Boniek: Roma not among scudetto favourites, but Gasperini appeals to fans and myself

José Mourinho has opened up about his relationship with Roma and the painful end to his time at the club, describing a connection with the fanbase that transcended football. Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, Mourinho recalled his arrival in the capital with characteristic candour. "The fans were special with me," he said. "I always tell the story that on the day I arrived in Rome and got off the plane, there were a thousand people. But I had done nothing. I hadn't won anything for these people and I asked myself why. This had a big impact. I didn't deserve it, but this is Rome—you understand it afterwards." Mourinho emphasised the depth of his commitment to the club and its supporters. "A crazy connection was created," he explained. "They understood that I never worried about my image, my relationships with the ownership, Italian football politics, or the press. For me, only Roma and the Romanisti existed. I fought for them, I gave everything of myself and in return I received their love." He highlighted Roma's Europa Conference League victory as a watershed moment, noting that for a club without frequent major honours, such a triumph carried immense significance. "The fans showed a love that touches you for the club. I made mistakes, I lost matches, I got things wrong sometimes, but they always understood that I was fighting for them." The narrative darkened when Mourinho addressed the Europa League final in Budapest and its aftermath. "The end of the Europa League was the highest point of this connection with the fans. Obviously it ended badly for me," he said. "I paid for the relationship with the ownership, which had a profile and approach different from mine over what happened in the final. I was already dead, and after a few months I left." The interview underscores how deeply the wound of his departure runs, and his place in supporters' affection remains secure, though Mourinho himself resists comparisons with Roma's legendary figures.

Rome's radio stations offered contrasting assessments of Lorenzo Pellegrini's role as Roma prepare for a match against Como. Lorenzo Pes of Tele Radio Stereo expressed concern about Pellegrini's fit in the current squad. "I struggle to imagine him in this Roma team," Pes said. "It's a side playing at a very high tempo, and he seems a player a long way from that shape. He limited the damage in a Roma that wasn't operating at this pace, but honestly I find it difficult to see him playing this kind of football. I think he needs to take steps to play in a Roma that operates this way." Piero Torri of Radio Manà Manà offered a more positive view, noting that Pellegrini had delivered strong performances during Roma's Conference League campaign and should not be underestimated. Torri suggested that Pellegrini could start ahead of competing midfielders Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora, both of whom had been on international duty. Simone Valdarchi cautioned against drawing early conclusions about the title race, remarking that Como could provide greater conviction but that judging the season this soon was premature. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio focused on Como's tactical threat, highlighting Nico Paz and Paulo Dybala as crucial to the contest. He emphasized that Niccolò Pisilli's current form offered a dynamic midfield alternative to Marten de Roon, whose inclusion could make Roma's approach too predictable against Como's quality-based approach. Pruzzo noted the importance of whether Dybala's ability to unlock Donyell Malen could prove decisive, given the spaces Como typically concedes.

Papu Gomez, the former Atalanta player, has backed Roma to challenge for the Serie A title this season. Speaking to Tuttomercatoweb, Gomez said: "Today I see Roma as a strong team that knows how to play. If Roma is in good health and the strong players are in good health, for me it is the team that can fight against Inter for the Scudetto." Gomez's comments come as Roma have started the 2026-27 season in positive form. He emphasised that head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's squad has the quality to mount a genuine title challenge, provided all key players remain fit and available. Gomez, who spent years under Gasperini at Atalanta and served as captain for five years, spoke about the relationship between Gasperini and the Roma players. When asked whether Maurizio Sarri could open a winning cycle at Atalanta comparable to the one Gasperini built there, Gomez said: "It will be very difficult to follow a path like Gasperini did: ten years of success. I wish him well, but it's difficult. Then many things need to change because Sarri's football is not Gasperini's football. That team has assimilated Gasperini's concepts and now must get used to playing another type of football. So we hope Sarri has time and can build something important." Gomez also praised Gasperini's regard for him and expressed hope that Paulo Dybala performs well at Roma.

