Dybala contract renewal talks advance with phone call between agent Novel and Friedkin

Roma have identified Frosinone midfielder Giorgi Kvernadze as a target to strengthen Gasperini's attack, according to reports. The Georgian midfielder appeals to the Roma coach, but Frosinone—managed by Alvini—are holding firm in their valuation, demanding at least €25 million. The pursuit of other attacking options remains active: Endrick, the Brazilian currently out of favour at Real Madrid under Mourinho, continues to be monitored by Roma's sporting director D'Amico, with a potential approach planned for January. Roma's summer transfer window saw other targets slip away. Leweling, pursued by Roma until late in the window, was also on the radar of Inter under Chivu, though Stuttgart resisted both clubs' advances. The window's conclusion left gaps that Gasperini is now tasked with addressing through future recruitment cycles.

Gian Piero Gasperini addressed Roma's commercial partners at Relais Appia Antica, speaking about the club's demanding nature and the squad's recent performance. He said: "I knew that Roma footballically is very demanding and difficult. But beyond results it matters to show you are working seriously, and that is always appreciated." Gasperini called the recent match against Inter "a spectacle" and thanked the business leaders for their confidence in the club. He also unveiled a personal project: a new wine from his vineyard called "Freisa 3-4-3", releasing on 5 October. "The 3-4-3 has been my fortune and I hope it is a good omen: with that system I built almost all my successes," he said. Roma have begun planning for the January transfer window to expand Gasperini's squad options. Among the profiles being monitored is Giorgi Kvernadze, a Georgian winger from Frosinone born in 2003, who has made a strong start to the season. Roma's scouts have closely followed the player, who has recorded 5 goals and 2 assists in Serie A and Coppa Italia. Frosinone appear reluctant to sell easily and have reportedly set the price at around €25 million. Napoli have also shown interest in Kvernadze. In his book "Oltre", Francesco Totti revealed a backstory from Paulo Dybala's arrival at Roma. The club had considered giving Dybala the number 10 shirt and wanted Totti himself to present it during the unveiling. Totti refused bluntly: "The answer was sharp: 'Are you all mad?' If you have the courage, give it to him yourselves. Nothing against the player—I like him very much as a person too." Dybala ultimately chose number 21, avoiding a direct comparison with Totti's legacy. Totti explained he would not oppose seeing the number 10 worn again, but with one condition: "Every day I hope another Totti manifests himself. One born in Rome, grown up in Rome, who chooses Roma for life. That shirt should go to someone who can build a long and deep bond with the club."

Jamie Leweling was tracked by Roma in the final stages of the summer transfer window, but the Giallorossi were not alone in their interest. Inter also made a concrete approach for the Stuttgart winger, according to Tuttomercatoweb. The Nerazzurri explored the scope for a possible deal with Stuttgart and assessed Leweling's position, though the interest never developed into a formal negotiation. Leweling remained in the Bundesliga as the window closed. Stuttgart's valuation proved a significant obstacle. The club had no intention of parting easily with the winger and set the same asking price for all interested parties: a minimum of €40 million. Roma attempted to bring Leweling to Rome in the final hours of the summer transfer window before the move collapsed entirely. The German's versatility made him a particularly attractive prospect, as he could operate in several attacking positions. The revelation adds Inter to the list of Italian clubs who pursued the player. The Nerazzurri evaluated Leweling both for the right flank and to add different qualities to their attack. Ultimately, neither Roma nor Inter succeeded in securing him. Stuttgart maintained a rigid stance on their valuation and Leweling stayed in Germany, deferring any possible move to Serie A for the time being.

