De Roon praises Gasperini: 'He speaks forcefully, but gets you into the Champions League'

Roma radio stations have dissected the team's opening weeks of the 2026-27 season, focusing on attacking output, midfield deployment, and the defensive lapses that cost them against Inter. Gianluca Piacentini noted that while the team has impressed overall, Santiago Castro has yet to score despite solid performances, and the attacking group has contributed only three goals total—two from Matías Soulé and one from Rodrigo Mora—leaving room for improvement. Donyell Malen, who remained in Rome during the international break, has been the standout performer among the forwards. The consensus is that Roma's attackers, particularly Castro, Soulé and Mora, would have benefited from staying at Trigoria rather than joining their national teams for what several commentators dismissed as unnecessary international fixtures. Francesca Ferrazza explained that criticism of Paulo Dybala's reduced shooting is misplaced: "Now they're criticising Dybala because he doesn't score and doesn't shoot, but in my opinion it's precisely a deliberate choice to shoot less in goal. A choice shared with the manager, by the way. To extend his season and his career, he plays for others more than for himself." The discussion around Lorenzo Pellegrini centred on tactical fit. Lorenzo Pes raised concerns about how Pellegrini will adapt to Gasperini's intensity: "What intrigues me is how he might fit into certain systems. When you play with a trequartista, that is his best position, perhaps in that role he's the best you have, but when you line up differently on the pitch I'm not sure how much he can adapt. Last season he did reasonably well but in a very different Roma—now it's much more intense. Gasperini says he can see him in midfield too, but in that role he's never actually put him there." Mario Corsi challenged the narrative around Gianluca Mancini's role in Inter's goal, pointing out that four Roma defenders were on the pitch yet failed to function as a unit. He argued the real issue is a lack of a player who can beat his man consistently. Piero Torri stressed that after the international break, Roma will need all available players, with Gasperini having stated the team must operate with a squad of 20 across a seven-match stretch. Roberto Pruzzo offered a positive assessment, noting that Malen's presence this season—absent last year—and Dybala's apparent full recovery give Roma credible tools to challenge Inter, especially once the remainder of the transfer window closes. Luigi Salomone suggested that had Roma's previous manager substituted a different forward earlier against Lazio, the result might have shifted dramatically. The international break will resume mid-October, after which Roma face a compressed fixture list in both Serie A and the Champions League that will test squad depth and tactical flexibility.

Francesco Totti has revealed that both Genoa and Como made serious approaches asking him to return to Serie A football at 48 years old. Totti explained that he took the proposals seriously enough to undergo a rigorous training programme: he played five-a-side football every Monday evening, added three gym sessions per week and two with a physiotherapist, and strictly controlled his diet, cutting out bread and sweets. He acknowledged that his physical condition responded well to the work despite normal wear and tear for someone nearly 50, saying his back was stiff but nothing serious. Genoa's Gian Marco Gilan—the manager—sent him WhatsApp messages asking for his decision, and Totti was drawn to the prospect of Stadio Marassi, which he described as "a beautiful stadium, English-style, with passionate people who follow the matches glued to the pitch. You feel their breath on your neck." Crucially, Genoa was also the venue of his final Roma appearance, something he saw as significant. However, Totti ultimately declined both offers, stating that the fundamental barrier was emotional rather than physical: he could not bring himself to play for any club other than Roma. "Can you play for a team that isn't Roma?" he asked himself repeatedly. He concluded that sporting betrayal has no age limit—"whether you are 18 or 48 years old." His decision came down to the fact that Roma was not a problem to overcome but a principle: loyalty to the only club where he could ever imagine playing. Totti also addressed the breakdown and recent reconciliation with Luciano Spalletti, the Italy manager. Their relationship had fractured on 28 May 2017, the day of Totti's forced retirement, and for over six years they neither saw nor spoke to each other. A turning point came in November 2023 when Vito Scala, a longtime friend, persuaded Totti to attend a Hospital Bambino Gesù visit during an Italy squad gathering before a match against Macedonia on 17 November. At that meeting, Spalletti used humour to break the ice: "From the heart, shall I give you a hug? From the heart, go on..." They exchanged a brief high-five and an embrace that Totti described as fleeting and emotionally neutral. The real thaw came when advertising executive Damiano Biondi proposed they film a commercial together for Amaro Montenegro. After a month of hesitation, Totti accepted. They shot at a location in Rome called I Ponti, and during their first conversation in Spalletti's camper, the tone shifted: Totti told Spalletti, "I couldn't wait. Anyway, you should thank me, boss—if I'd said no, they wouldn't have taken you either." They worked together over two days, relaxed, and smiled genuine, spontaneous smiles. In summer 2026 they filmed a second advert over three days at Spalletti's estate in Tuscany. During a dinner with others, Totti addressed the past directly: "As a coach he was one of the strongest, but he didn't behave well with me." Spalletti countered: "No, Francesco, it's all your fault—you wanted me gone and kicked me out of Roma." Totti replied: "What are you saying, boss? You did it all yourself." Totti emerged from both shoots more at peace, though the fundamental disagreement remained unresolved.

