Cristante Set for Contract Renewal as He Approaches Historic Roma Milestone

Lorenzo Pellegrini will not be available until the end of August at the earliest, as he continues to recover from a right thigh muscle injury. The Roma midfielder will miss fixtures against Fiorentina on Monday 24 August and Lecce on Monday 31 August. From 1 September, Pellegrini will begin training with the squad, with a week needed to regain match fitness. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini had indicated the extent of the layoff following Pellegrini's contract renewal on 8 August, stating: "It will take at least a month. At least. We'll talk about it in September." A call-up for the home match against Atalanta on Saturday 5 September is possible, but the key fixture targeted for Pellegrini's return is the away trip to Torino on Sunday 13 September. The number 7 suffered a recurrence of his muscular injury to the rectus femoris of his right thigh, prolonging his absence from team training and competitive action.

Roma's transfer priorities have shifted following the completion of Rodrigo Mora's signing. The club is now concentrating efforts on the left-back position and has deprioritised other targets, according to reports from Fabrizio Romano and Matteo Moretto. Interest in Malick Fofana has cooled considerably. Roma had an agreement in place with the Belgian winger but has not given Lyon the go-ahead to negotiate further. A proposed deal worth €35 million plus add-ons was deemed excessive by the club. After restructuring the terms to bring Mora to the capital, the Fofana operation has been sidelined. Similarly, pressure on Alessio Cacciamani has been relaxed as Roma refocus their efforts elsewhere. Luis Henrique has become the priority target, with Roma now pressing hard on that front. The challenge now is to find agreement on the financial terms between player and club.

Gian Piero Gasperini is building tactical flexibility into Roma's attack by deploying multiple forward options this summer. The transfer window has brought in players who give the squad genuine alternatives in attacking positions, allowing the coach to rotate his approach and personnel depending on match circumstances and opposition. The expanded attacking depth represents a shift in Roma's squad construction under Gasperini's direction. Rather than relying on a single focal point in the forward line, the club now has the depth to vary its attacking shape and personnel, offering the coach more tactical control and reducing fatigue across a full campaign. This approach reflects Gasperini's preference for tactical adaptability and squad rotation, principles he has applied throughout his managerial career. Roma's transfer strategy this summer has been built around creating multiple paths to attack, giving the coach options to switch formations, playing styles, and personnel to suit different opponents and match situations.

Rodrigo Mora impressed in his first training session and now has four days to convince Gasperini he deserves the starting role in Roma's match against Fiorentina on Monday. The Portuguese forward will compete with Matías Soulé for the trequartista position in a 3-4-1-2 formation that Roma trialled on 19 August. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are set to start as the two strikers, with Mora eyeing an opportunity to stake his claim in the role that suits him best. Soulé's availability for the match remains uncertain as AC Milan continues to press for his signature, alongside English club Sunderland. The competition for places elsewhere in the team appears settled: Molina is ready to make his debut, Wesley will start at left-back, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné will operate in midfield, and the defensive line in front of Mile Svilar will comprise Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso. Gasperini's early feedback on Mora has been positive, giving the forward genuine scope to earn a starting berth.

Niccolò Pisilli and Wesley have returned to training with Roma ahead of Monday evening's Serie A fixture against Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico, which is set for a sell-out. Pisilli has recovered from a muscular problem to the thigh that sidelined him in recent weeks, while Wesley completed partial work with the squad after a minor ankle sprain. Gian Piero Gasperini appears set to deploy the Cristante–Koné pairing in midfield despite Pisilli's availability. Wesley, the Brazilian winger, is targeting a starting berth against Fiorentina. Manchester United completed a deal for Brighton's Carlos Baleba on the same day, removing any uncertainty over Manu Koné's future at Roma. In defence, Mario Hermoso holds an advantage over Koulierakis for a place, while Molina will make his debut on the right. Lorenzo Pellegrini is unavailable for the match.

Stadio Olimpico will register its first sell-out of the season for Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini working through final selection decisions ahead of the fixture. Paulo Dybala, who impressed in pre-season, will lead the attack alongside Matías Soulé, while Donyell Malen holds a slight advantage over another forward option, though rotation is possible given his current form. Mario Hermoso is favoured to partner Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka in defence, with Nahuel Molina operating on the flank. Wesley is being monitored for a minor ankle sprain; should he be unavailable, Devyne Rensch is ready, with Lulli available as cover. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné are expected to anchor midfield, while Niccolò Pisilli, recently back from a muscular injury, is likely to start on the bench. Mora, who arrived at Ciampino yesterday, will meet Gasperini today but is unlikely to start. The Olimpico atmosphere is already building with 63,000 spectators expected, though the police authority has yet to rule on whether the away section can reopen following incidents in January.