Di Biagio: Malen is the sun Roma revolves around; Lautaro plays a different role

Luigi Di Biagio, a midfielder who played for both Roma and Inter, has backed Roma to emerge as title contenders this season ahead of Saturday's match between the clubs. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Di Biagio said the fixture would be a spectacle but is too early to decide the Scudetto race. "Inter has the obligation to win it for the squad they have and for their history over recent years. Roma, instead, is there for a path of growth and is a very pleasant surprise," he said. He added that Roma could challenge for the title this season just as he predicted they would surprise in the Champions League last year. Di Biagio praised how Gasperini has shaped Roma's squad, saying the club has signed players suited to his demands without making mistakes. He highlighted the transformation brought by Donyell Malen, describing how the forward has changed Roma's entire attacking structure. When asked whether enthusiasm could be a double-edged sword, Di Biagio rejected the notion: "No, a one-edged sword only… It is only something positive. I will keep enthusiasm my whole life." Asked to compare Malen with Inter's Lautaro Martínez, Di Biagio said: "Malen almost runs a department by himself, he is the sun and everyone else moves around him: Dybala, Soulé, the wingers, the midfielders. He attacks depth and in the final thirty metres becomes incredibly decisive. Lautaro, especially with Thuram, does a different job: he turns more."

Roma and Inter will meet on the pitch this Saturday as the Serie A leaders, but behind the fixture lies a stark contrast in how their respective owners build and sustain their projects. Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma have invested €211 million in player acquisitions since his arrival, while Cristian Chivu's Inter have spent €186 million—a gap of €25 million that illustrates the Friedkin Group's commitment to backing the sporting project despite UEFA financial fair play constraints. By contrast, Inter's ownership under Oaktree has prioritised economic and financial stability. The €211 million Roma figure spans the campaigns that began with Gasperini's appointment. In the 2025–26 season, Roma spent €86.5 million, with Wesley arriving for €25 million and Neil El Aynaoui for €23 million, alongside Robinio Vaz (€20 million), Jan Ziółkowski (€6.5 million), and several expensive loans including Donyell Malen, Bailey, Evan Ferguson, Daniele Ghilardi and Zaragoza. The acceleration came this summer: the Friedkin Group approved €124.5 million for 2026–27, comprising Santiago Castro (€35 million), Rodrigo Mora (€25 million), Malen's permanent transfer (€25 million), Konstantinos Koulierakis (€16.5 million), Nahuel Molina (€13 million), Ghilardi's purchase (€8 million), Marten de Roon (€1 million) and Leonardo Balerdi's loan (€1 million). The Porto agreement for Mora includes a further €25 million for 2027 or 50 per cent of any future sale. The contrast deepens when examining the wider impact on club finances. Since summer 2025, Roma's squad costs—including salaries, depreciation and loan fees—have risen by approximately €15 million, while Inter's have fallen by approximately €10 million. The Friedkin Group has covered losses through fresh capital injections, accepting red accounts to sustain sporting growth; Roma has not closed a profitable financial year since their 2020 arrival, with 2025–26 expected to end in loss. Oaktree delivered a €35 million profit in its first Inter season and is preparing to close the next year in the black. Both approaches remain valid: Chivu inherited a structured squad already competing at the highest level, while Gasperini was tasked with rebuilding after Roma's seven-year absence from the Champions League. Saturday's direct clash will test both strategies on the pitch. One club has chosen acceleration to close the gap; the other is maintaining competitiveness while reducing the squad's economic burden.