Roma recorded the lowest minute tally among Serie A's top sides during the latest international break, accumulating 1,204 minutes across their squad members on national duty. AC Milan led the ranking with 2,625 minutes, followed by Inter on 2,352 and Napoli on 2,094. Roma's relatively modest figure reflects fewer players being called up for the four matches played by their national teams during this fixture congestion period. Rodrígo Mora topped Roma's minutes register for Portugal Under-21 with 225, ahead of Evan N'Dicka (Ivory Coast) on 187 and Gianluca Mancini (Italy) with 180. Niccolò Pisilli matched Mancini's total for Italy Under-21, while Manu Koné accumulated 152 minutes for France. The minutes spread unevenly across the squad: Konstantinos Koulierakis (Greece) played 90 minutes, Leonardo Balerdi (Argentina) 79, Matías Soulé (Argentina) 45, and Emanuele Lulli (Italy Under-21) 45. Santiago Castro (Argentina) featured for just 21 minutes, while Daniele Ghilardi (Italy) and Giorgio De Marzi (Italy youth) saw no action. In the broader Serie A comparison, Juventus recorded 1,772 minutes with Como on 1,587 and Lazio on 1,232. Among the top three, Milan's total was driven by players such as Jashari (Switzerland, 295 minutes), Pavlovic (Serbia, 275) and Ramos (Portugal, 275). Inter's Akanji (Switzerland) and Napoli's Lobotka (Slovakia) each played the maximum 360 minutes across their respective nations' campaigns. The international window has added significant load to players' schedules as calendars become increasingly congested with fixtures.

Rome's radio stations dissected Lorenzo Pellegrini's prospects and Santiago Castro's playing time in depth on 8 October, with studio hosts split on whether the midfielder can justify his renewed contract under Gasperini's high-tempo system. Mario Corsi stated bluntly: "Pellegrini knows inside himself that this is the moment where he either succeeds or fails. This is his last chance, because if he has another opaque season I don't think he'll stay at Roma. From a player like Pellegrini it isn't enough to have one good match — he was Roma's captain, and people expect him to make a difference." Lorenzo Pes offered a contrasting view of the tactical fit: "I'm very curious to see how Pellegrini will slot into a Roma going at full speed. He seems a player who is a bit removed from how this team is shaped. He managed the damage in a Roma that wasn't playing at this rhythm, but honestly I struggle to imagine him in this squad." Paolo Cosenza countered that Pellegrini's ability to play vertically and his vision suited Gasperini's approach. Alessio Nardo framed the renewal as a high-stakes gamble: "The society has placed this squad and its fate in Gasperini's hands. All the players were approved by the coach — he and D'Amico are jointly responsible for the players signed, sold and renewed. Dybala has proved he deserved his renewal 100 per cent. Now we will evaluate Pellegrini on the pitch. If Pellegrini doesn't deliver, we will have to hold Gasperini to account for it, because he has always defended him." CCastro's limited first-team action also drew comment. Checco Oddo Casano explained the transfer fee: "Castro cost 35 million partly because Bologna was the only club willing to take Dovbyk, a player with continuous physical problems, absorbing his entire wage and including a purchase option. When a young but promising player has a low wage, he often costs you more in transfer fee." Gianluca Piacentini observed that Donyell Malen was scoring a goal per game, making him a regular starter, but argued Castro deserved playing time to develop. David Rossi advocated for Castro's inclusion: "He's an ambitious player, and you can see it when he takes the pitch. If at the end of the season Malen plays 38 times as a starter and Castro comes on 38 times for five minutes, he'll tell you he made a mistake, because he wants to be the main man." Roberto Pruzzo highlighted the tactical duel in the upcoming Como match: "Think of Nico Paz and Dybala — that could be the key to the game. Pisilli is in form and can give you a midfield alternative in a very static situation, because if De Roon plays, it becomes very readable against Como, who make their quality their best weapon." Nando Orsi predicted Paz would be benched, saying Fabregas uses the bench to punish occasional indolence. The match is scheduled for 12:30, with Orsi defending the early kickoff as standard in English football for years.

Como and Roma meet on Sunday in a fixture that spotlights two clubs most actively invested in youth development. The pair have the lowest average squad ages in Serie A: Como at 24.5 years and Roma at 25.8 years, ahead of Milan (26.5) and Juventus (26.8). Napoli lag furthest behind at 28.5 years. Both clubs field multiple players under 23 in prominent roles, with Como deploying Diao, Paz, Liberali, Ramon, Valle, Rodriguez and Baturina, while Roma call on Pisilli, Mora, Lulli, Wesley, Castro, Soulé and Ghilardi. The matchup represents a broader strategic commitment to the future across both squads. Roma and Como have both made future-focused recruitment a priority and plan to continue doing so in the next transfer window whilst maintaining experienced depth. Roma blend youth with senior players including Paulo Dybala, Bryan Cristante and Mario Hermoso. Como similarly pair development with established figures such as Milla, Butez and Douvikas under Fabregas. The contrast in playing styles is notable—both clubs seek to dominate opponents and entertain—yet they share this generational philosophy. Monza and Frosinone currently lead the league's average age table at 23.8 years, having reached matchday five. However, the quality of young talent matters as much as the statistical average. Neither Roma nor Como lack for that calibre of prospect, positioning the two clubs as genuine title contenders built on youth rather than veteran squads.

