Cristante opens up on eight years at Roma: 'In love with this city' and praises Gasperini

Roma have made a strong start to the season, but the club needs one more decisive move in the transfer market to challenge Inter. The Friedkin Group is working on final signings to strengthen the squad before the window closes. Fofana remains a key target, with the decision resting with the Friedkin ownership. Lyon have frozen their market activity as negotiations continue. Oosterwolde has arrived in Rome and was greeted by supporters with hugs, smiles and autographs, with medical checks and contract signing to follow. Elsewhere, Paulo Dybala has impressed with three assists and creative play, though his form carries financial implications for the owners. Bahoya remains on the club's shortlist of potential signings as Roma look to add depth across the squad.

Roma's Serie A campaign began with a triumphant 4–0 victory over Fiorentina, but supporters leaving the Stadio Olimpico faced severe traffic congestion and parking disruption in the surrounding area. The match drew a near-capacity crowd of approximately 65,000 fans, and the parking situation was further complicated by a concurrent event at the Auditorium dedicated to Stranger Things. The root cause was the loss of hundreds of parking spaces in the Foro Italico and Villaggio Olimpico zones due to Metro Line C construction works, particularly those for the future Farnesina station. Cars were parked haphazardly across the area: on gardens in front of the Auditorium, in triple rows along the Maresciallo Diaz embankment near refreshment kiosks, and under the Corso Francia viaduct. The displaced spaces included approximately 150 regular parking spots and another 100 informally tolerated spots along the embankment between the stadium and the Foreign Ministry, plus nearly 100 more at the tangential ramp approaches. Metro Line C construction is expected to continue for at least 10 years. The Farnesina station will become the new terminus of the line, requiring not only the station itself but also extensive excavation work for the tunnel-boring machines that will be deployed there. The scale of the work means multiple construction zones occupy the area, with no immediate resolution to the parking shortage expected during match days.

Roma have no intention of selling major players in the final week of the transfer window, sporting director Tony D'Amico confirmed in his first interview since taking the role. D'Amico acknowledged that the economic parameters imposed by the club's settlement agreement with UEFA may force the leadership to "change objectives" and revise existing strategies. He described it as complicated to imagine a sale just one week before the market closes, signalling that barring unforeseen offers, Roma intend to retain the squad's core and complete their business within available resources. The central tension is finding the balance between coach Gian Piero Gasperini's technical demands and the club's financial constraints. After Roma's 4–0 win over Fiorentina, Gasperini stressed it is "absolutely necessary" to add more players given the demands of Serie A, the Champions League, and the Coppa Italia. He believes further depth and alternatives are essential. The primary objective remains an attacking reinforcement, but D'Amico's comments explain why some targets may suddenly become viable while others are abandoned despite technical merit. D'Amico declined to confirm interest in Jamie Bynoe-Gittens or Malick Fofana and gave no indication which profile Roma will pursue in their final push. The strategy is clear: no major sale to finance the market, but an obligation to identify operations compatible with UEFA parameters. D'Amico's final week will be a race against time: providing Gasperini with what the coach still requires without breaching the economic boundaries imposed on the club.

Roma demolished Fiorentina 4–0 in a commanding display, with Donyell Malen scoring a hat-trick to lead the charge. Paulo Dybala contributed three assists and Manu Koné was withdrawn only through fatigue, underlining Roma's control. Debutant Daniele Ghilardi impressed in an early appearance, while Evan N'Dicka stood firm at the back as the team moved to 3–4–1–2 formation under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. All five major Italian newspapers awarded Roma positive marks across the board. Svilar received ratings between 6 and 6.5 in goal. The defence was solid, with N'Dicka rated 7 to 7.5 by all outlets and Mancini and Hermoso both praised. In midfield, Cristante earned 6.5 to 7, while Wesley was rated 6 to 7 on the flank. Koné's 6.5 to 7.5 reflected his strong showing before substitution. Malen's 8.5 to 9 and Dybala's 8 to 9 dominated the attacking ratings. Corrections made 68 minutes in saw Koulierakis introduced for Hermoso, while Pisilli replaced Koné at 79 minutes. Rodrigo Mora (6.5) and later Matías Soulé (6) featured in attack; Santiago Castro entered for Malen at 68 minutes. Gasperini earned 7.5 to 8 from the press corps. N'Dicka's display of 7 to 7.5, Koné's energy and Ghilardi's first appearance highlighted a Roma side functioning with precision and depth throughout.

Roma delivered a commanding performance to defeat Fiorentina in convincing fashion, with the attacking partnership of Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala at the centre of a tactically assured display that showcased the squad's early-season form. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini deployed a 3-4-1-2 formation in his opening fixture, positioning Rodrigo Mora as a trequartista behind Malen and Dybala, with the Portuguese forward alternating responsibilities alongside Fagioli in midfield. Roma's defensive structure proved resistant throughout, with Evan N'Dicka marking aggressively in the 3 vs 3 system and largely neutralising Fiorentina's central threat. Bryan Cristante managed transitions effectively between the centre-backs, while Mario Hermoso and Gianluca Mancini remained largely untroubled in open play. Matías Soulé operated as an inverted winger with penetrating runs, and the fullback pairing of Lulli and Wesley — operating on his left foot — kept Fiorentina's wing play at bay. Roma managed territorial supremacy without producing clear-cut chances until Mora drifted to the left flank and forced saves from De Gea. The breakthrough came when Dybala pierced Fiorentina's central defence with a lateral run, opening space for Malen to finish clinically. The second half began with both sides unchanged, but Gasperini's tactical tweaks proved decisive. A rapid counterattack saw Malen and Dybala combine with surgical precision to double the lead. After Soulé replaced Mora, Lulli fed into the Malen-Dybala axis to complete a 3-0 scoreline that raised questions about Roma's defensive depth. The closing stages saw further substitutions as Gasperini shifted to a 3-5-2 formation, with Niccolò Pisilli entering as trequartista and scoring a fourth goal. Fiorentina's attacking threat materialised only sporadically across the 90 minutes, primarily through Kean's runs in behind. Mancini struggled against Kean's pace when facing him directly, repeatedly unable to prevent the striker from being turned on his goal and conceding positional advantage. A yellow card for Hermoso on Mastantuono 70 metres from goal in the first half complicated Roma's defensive options thereafter. Mario Hermoso received an avoidable caution early on that constrained his subsequent play. Roma's display suggested a squad capable of managing the season's demands with focused tactical discipline. The dominant control exercised over a Fiorentina side still integrating summer recruitment underscored Roma's own defensive solidity and attacking coherence, particularly the explosive capability of Malen and Dybala operating in tandem.

Roma marked their first official victory of the season with a commanding 4–0 win over Fiorentina at the Olimpico under new manager Gian Piero Gasperini. The performance was described as high-level, with no debate over the scoreline. Gasperini rewarded the squad with a day off following the Monday night debut, meaning no training session is scheduled at Trigoria on 25 August. Bryan Cristante addressed the media, noting that the workload in the current phase is noticeably lighter and more manageable compared to the summer preparation period. The squad will resume training on Wednesday afternoon.