Bayern Munich ejects Zaragoza as Roma writes off failed loan experiment

Mile Svilar will not return before the international break, with doctors refusing to clear the goalkeeper early despite new instrumental tests on his foot injury, which had been examined with a view to a return for the Champions League clash with Manchester United. He will miss the trips to Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo, with a probable comeback after the break in the match on 21 November at Parma. Roma continue a demanding run of fixtures, and they travel to Udinese on Saturday 31 October at 18:00 with further important absences. Paulo Dybala will not be available for the match at the Bluenergy Arena. Despite Gasperini's optimism and his partial return to group training, the Argentine has been held back as a precaution. He has suffered no setback and the injury has fully healed, but he had felt a slight discomfort before the Cagliari game and the medical staff preferred not to take a risk. The goal is his availability for the Champions League match against Manchester United on 3 November. Roma's attack remains a target in the market, with Endrick, the Brazilian talent of Real Madrid, a name of interest. Despite Mourinho's wish to keep him, the player is weighing offers received in recent weeks, and Serie A would be a welcome destination. AC Milan and Roma remain among the interested clubs, and the player's camp does not rule anything out for January. Michael Yormack, president of Roc Nation Sports International, said: "It is an evolving process. We will see how things go until the end of the year. Endrick is very talented and wants to play. He loves Madrid and his teammates, but a career is short and he wants to make the most of it." With the winter window approaching, further names linked to Roma are circulating. German reports revive interest in Federico Chiesa, who is finding little space at Liverpool and is now willing to sell him for around 15 million euros. The winger is reportedly unhappy with the limited minutes given to him by the new coach Iraola and has begun looking at the Italian market. Initial contacts with Inter were reportedly made without reaching an agreement. Atalanta, Lazio and Milan are also interested alongside Roma. On Rome radio, Alessandro Vocalelli praised the way the substitutes have come on. He said: "I like the way the players coming off the bench enter. The latest was Gollini, who seemed not up to it and instead came on and did very well, as did Balerdi and Mora. It is a Roma that is confirming what was said on the eve of the match." Luigi Ferrajolo added: "On an individual level I really like Lulli: he is growing and deserves to play all the time. Against Cagliari Roma played with fire, not only in terms of the result but also in terms of the game they played."

Endrick is reportedly set to ask for a loan move in January, with Roma still keen to sign the Brazilian forward. Tuttomercatoweb reports that the Real Madrid striker wants to leave, and AC Milan have also asked for information about him. Roma have been tracking Endrick since last summer, when a move was blocked. The former Palmeiras player is not finding room in the Real Madrid side. His only highlight came in Rome, with a Champions League goal, but it did not mark a turning point for him this season. Endrick's agent recently spoke about his future: "I think it is an evolving process. We have to see how things develop from now until the end of the year, before the next transfer window. We had an excellent conversation. He is extremely talented and very eager to play, so we will see what happens. He loves Madrid, he loves the team and his teammates, but ultimately, when you think about the length of a career, it is short, and he wants to make the most of it."

Liverpool are reportedly willing to sell Federico Chiesa for €15 million, according to the German portal Fussball-news.de, with Roma among the clubs tracking the winger. The report says the former Juventus forward has been getting little playing time under new Liverpool coach Iraola, compared with his previous role, and has begun looking towards the Italian market. According to the report, initial contacts were made with Inter, but no agreement has been reached. Roma are also said to be following Chiesa, alongside Atalanta, Lazio and Milan. Liverpool could look to move the player as early as January, the report adds, as he has lost importance in the club's technical plans. The winter window is approaching, and several names linked to Roma are already circulating as Gian Piero Gasperini looks to strengthen his squad. Chiesa was previously of interest to the Giallorossi, and the German report revives that link at a time when the club is looking for reinforcements.

Gian Piero Gasperini takes Roma to the Maradona on Napoli-Roma, a fixture the article describes as never ordinary, with the Roma boss dealing with a real injury emergency. He is also keen to break several long-running head-to-head tabs against Massimiliano Allegri. One player Gasperini can count on is Donyell Malen, who returned on Tuesday against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League but was suspended for last weekend's league match against Genoa. For Napoli, the attacking burden falls on Rasmus Hojlund, a former pupil of Gasperini. Gasperini coached Hojlund at Atalanta in 2022-23, the season the Danish striker broke through by terrorising defences with his physical runs and his aggressive movement into space. After a campaign with 34 appearances, 10 goals and 4 assists, Hojlund was sold to Manchester United for a total cost of 85 million. Expectations rose sharply with that fee, and they were not met in England. He then returned to Italy, joining Napoli with the aim of rediscovering his best form after several seasons with more shadows than lights at Old Trafford. Today he is Napoli's main offensive reference point and the first threat Roma's defence must handle. Napoli supporters, however, have been critical of his performances and of the team's style under Allegri. The last meeting at the Maradona, a 2-2 draw in February, did not show Hojlund at his best. Malen took centre stage instead. He opened the scoring after 7 minutes from an assist by Zaragoza, and restored Roma's lead from the penalty spot in the 71st minute. Malen, nicknamed Bobby, wants to repeat that performance in Fuorigrotta, where he could have been playing little more than a year ago. As Il Mattino revealed, Napoli targeted the Dutch forward last January, but the interest never developed into a concrete offer. Gasperini's call, Malen's impact in Rome and the love of the Roma fans have since made the story a Giallorossi one.