Luigi Di Biagio, the former Roma and Inter midfielder who now coaches Saudi Arabia Under 23, has given his verdict on Saturday's Roma–Inter fixture at the Olimpico, stressing that despite the quality on display it will not decide the Scudetto. "Sarà uno spettacolo, ma è presto per immaginarsi qualcosa di definitivo: questa sfida non deciderà lo scudetto," he said. "L'Inter ha l'obbligo di vincerlo per la squadra che ha e per la storia degli ultimi anni. La Roma, invece, è lì per un percorso di crescita ed è una piacevolissima sorpresa: merita tutto per quello che sta facendo." Di Biagio believes Roma have undergone a fundamental shift under Gasperini's direction. "La Roma ha comprato giocatori funzionali alle sue richieste e direi che non ne ha sbagliato mezzo. Quanto sia stato fondamentale Malen è quasi scontato dirlo, ma è cambiata tutta la Roma. È cambiato proprio il motore," he explained. He highlighted the transformation in Paulo Dybala's performances: "Prendete Dybala, che gioca con una continuità che in passato non aveva. È anche merito del metodo Gasperini: sono convinto che più ti alleni forte e più stai bene. Oggi i giocatori della Roma hanno un altro ritmo e un'altra mentalità: vanno all'attacco e cercano sempre di vincere." Di Biagio acknowledged that Inter remain favourites but warned: "L'Inter, numericamente e per i cambi che ha, è ancora più avanti, ma Gasp può darle molto fastidio." On the midfield battle, Di Biagio praised Roma's structure: "La Roma con Cristante ha trovato un mediano che accompagna la costruzione; lui e Koné vanno spesso verso la linea dei difensori e permettono agli esterni di alzarsi. È lo svuotamento del centrocampo tipico di Gasp, una bellezza da studiare." He assessed the goalkeeping situation, noting that while Svilar offers certainty, Inter's Martinez deserves defence: "Se Svilar è una certezza della Roma, anche Martinez è un portiere interessante e moderno." On the forwards, he ranked both as decisive: "Malen fa quasi reparto da solo, è lui solo e tutti gli altri si muovono attorno a lui... Attacca la profondità e negli ultimi trenta metri diventa incredibilmente decisivo. Lautaro... gira di più, viene incontro, gioca anche lontano dalla porta e poi si butta dentro. Sono decisivi entrambi, qui il livello è altissimo." Di Biagio expressed belief that Roma's enthusiasm in the city is entirely positive. "No, a un taglio solo… È soltanto qualcosa di positivo. Mi tengo tutta la vita l'entusiasmo," he said, adding that the critical test for Roma will come in managing both Serie A and Champions League: "Bisognerà capire come la Roma reagirà quando dovrà gestire insieme campionato e Champions, questo passaggio sarà decisivo."

Luigi Di Biagio, a midfielder who played for both Roma and Inter, has backed Roma to emerge as title contenders this season ahead of Saturday's match between the clubs. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Di Biagio said the fixture would be a spectacle but is too early to decide the Scudetto race. "Inter has the obligation to win it for the squad they have and for their history over recent years. Roma, instead, is there for a path of growth and is a very pleasant surprise," he said. He added that Roma could challenge for the title this season just as he predicted they would surprise in the Champions League last year. Di Biagio praised how Gasperini has shaped Roma's squad, saying the club has signed players suited to his demands without making mistakes. He highlighted the transformation brought by Donyell Malen, describing how the forward has changed Roma's entire attacking structure. When asked whether enthusiasm could be a double-edged sword, Di Biagio rejected the notion: "No, a one-edged sword only… It is only something positive. I will keep enthusiasm my whole life." Asked to compare Malen with Inter's Lautaro Martínez, Di Biagio said: "Malen almost runs a department by himself, he is the sun and everyone else moves around him: Dybala, Soulé, the wingers, the midfielders. He attacks depth and in the final thirty metres becomes incredibly decisive. Lautaro, especially with Thuram, does a different job: he turns more."

