin family. No meetings with the ownership are currently planned to define winter strategy, so the talks with D'Amico and Galantic will serve to set priorities and room for manoeuvre while awaiting decisions from the American owners.

Leonardo Balerdi, who left Marseille for Roma, has become one of the pillars of Gian Piero Gasperini's side and is now being considered by Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni to fill the central defensive void left by Otamendi's departure. The Marseille supporters who celebrated his exit in August now have a Roma fan base enjoying his performances instead. Balerdi defends, commands his area, supports attacks and, when he has space, can carry the ball forward. His combination of qualities is reminiscent, in some respects, of the best version of Manolas. Gasperini has repeatedly praised him, and the start to this season has confirmed how important the Argentine has become to the balance of the team. His progress has also not gone unnoticed back home. Scaloni continues to call him up to the national team, and now a new opportunity may open for him. With Otamendi gone, Argentina are searching for a new reference point at the heart of the defence. According to TyC Sports, the Giallorossi defender is among the candidates for a starting berth in the friendly against Uruguay, with Lisandro Martínez expected to partner him. The report underlines how quickly Balerdi has established himself as a key figure at Roma, moving from a player whose departure Marseille supporters welcomed to a central defender the national team is considering for a starting role. A call-up and a starting place against Uruguay would represent a significant step for the 2026-27 season.

Former Roma striker Abel Balbo has praised Matías Soulé's personality, saying it has surprised him, and said Santiago Castro will have the chance to prove his worth behind Donyell Malen. Speaking exclusively to Retesport, Balbo also reflected on playing in the club's Scudetto-winning season. Balbo said being part of that campaign, even briefly, was the crowning moment of his career, as he had arrived near the end of it. Asked about the number of Argentines now at Roma, he said: "The Argentine player has certain characteristics, he has personality and technical qualities. They are people who form a group. We are presumptuous, we are not afraid, and we always push forward to reach a goal. They are all functional to Gasperini's game, and they will do great things." On Soulé, Balbo said: "I expected his growth because he has enormous talent and has everything to do great things. I did not think he could have so much personality. He is a young lad, he is not afraid, he goes at people and creates situations whether it is Real Madrid or the team at the bottom of the table. He is very mature in this respect and it has surprised me." On Balerdi, he said: "Very functional to Gasperini's game. He is fast, aggressive and sees the goal, scoring because he is strong in the air. He comes from Boca, has many matches behind him with Marseille and in the German league: he has experience, he is doing and will do well. Then mistakes can be made, as happened in Manchester, it can happen." Asked how it feels to play alongside a striker like Malen, and about Castro, Balbo said: "It is painful because logically he has been paid a lot, and there is a lot of expectation. He will have time, Malen is doing extraordinary things. He will have the chance to prove his value. He is not a great goalscorer but he gives his life for the team. He will be loved by Roma fans." Balbo also recalled a derby from his time at the club. "It was one derby among others, but they wrote us off because Lazio were flying while we were not. We played a great game and we played with force. Cervone even grabbed one of them by the neck, lifting him inside the small area (laughs). Mazzone deserved it, he suffered so much every Sunday: he was coach of his beloved team and did not want to make mistakes. Everyone talked about Zeman and his attacking football, and about the catenaccio of Mazzone, so it was a huge satisfaction." On the fans, he added: "Before there was a beautiful, direct and sincere relationship with the supporters, sometimes it even went too far: it is a pity that things have changed now. My football was much better from this point of view."

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.