Castro makes first Roma training impression as Gasperini welcomes new signing

Roma will not return to Rome after their Serie A trip to Udine, instead travelling straight on to Manchester for their Champions League fixture against Manchester United on 3 November. Roma face Udinese on Saturday 31 October at 18:00. Angelo Mangiante, speaking on Mana Mana Sport, reported that the squad will train in Udine on Sunday morning, before leaving from Trieste airport for Manchester in the afternoon, in order to ease the travel burden of an intense week of league and Champions League matches. The transfer market is also on the agenda. Roma are looking to broaden the options available to head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, and Carlos Forbs, a Portuguese attacking winger born in 2002 who plays for Brugge, is reportedly among the profiles being monitored. Roma have reportedly sent scouts to San Siro to watch Forbs in the match against Inter and assess the player closely. Competition is strong, however, with Tottenham and Manchester United, along with other Premier League clubs, also reportedly interested. Brugge set a valuation of around 30 million euros in the summer, a figure that could still form the basis of any negotiation. Gasperini was also remembered in a tribute to the late journalist Mario Sconcerti, at the second edition of the award dedicated to him, held at the Salone d'Onore of the CONI in Rome and aimed at younger generations. Gasperini sent a video message to the students present, highlighting the value of Sconcerti's professional legacy: "A warning about what his profession was, his capacity. It is a lesson that will stay with you in your future profession." Following Roma's recent match against Cagliari, Marcacci spoke on Radio Radio: "Mora was good: full credit to him, for taking advantage of the defender's mistake from Cagliari. We will remember Mora's goal at the end of the season, because it came at a moment when Cagliari had more energy in the tank. Gasp's rebukes started from the first minutes: he sensed the match would be difficult, and Roma suffered against Cagliari. Mancini struggled and leaves too much space behind him. A note of credit for the crowd, who were involved; the team needed that push." Pedrelli, on Radio Bruno Roma, added: "With Lulli and Pisilli the future is already here. I wish Mora and Ghilardi more space. Well done also to Gollini. What a Roma this is, who keep trying until the end. No one excluded."

Giallorossi.net has proposed Lille midfielder Ngal'ayel Mukau as a possible target for AS Roma, presenting him as a powerful, dynamic option who could offer some of the qualities of Manu Koné, the midfielder Gian Piero Gasperini already has at the club. The piece is part of its "Consigli per gli acquisti" (Transfer Advice) series, which this time widens the search beyond an offensive winger and a left-sided wing-back to a central midfielder who can win duels, recover possession and break lines with the ball at his feet. Mukau was born in Antwerp on 3 November 2004. He is 21, stands 1.86 metres tall and is a natural left-footed player. He mainly operates as a central midfielder or defensive midfielder but has the profile of a true box-to-box player. Lille signed him from KV Mechelen in the summer of 2024 for around €5 million. He has already gained experience in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, and he came to wider attention in Europe's top competition in November 2024, scoring a decisive brace in Lille's win at Bologna. The article identifies volume of play as his first quality. He covers a lot of ground, is aggressive in winning the ball back and has the build and athleticism to hold his own in midfield battles. He is not only a ball-winner, though: once he regains possession he tends to carry it forward and look immediately for a vertical pass. The author argues that this mix of physicality and the ability to advance with the ball is what makes him interesting for Roma. The comparison with Koné, however, needs careful handling. Mukau is currently less explosive and less effective in one-on-one situations than the Frenchman, who has a particular ability to resist pressure and escape challenges by carrying the ball. The Lille player is more direct, but he has height, intensity, a left foot and plenty of room to improve. The article stresses that Mukau is not a talent to be left waiting for years. He has already faced high-level European matches, and in the 2026-27 Champions League he has made three appearances so far, two of them as a starter. He still has much to improve in attacking output: goals and assists are not his natural currency, and he needs to be more decisive in the final thirty metres and speed up some decisions when pressed. Even so, at 21 the author believes he already has an athletic and tactical base on which Gasperini could work a great deal. Mukau's contract with Lille runs until June 2028. Transfermarkt currently values him at around €15 million, while other models put his value between €15 million and €19 million. Earlier in the year, in the face of interest from several Premier League clubs, valuations of at least €20 million had circulated in France. The article says a deal would not be an economic bargain, but it would not be out of scale for a Roma side aiming to consolidate its place in the Champions League. It also notes that Lille have historically been willing to develop and sell their talents when the right offer arrives. The author concludes that Mukau is not yet Manu Koné and it would be wrong to sell him as such, but the profile is appealing: 21 years old, 1.86 metres, left-footed, physical, intense, good at winning the ball back, vertical in possession and already experienced in the Champions League. Whether alongside Koné or as an alternative who keeps strength and dynamism in Roma's midfield, the article argues he is one of the profiles worth pursuing before his price rises further.

