Dovbyk and Vaz in search of buyers; contract talks to accelerate from tomorrow

Roma completed the signing of Marten de Roon from Atalanta late in the summer transfer window in a deal that closed quickly, driven by the midfielder's existing relationship with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini from their time together in Bergamo. De Roon's departure from Atalanta came after disappointment with how his spell at the club ended. Upon returning from the World Cup, the Dutchman expected a warm reception as club captain but instead found that new sporting director Cristiano Guintoli was reshaping the squad. He received no explanation of his role and Guintoli attempted to move him to Bologna in a cash-plus-swap arrangement involving Jonathan Rowe, shocking De Roon into requesting his contract be terminated. Gasperini then contacted him, and the Roma manager subsequently spoke to Atalanta president Luca Percassi about a transfer. The club proved willing to complete a deal, though De Roon asked for time to bid farewell properly to Bergamo, where his wife and daughters still live. He was not granted that opportunity. Gasperini wanted him available for Roma's match against Lecce, and De Roon complied despite his preference for a more respectful departure from Atalanta.

Gianluca Petrachi, Torino's sporting director, confirmed that Gasperini has expressed interest in Cacciamani ahead of Torino's match against Roma on 14 September. Speaking to DAZN before kickoff, Petrachi revealed that Roma made a significant offer for the midfielder, but Torino rejected it. "Yes, he is a player Roma like. I believe Gasperini has his eye on him," Petrachi said. "We had the idea of not selling him unless there were very important requests. An important one arrived but did not make us waver. We are happy to have him with us. I hope that today too he can give his contribution, even from the bench." Petrachi also reflected on his time at Roma, where he served as sporting director before joining Torino. He described the period as significant despite challenges. "Roma has been an intense year for me. I left good relationships there," he said. "There were particular circumstances, but I had an important year and Roma gave me a lot also emotionally. Even when I left, I felt the trust. Football lives on these situations and they must be faced." On Torino's transfer window, Petrachi expressed satisfaction with the squad's integration. "Players have arrived for the idea the coach has in mind, and many of them have settled well. At the moment we are happy," he noted. He also provided an update on midfielder Simeone's fitness: "He is training with the squad. We are here to understand if he can make it. He had a back problem, it is not a muscle issue. We are seeing how he manages his first movements."

Torino sporting director Petrachi addressed Roma's reported interest in midfielder Cacciamani ahead of the Serie A matchday 4 fixture between the clubs on 14 September. Petrachi confirmed that Gasperini has identified Cacciamani as a target and that an important offer from Roma arrived, but said Torino rejected it: "He is a player that Roma like, Gasperini has set his sights on him. We did not want to sell him unless a very important offer arrived, which it did but did not make us waver. Today he starts on the bench, but the coach makes his choices based on the match." Petrachi also addressed his own history with Roma, where he served as sporting director. He described his time at the club as intense and said he left good relationships despite unnamed difficulties. "Roma gave me a lot, also from an emotional point of view, even when I left," he said. He acknowledged the nature of football and its demands: "Football is lived through these situations and they must be faced. Today I am at Torino, so forza Toro." On Torino's transfer window, Petrachi said two functional signings had arrived to match the coach's vision, though integration remained incomplete for some players. He also addressed the absence of Simeone, saying the player was dealing with a back spasm rather than a simple muscle strain, and that Torino were assessing his availability for the match.