Roma and Inter meet in a match that has gripped the capital for days, with both clubs sitting top of the table after perfect starts to the season. The fixture carries the weight of a title decider, a far cry from the era fifteen years ago when these two sides regularly contested the Scudetto, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa. The Stadio Olimpico's capacity of roughly 70,000 will prove inadequate: 65,500 tickets have already been sold within 48 hours of kickoff, with the visiting section also set to overflow. The ground is all but sold out. Another full house is scarcely news in the Friedkin era. Over 80 all-outs have been recorded since the American family took control of the giallorossi, establishing a pattern of exceptional attendance. The fixture will showcase Roma's champions—Dybala and Malen among them—against Inter counterparts including Lautaro and Dimarco. Both sides carry uncomfortable history: Gasperini left poor memories in Milan, while Chivu, who will face the club where he played, remains a flashpoint after gesturing defiantly towards the curve during a previous Roma–Inter meeting, a act his former supporters have never forgiven. Daniele Aloisi, writing in Il Messaggero, notes that a stadium holding 150,000 would be necessary to meet demand for an encounter of this magnitude, underlining how completely this rivalry has captured public attention across the city.

Roma and Inter will meet on the pitch this Saturday as the Serie A leaders, but behind the fixture lies a stark contrast in how their respective owners build and sustain their projects. Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma have invested €211 million in player acquisitions since his arrival, while Cristian Chivu's Inter have spent €186 million—a gap of €25 million that illustrates the Friedkin Group's commitment to backing the sporting project despite UEFA financial fair play constraints. By contrast, Inter's ownership under Oaktree has prioritised economic and financial stability. The €211 million Roma figure spans the campaigns that began with Gasperini's appointment. In the 2025–26 season, Roma spent €86.5 million, with Wesley arriving for €25 million and Neil El Aynaoui for €23 million, alongside Robinio Vaz (€20 million), Jan Ziółkowski (€6.5 million), and several expensive loans including Donyell Malen, Bailey, Evan Ferguson, Daniele Ghilardi and Zaragoza. The acceleration came this summer: the Friedkin Group approved €124.5 million for 2026–27, comprising Santiago Castro (€35 million), Rodrigo Mora (€25 million), Malen's permanent transfer (€25 million), Konstantinos Koulierakis (€16.5 million), Nahuel Molina (€13 million), Ghilardi's purchase (€8 million), Marten de Roon (€1 million) and Leonardo Balerdi's loan (€1 million). The Porto agreement for Mora includes a further €25 million for 2027 or 50 per cent of any future sale. The contrast deepens when examining the wider impact on club finances. Since summer 2025, Roma's squad costs—including salaries, depreciation and loan fees—have risen by approximately €15 million, while Inter's have fallen by approximately €10 million. The Friedkin Group has covered losses through fresh capital injections, accepting red accounts to sustain sporting growth; Roma has not closed a profitable financial year since their 2020 arrival, with 2025–26 expected to end in loss. Oaktree delivered a €35 million profit in its first Inter season and is preparing to close the next year in the black. Both approaches remain valid: Chivu inherited a structured squad already competing at the highest level, while Gasperini was tasked with rebuilding after Roma's seven-year absence from the Champions League. Saturday's direct clash will test both strategies on the pitch. One club has chosen acceleration to close the gap; the other is maintaining competitiveness while reducing the squad's economic burden.

Luigi Di Biagio, a midfielder who played for both Roma and Inter, has backed Roma to emerge as title contenders this season ahead of Saturday's match between the clubs. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Di Biagio said the fixture would be a spectacle but is too early to decide the Scudetto race. "Inter has the obligation to win it for the squad they have and for their history over recent years. Roma, instead, is there for a path of growth and is a very pleasant surprise," he said. He added that Roma could challenge for the title this season just as he predicted they would surprise in the Champions League last year. Di Biagio praised how Gasperini has shaped Roma's squad, saying the club has signed players suited to his demands without making mistakes. He highlighted the transformation brought by Donyell Malen, describing how the forward has changed Roma's entire attacking structure. When asked whether enthusiasm could be a double-edged sword, Di Biagio rejected the notion: "No, a one-edged sword only… It is only something positive. I will keep enthusiasm my whole life." Asked to compare Malen with Inter's Lautaro Martínez, Di Biagio said: "Malen almost runs a department by himself, he is the sun and everyone else moves around him: Dybala, Soulé, the wingers, the midfielders. He attacks depth and in the final thirty metres becomes incredibly decisive. Lautaro, especially with Thuram, does a different job: he turns more."

