Cristante sidelined: Gasperini's first major test without his midfield cornerstone

Roma's loanees made their mark during the international break, with Mohamed Seck delivering a commanding defensive display, Luigi Cherubini scoring for Italy's Under-21s, and Neil El Aynaoui clocking over 240 minutes for Morocco across three matches. Seck, a 2007-born defender, started the full 90 minutes in Foggia's 2-0 victory at Cosenza, keeping a clean sheet and earning praise from local media. The Corriere della Calabria awarded him 6.5, while Foggiacalciomania highlighted an almost flawless performance. He picked up a yellow card in the 28th minute but remained unaffected. Radoslaw Zelezny continued his fine form between the sticks for Perugia, playing all 90 minutes in a 3-1 derby win over Gubbio; he conceded little that was preventable and earned a 6.5 rating for his security in possession and distribution. Federico Nardin also impressed at Pescara, completing the full match in a 1-0 win at Livorno achieved by a late Sardo goal, and has now been called up to Italy's Under-19 squad for friendlies against Scotland on 10 and 13 October. Cherubini made the most impact during the break. After coming off the bench in the 79th minute of Italy U21's 1-0 win in Armenia, he was introduced again at the same stage against Poland on 4 October and scored just seven minutes later to seal a 6-2 victory and confirm Italy's direct qualification to the Under-21 European Championship final tournament. El Aynaoui started all three of Morocco's matches—a 2-0 win over Gabon (90 minutes), a 2-0 victory against Lesotho (67 minutes), and a 1-1 draw with Mali on 4 October (full 90)—demonstrating his standing with the national team. Anass Salah-Eddine also featured for Morocco, starting the full 90 minutes at left-back in the Mali friendly. Marash Kumbulla entered Albania's 3-0 Nations League win over San Marino at half-time and played the full second half. Artem Dovbyk, on loan at Bologna, skipped his Ukraine convocation to continue recovering from a muscular problem affecting his hamstring and has already resumed full training with the Bolognese squad ahead of the league's resumption.

Roma could reopen talks with Jayden Oosterwolde during the winter transfer window after a summer move collapsed over medical concerns. The club had scheduled the defender's medical examinations before completing the deal, but assessments revealed a significant muscle tear that required surgery and an estimated three-month recovery. Roma chose not to proceed at that point, but have kept the 2001-born left-back on their radar. Director of sport Massimo D'Amico continues to monitor Oosterwolde's progress, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini had already approved the move when it was being considered in summer, signalling how highly the former Parma player was valued for the project. The failed summer operation has not damaged relations between the parties. Roma will reassess Oosterwolde once he returns to full fitness and provides sufficient physical guarantees, with the January window offering a chance to revive negotiations that seemed all but done before the injury setback. A recent sign of sustained interest came during Roma's Champions League fixture against Istanbul, when Oosterwolde greeted several Roma players and subsequently held talks with Gasperini and his staff. Much will depend on the Dutch defender's recovery and Roma's own evaluation, but he remains a profile to watch for the giallorossi's left flank.

Roma will renew their search for a forward in the January transfer window after failing to secure a speedster during the summer. The club saved money through the structure of the Rodrigo Mora deal and is monitoring both established and familiar targets for the position, according to Corriere dello Sport. Endrick, a Real Madrid forward, is on Roma's radar and could potentially leave on loan if his minutes continue to be limited. However, securing him would require negotiating a permanent option to buy, which Real Madrid are unlikely to grant. Jaime Leweling, who came close to joining in the summer, remains a target with a potentially reduced price tag after struggling for regular minutes. Jamie Gittens, who has yet to play in the Premier League this campaign, is also under consideration. Roma are interested in Giorgi Kvernadze, an emerging Serie A prospect at Frosinone, though convincing the club to sell mid-season will prove difficult. Luiz Henrique from Zenit is another option, though he is left-footed, which could complicate matters given Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé's fitness status. Buying in January typically carries a premium, but the article notes that new opportunities frequently emerge as players seek more regular football. The possibility remains that Mora could develop into the solution, potentially negating the need for another attacker.

Evan N'Dicka is set to return to Trigoria after international duty with Ivory Coast and will target a starting berth against Como. Physical complaints, a virus, and Leonardo Balerdi's strong performances have limited his appearances; he was benched for tactical reasons against Inter. Bryan Cristante remains under assessment following a left knee collateral problem. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini explained the situation: "Bryan is recovering, he's being treated and it takes time. It's not certain he'll definitely miss Como and Real Madrid, but we won't be willing to risk anything. If he has to miss one or two more matches, the objective is to get him back in top condition." Wesley reportedly reached out directly to his friend Endrick, expressing how pleased he would be to welcome him to Roma as early as January. The contact between the two Brazilians drew on a bond formed through difficult moments; last June, Endrick had himself called Wesley after an injury forced him to leave Brazil's training camp. The roles have now reversed, with the Roma winger ready to tell Endrick about the club and Trigoria. The pair will have a chance to meet at the Olimpico on 14 October when Roma face Real Madrid. According to Football Benchmark estimates, Roma's squad is valued at approximately €600 million, the third-highest figure in Serie A behind Inter (€829 million) and Juventus (€777 million). The valuation is linked to resources invested by the Friedkin Group and Gasperini's work during his first year. Two Roma players feature in the top 10 in the league: Manu Koné at €64 million and Donyell Malen at €58 million. Roma supporters will return to away fixtures without residency restrictions for the first time in nine months. The away section at Sinigaglia will be full for the Como match, despite technical issues many fans encountered during ticket sales. From Sunday, Roma enter an intense stretch of nine matches in 27 days across Serie A and the Champions League, with approximately 62,000 spectators expected at the Olimpico for Real Madrid's visit.