Roma players out on loan delivered mixed results across a busy weekend of football, with Alessandro Romano continuing to impress in Serie A while others made their debuts for their temporary clubs. Romano played all 90 minutes as Cagliari defeated Atalanta 2–1 at Bergamo, and created a chance for Mendy early in the second half that was ruled out for marginal offside. The 20-year-old also fired from distance in the 15th minute, forcing a corner from Carnesecchi. Under coach Pisacane, Romano has become an established starter and is at Cagliari on a loan with an obligation to buy should certain sporting conditions be met. Neil El Aynaoui experienced a contrasting week at RB Leipzig. The Moroccan midfielder played the full match in the Bundesliga club's 4–1 Champions League defeat away at Como on Thursday, then returned to the starting XI in Bundesliga action on Sunday, playing 74 minutes in a 5–0 victory over Hamburg without scoring or assisting. He remains on loan with a right of redemption. Robinio Vaz made his Premier League debut for Hull City, entering at the 82nd minute in place of McBurnie during an away fixture at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea. Hull secured a 2–2 draw, and Vaz, born in 2007, now has his first minutes in English football under his belt. He too is on loan with a right of redemption. Other Roma loanees had quieter weekends. Mattia Mannini made his Benevento debut off the bench, replacing Siatounis in the 74th minute of a 3–1 win against Hellas Verona—his first appearance after being unused at Ascoli. Filippo Reale played 90 minutes at left centre-back in Carrarese's 1–0 home defeat to Catanzaro, the goal coming from Iemmello in the 83rd minute. Radoslaw Zelezny started in goal for Perugia away at Ravenna but saw his side lose 3–0 after being reduced to ten men when Kabashi was sent off late in the first half. He had kept a clean sheet in a win against Pineto the previous week. Luigi Cherubini sat unused on Benevento's bench in their 3–1 success, a reversal of his playing status from Ascoli. Angeliño made a second consecutive unused substitute appearance for Deportivo La Coruña in a 1–1 draw at Getafe. Marash Kumbulla returned to the squad list for Rayo Vallecano but did not play in a 4–1 defeat at Real Madrid's Bernabeu. Jan Ziolkowski remained unavailable with a foot problem that had already kept him out the week prior; Monza lost 3–2 to Lecce without him. Artem Dovbyk was held out of Bologna's trip to Napoli after sustaining a minor groin issue in the 91st minute of a prior victory; Bologna lost 1–0 at the Maradona, with manager Tedesco calling the precaution sensible rather than a serious injury. Anass Salah-Eddine is nearing a loan move to Panathinaikos; Roma has agreed terms and the winger has arrived in Athens for medicals, though an official announcement had not yet been published at the time of writing.

Roma's loanees across Italy and Europe made an impact on the weekend. Artem Dovbyk was the standout performer, coming off the bench in the 66th minute for Bologna against Sassuolo and scoring the equaliser in the 91st minute to secure a 2–2 draw and the Rossoblu's first point of the season. The Ukrainian striker's decisive finish came in an Emilia derby on loan with a right of redemption clause. Elsewhere, young goalkeeper Radoslaw Zelezny put in a strong performance for Perugia in their 2–1 victory over Pineto, playing all 90 minutes as the side's first-choice keeper. The 2006-born Zelezny was blameless for the goal conceded and made several crucial saves, including a high-quality intervention in the first half and a decisive stop in the second. He is on loan at the Umbrian club with an option and counter-option attached. Midfield prospect Alessandro Romano again started for Cagliari in Serie A, remaining on the pitch for the full 90 minutes as the Sardinians won 1–0 away at Lecce thanks to a Daniel Maldini goal in the 29th minute. Romano's loan includes an obligation to buy if certain sporting conditions are met. Neil El Aynaoui made an immediate first-team debut for RB Leipzig, starting in the away fixture against Werder Brema and playing until the 75th minute. However, Leipzig suffered a 3–1 defeat. The Moroccan midfielder's move is on loan with a right of redemption. Filippo Reale, a 2006-born defender, played the full 90 minutes for Carrarese on the flank in their 1–0 home loss to Empoli, conceding in the 74th minute; he is on loan with an option and counter-option in Roma's favour. Luigi Cherubini started in attack for Benevento in the first half at Ascoli before being substituted at the interval; Benevento were reduced to ten men in the 41st minute by Prisco's red card and lost 1–0 to a Brunori penalty in the closing stages. Cherubini's loan includes a right of option and obligation to buy. Mattia Mannini received his first call-up after joining Benevento on loan but remained unused from the bench in the same Ascoli defeat. Angeliño was an unused substitute as Deportivo La Coruña won 3–2 away at Villarreal in La Liga. Robinio Vaz was included in a Premier League squad for the first time after a late-market transfer to Hull City but did not feature in a 0–0 draw with Aston Villa. Jan Ziółkowski was unavailable for Monza's away trip to Parma—which ended 1–1—due to a plantar fascia problem requiring monitoring. Marash Kumbulla likewise missed Rayo Vallecano's 3–2 victory over Racing Santander as he continues to deal with a knee issue.

Roma's supporters delivered a vital performance in the final half-hour against Atalanta, providing what the article describes as a 'cardiac massage to the hope' of a team that deserved better. Gian Piero Gasperini's side produced an assured display under constant, relentless pressure, with Manu Koné orchestrating the midfield and Bryan Cristante directing operations. The team's quality merited victory even before the goals arrived. Matías Soulé scored a deserved goal that crowned a summer of redemption for a player who had battled through earlier difficulties. Gasperini's endorsement of the winger's progress underlined his return to form. Santiago Castro made an immediate impact, showing hunger and clarity in his play, though finishing proved elusive. Artem Dovbyk scored Bologna's goal, salvaging their display after a complex sequence of play. Donyell Malen's performance was erratic; the article suggests he had uneven moments throughout the match. The week's verdicts also included criticism of Luca Percassi's conduct as 'undignified and deplorable, regardless of context', and sharp judgement of the decision to sack Grosso, with the editorial noting that ending a manager's tenure and forcing another coach to restart from zero serves only to worsen matters. Juventus's match against Milan drew unflattering comparison to a sleeping aid, relieved only briefly by Cissè and Gatti.

