Dybala makes sacrifice for Roma; club eyes Puerta; Inter has not made offer for Pisilli

Matías Soulé made his Argentina debut on 3 October 2026 alongside Santiago Castro, a milestone that has drawn unwanted attention from Fabián Berlanga, president of Velez Sarsfield, the club where Soulé grew up before leaving for Juventus at age 16. Berlanga has called for severe sanctions against the Roma forward, saying: "Soulé as Argentina's new number 10 after Messi? No, he should instead face an exemplary punishment. For example, permanent exclusion from the possibility of ever wearing that shirt number, or from wearing the captain's armband. He is not a good example. We don't like when young players leave on a free transfer, but we know it's a battle to fight against agents, who sometimes act in bad faith." The animosity stems from 2019, when Soulé, then a teenager, exploited a legal provision for underage footballers to break his Velez contract and depart on a free transfer. Berlanga's grievance centres on how the player, his family and his representatives used the regulation to circumvent the club's interests. The comments represent a reopening of old tensions surrounding Soulé's youth-level exit from Argentina.

Roma and AC Milan are locked in a contest to sign Real Madrid forward Endrick in January, with the 19-year-old Brazilian having previously agreed terms with the Giallorossi in the summer before the deal collapsed. Sporting Director D'Amico and head coach Gasperini have not abandoned their pursuit and are preparing a fresh attempt. Milan, however, hold a significant advantage: the club has a partnership with Roc Nation, the agency representing Endrick's interests, since 2020—a relationship that has continued under current president Gerry Cardinale. Milan also brokered an agreement with Endrick over the summer before José Mourinho blocked a proposed loan move. Endrick has struggled for minutes at the Bernabéu despite Mourinho's assurances, strengthening Milan's hand as they sense they are in pole position over Roma. The Rossoneri will lean on their established relationship with Roc Nation and their existing ties with Real Madrid to attempt to secure the player in the coming months.

Giorgi Kvernadze's impressive start to the 2026-27 season at Frosinone has attracted attention from major Italian clubs ahead of the January transfer window, with Roma reportedly among those interested in the Georgian winger. Frosinone president Maurizio Stirpe has moved to dampen speculation, stating that Roma have made no formal approach. Gasperini is said to be keen on adding a right-footed attacking winger to his squad, and Kvernadze—a 2003-born prospect—fits that profile. However, Stirpe told Corriere della Sera: "Kvernadze's possible departure? As of now it's just chatter, I haven't received any phone calls. I am waiting only for official and concrete proposals."

Gian Piero Gasperini is already planning Roma's January window despite the club sitting top of the table with a functioning attack led by Dybala and Malen. Between appearances at the Trento Festival and work at Trigoria, Roma are targeting reinforcements in the attacking department, focusing on players currently struggling for minutes at their clubs. A conversation between CEO Galantic and Gasperini at the festival underscores Roma's philosophy of planning winter moves in advance. Roma's priority remains a quality wide forward, with evaluation also ongoing into a more complete profile like Oosterwolde. Four players already tracked in the summer transfer window remain in the club's sights: Gittens, Leweling, Luiz Henrique and Endrick. The common thread linking them is a shortage of regular playing time. Gittens, a Gasperini favourite, has yet to debut in the Premier League. Leweling plays only sporadic minutes at Stuttgart and was excluded from the initial squad list under new national team coach Klopp. Luiz Henrique remains blocked in Russia by bureaucratic issues that have also cost him national team call-ups. Endrick's situation is the most delicate. Mourinho secured him at Real Madrid over the summer, but the Brazilian has virtually disappeared: just four minutes across La Liga and the Champions League combined. That picture of underuse could shift as soon as November, when UEFA will make decisions on the Settlement Agreement, opening new scenarios potentially favourable to Roma heading into the winter market.

Gian Piero Gasperini spoke at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, hosted by La Gazzetta dello Sport, reflecting on his time at Roma. In an exchange on the club's social media channels, he was asked about defining moments from the previous season and fielded questions on several topics. When asked which match had moved him most since taking charge, Gasperini said: "I would say the last league match against Verona, because there was the feeling of having reached an important milestone and with great satisfaction from the supporters." On the season's most difficult encounter, Gasperini pointed to Roma's trip to Milan to face Inter last season as the period when the club's form dipped most severely. "However, the last match we played was on another level entirely," he added. The coach was also quizzed on which player had surprised him most. He highlighted Donyell Malen's goal tally as unexpected: "The number of goals from Malen was something no one could have imagined. For the rest, they have all been very positive surprises." When asked which player he had always wanted to manage but never had the chance to, Gasperini responded with humour to a question about Lionel Messi, laughing at the suggestion. The remarks came amid reports that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina had declined to travel to Messi's farewell international event.

