Dybala open to Premier League move, but Roma renewal remains priority

Roma are monitoring Georgian forward Kvernadze ahead of the January transfer window, with the club looking to fill an attacking vacancy that remained unfilled in the summer. Kvernadze has scored 5 goals and provided 2 assists across league and cup this season, building on strong performances in Serie B last year, displaying physical presence, aggression and execution speed. An unexpected advantage in any pursuit is already in place at Trigoria: Alessandro Frara, the former youth academy director who arrived this summer from Frosinone, is working closely with sporting director Tony D'Amico and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Frara will have already briefed both the director and the coach on every aspect of the player, covering both personal background and purely tactical considerations. The financial margins of any deal remain unclear at present, though Frosinone could be approaching safety or close to it if they lose Kvernadze in January.

Roma have not filled the left-wing attacking position during the summer transfer window despite head coach Gian Piero Gasperini requesting the move since his arrival. The club is now focusing on younger targets for January or later, with Giorgi Kvernadze, the 23-year-old Georgian winger at Frosinone, emerging as a leading prospect. Kvernadze has delivered an outstanding start to the season with three goals and one assist in five matches. A natural left winger who shoots right-footed, the class of 2003 player can operate across the attacking line and could follow the same path as Matías Soulé, who moved from Frosinone to Roma. However, Napoli and Fiorentina are also tracking him. Director D'Amico has placed Kvernadze on a list of prospects representing a youth-focused approach, with comparisons being drawn to fellow Georgian Kvaratskhelia. The search for an attacking left winger has stretched across three transfer windows without success. Kvernadze could potentially repeat Soulé's trajectory from the Frosinone academy to the capital. Alongside Kvernadze, Roma are monitoring Darryl Bakola, an 18-year-old French midfielder at Sassuolo. The club had targeted Bakola last year before Sassuolo signed him from Marseille in January for €10 million. A box-to-box midfielder with technical ability and strong attacking projection, Bakola is being viewed by Gasperini and D'Amico as a comparable prospect to Manu Koné or as a future version of Ederson in his Atalanta days. Juventus, led by Sassuolo's former director Carnevali, are also competing for Bakola's signature. Roma will continue contact with both clubs in the coming weeks.

Leonardo Balerdi has made an immediate impression at Roma following his move from Olympique Marseille this summer. Speaking from his national team camp, the defender praised his reception: "At Roma I was welcomed very well. The challenge with Lautaro? I already knew him, so I knew it would be very complicated. And indeed it was, but it was a good match." Bareldi has already won over head coach Gasperini, appearing as a starter in two matches and contributing further appearances off the bench. He finished the fixture against Inter cramping in his calf, prompting a precautionary approach to manage the injury. Though still working toward full match fitness, his appearances for his national team are expected to aid his physical development. The defender has two further opportunities to establish himself before Como, with no serious calf concerns reported.

Rodrigo Mora, who arrived this summer from Porto, has spoken about his early weeks at Roma while on international duty with Portugal's Under-21 squad. The 2007-born midfielder scored in his second appearance for the club against Lecce and has already featured in the Champions League, describing the experience as an important step in his development. Mora reflected on his transition from Porto, where he spent 19 years and played for the club for 10 of them. "It was a different change. I lived 19 years in Porto and played for Porto for 10. It's a different culture. But I'm happy with the change. It will be a positive change," he said. He emphasised his gratitude for Paulo Dybala's influence in his settling-in period: "He's someone I admired as a child, now to be able to play and train with him…to see the things he does, that few do…He's a humble person and has helped me a lot at the start of my Roma journey. I like him as a player and as a person. I'm grateful to be able to play at his side." On his goal against Lecce, Mora stated: "I love scoring. Scoring for Roma was beautiful, but I still want to score at Stadio Olimpico. It's special and I can't wait to score at Stadio Olimpico. I'm happy with my journey so far. The atmosphere at Stadio Olimpico is something really special and beautiful and it makes you want to play and score for Roma." He spoke candidly about leaving Porto, saying: "Farewells are never easy. It was difficult. It was a long period, it was my home. It will always be my home. All cycles close, they can reopen later. I'm leaving with a full heart, I was a champion with my club. I'm leaving as a champion and I'll continue to be another Porto fan, now supporting from Italy. I wish them good luck. I know things are going well, I hope they continue like that and that the second Scudetto arrives. I knew I needed a new challenge in my life. I'm grateful for all these years, but that's what I wanted, a new challenge in a competitive league like the Italian one." Mora also discussed his ambitions at Roma and his international prospects. "Football changes everything very quickly. Now I want to have a good season at Roma. I made my Champions League debut, it was an important step. I hope to win titles at Roma and play the best football possible. We're in a good phase, but it's a very competitive league. We're on the right track," he said. Regarding his Portugal Under-21 ambitions, he added: "It's everyone's dream. I've already been called up twice, I got injured. That's part of the game, we have a dream. Step by step, and continuing to work, one day it will come true."

Rodrigo Mora has spoken about his ambitions at Roma following his summer transfer from Porto, expressing determination to succeed after a positive debut followed by three consecutive appearances on the bench. The midfielder praised Paulo Dybala as a source of inspiration and support during his early days at the club: "He is someone I admired as a child, now to be able to play and train with him…to see the things he does, that few do…He is a humble person and has helped me a lot in this beginning at Roma. I like him as a player and as a person. I am grateful to be able to play at his side." Mora reflected on leaving Porto, where he spent a significant period: "Goodbyes are never easy. It was difficult. It was a long period, it was my home. It will always be my home. All cycles close, they can reopen later. I leave with a full heart, I was a champion with my club. I leave as a champion and will continue to be another Porto fan, now supporting them from Italy. I wish them good luck. I know things are going well, I hope they continue like that and that the second Scudetto arrives." He explained his decision to join Roma this summer as driven by the need for a new challenge in a competitive league: "I knew I needed a new challenge in my life. I am grateful for all these years, but it was what I wanted, a new challenge in a competitive championship like the Italian one." Mora has already made his Champions League debut for Roma, which he called "an important step". He outlined his ambitions: "Now I want to have a good season at Roma. I hope to win titles at Roma and to play the best football possible. We are in a good phase, but it is a very competitive championship. We are on the right path." On his prospects with Portugal's national team, he added: "National Team football is everyone's dream. I have already been called up twice, I got injured. That is part of the game, we have a dream. Step by step, and continuing to work, one day it will be realised."

AS Roma have decided against releasing Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina for Lionel Messi's farewell Argentina match on 6 October, despite the striker and defender being among the 2022 World Cup winners Messi has requested for the special fixture against Benin. Three Roma players—Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro—are already officially called up by Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni and will attend the event. Roma's caution stems from the timing and physical toll of the trip. The club faces a demanding fixture schedule immediately after Messi's game, beginning with a crucial away match at Como on 11 October that opens a stretch of nine fixtures in 27 days—a critical block of the season in which coach Gian Piero Gasperini intends to rely on Dybala at full fitness. The striker has made an impressive start to the campaign. The participation would require both Dybala and Molina to undertake two long transatlantic flights around the Serie A matchday, bringing inevitable consequences from jet lag, recovery times and tactical preparation. Although evaluations are officially ongoing, Roma's position is clear: players not included in Scaloni's official squad list will remain at the club's Trigoria training base to prepare for the resumption of Serie A.