Gian Piero Gasperini addressed Roma's commercial partners at Relais Appia Antica, speaking about the club's demanding nature and the squad's recent performance. He said: "I knew that Roma footballically is very demanding and difficult. But beyond results it matters to show you are working seriously, and that is always appreciated." Gasperini called the recent match against Inter "a spectacle" and thanked the business leaders for their confidence in the club. He also unveiled a personal project: a new wine from his vineyard called "Freisa 3-4-3", releasing on 5 October. "The 3-4-3 has been my fortune and I hope it is a good omen: with that system I built almost all my successes," he said. Roma have begun planning for the January transfer window to expand Gasperini's squad options. Among the profiles being monitored is Giorgi Kvernadze, a Georgian winger from Frosinone born in 2003, who has made a strong start to the season. Roma's scouts have closely followed the player, who has recorded 5 goals and 2 assists in Serie A and Coppa Italia. Frosinone appear reluctant to sell easily and have reportedly set the price at around €25 million. Napoli have also shown interest in Kvernadze. In his book "Oltre", Francesco Totti revealed a backstory from Paulo Dybala's arrival at Roma. The club had considered giving Dybala the number 10 shirt and wanted Totti himself to present it during the unveiling. Totti refused bluntly: "The answer was sharp: 'Are you all mad?' If you have the courage, give it to him yourselves. Nothing against the player—I like him very much as a person too." Dybala ultimately chose number 21, avoiding a direct comparison with Totti's legacy. Totti explained he would not oppose seeing the number 10 worn again, but with one condition: "Every day I hope another Totti manifests himself. One born in Rome, grown up in Rome, who chooses Roma for life. That shirt should go to someone who can build a long and deep bond with the club."

Roma have made an emphatic start to the 2026-27 season, claiming four wins and two draws across their opening six matches without defeat, and their attacking shape under Gian Piero Gasperini is becoming increasingly defined. The side have generated one of Serie A's strongest offensive phases, producing 111 total shots over six matches—an average of 20.6 per game—with 68% coming from the central area, 18% from the left and 15% from the right. Gasperini's system combines aggressive pressing, high tempo and collective play with relentless shot creation, generating 14 goals so far: 12 from open play, one from a set piece and one on the counter. Donyell Malen has emerged as the attacking focal point, already on six goals with 20 shots (10 on target) as Roma's primary reference point in the box. However, the creative engine runs through Paulo Dybala on the right flank. The Argentine leads Serie A for chances created (22) and assists (4), and has completed 201 successful passes, underscoring his centrality to Roma's build-up play. Gasperini's tactical identity also involves using inverted wingers—Wesley, for instance, frequently plays on the left to cut inside onto his right foot, a pattern that generated his goal against Juventus last season in a 3-3 draw at the Olimpico. In the match against Inter, Nahuel Molina, deployed on the left, finished with three shots. While Roma shoot most from the centre, the right flank proves most productive in creating opportunities, generating 39% of offensive chances. The combination of Dybala's creativity and the movement patterns Gasperini has installed suggest Roma's attacking threat remains multifaceted and difficult to defend, grounded in the manager's clear strategic blueprint of aggressive, high-tempo football that prioritises collective movement and continuous offensive production.

Roma have set a record that has never been achieved in the club's history: ten consecutive Serie A matches in which they have scored at least two goals. The streak began on 25 April with a 0–2 win at Bologna and has survived the change of season, spanning the final five matches of last season and the opening five of the current campaign under Gasperini. During this run the squad has scored 27 goals, won nine matches and drawn one, while conceding just five goals in total—remarkably, Roma kept clean sheets in seven of these ten fixtures. The start to the 2026–27 season has accelerated the phenomenon. After five matchdays Roma have 14 goals at an average of 2.8 per game, the best offensive opening by the club since Serie A returned to 20 teams in 2004–05. The previous best in that span was 13 goals in 2016–17. Roma have not conceded more than two goals in any match; Fiorentina and Lecce each shipped four, while Atalanta, Torino and Inter conceded two apiece. The 2–2 draw with Inter left intact another distinction: Roma have not started a campaign without a loss in their opening five matches since 2014–15. All 14 goals have come from inside the penalty area, with zero from distance and zero penalties awarded. Roma have produced 99 shots, 35 on target, and 72 chances according to official Lega Serie A data, indicating that their prolificty stems from an enormous volume of dangerous situations created close to goal. Donyell Malen has scored six goals in the opening five matchdays and after just four fixtures joined an exclusive club: only Pedro Manfredini and Francesco Totti had reached six goals in their first four league matches for Roma. Malen closed last season with 14 goals in 18 Serie A appearances; across both campaigns he has now scored 20 goals in 23 league matches. Paulo Dybala has not yet scored this season but has supplied four assists in five appearances, currently leading the Serie A assists table. Three of those came together in Roma's 4–0 win over Fiorentina on matchday one. Manu Koné's brace in the first half against Inter saw him become only the fifth Roma player to score twice in the opening 45 minutes of a Serie A match against the Nerazzurri, after Roberto Pruzzo, Francesco Graziani, Abel Balbo and Francesco Totti.