Roma players out on loan delivered mixed results across a busy weekend of football, with Alessandro Romano continuing to impress in Serie A while others made their debuts for their temporary clubs. Romano played all 90 minutes as Cagliari defeated Atalanta 2–1 at Bergamo, and created a chance for Mendy early in the second half that was ruled out for marginal offside. The 20-year-old also fired from distance in the 15th minute, forcing a corner from Carnesecchi. Under coach Pisacane, Romano has become an established starter and is at Cagliari on a loan with an obligation to buy should certain sporting conditions be met. Neil El Aynaoui experienced a contrasting week at RB Leipzig. The Moroccan midfielder played the full match in the Bundesliga club's 4–1 Champions League defeat away at Como on Thursday, then returned to the starting XI in Bundesliga action on Sunday, playing 74 minutes in a 5–0 victory over Hamburg without scoring or assisting. He remains on loan with a right of redemption. Robinio Vaz made his Premier League debut for Hull City, entering at the 82nd minute in place of McBurnie during an away fixture at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea. Hull secured a 2–2 draw, and Vaz, born in 2007, now has his first minutes in English football under his belt. He too is on loan with a right of redemption. Other Roma loanees had quieter weekends. Mattia Mannini made his Benevento debut off the bench, replacing Siatounis in the 74th minute of a 3–1 win against Hellas Verona—his first appearance after being unused at Ascoli. Filippo Reale played 90 minutes at left centre-back in Carrarese's 1–0 home defeat to Catanzaro, the goal coming from Iemmello in the 83rd minute. Radoslaw Zelezny started in goal for Perugia away at Ravenna but saw his side lose 3–0 after being reduced to ten men when Kabashi was sent off late in the first half. He had kept a clean sheet in a win against Pineto the previous week. Luigi Cherubini sat unused on Benevento's bench in their 3–1 success, a reversal of his playing status from Ascoli. Angeliño made a second consecutive unused substitute appearance for Deportivo La Coruña in a 1–1 draw at Getafe. Marash Kumbulla returned to the squad list for Rayo Vallecano but did not play in a 4–1 defeat at Real Madrid's Bernabeu. Jan Ziolkowski remained unavailable with a foot problem that had already kept him out the week prior; Monza lost 3–2 to Lecce without him. Artem Dovbyk was held out of Bologna's trip to Napoli after sustaining a minor groin issue in the 91st minute of a prior victory; Bologna lost 1–0 at the Maradona, with manager Tedesco calling the precaution sensible rather than a serious injury. Anass Salah-Eddine is nearing a loan move to Panathinaikos; Roma has agreed terms and the winger has arrived in Athens for medicals, though an official announcement had not yet been published at the time of writing.

Roma placed two young players in Tuttosport and Transfermarkt's Golden Boy 2026 rankings on Saturday, 12 September. Rodrigo Mora occupies 28th place, while Emanuele Lulli ranks 76th. Former Roma player Robinio Vaz, now at Hull City, also appears in the top 100 at 91st. On the women's side, Roma Femminile secured a place in the Women's Cup semi-final following victory over Fiorentina and Inter's simultaneous win over Lazio. They will face Sassuolo on Sunday at 12:00, the same opponent that beat them in the group stage and will also be their first league adversary of the season. The match will be broadcast on Sky Sport and NOW. In Serie A, Monday brings the first managerial meeting between Ignazio Abate and Gian Piero Gasperini, separated by 29 years and 637 top-flight benches. Gasperini has reached 640 bench appearances, climbing to fifth on the all-time list; his next target is Nils Liedholm at 644. Il Foglio highlighted Roma's impressive start under Gasperini, driven by an increasingly full Stadio Olimpico and a squad in strong form. The publication stressed the significance of the club's decision to reject Manu Koné's departure, a choice that strengthened the bond between coach and supporters. Roma's early season has become a symbol of unexpected momentum and high expectations.

Emanuele Lulli and Rodrigo Mora have been included in the 100-candidate shortlist for the Golden Boy 2026 award, the annual prize for the best footballer under 21 in Europe's top divisions. Lulli is ranked 76th while Mora sits 28th on the list published by Tuttosport. The award ceremony approaches with interest focused on the calibre of contenders. The previous edition was won by two PSG players. Robinho Vaz, who departed Roma during the most recent summer transfer window on loan to Hull City in the Premier League, also features among the nominees. The top 10 showcases elite talent across Europe. Pau Cubarsí, Barcelona's defender and World Cup winner with Spain, leads the rankings. He is followed by Ayyoub Bouaddi (Manchester City), Warren Zaïre-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain), Yan Diomande (Real Madrid), Victor Froholdt (Porto), Rayan (Bournemouth), Endrick (Real Madrid), Jorrel Hato (Chelsea) and Estevao (Chelsea).

