Cionci returns to Roma despite ongoing Coric legal dispute

Giuseppe Cionci, an agent and intermediary who participated in Ante Coric's transfer to Roma in 2018, has returned to working on club operations in recent months, including involvement in the signings of Konstantinos Koulierakis and Donyell Malen. The reappearance is striking because a protracted legal battle between Corner Sport Management—the company to which Cionci is attached—and Roma remains unresolved over the Coric transaction. Cionici was among the intermediaries involved in last summer's transfer of Koulierakis from Wolfsburg to Roma for €16.5 million. He also took part in negotiations for Malen's arrival in January. His return marks a sharp reversal after years in which his name had essentially disappeared from Roma's radar at Trigoria following the Coric deal, which brought the Croatian midfielder to the capital with high expectations but quickly unravelled into a sporting failure. The legal dispute centres on two separate claims by Corner Sport Management. The first involves an injunction for €216,550 in intermediation fees related to the Coric deal. In January 2024 the Rome Court annulled the representation contract and ordered Roma to recover approximately €800,000 already paid. Corner appealed, and the Court of Appeal suspended the ruling's enforcement. The decisive hearing is scheduled for 13 November. A second legal action, stemming from a further €200,000 injunction from Corner over the same Coric operation, remains open. The rapprochement between Cionci and Roma has been facilitated by his longstanding relationship with Pietro Leonardi, a figure in Roman football since the 1990s. A 2020 Financial Police report identified Cionci as Corner Sport Management's representative and linked Leonardi to the same company. The paradox is complete: even as the judicial matter born from Coric's purchase awaits resolution, Cionci has become operational in Roma's market dealings again. Eight years after the Coric case, a door that appeared permanently closed has reopened.

Endrick's future remains uncertain as the Brazilian forward prepares to leave Real Madrid in January after receiving minimal playing time this season, despite José Mourinho blocking his departure in summer. Roma remain strongly interested in the 20-year-old, though multiple obstacles must be resolved. The attacker is weighing several options, and according to Cadena Ser, competition for his signature is intense. Beyond Roma, Lyon are also ready to welcome Endrick — repeating their interest from January last year — but Aston Villa's bid is gaining momentum. Emery's side have set their sights on the forward, and the prospect of Champions League football could sway him toward the Premier League club if Villa maintain their promise in that regard.

Roma made a concrete bid of €25 million for Flamengo winger Samuel Lino during the summer transfer window, but the Brazilian club rejected the offer and chose to retain the player as central to their project. Lino fits the precise profile Gian Piero Gasperini has been seeking: a left-sided winger who plays with inverted footwork and can operate wide on the flank. This summer's approach was not Roma's first attempt to sign him. In the summer of 2025, when Lino was at Atlético Madrid, Roma reached a broad agreement with the Spanish club worth approximately €22 million plus bonuses, and personal terms with the player for a four-year deal at around €2.5 million per season. That deal did not reach completion because Lino would have occupied a non-EU slot, and Gasperini opted to keep that registration spot available to pursue either Richard Rios or Wesley instead. Lino subsequently joined Flamengo, but Roma maintained their interest. In the current transfer window, Roma's sporting director attempted to revive negotiations with a significant formal proposal. However, Flamengo declined the €25 million offer. This summer, Lino has delivered nine goals and seven assists in 27 appearances in Brazil's championship, reinforcing his standing as one of Flamengo's most productive players. The rejected bid underscores Roma's continued search for an attacking option of Lino's type to complete Gasperini's attack, and demonstrates how the player has remained on the club's radar across multiple transfer windows despite two failed attempts to secure his signature.

Giuseppe Cionci, an agent and intermediary who participated in Ante Coric's transfer to Roma in 2018, has returned to working on club operations in recent months, including involvement in the signings of Konstantinos Koulierakis and Donyell Malen. The reappearance is striking because a protracted legal battle between Corner Sport Management—the company to which Cionci is attached—and Roma remains unresolved over the Coric transaction. Cionici was among the intermediaries involved in last summer's transfer of Koulierakis from Wolfsburg to Roma for €16.5 million. He also took part in negotiations for Malen's arrival in January. His return marks a sharp reversal after years in which his name had essentially disappeared from Roma's radar at Trigoria following the Coric deal, which brought the Croatian midfielder to the capital with high expectations but quickly unravelled into a sporting failure. The legal dispute centres on two separate claims by Corner Sport Management. The first involves an injunction for €216,550 in intermediation fees related to the Coric deal. In January 2024 the Rome Court annulled the representation contract and ordered Roma to recover approximately €800,000 already paid. Corner appealed, and the Court of Appeal suspended the ruling's enforcement. The decisive hearing is scheduled for 13 November. A second legal action, stemming from a further €200,000 injunction from Corner over the same Coric operation, remains open. The rapprochement between Cionci and Roma has been facilitated by his longstanding relationship with Pietro Leonardi, a figure in Roman football since the 1990s. A 2020 Financial Police report identified Cionci as Corner Sport Management's representative and linked Leonardi to the same company. The paradox is complete: even as the judicial matter born from Coric's purchase awaits resolution, Cionci has become operational in Roma's market dealings again. Eight years after the Coric case, a door that appeared permanently closed has reopened.