Roma have reached the top of Serie A alongside Inter and Lazio after the opening phase of the season, but attention has already turned to a gruelling month ahead combining league and Champions League fixtures with no respite until November. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has relied heavily on the established core of the squad in the early weeks, with the summer signings introduced gradually, rotating between starting roles and substitute appearances. The intensity of the coming period will require him to call on the full squad of twenty-two players. Among the summer arrivals, Leonardo Balerdi has made an immediate impact, supported by strong performances from Nahuel Molina, the former Atlético Madrid player who provided his first assist against Inter and impressed on the left flank against Torino despite arriving with delayed pre-season preparation due to World Cup commitments. Rodrigo Mora has shown promise in two starts against Fiorentina and Atalanta, though he has found reading the game more difficult as a substitute—though he did score from the bench at Lecce. Gasperini is focused on unlocking the Portuguese midfielder's potential as a player capable of making a difference through his quality. The squad refresh is completed by Koulierakis, Lorenzo Pellegrini and especially Marten de Roon, a signing Gasperini strongly advocated for to strengthen and provide balance to the midfield.

Roma head into a demanding stretch of fixtures with Gasperini now ready to rely heavily on the summer recruits who have gradually been introduced to the squad. The club closed the first part of the campaign level on points with Inter and Lazio at the top of the table, but a punishing run awaits: between Serie A and Champions League, there will be no respite until November. With only one week in four featuring a European fixture so far, Gasperini has largely favoured the established players while carefully integrating the new arrivals, deploying them either from the start or off the bench. Several summer signings have already made an impact. Balerdi has made a strong early impression, while Molina began well despite arriving physically behind schedule after playing in the World Cup final. He provided his first assist against Inter and showed promising effectiveness when fielded on the left at Turin. Rodrigo Mora presents a mixed picture: the Portuguese midfielder impressed in two starting performances against Fiorentina and Atalanta but struggled when introduced as a substitute, failing to read the rhythm of matches. Paradoxically, he scored when coming off the bench at Lecce. Gasperini intends to gradually unlock the full potential of the talent he strongly pursued. Konstantinos Koulierakis and Marten de Roon will also prove invaluable—the latter was Gasperini's move to shore up the midfield. Lorenzo Pellegrini completes the picture as the squad faces its most testing period of the season.

Roma are using the international break to work away from the spotlight, with experienced midfielders Marten de Roon and Lorenzo Pellegrini among the senior figures remaining at Trigoria to strengthen their position in the pecking order ahead of the squad's return to action. The Giallorossi want to maintain their strong form when fixtures resume, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini central to Roma's resurgence both on and off the pitch. The club has returned to Champions League football for the first time in seven years, and the financial picture has improved alongside sporting progress. Gasperini has been instrumental in this turnaround, replicating the sustained success he achieved during his nine-year spell at Atalanta. Roma's squad is now valued approximately €150 million higher than it was a year ago, reflecting both the quality of recruitment and the effectiveness of the coaching environment. The improvement comes despite the competitive demands of the current season. The break gives Roma's players the chance to work in concentrated fashion on the training ground without the pressure of immediate fixtures, positioning the club well for the demanding schedule ahead.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini exploded with emotion when Matías Soulé scored, sprinting toward the Curva Sud in a moment that recalled José Mourinho's famous touchline celebration in September 2021, when Stephan El Shaarawy netted in the 91st minute against Sassuolo. The comparison was striking: both managers had been unable to contain their joy at critical moments, running to embrace the supporters. Yesterday's display suggested Gasperini is restoring the emotional intensity that Mourinho once brought to the Olimpico. The exuberance was infectious, yet it came to an abrupt halt. A staff member physically stopped Gasperini before he could reach the touchline—not to dampen the celebration, but to protect him from a second yellow card. The coach was already on a caution, and a further offense would have meant a ban for Roma's next fixture, a sensitive away trip to Turin. The intervention, though it cut short the moment, was tactically essential. Gasperini's desire to celebrate was unmistakable, but the immediate need to preserve his availability for the coming matches took precedence. The incident encapsulated what has shifted at Roma: the club has rediscovered emotion and connection with its supporters under Gasperini's leadership. The Curva Sud will wait for their manager's unreserved embrace—though likely not for much longer.

