Dybala renewal decision delayed until after Champions League qualification push

AC Milan are pursuing a loan deal for Real Madrid forward Endrick in January after failing to secure him in the summer transfer window. Jose Mourinho blocked the move months ago despite Milan's interest, but the Italian club believe the situation will shift in the new year and the Brazilian will be allowed to leave temporarily. Roma are also competing for the player and have made initial contact, with plans to speak to Real Madrid during their Champions League fixture in the coming weeks. Milan feel they retain a significant advantage because of their strong relationship with Endrick's representatives at RocNation, whom they have worked with regularly since 2020. Members of RedBird, Milan's ownership structure, also work with the NBA, which similarly deals with RocNation—a connection the club believes could prove decisive in January. Milan needed attacking reinforcement over the summer despite Omari Hutchinson's arrival, with Ruben Amorim forced to work around injuries to key players including Alexis Saelemaekers. The forward's availability on loan follows the pattern of last season, when a similar arrangement was used. Milan view the January window as a real opportunity to land a player who can provide the attacking depth Amorim's side requires.

Roma and AC Milan have both set their sights on Endrick, the Brazilian forward seeking greater opportunities after limited playing time at his current club. The Milan side hold a slight advantage in the race to sign him, with the competition expected to intensify in the coming weeks. Castro and Soulé, both Roma players, marked special nights with their debuts for Argentina's national team. Castro struck the post during the match, while Soulé produced several noteworthy moments. The pair now await Argentina's fixture against Benin, which will also serve as Lionel Messi's farewell appearance with the national team. Back at Roma, Gasperini is preparing the squad for an upcoming match against Como at the Sinigaglia stadium. Fabregas, Como's manager, recently offered praise for the Roma coach. Gasperini has also turned his attention beyond the Como fixture, directing a message toward Gattuso.

Former Roma defender Vincent Candela has predicted that Roma will defeat Real Madrid in their upcoming Champions League match at the Olimpico in ten days' time. Speaking at the FIP Gold Mediolanum Padel Cup in Perugia, Candela said: "It will be a celebration. I think Roma will win. I don't say it as a fan, but because I look at the characteristics of Gasperini's squad and the comparison with Mourinho's." Mario Hermoso has established himself as a cornerstone of Gasperini's Roma, impressing with his adaptability to the coach's tactical system. The club is now preparing to open contract renewal talks with the Spanish defender. Hermoso is seeking a two-year extension that would take his contract to 2029, but Roma's policy for players over 30 typically involves annual renewals. Both sides have expressed a willingness to continue together, with negotiations expected in the coming weeks. Elsewhere, Roma's interest in Frosinone's Giorgi Kvernadze—a Georgian prospect born in 2003 who has impressed early in the season—has prompted Frosinone president Maurizio Stirpe to distance the player from the market. Stirpe told the Corriere della Sera: "The possible sale of Kvernadze? Today it's only talk, I haven't received any phone calls. I only ever wait for official and concrete proposals." No formal offers have been made for the right-footed winger, whom Gasperini is reportedly keen to add to his squad.

Matías Soulé made his senior debut for Argentina in a friendly against Burkina Faso, a moment the Roma forward said he had been waiting for a long time. Santiago Castro also made his first appearance for the national team in the same match. Soulé will return to Trigoria ahead of Roma's fixtures against Como and Real Madrid. The 21-year-old has impressed during his time at Roma and earned his call-up as a reward for his performances. He spoke of the significance of finally representing his country at senior level, describing it as a dream realised with his family present for the occasion. At the end of the match, Soulé told Tyc Sports: "Yes, today it arrived. The truth is it's a dream. My whole family is here and it's an enormous emotion, I was waiting for this moment for a long time." On his form at Roma, he said: "Yes, obviously. I always gave everything to be able to be here. It's a dream to be here, it's a unique sensation. I was talking with some team-mates: being here is something magical. I'm really very happy, my whole family is here and now I want to enjoy this moment that I was waiting for a long time." On advice from team-mates, Soulé explained: "I always talk with him. Paulo told me to stay calm, like Molina who stayed in Rome together with Paulo. They obviously know the national team very well, I always listen to their advice."

Matías Soulé made his official Argentina debut on the night of 3 October 2026 in the match against Burkina Faso, speaking afterwards of his emotions and the advice he received from Roma teammates Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina ahead of the fixture. Soulé, who has had a strong season with Roma, described the occasion as a lifelong aspiration realised. The winger has worked consistently to earn his Argentina call-up and spoke of the magical feeling of representing his country, with his family present to witness the milestone. Both Dybala and Molina, who remained at Roma together, offered counsel before the match, drawing on their own extensive experience with the national team. Speaking to Tyc Sports, Soulé said: "Yes, it has arrived today. The truth is that it is a dream. My whole family is here and it is a huge emotion. I have been waiting for this moment for such a long time." On his Roma form, he reflected: "Yes, obviously. I have always given everything to be able to be here. It is a dream to be here, it is a unique sensation. I was talking about it with some teammates: being here is something magical. I am really very happy, my whole family is here and now I want to enjoy this moment that I have been waiting for such a long time." Asked about Dybala's counsel, Soulé explained: "I always talk with him. Paulo told me to stay calm, as Molina did—he stayed at Roma together with Paulo. They obviously know the national team very well, and I always listen to their advice."

