Castro ready for action: Argentine forward to feature in Cardiff friendly

Alessandro Romano has been sold to Cagliari for €5 million plus bonuses potentially rising to €6.5 million, but the move has reignited debate about Roma's pattern of disposing of young talent at underdeveloped stages. Signed from Winterthur in 2022 for approximately €70,000, Romano had been viewed at Trigoria as a prospect with significant potential and was developed into a Serie A-standard midfielder within a few years. From a financial standpoint, the transaction is defensible: the enormous profit relative to the initial outlay is straightforward. The deeper question, however, is whether Roma will later regret the sale. The club is not alone in facing pressure to generate revenue from youth players—academies exist partly to produce economic value, and no organization can retain all its talents indefinitely while waiting to identify which ones will flourish. Roma's position has been complicated by UEFA settlement agreement obligations in recent years, making the academy a significant revenue source; since 2022, youth departures have generated tens of millions. Yet a pattern has emerged. Davide Frattesi developed into an internationally competitive midfielder away from Rome; Riccardo Calafiori represents probably Roma's greatest regret. Romano's career trajectory will determine whether Roma sold him at the right moment or too early. The concern is not that he is currently ready to displace Manu Koné or Bryan Cristante, but that a talent still developing is precisely the type a club should attempt to maintain some form of control over when possible. The issue becomes more acute when considering Emanuele Lulli, who came close to joining Avellino during the summer in a deal that could have included a loan with an option to buy. The principle remains constant: when market conditions force a club to seek resources, young players become one of the easiest paths. Romano was sold in a summer when Roma needed to generate plusvalenzas and protect players deemed central to the first team. Romano will reveal through his career whether Roma timed the sale correctly or sold too soon. The lesson from Frattesi and Calafiori should be clear: while some young talent will inevitably escape, when Trigoria develops a player with something extra, maintaining some link to his future may ultimately be worth far more than immediate profit.

Emanuele Lulli will face Torino's Nicolò Cacciamani on Sunday 13 September in what shapes as a duel between two 2007-born Italians, with incoming national team coach Roberto Mancini expected in the stands to observe them both. Roma had targeted Cacciamani during the summer transfer window, offering up to €12 million, but Torino demanded at least €20 million. Lulli remained at Trigoria after Gasperini blocked a potential loan departure and deployed him immediately as a starter. In a separate development, the Salah-Eddine saga has concluded. The Moroccan defender has accepted a transfer to Panathinaikos on a loan deal with a €5 million buy option plus bonuses, with no conditions that would trigger an automatic obligation. His exit follows exclusion from the club's UEFA list and Gasperini's comments ahead of the Atalanta fixture. Roma's women's team will contest the Serie A Women's Cup semi-final against Sassuolo at Stadio Ricci at 12:00, live on Sky Sport. The Giallorosse seek revenge after losing 0–1 to Sassuolo at Tre Fontane in late August. Baldi returns in goal and Oladipo has been called up; Lukasova and Pilgrim are absent, the latter sidelined by knee inflammation.

Endrick is at the top of Roma's wishlist for the January transfer window. The Brazilian forward is expected to see limited playing time at Real Madrid until the new year due to fierce competition, prompting Roma to explore a move similar to the strategy that saw a player loaned to Lyon a year ago. According to Corriere dello Sport, Roma's management is working to reach an agreement with Real Madrid, studying a loan formula and attempting to insert both a redemption clause and a counter-redemption clause into the deal. The negotiations remain in their early stages but represent a concrete objective for the club as it plans ahead. Roma will await UEFA communications expected in November before moving further forward, but the club continues to look ahead strategically to the January market.

Santiago Castro is aiming to open his Roma account in Saturday's fixture at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, using the same stage where Donyell Malen made his opening contribution in giallorosso. The Argentine forward, nicknamed the "Torito", has been building match fitness and tactical understanding under Gian Piero Gasperini after remaining unused in Roma's Champions League trip to Istanbul against Fenerbahçe. Castro is expected to feature in a rotation partnership with Malen, who has been Roma's central attacking reference in the early season. The two forwards have already shown promising signs in their on-pitch alternation during the recent match against Atalanta, where Castro's introduction brought renewed energy and effectiveness to Roma's play. Though opportunities came his way in that fixture—striking both a post and the crossbar—he was denied by fortune rather than finishing. Gasperini's system appears to be building a rhythm with the pair sharing attacking duties as the season develops. Castro's return to the Torino stadium carries symbolic weight, as it was there that Malen began his Roma journey. The Argentine will be hoping to convert the positive momentum and increased game time into a concrete goal in Saturday's encounter.

Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing to rest Paulo Dybala for Roma's trip to Torino, with the forward having started four consecutive matches and played the full 90 minutes against Fenerbahce in Istanbul despite suffering cramps. Dybala remains one of Roma's most important players, but the proximity of the match to the Fenerbahce fixture and the more significant Inter clash at the Olimpico that follows has prompted Gasperini to consider bringing him off the bench instead. The rotation could coincide with a tactical shift. Against Torino's three-man defence, Gasperini plans to abandon the central attacking midfielder role used in recent outings and revert to a more traditional setup: two wide players behind the striker. Rodrigo Mora is expected to play on the left, while Matías Soulé should start on the right. Mora will look to bounce back from a below-par display in Istanbul that Gasperini judged to fall short of expectations, while Soulé pursues a third consecutive Serie A goal. Donyell Malen is favoured to lead the line, with Santiago Castro ready to come off the bench. Gasperini could manage the match through the five available substitutions without overhauling his starting eleven, leaving Dybala available to deploy as an in-game weapon. Mora, Soulé and Malen possess qualities that can flourish against a three-man defence.

Donyell Malen faces Torino on familiar ground on 15 September, the same stadium where his Roma career truly began in January when he scored within days of arriving in the capital. The Dutch forward has already netted five goals in Roma's first three league matches and can enter rare historical territory if he scores again: he would become only the third player in Roma's history to score more than five goals after the opening four Serie A fixtures, following Pedro Manfredini (seven in 1960–61) and Francesco Totti (six in 2001–02). Gasperini is expected to start Malen again, knowing the striker thrives when served in depth and attacking space behind the defensive line. The possible absence of Paulo Dybala from the opening lineup could shift Roma's approach, with Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé tasked with finding Malen in the final third. Behind him, Santiago Castro is pressing for opportunity after remaining on the bench throughout Roma's Champions League match against Fenerbahce. The Argentine, nicknamed "Torito", impressed against Atalanta with two shots that struck the woodwork but could not deliver his first Roma goal. Torino presents a chance for both attackers to make their mark in different ways. Malen seeks his first goal in two matches, while Castro chases his maiden Roma strike. Gasperini now has the luxury of rotating two centre-forwards with contrasting qualities, offering tactical flexibility as the season unfolds.

After three league matches and nine points, Roma face their first genuine fixture congestion on the back of Champions League action midweek. Gian Piero Gasperini must now navigate his first serious turnover decision, with Manu Koné sidelined by a knee problem, Paulo Dybala cramping through the closing stages, and Gianluca Mancini appearing fatigued before his substitution. The manager faces a delicate balance: rotation has become unavoidable, but wholesale change could disrupt the coordinated pressing, tight spacing, immediate aggression after possession loss, and attacking patterns that have been central to Roma's bright start. Gasperini has built Roma's perfect opening around a squad that has rapidly learned to recognise itself. Making too many changes at once risks undermining those automatisms. Yet selective intervention is inevitable. Without Koné, Niccolò Pisilli appears the natural solution alongside Bryan Cristante; deploying Marten de Roon, though he has the deepest familiarity with Gasperini, would require him to build understanding with new teammates. In attack, resting Dybala makes sense, with Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora able to provide freshness behind Donyell Malen without overturning the offensive identity. Mancini also warrants consideration—he appeared below his usual standard in Istanbul, while Leonardo Balerdi brought aggression and intensity after entering the pitch. The real test lies in the principle Gasperini must master: having no untouchable starting eleven, yet changing three or four players without the football itself changing. Roma arrive at Torino with a perfect record and, more valuably than nine points, a recognisable shape. Three or four changes can regenerate; seven or eight risk creating a different team entirely. The paradox would be protecting energy by sacrificing the very continuity that has made the season's start so strong. For the first time, Gasperini must genuinely manage the squad rather than simply select the strongest team. That quality—doing turnover so well it barely shows—will define whether Roma can sustain their level across multiple competitions.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is expected to make significant changes to his starting XI for Roma's Serie A match against Torino, with fatigue from the Champions League fixture against Fenerbahce four days earlier likely to play a role in the decisions. Koné is certain to be rested, with Pisilli poised to make his first Serie A start of the season in midfield. In defence, Balerdi is in line to start after two consecutive decisive appearances off the bench, while Mancini has shown objective difficulty maintaining rhythm and concentration, particularly after the opening 45 minutes. Molina is also expected to feature at right-back, challenging Lulli for the position. In attack, Dybala is heading towards his first bench appearance of the season. Mora will replace him, with Soulé and Malen completing the forward line. Final clarity on the side will come during today's training session.

Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing to rest Paulo Dybala for Roma's trip to Torino, with the forward having started four consecutive matches and played the full 90 minutes against Fenerbahce in Istanbul despite suffering cramps. Dybala remains one of Roma's most important players, but the proximity of the match to the Fenerbahce fixture and the more significant Inter clash at the Olimpico that follows has prompted Gasperini to consider bringing him off the bench instead. The rotation could coincide with a tactical shift. Against Torino's three-man defence, Gasperini plans to abandon the central attacking midfielder role used in recent outings and revert to a more traditional setup: two wide players behind the striker. Rodrigo Mora is expected to play on the left, while Matías Soulé should start on the right. Mora will look to bounce back from a below-par display in Istanbul that Gasperini judged to fall short of expectations, while Soulé pursues a third consecutive Serie A goal. Donyell Malen is favoured to lead the line, with Santiago Castro ready to come off the bench. Gasperini could manage the match through the five available substitutions without overhauling his starting eleven, leaving Dybala available to deploy as an in-game weapon. Mora, Soulé and Malen possess qualities that can flourish against a three-man defence.