Gianluca Mancini has become the subject of fierce criticism on social media after losing possession 50 metres from goal in Roma's recent match against Inter, a mistake that led to Lautaro Martinez scoring to reopen the contest. The backlash has been swift and unforgiving, with supporters on social networks reversing their judgment of a player they had celebrated for his derby heroics, his displays of the Roma flag to the Curva Sud, and his willingness to cut his salary to remain at the club. The shift in sentiment mirrors a broader contemporary football phenomenon: judgement rendered from the armchair, divorced from the physical realities of elite sport. The article notes that Mancini's mistake, while real, did not directly assist Inter's goal—the team had to develop the play further before Martinez finished with a technical strike. Beyond that single error, his display against Inter was not disastrous. A week earlier, at Turin, Mancini had been among Roma's best performers; in the 93rd minute, with the team defending a narrow advantage and several players exhausted, he fought on the sideline and contributed the decisive work in the build-up to Niccolò Pisilli's goal that made it 2–0. In seven days, he has moved from catalyst to liability in the court of online opinion. The article invokes a point made by Daniele De Rossi: "From the armchair everyone is good. Because from the armchair there is no tiredness, pressure, preventive marking, seventy metres covered in transition, heavy legs or opponents earning millions precisely because they know how to exploit mistakes." Mancini may indeed be fatigued; recent displays have offered subtle signs. With the arrival of Leonardo Balerdi and Konstantinos Koulierakis, coach Gian Piero Gasperini now has defensive alternatives and the freedom to rotate. The article emphasises that Gasperini, not social media, must decide whether Mancini plays less—and that decision should come from observing him in training and matches, not from a frozen frame posted on social media. The difference between critiquing an error and declaring a player suddenly incapable remains meaningful, the article concludes, "at least until the next match."

Roma continued their conditioning work at Trigoria on 22 September, refusing to ease off during the international break. The squad's next match is scheduled for 11 October against Como, but Gasperini kept the players sharp with athletic sessions despite the pause in fixtures. Among those training were Paulo Dybala and Mile Svilar, alongside several players using the stoppage to rebuild match fitness after recent struggles or late arrivals to the squad. Nahuel Molina, Marten de Roon and Lorenzo Pellegrini were the focus of Gasperini's attention during these weeks without competition. Molina, an Argentine midfielder, suffered fatigue from a long World Cup campaign but had recently rediscovered sufficient form; Gasperini aims to have him at peak condition for a demanding run of fixtures in October. De Roon, who joined late in the transfer window after being sidelined in Maurizio Sarri's plans at Atalanta, follows a similar recovery path. Pellegrini, the captain and number 7, earned his first squad call-up this season in the match against Torino and must complete his athletic rehabilitation after missing the summer preparation alongside his teammates. He will use these weeks without matches to conduct a mini pre-season programme. Also training were Pierluigi Gollini, Devyne Rensch, Vasquez and Giorgio De Marzi under Gasperini's close observation. Three players were absent: Bryan Cristante due to lower back pain, Donyell Malen with a knee complaint, and Wesley sidelined by a muscular strain.

Roma radio stations analysed the club's 2–2 draw with Inter, with discussion centring on squad fitness and tactical depth ahead of a busy fixture schedule. The match was widely praised for its quality, though opinions differed on whether Roma should feel satisfied or regretful. Lorenzo Pes, speaking on Tele Radio Stereo, highlighted Wesley's physical condition as a concern. "The one who seems most in difficulty at a physical level is Wesley," Pes said. "He had the injury a few days before the season started and didn't have a chance to begin like the others. I saw him behind, but I think the others are in good shape and this break can help him." Pes also noted that Gasperini has suggested using Lorenzo Pellegrini in midfield, though he has not yet deployed him in that role during matches. Franco Melli judged Roma and Inter the two best teams in the league, with Inter still holding the edge. Luigi Ferrajolo identified the match as the season's finest but warned of structural issues: "The problem with Roma is duration. They press and attack frenetically for 45 minutes, then drop. Gasperini must also understand why so many goals are being conceded early in the second half." Alessandro Vocalelli suggested Roma's regret stemmed from failing to win rather than pride in a competitive display. Roberto Pruzzo framed Roma as credible title contenders, noting that the arrival of Donyell Malen from the start rather than mid-season strengthens the squad alongside Paulo Dybala's strong form. Piero Torri projected intense rotation in the coming weeks. "Roma will play seven matches in 20 days on returning from the break," he said, "and will need everyone. I expect all players to see action, including and especially Lorenzo Pellegrini, who has finally found form and will be an extra weapon in both the league and the Champions League. The same for Castro—he will start some matches. De Roon too. Perhaps Koulierakis in rotations, Mora, and so on. Some will remain starters because they are solid foundations of Gasperini's fixed formation, like Koné, Mancini and Dybala, but I expect significant turnover."

Roma resumed training on Tuesday 22 September with a severely reduced squad available to Gasperini. Among outfield players, only Hermoso, Molina, Rensch, Pellegrini, De Roon and Dybala trained fully, while Wesley, Malen and Cristante remained at Trigoria for physiotherapy on their respective problems. All three goalkeepers, including Svilar, were available for selection. The squad will continue work through Friday focused mainly on maintaining fitness before a break. In a separate development, Francesco Totti revealed in his book *Oltre* that he came very close to an unexpected return to professional football with Genoa. After initial jokes about a comeback, the club's hierarchy made a formal approach and the former Roma captain began serious training, including gym work, physiotherapy and a tailored diet. Manager Gilardino also wrote to him to try to persuade him, but ultimately his bond to Roma prevailed. Totti reflected on his decision: "A sporting betrayal has no age limit, whether you are 18 or 48 years old." Forward Antonio Arena has returned to Roma Primavera after recovering from a muscular strain. He featured for a spell on Sunday against Milan, and his introduction coincided with Guaglianone's decisive goal. Although Arena has not yet appeared in the UEFA Youth League, he remains eligible to do so despite being included by Gasperini on the senior squad's UEFA list as number 68. Off the pitch, Roma's Pietralata stadium project advanced significantly. The State Superintendence gave a favourable opinion on the Environmental Impact Assessment, stating it found no "obstacles to releasing the provision". Conditions remain on archaeological protection, a Roman villa, a cistern and landscaping that must be incorporated into the design. The final Conference of Services meeting is scheduled for Monday 28 September.