Roma made it four consecutive Serie A victories with a 2–0 win at Torino, goals from Donyell Malen and Niccolò Pisilli securing the result. The defence was the standout feature, with Leonardo Balerdi and Gianluca Mancini earning widespread praise from the Italian press for their dominance and ball recovery that directly led to both goals. Mile Svilar was also crucial, making a decisive save from Simeone. Nahuel Molina impressed in the second half, while Marten de Roon delivered a strong cameo off the bench. By contrast, Santiago Castro, Rodrigo Mora and Manu Koné had less impact, and Matías Soulé failed to find his rhythm, though the team's overall control remained evident. Roma remain unbeaten and on maximum points in the season's opening run. Gian Piero Gasperini's side have built early momentum that sets up a significant test ahead. The ratings across Italy's major sports press show remarkable consistency on standout performers. Svilar was rated between 6.5 and 8, with Il Romanista, Corriere dello Sport and Corriere della Sera all giving 7 or higher. Balerdi ranged from 7 to 8—Il Romanista and Corriere dello Sport both awarded 7.5 or higher. Mancini scored between 6.5 and 8 across outlets, while Malen and Pisilli both drew frequent praise, rated between 7 and 8 in most assessments. De Roon's substitute appearance earned 6.5 to 7, and Molina was rated 6.5 to 7. By contrast, Soulé drew the lowest marks, rated between 5.5 and 6 across all outlets, and Castro similarly struggled to register, rated 5.5 to 6. Gasperini himself received an 8 from Corriere dello Sport and a 7 from Tuttosport and Romanews.eu. The giallorossi now prepare for a high-profile fixture against Inter, a test that the sources indicate will reveal much about Gasperini's squad's genuine ambitions.

Roma extended their unbeaten run to nine matches in Serie A with a commanding 2–0 away victory at Torino, goals from Donyell Malen and Niccolò Pisilli securing the club's fourth consecutive win at the start of the 2026–27 season. The nine-game streak combines four wins from this campaign's opening phase with the final stretch of last season—a run Roma have not achieved since 2014–15. The result keeps Roma level on points with Inter, who visit the Olimpico on Saturday for a fixture scheduled before the international break. Despite managing an injury emergency and enforced rotation following Champions League action, manager Gian Piero Gasperini's side played with notable control and personality. Leonardo Balerdi made his first Serie A start in place of an injured Evan N'Dicka, while Nahuel Molina also started. Malen opened the scoring in the 40th minute, latching onto a loose ball after Gianluca Mancini's high press and a Paulo Dybala assist, for his sixth league goal of the campaign. In the second half, Roma managed the game with maturity, their defence marshalled by a commanding Balerdi performance, while Mile Svilar made a decisive save on Simeone. Gasperini introduced Marten de Roon, Manu Koné, Santiago Castro and Rodrigo Mora from the bench, injecting fresh energy and tactical clarity. Pisilli sealed the win in injury time with a right-footed finish, converting after Mancini's generous play with a loose ball, in a display that reinforced Roma's current form ahead of Saturday's meeting with the defending champions.

Niccolò Pisilli scored on his first start of the season as Roma defeated Torino to extend their unbeaten Serie A run to four consecutive victories while remaining top of the table with a perfect record. Donyell Malen also netted his sixth goal of the campaign as Gasperini's side controlled the match, with Pisilli adding a second-half goal—his second of the season—to seal the win. The academy product, who had attracted transfer interest because of his potential to generate profit for the club, responded decisively when Gasperini handed him the midfield responsibility alongside Bryan Cristante. Pisilli's performance underlined a wider theme in Roma's dominance: the emergence of fresh tactical solutions as the season unfolds. The victory also showcased left-footed defender Nahuel Molina's attacking contributions and the midfield influence of Marten de Roon, while Leonardo Balerdi reinforced his status as a defensive leader. The club resisted offers for Pisilli during the transfer window, and his impact on the pitch has already vindicated that decision. On his first real opportunity at centre stage this season, Pisilli demonstrated the positioning and intelligence expected of him. He arrived in the right place at the right time—where a midfielder ought to arrive a moment later—offering precisely the additional quality that others, including Gasperini, routinely ask of Manu Koné. Pisilli delivered without being prompted, completing a convincing display that extended Roma's perfect start to the campaign.