Gianluca Piacentini of Rete Sport insisted Roma paid 25 million euros for Mora, not 50 million, in the latest instalment of the Roman radio roundup. He said: "Roma paid 25 million for Mora, then if this year he scores 100 goals and is worth 200 million, Roma have the option of paying 25 million to remove that clause on a future resale. But they did not buy 50% of the player, they bought 100% of the player. If they sell him, they must give 50% of what they receive, which Roma can remove by paying another 25 million. Since you have been insinuating for days that he is rubbish but you do not have the courage to say it, you say he was paid 50 million, but it is not true! If Roma take Mora to the end of his contract, they will have paid 25 million. It is very clear." Rossi, also on Rete Sport, reopened the debate over Pellegrini, saying that some people had doubted Roma's decision to renew Dybala and Pellegrini this summer, citing a history of injuries. He said Dybala has not reached half of his appearances and that Pellegrini had reached his 100th injury. Pellegrini has now re-injured the musculotendinous junction of the flexor, and will take another three months out. Rossi added that the injury was not fixed and that the club paid five million gross for the player, money he said Roma could have spent better. On Tele Radio Stereo, Alessio Nardo asked whether this is Pellegrini's last season with Roma, adding that the speculation should be hedged because "with Pellegrini you never know". He also questioned whether Gasperini chose to speak at his press conference today to avoid questions about possible errors in the transfer market and about underestimating certain aspects. Nardo described a city that remains bitter even after a third-place finish and seven wins in ten matches, saying Mora had become "the new Zaragoza" and had been "destroyed" over the last 48 hours. Lorenzo Pes disagreed, arguing that Gasperini skipped the press conference simply because of a run of closely spaced matches. Valentina Catoni argued that the real problem was not renewing Pellegrini but failing to sign another forward, saying Gasperini had asked for at least one more player up front. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said Roma are playing the season with only 20 outfield players, two of whom, Dybala and Pellegrini, have had a hard few years. He said the club's wage bill problem is the card Roma will play in front of UEFA, and claimed Pellegrini has played only 150 minutes in total. Torri also said he would have signed El Shaarawy at the end of the window, since he could play as a wide attacker or in midfield. Paola Cosenza voiced concern about Cristante, who is returning from a collateral ligament problem, fearing he may force his recovery. Marco Valerio Corsi said he expected Gasperini to protect Mora in the match at Napoli if he delivered another lacklustre performance, and that he doubted Wesley could play as a forward. Roberto Pruzzo said Soulé is growing and that Roma should build around him, and that he sees Santiago Castro as the alternative, adding that Mora looks too far behind the level required for the stage he is being asked to perform on. He said: "We must hope Malen doesn't even have a cold, otherwise it gets tough." Mario Mattioli argued that Pellegrini had only returned from injury two matches earlier and that the club had already lived through a similar situation. Nando Orsi criticised the constant talk of signings and of how Gasperini's training compares with that of previous years. The discussion is set to continue on the same programme, with pundits calling for Roma to reach January in contention for the top places before the club reassesses its options.

Roma's radio pundits offered contrasting views ahead of the midweek fixture against Genoa. Roberto Pruzzo told Radio Radio Mattino that Roma's substitutes are stronger than Genoa's first team, predicting a draw driven by the fatigue of midweek football rather than any shortfall in quality. He expressed reservations about some of the summer market decisions, saying: "The reserves of Roma are superior to Genoa's starters. I expect a draw, not because Genoa are stronger, but because playing mid-week brings difficulties. Molina? From what I've seen in recent matches, perhaps it would have been better to look elsewhere. I didn't understand many of the market choices. You have to understand and accept a market where some decisions, for certain roles, seem questionable." Nando Orsi provided a fuller defence of both the transfer strategy and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's squad management. Orsi argued that Gasperini cannot be blamed for Roma's loss to Real Madrid, and that the club has conducted strong recruitment. He noted the reality of transfer constraints: "If you have to spend too much to buy, then you don't buy. Gasperini shaped the market too: it seems he was satisfied 80%. It's hard for a manager to be satisfied 100%, unless you manage Real Madrid, PSG or even bigger clubs." Orsi highlighted Roma's attacking depth, stating: "Roma has 11 players, nine of whom can be starters. Ahead of Castro, Malen always scores: it's obvious there are difficulties, but there are no doubts about Castro's qualities. Mora reminds me of Zaragoza." Orsi also defended recent signings and Roma's overall market performance this summer.