AS Roma faces UEFA review of its settlement agreement compliance after a summer transfer window costing approximately 125 million euros in purchases and 30 million in sales, with capital gains reaching only 25 million. The club will defend its position to UEFA at Nyon by highlighting a dramatic reduction in the wage bill—the primary evidence it claims of its sustainability strategy. Last season the payroll exceeded 133 million euros gross; it has now fallen to around 113 million, moving closer to the 100-million target. The wage cuts stem largely from player departures including Zaragoza, Çelik, Angeliño, Tsimikas, El Shaarawy and Dovbyk. The signing of Santiago Castro, a younger player with a lower salary spread across multiple years, exemplifies Roma's shift in strategy. Significant savings also came from the exits of El Aynaoui, Vaz, Ziółkowski and Kumbulla. Contract renewals for Dybala, Mancini, Cristante and Pellegrini followed the same model, reducing the fixed portion of salaries in favour of performance and appearance bonuses; these four extensions alone saved approximately 15 million euros. New arrivals Castro, Mora, Koulierakis, Molina, Balerdi and De Roon will cost around 25 million euros gross combined. Roma's overall wage reduction stands close to 45 million euros, reflecting the club's revised commercial approach as it attempts to satisfy UEFA's conditions set out in the 2022 settlement agreement.

Radio pundits across Rome's main sports stations have weighed in on the club's summer transfer window, with assessments ranging from 5.5 to 7.5 out of 10. The dominant theme is that Roma has strengthened their squad depth significantly but failed to address the most pressing gap: a left-sided winger to compete with Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in attack. Fabio Petruzzi gave the window 7.5, saying: "I'm optimistic: Roma is now clearly much stronger, as a squad, in mentality, as players. Between those who left and those who arrived there is a big difference. Between Balerdi and Ziolkowski there is a big difference, between Mora and El Shaarawy there is a big difference, but also between Castro and Dovbyk. For me you are now the second team behind Inter. Roma and Como in my view are up there; Roma has a bit more than the Lombards. There is a touch of disappointment—with something extra now you would be attached to Inter. But my rating is 7.5." Francesca Ferrazza graded it six, saying it would have been seven with Leweling and eight with Greenwood, and called the absence of a left winger "madness." She noted: "Gasperini closes his third transfer window without a left-sided forward. It's madness. The squad is wider, but a starter is missing up front." Other voices offered lower marks. Paolo Cosenza gave 5.5, arguing the bench is too thin and that Gasperini had asked for both a high and low left-sided winger but Roma supplied neither. Lorenzo Pes pointed out there is no left-footed fullback and that deals for Leweling and initially an alternative fell through, with reports of regime indecision before a revised offer to the German was made but rejected. Roberto Pruzzo awarded six, saying: "You've widened the options, you have two very strong centre-forwards. Castro in my view could play in any team in the championship, I won't even mention Malen. Mora will be able to help from the bench. You needed to sign a winger and it didn't happen, and so that's my assessment. There is no new starter compared to last year." Piero Torri suggested Roma may explore free agents including Sancho or Sterling to address the problem, saying: "I believe Roma will think about it. If Dybala stays fit over the coming months, the problem doesn't exist, because Dybala and Malen play there, and then you pick the third. If luck smiles on Roma and from now until 31 December, the absence of the left winger can become less damaging. But in any case I would go out and get a seventh player up front." The window closed with the squad expanded but incomplete.