Roma and Inter meet in a match that has gripped the capital for days, with both clubs sitting top of the table after perfect starts to the season. The fixture carries the weight of a title decider, a far cry from the era fifteen years ago when these two sides regularly contested the Scudetto, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa. The Stadio Olimpico's capacity of roughly 70,000 will prove inadequate: 65,500 tickets have already been sold within 48 hours of kickoff, with the visiting section also set to overflow. The ground is all but sold out. Another full house is scarcely news in the Friedkin era. Over 80 all-outs have been recorded since the American family took control of the giallorossi, establishing a pattern of exceptional attendance. The fixture will showcase Roma's champions—Dybala and Malen among them—against Inter counterparts including Lautaro and Dimarco. Both sides carry uncomfortable history: Gasperini left poor memories in Milan, while Chivu, who will face the club where he played, remains a flashpoint after gesturing defiantly towards the curve during a previous Roma–Inter meeting, a act his former supporters have never forgiven. Daniele Aloisi, writing in Il Messaggero, notes that a stadium holding 150,000 would be necessary to meet demand for an encounter of this magnitude, underlining how completely this rivalry has captured public attention across the city.

Luigi Di Biagio, the former Roma and Inter midfielder who now coaches Saudi Arabia Under 23, has given his verdict on Saturday's Roma–Inter fixture at the Olimpico, stressing that despite the quality on display it will not decide the Scudetto. "Sarà uno spettacolo, ma è presto per immaginarsi qualcosa di definitivo: questa sfida non deciderà lo scudetto," he said. "L'Inter ha l'obbligo di vincerlo per la squadra che ha e per la storia degli ultimi anni. La Roma, invece, è lì per un percorso di crescita ed è una piacevolissima sorpresa: merita tutto per quello che sta facendo." Di Biagio believes Roma have undergone a fundamental shift under Gasperini's direction. "La Roma ha comprato giocatori funzionali alle sue richieste e direi che non ne ha sbagliato mezzo. Quanto sia stato fondamentale Malen è quasi scontato dirlo, ma è cambiata tutta la Roma. È cambiato proprio il motore," he explained. He highlighted the transformation in Paulo Dybala's performances: "Prendete Dybala, che gioca con una continuità che in passato non aveva. È anche merito del metodo Gasperini: sono convinto che più ti alleni forte e più stai bene. Oggi i giocatori della Roma hanno un altro ritmo e un'altra mentalità: vanno all'attacco e cercano sempre di vincere." Di Biagio acknowledged that Inter remain favourites but warned: "L'Inter, numericamente e per i cambi che ha, è ancora più avanti, ma Gasp può darle molto fastidio." On the midfield battle, Di Biagio praised Roma's structure: "La Roma con Cristante ha trovato un mediano che accompagna la costruzione; lui e Koné vanno spesso verso la linea dei difensori e permettono agli esterni di alzarsi. È lo svuotamento del centrocampo tipico di Gasp, una bellezza da studiare." He assessed the goalkeeping situation, noting that while Svilar offers certainty, Inter's Martinez deserves defence: "Se Svilar è una certezza della Roma, anche Martinez è un portiere interessante e moderno." On the forwards, he ranked both as decisive: "Malen fa quasi reparto da solo, è lui solo e tutti gli altri si muovono attorno a lui... Attacca la profondità e negli ultimi trenta metri diventa incredibilmente decisivo. Lautaro... gira di più, viene incontro, gioca anche lontano dalla porta e poi si butta dentro. Sono decisivi entrambi, qui il livello è altissimo." Di Biagio expressed belief that Roma's enthusiasm in the city is entirely positive. "No, a un taglio solo… È soltanto qualcosa di positivo. Mi tengo tutta la vita l'entusiasmo," he said, adding that the critical test for Roma will come in managing both Serie A and Champions League: "Bisognerà capire come la Roma reagirà quando dovrà gestire insieme campionato e Champions, questo passaggio sarà decisivo."