Roma have resumed training at Trigoria following a three-day break granted by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with preparations underway for Sunday's big match against Como. Gasperini has welcomed back most of the squad's international players. Italian internationals Gianluca Mancini, Daniele Ghilardi, Niccolò Pisilli and Emanuele Lulli, along with Evan N'Dicka, Konstantinos Koulierakis and young goalkeeper Giorgio De Marzi, completed recovery work. Manu Koné was expected to rejoin training today, with Rodrigo Mora to follow. Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro attended Lionel Messi's farewell celebration with the Argentine national team during the night. The three Argentina internationals are due back in Rome tomorrow, though Gasperini is likely to see them on the pitch on Friday.

Konstantinos Koulierakis has had limited playing time at Roma so far but is determined to develop under Gian Piero Gasperini. During the international break, after spells on the bench against Serbia and Netherlands and absence from the first match against Germany, Koulierakis returned to the starting lineup for Greece's encounter with Klopp's Germany on Sunday. He was among the best performers in Greece's 0–0 draw. Speaking to NovaSports after the match, the Roma defender said: "Now I can say I'm Italian. But I played for two years in Germany, I've faced most of the players. Players of the highest level. But it seemed we weren't inferior anywhere, we're simply very combative on the pitch, alongside the quality we have. We suffered on the pitch because they are a team of the highest level. In the end, we managed to get a precious point, which makes us look very good."

As Roma prepare for Sunday's trip to Como, former manager Rafa Benitez has outlined the match as a crucial test in the title race. Benitez described Roma as "the expression of Gasp: football at full pace, high pressing, immediate vertical passes", singling out the squad for praise ahead of a fixture he believes will offer significant pointers in the race to stay alongside the defending champions. Como striker Moise Kean returned early from international duty with a muscular strain, missing Turkey's match, but optimism is growing at the club that he will be available by Sunday; he will be managed carefully in the coming days. Nico Paz is also expected back at Mozzate on Thursday from Argentina. Legend Giuseppe Giannini analysed Como's tactical approach, identifying how Roma might exploit it. "The team of Fabregas has a purely Spanish style of play, based on ball possession and a dense network of passes," Giannini said. "And it is precisely in the nature of the Giallorossi to break up the opposition's play and launch the counter-attack." He highlighted Manu Koné's growing importance to the side's balance and tactical system, noting that his recent brace against Inter has added a new dimension to his threat in the penalty area. Benitez reserved specific praise for four Roma players: "Malen is devastating, Dybala has returned to his levels, Koné demolishes and pushes, Rodrigo Mora comes in and breaks the game. When they are well, you struggle to contain them."

Donyell Malen and Wesley have recovered from injury and will be available for Roma's trip to Como on Sunday, bringing a significant boost to Gian Piero Gasperini's squad as the campaign resumes after the international break. Both players showed positive signs in training on 6 October, taking part in sessions alongside their teammates, and are now considered fit for selection. Malen's return is particularly important for Gasperini, who will be able to rely on his attacking reference point after the physical problem that sidelined him before the break. The forward is heading towards a central attacking role in the Sinigaglia fixture. Wesley, the Brazilian defender, has used the pause to recover and is also back in full availability for the coach as the league campaign restarts.

Giuseppe Cionci, an agent and intermediary who participated in Ante Coric's transfer to Roma in 2018, has returned to working on club operations in recent months, including involvement in the signings of Konstantinos Koulierakis and Donyell Malen. The reappearance is striking because a protracted legal battle between Corner Sport Management—the company to which Cionci is attached—and Roma remains unresolved over the Coric transaction. Cionici was among the intermediaries involved in last summer's transfer of Koulierakis from Wolfsburg to Roma for €16.5 million. He also took part in negotiations for Malen's arrival in January. His return marks a sharp reversal after years in which his name had essentially disappeared from Roma's radar at Trigoria following the Coric deal, which brought the Croatian midfielder to the capital with high expectations but quickly unravelled into a sporting failure. The legal dispute centres on two separate claims by Corner Sport Management. The first involves an injunction for €216,550 in intermediation fees related to the Coric deal. In January 2024 the Rome Court annulled the representation contract and ordered Roma to recover approximately €800,000 already paid. Corner appealed, and the Court of Appeal suspended the ruling's enforcement. The decisive hearing is scheduled for 13 November. A second legal action, stemming from a further €200,000 injunction from Corner over the same Coric operation, remains open. The rapprochement between Cionci and Roma has been facilitated by his longstanding relationship with Pietro Leonardi, a figure in Roman football since the 1990s. A 2020 Financial Police report identified Cionci as Corner Sport Management's representative and linked Leonardi to the same company. The paradox is complete: even as the judicial matter born from Coric's purchase awaits resolution, Cionci has become operational in Roma's market dealings again. Eight years after the Coric case, a door that appeared permanently closed has reopened.