Evan N'Dicka's start to the 2026-27 season has not matched the consistency he showed in the previous campaign, when he made 31 league starts as an automatic choice for Gian Piero Gasperini. A series of physical setbacks and the increased depth of Roma's defensive ranks have forced the Ivorian centre-back to manage a fragmented opening, punctuated by alternating appearances and enforced rest. After solid performances as a starter against Fiorentina and in Champions League against Atalanta and Fenerbahçe, N'Dicka was sidelined by adductor trouble and then an inflammation in the groin area that forced him to withdraw from the trip to Lecce at the last moment. A viral fever on the day of the Turin fixture prevented him from starting that match. The arrival of Leonardo Balerdi on loan with an obligation to buy from Marseille has further complicated his path back to the eleven; Gasperini chose the Argentine for the recent Inter clash on tactical grounds, preferring his mobility and speed to handle Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram at the centre of defence. N'Dicka accepted the decision and came on during the game with the right attitude, but is determined to reclaim the defence's primary role. During the international break, N'Dicka sent clear signals of intent. He played two full matches for Ivory Coast against Cameroon before returning to Rome ahead of schedule, putting himself straight back at the disposal of the coaching staff to regain his physical sharpness and the defensive compactness Gasperini demands. Training resumes today at Trigoria, officially opening preparation for Sunday's match against Como at the Sinigaglia. N'Dicka is a strong candidate to reclaim a starting place in the lineup. Bryan Cristante remains under careful medical management as he recovers from inflammation of the left knee's collateral ligament. He will not be risked to avoid setbacks, with the focus on a full return ahead of the prestigious European fixture against Real Madrid.

Roma travel to Como on Sunday for the sixth round of Serie A, a fixture that pits two of Italy's youngest and most dynamic squads against each other—the Giallorossi with an average age of 25.8 years, the Lariani at 24.5—but the real contrast lies on the touchline. Gian Piero Gasperini, born in 1958 and the league's most experienced coach at 68 years old, meets Cesc Fàbregas, born in 1987 and the championship's youngest manager at 39. Both are former midfielders with a goal-scoring instinct who now favour a dominant, attacking style of play, yet they have clashed repeatedly and show no warmth towards each other. The tension between them has a history. During last season's fixture, won by Roma, Gasperini called Como's persistent use of the goalkeeper in build-up play "tedious". Fàbregas replied months later after Como won at home, criticizing his rival for leaving the pitch without even a handshake at the final whistle. The pair reignited their rivalry recently at the Trento Sports Festival, where Fàbregas made a veiled jab by recalling that Gasperini had beaten him at Subbuteo, though he expressed hope for a different outcome on Sunday. Roma's preparation resumes this afternoon at Trigoria, but Gasperini will be without Bryan Cristante. The midfielder will undergo decisive scans to determine his recovery plan and the timeline for his absence following a collateral ligament injury to his knee. Speaking to Sky Sport, Gasperini reiterated his desire to involve the Friedkin Group ownership more directly in squad matters and supporter relations, with the goal of rekindling the momentum and enthusiasm evident in Roma's early-season performances.

Italy's Under-21 side secured qualification for the 2027 European Championship with a 6–2 demolition of Poland at the Stadio Adriatico in Pescara. The emphatic victory saw the Azzurrini overtake Poland at the top of their qualifying group on goal difference in a decisive head-to-head encounter. Niccolò Pisilli started in midfield for Italy and played the full 90 minutes, continuing his run of regular selection at Under-21 level. Fellow Roma player Emanuele Lulli remained on the bench throughout. Ndour scored twice in Italy's commanding performance, with additional goals from Koleosho, Lipani, Fini and former Roma forward Cherubini. Manager Baldini's side demonstrated overwhelming attacking prowess to seal their place at the 2027 tournament.

Italy's Under-21 side defeated Poland 6–2 in Pescara to finish top of qualifying Group 5 and secure direct passage to the European Under-21 Championship. The Azzurrini needed a two-goal victory to guarantee qualification, and they took control early through strikes from Koleosho and Ndour in the opening half-hour. Ndour added a second after the interval before Lipani made it 4–0, Poland pulled goals back through Mikolajewski in the 65th minute and Zewlakow at the 85th, but former Roma player Cherubini restored the lead within 60 seconds. Niccolò Pisilli featured in midfield for Italy, deployed alongside Ndour and Faticanti. The Roma midfielder attempted to find the target several times but was denied by Poland goalkeeper Lubik and the visiting defence. Lulli remained unused on the bench throughout; he had come off the bench against Armenia the previous Thursday.