Roma are monitoring Portuguese winger Carlos Forbs, currently at Club Brugge, as sporting director Tony D'Amico looks to add another wide option to the squad. According to the specialist portal TransferFeed, Roma sent scouts to San Siro to watch Brugge's match against Inter. The club are looking to strengthen Gian Piero Gasperini's squad after a strong start to the season, with the aim of extending the rotations into the final part of the campaign. Forbs, born in 2002, is not the only club interested. Several Premier League sides are also tracking the player, including Tottenham and Manchester United. In August, Brugge reportedly valued Forbs at around €30 million, a figure that is not expected to differ greatly from their current asking price.

Roman radio pundits were largely focused on Roma after the win over Cagliari, with the debate centring on Mancini's performance, Mora's goal and the fitness of Paulo Dybala. David Rossi of Rete Sport said: “Maybe it was the worst match Mancini has played since he’s been here at Roma. Honestly, after that first half I didn’t think he could come back out, and yet he did.” He added: “In a normal world, you had to take Mancini off after 20 minutes. He wasn’t presentable.” Gianluca Piacentini said Mora's goal had silenced his serial critics, and praised Gasperini for stressing that the points Roma have taken this season, the same number as last season, carry greater weight because they came against Como, Inter, Napoli and Atalanta. Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo defended Mancini against the whistles he received, saying: “Mancini plays as a striker on Gasperini’s orders. You can’t go back and forth at two hundred an hour; you lose something along the way.” On the Roma-Cagliari match, Corsi described it as a lacklustre game, adding that the young players had turned it around. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport praised Gollini, who made three important saves, and said he was playing with a concentration he had never shown before, having been given a great opportunity by Svilar’s misfortune. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio said: “Mora? If Gasperini had another substitute, he’d have taken him off after a quarter of an hour. That was my impression.” He also said he was pleased that Pisilli and Lulli had partly sorted out the match, and said: “If you have to compare yourself to the Roma market, my friend… I had backed Castro, but if Mina has you in his pocket for 80 minutes, you need changing.” He added that Molina struggles to play in Italian football, and that De Roon was static in midfield. Nando Orsi of Radio Radio said: “I thought Roma never would lose this one.” Mario Mattioli of Radio Radio said Roma had suffered before taking full points. Daniele Lo Monaco of Radio Romanista said Roma are unbeaten with six wins and three draws, and argued that Lazio’s eight wins from nine carry a different weight. He said: “I don’t see the Leicester effect in any way. If Lazio finish in the top three, I’ll become a priest.” Mario Corsi said Lazio do not have a team fit for the top places, and Torri noted that Lazio have taken 25 points from 27, with fixtures against Roma, Napoli, Inter, Como, Atalanta, Fiorentina and Torino still to come. The focus then turned to the coming fixtures. Alessio Nardo said the Dybala situation was thorny: he had seemed set to return against Cagliari, but now risked missing the next three matches. He said: “I expect a very, very difficult match against Udinese, and it will take a great Roma to win it.” Lorenzo Pes said Dybala had returned to training on Sunday but would miss Saturday’s game against Udinese, adding: “I think he doesn’t want to miss Manchester-Roma at Old Trafford.” Checco Oddo Casano said the doubt for Saturday against Udinese would be between Mora and De Roon, and said the club’s hopes in attack now depend on Soulé.

