It's Gasperini's Roma

Paolo Marcacci has published his weekly ratings (Pagellone) covering recent Serie A action. The column assesses performances from several players, including Donyell Malen of Roma, and reviews notable moments from the weekend's fixtures. Malen features among the players graded, alongside commentary on managerial decisions and individual errors from goalkeepers and outfield players across multiple matches.

Manu Koné, in his second season at Roma, has emerged as a key protagonist for France in an ongoing World Cup tournament. His French teammate Adrien Rabiot has publicly praised Koné's technical abilities, highlighting his dribbling skills and passing range. Rabiot noted that the two midfielders have developed good understanding on the pitch together. Koné's performances at international level underscore his growing importance to Roma's midfield. His development in Serie A has translated to consistent contributions for France, demonstrating the quality the Giallorossi have built into their squad.

Roma has relied heavily on selling young academy graduates to balance its books over the past four years, generating substantial revenue while protecting its established squad. Since 2022, the club has disposed of numerous youth products, including Felix Afena-Gyan (€6 million plus bonuses to Cremonese in 2022), Riccardo Calafiori (€2.5 million to Basilia with 40% resale clause), Benjamin Tahirovic and Cristian Volpato (€7.5 million each to Ajax and Sassuolo respectively in 2023), and Joao Costa (€9 million to Al-Ettifaq in 2024). Most recently, Alessandro Romano transferred to Cagliari for €5 million plus performance bonuses. This strategy aligns with the Friedkin Group's approach to comply with UEFA's Settlement Agreement, reducing accumulated losses and restoring financial sustainability—the club prefers paying UEFA penalties over accepting roster limitations rather than conducting fire sales of its key players. The Calafiori situation illustrates the long-term value creation from these sales. Roma pursued legal action against Basilea over resale percentages following the defender's move to Bologna and subsequently Arsenal, ultimately securing a settlement of approximately €6–6.5 million. Similarly, Edoardo Bove's 2024 loan to Fiorentina (over €11 million with performance clauses) may yield Roma €10–15 million from insurance recovery following his medical emergency. José Mourinho's tenure significantly enhanced the club's ability to market young talent effectively, securing profitable exits even with minimal first-team appearances.