Roma players will begin filtering back to Trigoria from tomorrow, 6 October, as Gian Piero Gasperini prepares his squad for the trip to Como on Sunday 11 October at 12:30. The club have trained with a reduced group during the international break, and the staggered returns will allow Gasperini to resume full preparations. Evan N'Dicka, Konstantinos Koulierakis and Giorgio De Marzi are expected back in the morning, with further arrivals throughout the day. The Italy contingent—Gianluca Mancini, Daniele Ghilardi, Niccolò Pisilli and Emanuele Lulli—will arrive in the evening. Manu Koné, the France midfielder, will be the last to rejoin, returning to the squad on Wednesday and training with the group a day behind the initial batch of returnees.

Evan N'Dicka's start to the 2026-27 season has not matched the consistency he showed in the previous campaign, when he made 31 league starts as an automatic choice for Gian Piero Gasperini. A series of physical setbacks and the increased depth of Roma's defensive ranks have forced the Ivorian centre-back to manage a fragmented opening, punctuated by alternating appearances and enforced rest. After solid performances as a starter against Fiorentina and in Champions League against Atalanta and Fenerbahçe, N'Dicka was sidelined by adductor trouble and then an inflammation in the groin area that forced him to withdraw from the trip to Lecce at the last moment. A viral fever on the day of the Turin fixture prevented him from starting that match. The arrival of Leonardo Balerdi on loan with an obligation to buy from Marseille has further complicated his path back to the eleven; Gasperini chose the Argentine for the recent Inter clash on tactical grounds, preferring his mobility and speed to handle Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram at the centre of defence. N'Dicka accepted the decision and came on during the game with the right attitude, but is determined to reclaim the defence's primary role. During the international break, N'Dicka sent clear signals of intent. He played two full matches for Ivory Coast against Cameroon before returning to Rome ahead of schedule, putting himself straight back at the disposal of the coaching staff to regain his physical sharpness and the defensive compactness Gasperini demands. Training resumes today at Trigoria, officially opening preparation for Sunday's match against Como at the Sinigaglia. N'Dicka is a strong candidate to reclaim a starting place in the lineup. Bryan Cristante remains under careful medical management as he recovers from inflammation of the left knee's collateral ligament. He will not be risked to avoid setbacks, with the focus on a full return ahead of the prestigious European fixture against Real Madrid.

Roma begin a critical phase of their season with the trip to Como, the first fixture in a nine-match stretch across twenty-seven days that will test their squad depth and rotation strategy. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has emphasised the need for careful individual management and targeted turnover to maintain the team's sharpness in both Serie A and European competition. Bryan Cristante remains sidelined with inflammation of the knee's collateral ligament. The medical staff are prioritising proper recovery without rushing his return, assessing his condition day by day and avoiding unnecessary risk ahead of both the Como match and the subsequent Champions League encounter against Real Madrid. His absence opens the door for Marten de Roon to make his Roma debut from the start. The Dutch midfielder, a former Atalanta captain, will pair with Manu Koné in midfield. Gasperini has confirmed that Chelsea made late-window attempts to sign Koné, but those moves were firmly rejected to ensure continuity of the project. Positive news comes from the attack, where Donyell Malen has recovered from the knee problem sustained before the international break in the match against Inter and is ready to lead the line from the first minute. Paulo Dybala will support him, and a competitive battle is expected for the second starting berth on the attacking midfield line. Lorenzo Pellegrini and Matías Soulé are candidates for rotation during the match. Soulé has put behind him the pubic bone issues that had hampered his form and is in excellent physical condition after his recent senior international debut. Rodrigo Mora stands ready as a viable alternative during the game.

Evan N'Dicka returns to Roma this week determined to reclaim his centre-back position after an adductor problem, intestinal illness and Leonardo Balerdi's strong form have disrupted his opening to the season. N'Dicka was on international duty with Ivory Coast, playing two full matches and appearing in the closing stages of a friendly against Cameroon, and will rejoin Gasperini's squad at Trigoria with the Como match on his mind. The central defender's goal this week is to shed his physical ailments and edge out his Argentine defensive partner in what has become a genuine competition for the shirt. Bareldi, signed on loan with an obligation to buy from Marseille, has raised Roma's defensive standards significantly, forcing competition where none felt certain before. When Roma faced Inter in their last fixture before the international break, N'Dicka was left on the bench—not through injury but as a pure tactical choice by head coach Gasperini, who reportedly preferred Balerdi to counter Inter's mobile attacking pair of Lautaro and Thuram. That decision stung. N'Dicka came on during the Inter match and performed positively, demonstrating his mental resilience remains intact. The contest for the starting role will be decided by Gasperini ahead of Como, but N'Dicka's message is unmistakable: competition is fierce, but he will not yield ground after serving as a genuine cornerstone in Roma's first season under the new era.