Roma's goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini was the man of the moment in the aftermath of the win over Cagliari, with several Radio Roma commentators praising his display. Speaking on Radio Radio Mattino, former Roma striker Pruzzo said: "Molina and Castro are struggling." Gollini, who made three or four important saves according to Pugliese on Radio Radio, was highlighted by multiple pundits as the key figure in keeping the result intact. Cagliari produced 19 shots against Roma, making it the most difficult of the five matches that could help Roma's season, according to Pugliese on Radio Radio. Marcacci said Gasperini's criticism of his players began in the opening minutes, as he sensed the match would be difficult, and that Roma had been under pressure from Cagliari. Gollini had shown over six matches that he was up to the task, Pugliese added, calling him a great goalkeeper. Mora was praised for taking advantage of a Cagliari defensive error to score. Marcacci said the goal would be remembered at the end of the season because it came when Cagliari still had the most energy. Camelio questioned Molina's substitution, saying Mancini could no longer continue and should have been taken off earlier. Vocalelli said Roma had been forced to play every three days, arrived with five injured players and chose to rest some players, adding that the reaction after the 2-2 could not be criticised. Di Giovambattista said that a player like Mora could never score with his head. Pedrelli, on Radio Bruno Roma, said that with Lulli and Pisilli the future was already the present, and wished Mora and Ghilardi more space. Verdenelli praised a Roma side that refuses to accept defeat, saying: "A Roma that does not accept defeat, a Roma that always wants to impose its own game, a Roma that in the end always manages to get the result. We are the reflected image of those who coach us, and I like it." Ferri said Roma had a strong mentality despite important absences and that Gasperini was the added value, adding that Mancini should rest for now. Pruzzo said that if Gasperini had another substitute he would have taken Mora off, but he was happy that two academy players had solved the problems. He said: "I am an admirer of Castro, but Mina put him in his pocket yesterday. He needs to make a mental switch, Molina struggles in Italian football. I have big doubts about the Giallorossi market." Orsi, on Radio Radio Mattino, said Roma had not struggled against Cagliari and that he had the feeling Roma could never lose the match, adding: "Gollini saved the team, I am happy for him. Anyway, the Giallorossi were far superior to Cagliari."

Roma's unbeaten run has reached 16 matches following their win over Cagliari, a streak that began after the 5-0 defeat by Inter. Coach Gasperini has equalled Garcia's mark and now has his sights set on the club's historic records. Ahead of the other stories in the round-up, former striker Marco Borriello, speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, offered a measured view of Donyell Malen, who has scored 10 goals this season. He said: "He has quality, Gasperini brings it out of him, but Serie A today has more mediocrity than in my time. If you put him in a big Spanish or English club, he sits on the bench." Borriello was far warmer about Daniele De Rossi, saying: "He is a predestined one. He is proving to be a competent and intelligent coach, the 'Smart One'. If I were the president of Genoa, I would hold on to him tightly." The unbeaten run is now 16 matches, and Gasperini has matched Garcia's figure. Roma's historic benchmarks lie ahead, with runs of 19, 20, 24 and 25 matches all above them. The most significant mark is the 30 consecutive unbeaten league results set by Liedholm, a record that has stood since the 1980-81 season. In the player ratings, Lulli was named the best player on the pitch unanimously by the newspapers, with a 7.50. Mora followed on 7.25, a standout performance after coming off the bench. Gollini (7.08) and Malen (6.92) also earned praise, while Ghilardi and Soulé (both 6.75) received positive reviews. At the bottom, Mancini was rated 5.08, clearly the worst, followed by Rensch (5.58) and Castro (5.75).

Former Roma player Zibi Boniek believes Lazio's strong start to the season is helping to keep Roma sharp, given the rivalry between the two Rome clubs. Roma and Lazio are both sitting high in the table after the opening stretch of the league season, something that has not happened for several years. Speaking to 'Rete Sport', Boniek said: "The stronger Lazio go, the more Roma will maintain their level of concentration to do just as well, given the city rivalry." The Polish former player, a Serie A champion with Roma, praised Lazio's head coach Gattuso: "I adore him, because he is a real person who doesn't hide and says what he thinks: he is a good coach. If he gets too many points he becomes unpleasant (laughs)." On Lazio's play, Boniek added: "Lazio play well. I saw them yesterday against Sassuolo. They are a very fast team that always goes vertical with lots of overlaps, and they don't play any tiki-taka." Turning to Roma, Boniek described a match that looked closed before a late goal from Mora, whom he said had shown little before. "The Portuguese is a player with good individual technique, but his physical structure had not helped him. I hope this goal can raise his level of self-esteem." He said Roma started well but slowed in the second half, believing they could hold on, and conceded to Maldini. The immediate response from the giallorossi, he said, shows that players on the bench can make a difference. He praised Ghilardi for a cross and an overlap, despite playing little. Boniek noted that the first-choice defensive trio is Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso, but said that former Verona player Balerdi is a player of real calibre. He asked whether Mancini might move to the bench for Balerdi, adding that he has almost become the first striker. He also said there is much of Mancini in Pisilli's second goal, with Mancini's pass setting up Lulli, whose cross found Niccolò. On the team selection, Boniek said: "Yesterday he was tricked by Fadera, but I am not sending anyone to the bench. Clearly if there are 20 players of equal level, you have to assess who is tired, but Gasperini does this very well. He then brought on Ghilardi, who passed a decisive ball to Mora." Finally, Boniek spoke about Soulé, a 2003-born player: "He is changing. When you train with a good coach, you improve. He is also more resilient now. Players grow at 26-27, let alone at his age. Yesterday I liked him very much."

