Former Juventus player backs Roma as favourites for fourth place over Juventus

A debate has intensified around youth development in modern football, prompted partly by Italy's recent World Cup playoff elimination. The discussion centres on talented players developed through Roma's academy system who have departed the club, including references to Calafiori and Scamacca among others. The article examines which of these departures represent genuine losses for the Giallorossi and questions Roma's approach to nurturing and retaining young talent. Details of specific cases and analysis remain unclear from the available excerpt.

Neil El Aynaoui featured in all minutes of Morocco's first two World Cup matches and is determined to establish himself as a key midfielder at Roma following an inconsistent start to his Roma career. The midfielder's physical attributes—speed, dynamism, and work rate—align closely with Gasperini's tactical demands of high pressing, quick transitions, and two-phase play. At the World Cup, El Aynaoui ranks in the top five midfielders for tackles won (15) and defensive contributions (16), and dominated against Scotland alongside Saibari. At Roma, El Aynaoui has underperformed relative to his €25 million transfer fee, scoring sparingly despite averaging 8 goals in 24 appearances for Lens. His Roma struggles partly stem from Gasperini's tactical instructions to drop deeper for build-up play rather than push forward, where he was most dangerous at his previous club. Niccolò Pisilli is also expected to develop further in midfield, and the club may keep Manu Koné—despite interest from Arsenal, Tottenham, and Chelsea—to avoid excessive squad churn in that department. Gasperini expects a marked improvement from El Aynaoui and Pisilli as Roma aims to have four reliable starting midfielders for both Serie A and Champions League competition. El Aynaoui must regain the confidence and creative boldness he displays with Morocco, where he plays alongside the technically proficient Bouaddi. Ricky Massara assured supporters last summer: "He's strong, you will see."

The Netherlands thrashed their opponents 5–1 in World Cup 2026 qualifying under head coach Ronald Koeman, topping Group F. However, Donyell Malen, a current AS Roma player, failed to make a strong impression during the match. The article examines Malen's performance statistics and contributions during the fixture. Details regarding his specific role and opportunities remain unclear from the available information.