Dybala at his brilliant best in Florence: three assists and the Friedkins face a beautiful problem

Santiago Castro made his AS Roma debut at the Olimpico on 25 August 2026 and celebrated in unforgettable fashion by announcing he is expecting his first child. The Argentine striker revealed the news on Instagram, writing: "We are very happy to say that our small family is growing. Eager and emotional to have you with us. We are waiting for you." Castro and his wife posed for a photograph on the pitch immediately after the match, holding a miniature Roma shirt bearing his name to mark both occasions at once. The couple chose to announce the pregnancy on the night of Castro's first appearance in the giallorossi shirt, combining two significant milestones into a single celebration. The photograph, taken in the stadium, carries dual meaning—recording both his debut and the arrival of a new generation to his family. Castro's daughter will be born in Rome, linking his child to the capital from birth.

Roma have agreed terms with Malick Fofana (21) but remain at loggerheads with Lyon over the fee. The French club is demanding €35 million fixed plus €5 million in bonuses, a price Roma have resisted after their substantial investment in Rodrigo Mora. The giallorossi will decide in the coming hours whether to meet Lyon's demands or pursue alternative targets as the market remains open. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (22) remains on Roma's radar, but Chelsea continue to block a move. The Blues have rejected a loan-with-option-to-buy formula and insist on an immediate sale, valuing the winger at up to €45 million. Director Florian Friedkin is monitoring the situation, though the negotiations have cooled and will require Chelsea to shift their stance for progress. Ibrahim Mbaye (18), a young winger sidelined by Paris Saint-Germain, is being tracked as a potentially sustainable option to bolster the attack as Gasperini seeks. Friedkin is watching developments in the final days of the window to see if favourable conditions emerge. Meanwhile, Neil El Aynaoui (25) has attracted fresh enquiries beyond Saudi Arabian interest, with Crystal Palace now seeking information on the Moroccan midfielder. Roma do not regard the former Lens player as unsaleable and could consider offers around €35 million, a sum that would significantly boost resources for one final attacking addition. Jan Ziółkowski (21) appears set to leave. The Polish defender is being linked with Parma while Monza also monitor the situation. Gasperini now has greater defensive depth following the arrival of Oosterwolde, who can operate at left-back or centre-back, which may facilitate Ziółkowski's exit in the closing stages of the market.

Neil El Aynaoui could leave Roma before the transfer window closes. The midfielder is considered expendable and Roma will not block a departure for €35 million. A potential return for Rios has been discussed, with particular interest emerging in Portugal. Head coach Gasperini is keen on the player, but Roma have not yet made a formal offer, according to reports from recent days.

Donyell Malen earned a match rating of 8.7 from the daily newspapers after scoring a hat-trick in Roma's win over Fiorentina on 24 August, with Paulo Dybala rated 8.2 following three assists. Evan N'Dicka (7.2) and Manu Koné (7.1) also impressed, while Lulli impressed on his debut with 6.9. Lower down the ratings were Konstantinos Koulierakis and Matías Soulé (both 6.1), Mile Svilar (6.2) and Santiago Castro (6.3). Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini earned an overall rating of 7.7. The Malen–Dybala partnership has become central to Roma's attacking play. Across seven matches played together, Malen has scored seven goals, six of which came from Dybala's assists. The partnership reflects a growing understanding between the two forwards as Roma builds momentum through the early season. Gasperini granted the squad a rest day on 25 August following the Fiorentina victory, with players set to resume training on Wednesday, 26 August, ahead of the trip to Lecce. Malen spoke of the connection with Dybala: "Dybala sees before every movement I make—I am blessed to be able to play with him." Dybala added: "I wanted to play, I wanted to do it in this stadium, with my teammates and with this coach."

Roma's 2026–27 season began with a sold-out Stadio Olimpico as Emanuele Lulli, the 2007-born winger, made a mature and courageous competitive debut in a match against Fiorentina. Launched from the start by Gian Piero Gasperini in place of the absent Devyne Rensch and the underperforming Nahuel Molina, Lulli completed all 90 minutes in an assured display. Paulo Dybala's performance and Donyell Malen's hat-trick were also highlights as the crowd of 67,598 marked the 79th sell-out under Friedkin ownership, bolstered by the opening of the Distinti Nord Ovest sector to home supporters. The pre-match atmosphere crackled with tension as Roma unveiled the new faces in the squad. Before kickoff, the Curva Sud unfurled a banner reading "The path is laid out, we resume where we left off. The entire environment united towards the goal!", a rallying cry for collective focus. The crowd roared at every Dybala flourish and sang personalised chants for Malen as he was substituted following his treble, demonstrating the passionate backing that had driven a total of 80,000 season-ticket subscriptions over the summer. New recruits Konstantinos Koulierakis, Nahuel Molina, Santiago Castro and Rodrigo Mora were presented to the supporters during the warm-up, with Portuguese winger Dybala receiving the warmest reception.

Roma opened their Serie A season with a commanding 4–0 victory over Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico, powered by a starring performance from Donyell Malen. The Dutch forward scored a hat-trick, setting up by an inspired Paulo Dybala, before Niccolò Pisilli added the fourth. Malen's display—comprising a backheel finish, a burst of pace and a poacher's tap-in—answered mounting criticism from the summer, when national team coach Ronald Koeman had used him on the wing, preferring Brian Brobbey in the central role. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has never wavered in his tactical vision for the attacker. "For me he cannot ever play out wide: he must be close to goal," Gasperini said. Malen's three goals vindicated that conviction and offer an early statement of intent as Roma bid to contend in Serie A. The explosive start also underlines Gasperini's influence over team selection and tactics since his appointment in 2025. With this haul, Malen has now reached 18 goals in 21 official appearances in Roma colours—an extraordinary tally that marks him as a central attacking force for the club going forward. His hat-trick against the Viola demonstrated the clinical finishing and movement Gasperini has been asking of him, a sharp contrast to the peripheral role assigned to him at international level.