Former Roma player and ex-UEFA vice-president Zibi Boniek praised Rodrigo Mora's late winner in Roma's win over Cagliari, which came after Maldini had put the visitors ahead. Speaking to Retesport, Boniek said the game looked settled before Mora's finish. "The game yesterday seemed closed, then there was a finish from Mora that I liked because this young man had shown little. The Portuguese is a player with good individual technique, but his physical build hadn't helped him. I hope this goal can raise his self-esteem." Boniek said Roma started well but eased off in the second half, believing the result was secure, and conceded the goal from Maldini. He said the immediate response showed that players coming off the bench can make a difference. He singled out Ghilardi, who made a cross and an overlap that Boniek described as outstanding despite having played little. Boniek also noted that Cagliari played with a low block and always kept three forwards ready to counter-attack, making them a difficult side to beat. On the defence, Boniek said the starting back three was Mancini, Ndicka and Hermoso, but argued that Balerdi is a defender of real quality. He praised Gasperini's management of the squad, saying the coach did not leave anyone on the bench without reason and that his rotation was handled well. Boniek also highlighted Pisilli's second goal, which involved Mancini's pass to Lulli and Lulli's cross for Pisilli. On Mancini, he said the defender is strong in the low press and anticipates opponents well, but can struggle when there is a lot of space to cover and he must run. Boniek was also positive about Soulé, a 2003-born player he said is improving under a good coach. "He is also more resistant now, and players grow at 26-27, let alone at his age. I really liked him yesterday." Turning to Lazio, Boniek said he admires Gattuso. "I adore Gattuso because he is a genuine person who doesn't hide and says what he thinks: he is a good coach. If he gets too many points he becomes unpopular (laughs)." He described Lazio as a fast side that attacks vertically with many overlaps and no tiki-taka. He said he had watched them against Sassuolo. "The better Lazio go, the more Roma will keep their concentration high to do equally well, given the city rivalry."

Daniele Ghilardi changed the game against Cagliari within nine minutes of coming on for a below-par Gianluca Mancini, providing a perfect cross that Mora headed home for Roma. It was his second assist in only 248 minutes played, following the one for Mario Hermoso against Slovan Bratislava the previous Tuesday. Ghilardi had been impeccable against Napoli and Slovan Bratislava, both as a starter and as a substitute. His contribution has gone beyond defensive solidity: at the Maradona he was in the box alongside Leonardo Balerdi for the 3-3 equaliser, and last night he reached a nearly unreachable ball to deliver the cross for Mora's header. Averaged per 90 minutes, he leads Serie A and the Champions League among centre-backs for successful dribbles (2.28 and 2 respectively) and ranks in the top three for assists, big chances created and recoveries in the opposition half. This is exactly what Gian Piero Gasperini asks of his wing-backs: attack and defence, aggression and technical quality. Many benches and months of training preceded this level, which Gasperini had expected from him. At Verona he showed his versatility, playing in virtually every role, but at Roma he has grown considerably technically. He is clean in his passing, dangerous when he moves forward, and his composure allowed him to play like a veteran on his Champions League debut. The article suggests he is also keen to prove he is more than a mere backup. Mancini's physical decline and dip in form in recent matches present the coaching staff with difficult questions, and the answer, alongside Balerdi, could be to promote Ghilardi on a permanent basis. Gasperini's Roma is very young: two players born in 2007 and one born in 2004 scored yesterday. The article argues the side can only improve with time and is finally on the right path after years of drifting.