Roma's loanees across Italy and Europe made an impact on the weekend. Artem Dovbyk was the standout performer, coming off the bench in the 66th minute for Bologna against Sassuolo and scoring the equaliser in the 91st minute to secure a 2–2 draw and the Rossoblu's first point of the season. The Ukrainian striker's decisive finish came in an Emilia derby on loan with a right of redemption clause. Elsewhere, young goalkeeper Radoslaw Zelezny put in a strong performance for Perugia in their 2–1 victory over Pineto, playing all 90 minutes as the side's first-choice keeper. The 2006-born Zelezny was blameless for the goal conceded and made several crucial saves, including a high-quality intervention in the first half and a decisive stop in the second. He is on loan at the Umbrian club with an option and counter-option attached. Midfield prospect Alessandro Romano again started for Cagliari in Serie A, remaining on the pitch for the full 90 minutes as the Sardinians won 1–0 away at Lecce thanks to a Daniel Maldini goal in the 29th minute. Romano's loan includes an obligation to buy if certain sporting conditions are met. Neil El Aynaoui made an immediate first-team debut for RB Leipzig, starting in the away fixture against Werder Brema and playing until the 75th minute. However, Leipzig suffered a 3–1 defeat. The Moroccan midfielder's move is on loan with a right of redemption. Filippo Reale, a 2006-born defender, played the full 90 minutes for Carrarese on the flank in their 1–0 home loss to Empoli, conceding in the 74th minute; he is on loan with an option and counter-option in Roma's favour. Luigi Cherubini started in attack for Benevento in the first half at Ascoli before being substituted at the interval; Benevento were reduced to ten men in the 41st minute by Prisco's red card and lost 1–0 to a Brunori penalty in the closing stages. Cherubini's loan includes a right of option and obligation to buy. Mattia Mannini received his first call-up after joining Benevento on loan but remained unused from the bench in the same Ascoli defeat. Angeliño was an unused substitute as Deportivo La Coruña won 3–2 away at Villarreal in La Liga. Robinio Vaz was included in a Premier League squad for the first time after a late-market transfer to Hull City but did not feature in a 0–0 draw with Aston Villa. Jan Ziółkowski was unavailable for Monza's away trip to Parma—which ended 1–1—due to a plantar fascia problem requiring monitoring. Marash Kumbulla likewise missed Rayo Vallecano's 3–2 victory over Racing Santander as he continues to deal with a knee issue.

Roma's supporters delivered a vital performance in the final half-hour against Atalanta, providing what the article describes as a 'cardiac massage to the hope' of a team that deserved better. Gian Piero Gasperini's side produced an assured display under constant, relentless pressure, with Manu Koné orchestrating the midfield and Bryan Cristante directing operations. The team's quality merited victory even before the goals arrived. Matías Soulé scored a deserved goal that crowned a summer of redemption for a player who had battled through earlier difficulties. Gasperini's endorsement of the winger's progress underlined his return to form. Santiago Castro made an immediate impact, showing hunger and clarity in his play, though finishing proved elusive. Artem Dovbyk scored Bologna's goal, salvaging their display after a complex sequence of play. Donyell Malen's performance was erratic; the article suggests he had uneven moments throughout the match. The week's verdicts also included criticism of Luca Percassi's conduct as 'undignified and deplorable, regardless of context', and sharp judgement of the decision to sack Grosso, with the editorial noting that ending a manager's tenure and forcing another coach to restart from zero serves only to worsen matters. Juventus's match against Milan drew unflattering comparison to a sleeping aid, relieved only briefly by Cissè and Gatti.

Roma return to the Champions League for the first time in seven years when they travel to Istanbul to face Fenerbahce on Thursday evening. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will deploy a squad combining several players making their maiden appearance in the competition's main draw alongside seasoned European campaigners. Gianluca Mancini and Manu Koné will make their Champions League debuts, as will younger squad members including Pisilli, Lulli, Mora and Ghilardi. Gasperini can call on considerable experience to balance the newcomers. Paulo Dybala and Marten de Roon have accumulated nearly one hundred appearances between them at the highest level. Nahuel Molina and Mario Hermoso both bring over sixty European appearances from their time at Atlético Madrid, while Donyell Malen, Leonardo Balerdi and Artem Dovbyk add further continental pedigree. Dybala will lead the attack and is targeting a European goal; his last came in the Europa League final in Budapest against Seville. Roma will be supported by approximately 2,300 fans in the away section at the Turkish stadium. The domestic competition faces a ticketing restriction for the upcoming Serie A fixture against Torino: the CASMS has banned ticket sales to residents of Rome province due to potential clashes with Parma supporters travelling to Como, permitting purchases only to AS Roma Card holders from other Italian regions.