Rome's radio stations offered contrasting assessments of Lorenzo Pellegrini's role as Roma prepare for a match against Como. Lorenzo Pes of Tele Radio Stereo expressed concern about Pellegrini's fit in the current squad. "I struggle to imagine him in this Roma team," Pes said. "It's a side playing at a very high tempo, and he seems a player a long way from that shape. He limited the damage in a Roma that wasn't operating at this pace, but honestly I find it difficult to see him playing this kind of football. I think he needs to take steps to play in a Roma that operates this way." Piero Torri of Radio Manà Manà offered a more positive view, noting that Pellegrini had delivered strong performances during Roma's Conference League campaign and should not be underestimated. Torri suggested that Pellegrini could start ahead of competing midfielders Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora, both of whom had been on international duty. Simone Valdarchi cautioned against drawing early conclusions about the title race, remarking that Como could provide greater conviction but that judging the season this soon was premature. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio focused on Como's tactical threat, highlighting Nico Paz and Paulo Dybala as crucial to the contest. He emphasized that Niccolò Pisilli's current form offered a dynamic midfield alternative to Marten de Roon, whose inclusion could make Roma's approach too predictable against Como's quality-based approach. Pruzzo noted the importance of whether Dybala's ability to unlock Donyell Malen could prove decisive, given the spaces Como typically concedes.

Rome's radio stations dissected Lorenzo Pellegrini's prospects and Santiago Castro's playing time in depth on 8 October, with studio hosts split on whether the midfielder can justify his renewed contract under Gasperini's high-tempo system. Mario Corsi stated bluntly: "Pellegrini knows inside himself that this is the moment where he either succeeds or fails. This is his last chance, because if he has another opaque season I don't think he'll stay at Roma. From a player like Pellegrini it isn't enough to have one good match — he was Roma's captain, and people expect him to make a difference." Lorenzo Pes offered a contrasting view of the tactical fit: "I'm very curious to see how Pellegrini will slot into a Roma going at full speed. He seems a player who is a bit removed from how this team is shaped. He managed the damage in a Roma that wasn't playing at this rhythm, but honestly I struggle to imagine him in this squad." Paolo Cosenza countered that Pellegrini's ability to play vertically and his vision suited Gasperini's approach. Alessio Nardo framed the renewal as a high-stakes gamble: "The society has placed this squad and its fate in Gasperini's hands. All the players were approved by the coach — he and D'Amico are jointly responsible for the players signed, sold and renewed. Dybala has proved he deserved his renewal 100 per cent. Now we will evaluate Pellegrini on the pitch. If Pellegrini doesn't deliver, we will have to hold Gasperini to account for it, because he has always defended him." CCastro's limited first-team action also drew comment. Checco Oddo Casano explained the transfer fee: "Castro cost 35 million partly because Bologna was the only club willing to take Dovbyk, a player with continuous physical problems, absorbing his entire wage and including a purchase option. When a young but promising player has a low wage, he often costs you more in transfer fee." Gianluca Piacentini observed that Donyell Malen was scoring a goal per game, making him a regular starter, but argued Castro deserved playing time to develop. David Rossi advocated for Castro's inclusion: "He's an ambitious player, and you can see it when he takes the pitch. If at the end of the season Malen plays 38 times as a starter and Castro comes on 38 times for five minutes, he'll tell you he made a mistake, because he wants to be the main man." Roberto Pruzzo highlighted the tactical duel in the upcoming Como match: "Think of Nico Paz and Dybala — that could be the key to the game. Pisilli is in form and can give you a midfield alternative in a very static situation, because if De Roon plays, it becomes very readable against Como, who make their quality their best weapon." Nando Orsi predicted Paz would be benched, saying Fabregas uses the bench to punish occasional indolence. The match is scheduled for 12:30, with Orsi defending the early kickoff as standard in English football for years.

Roma are preparing a January move for Chelsea winger Jamie Gittens on loan, with head coach Gasperini already in agreement with the player. Gittens has struggled for first-team opportunities at Chelsea, appearing only 55 minutes in cup competition and never in the Premier League this season. His representatives have sought clarification from the club about a possible departure. Last summer Roma made a strong push to sign him, attracted by the prospect of reuniting him with Donyell Malen, with whom he played at Dortmund. Chelsea refused a loan deal at that time unless it involved midfielder Manu Koné in exchange. The situation is expected to shift in January. Alonso does not favour Gittens, and Chelsea are now open to a loan with a purchase option to prevent his value depreciating further. Roma remain interested and would be frontrunners if a deal materializes, given that Gittens had already agreed to join Gasperini's project. The club are also monitoring Frosinone's Giorgi Kvernadze, a Georgian player who has not yet received official contact but interests Gasperini for both the current season and future planning. Roma are considering blocking a move now ahead of a summer transfer, with a fee around €25 million being discussed for the 2027 window.