Radio pundit Piero Torri has voiced concern that Bryan Cristante's injury could be more serious than initially thought, and has outlined how he would approach Roma's upcoming fixtures if the midfielder is unavailable. Speaking on Radio Manà Manà Sport Roma (90.9), Torri said: "I'm afraid Cristante's injury may not be a short one. If he's not fit, I wouldn't risk trying to get him back for Real Madrid. I would play de Roon at Como and Pisilli against Real Madrid." Torri also reflected on head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's handling of Paulo Dybala's minutes, saying the manager's approach has shifted his perspective. "What Gasperini said about Dybala struck me—it erased my previous beliefs about his playing time and management. And so far he's been proved right," Torri noted. He suggested Roma should begin discussions about Gasperini's contract intentions, given that the coach's deal will expire at the end of the season. Former Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio Mattino (104.5), praised goalkeeper Mile Svilar's importance to the team: "Svilar is a world-class goalkeeper for Roma, I have no doubt about it. If there's a normal goalkeeper, it's easy to lose 3–1. But with him it's different."

Roma's growth extends far beyond the pitch. The Friedkin Group is executing a comprehensive strategy built on investment, youth development, sustainability and a new stadium at Pietralata designed to fundamentally reshape the club's economic scale, according to CEO John Galantic speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport. Since the Friedkins arrived, the club has invested approximately €1 billion, with a further €1.3 billion allocated to the stadium project. Galantic outlined the club's approach to sustainable development: "We have three projects: renovating youth academies, thanks to people like D'Amico and Margiotta. Then the next growth stage between the Primavera and first team: the Under 23 is essential for us. And finally synergies with our team at Cannes, which is in the richest talent market. Every year we want to put new players developed in-house to grow and have a sustainable model." This strategy is already visible in the development of players like Emanuele Lulli and Niccolò Pisilli, who have become integral to the first team. The true transformation will arrive with the new stadium. Roma aims to lay the foundation stone by March 2027 and estimates that in its first full operational season, the stadium could generate a 245 per cent increase in matchday revenue compared to 2025, without accounting for potential new sponsorships. Galantic stated: "In four years the stadium will change everything, it raises revenue and allows us to make a very important sporting and economic leap. It's a stadium conceived for the fans." He contrasted the new ground with the Stadio Olimpico: "The Olimpico is beautiful and full of memories but it wasn't made for football. We've studied several exciting elements. We imagine the South Stand more united, it will be something special." On the ownership's broader approach, Galantic added: "The Friedkins did it in silence, with facts and with investments. Sometimes silence is golden and it works."

The Friedkin Group has committed €1 billion in investment to Roma's long-term project, centred on a new stadium at Pietralata with a €1.3 billion price tag designed to transform the club's finances and competitiveness. John Galantic, appointed to oversee the expansion, outlined a three-pillar strategy: renovating the youth academy under academy directors D'Amico and Margiotta, establishing an Under-23 team to bridge Primavera and the first squad, and leveraging Roma's partnership with Cannes to identify emerging talent. The club aims to place new academy graduates into the first team annually to create a sustainable model without reliance on pure transfer profits, with academy graduates Emanuele Lulli and Niccolò Pisilli cited as examples of the approach already bearing fruit. The new stadium forms the centrepiece of this expansion. Roma targets laying the foundation stone by March 2027 and projects that the first season of operation will generate a 245% increase in revenue compared to 2025, exclusive of new sponsorship deals. Galantic explained the strategic vision: "We have three projects: renovate the youth academy, thanks to people like D'Amico and Margiotta. Then the next growth phase between Primavera and the first team: we need the Under-23. And finally synergies with the Cannes squad, which is in the richest talent market. Every year we want to place new players developed in-house to grow and have a sustainable model." On the stadium itself, Galantic stated: "In four years the stadium will change everything—it increases revenue and lets us make a very important sporting and economic leap. It's a stadium designed for fans. The Olimpico is beautiful and full of memories but it's not made for football. We've studied various elements and they're enthralling. Imagine the South Curve more united—it will be something special. The Friedkin family has done all this quietly, with facts and investment. Sometimes silence is golden and it works. For Italy, a €1.3 billion investment is a signal to pursue similar projects."

Marten De Roon is preparing for a starting role in the wake of Bryan Cristante's injury, which will keep the Italian midfielder sidelined for approximately three weeks. De Roon, 35, is competing with Niccolò Pisilli for the position; Pisilli has impressed head coach Gian Piero Gasperini with a strong start to the season. The Dutch midfielder and Pisilli possess different characteristics, with De Roon operating as the more conservative option in midfield. Gasperini has consistently backed De Roon since his arrival at Roma, and the midfielder now has the chance to demonstrate why he remains the coach's trusted figure in the middle of the park.