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.

Donyell Malen is ready to lead Roma's attack again after overcoming a knee problem, with the trip to Como on his mind as a crucial fixture in the club's pursuit of Champions League points. The Dutch forward, described as Roma's talisman after an outstanding start to the season, will face Como for the second time this year—a rematch of the 15 March encounter when his penalty, created by pressing from El Shaarawy, could not prevent a comeback from Douvikas and Diego Carlos. That remains the only goal Malen has scored in Serie A that failed to earn Roma a win; every other goal he has netted has brought a victory or draw. Malen's form this season is exceptional. He is averaging 1.20 goals per match through the opening five matchdays—better than the top scorers across the major leagues—and Gasperini has encouraged him to pursue historic milestones by comparing his trajectory to Higuaín and Immobile. Reaching 30 goals would be a major achievement. Dzeko's Serie A record of 29 goals in the 2016–17 season no longer looks beyond reach; the path to breaking it runs through Como, and Malen knows exactly how to deliver.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is primed to return to action for Roma after recovering from injury, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini set to lean on him heavily during a congested fixture schedule. Pellegrini was included in the squad list for matches against Torino and Inter but will make his competitive return against Como. His last appearance came on 10 April against Pisa, a gap of nearly six months before Roma's big match at the Sinigaglia on 11 October. The summer transfer window failed to bring in the wide player or attacking reinforcement Gasperini sought, forcing the coach to rely on existing resources to manage the workload ahead. The Roma squad is stretched in attack, with Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé occupying the playmaker positions on the trequarti, bolstered only by the addition of Rodrigo Mora. Pellegrini will have opportunities because of this shortage, particularly across October and November when Roma face a relentless sequence of Serie A and Champions League fixtures. He has shed the captain's armband over the past year but remains a squad leader. With Stephan El Shaarawy's departure, he is certain to serve as vice-captain to Bryan Cristante. Last season, despite some difficulties, Pellegrini was Roma's second-highest scorer with seven goals across Serie A and the Europa League, surpassed only by Donyell Malen, who netted 15 goals and has proved increasingly consistent in front of goal.

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.

Roman radio commentators debated Endrick's future and Roma's midfield depth in their daily round-up of opinion from the Rome airwaves. Agresti reported that Real Madrid want to loan out Endrick, and that despite Roma remaining in the picture and able to offer Champions League football, the forward is currently more inclined toward Milan. He has played only 4 minutes for Madrid this season. Mourinho had blocked his departure in the summer, but Endrick wants to showcase himself, and Milan are ready to give him playing time. The club from the San Siro have close relationships with Endrick's agents and had already tried to advance the matter over the summer; they are now reassessing in light of his minimal usage at Madrid. "Tutto dipende da Mourinho e dal fatto che lasci andare il giocatore" — everything depends on Mourinho and whether he lets the player leave, Agresti said. Pugliese suggested Mourinho's intervention in blocking the deal last summer reflected poor relations with the Friedkin ownership. He noted that Cardinale has a close relationship with Roc Nation, and Rodrygo will return to the Real Madrid fold in December, creating crowded options: Díaz, Yoro, Bernardo Silva, Mbappé, Vinicius, Diomande — too many players for too few places. If Mourinho wants to help someone, Pugliese said, "Penso che Mou se vuole dare una mano potrebbe darla Amorim, non a Gasperini" — he thinks Mou could lend it to Amorim, not Gasperini. On Roma's midfield, Pruzzo said young players must be given chances despite the errors they will make. He praised Bryan Cristante for playing every match and providing equilibrium and security to the squad and to Gasperini. "Nel momento in cui ti viene meno, devi avere un'alternativa a centrocampo: la Roma ha i giocatori contati, e questo può essere un problema" — the moment he becomes unavailable, you need an alternative in midfield, and Roma's options are limited, which could be a problem. Pugliese added that Portugal are pushing for Rodrigo Mora to play for the national team in the position left by Cristiano Ronaldo; Mora is a recognizable technical talent and should grow athletically. At Como, if Pellegrini is fit, he will play ahead of Mora.

Roma's international break will conclude this weekend, with the Serie A campaign resuming on Sunday 11 October at Como (12:30 CET, Stadio Sinigaglia). The Giallorossi arrive on the back of a 2–2 draw against Inter, a result that underlined their strong start to the season and their ability to compete with title contenders. The timing of the break is awkward—Roma must immediately shift mental gears for a relentless schedule that will see them play nine times in 27 days, a fixture run that will define their seasonal ambitions under Gasperini. The stretch begins at Como and continues without respite. Three days after the Lombard trip, on Wednesday 14 October, the Champions League returns to the Olimpico after seven years; Real Madrid, managed by José Mourinho, are the visitors. Saturday 17 brings Genoa to Rome, followed by Slovan Bratislava at home on Tuesday 20 in the Champions League league phase. Roma then travel to Napoli on Saturday 24 October, a fixture described as capable of revealing much about the Giallorossi's capacity to compete. There is no time to celebrate or recover: Tuesday 27 sees Cagliari at home in a midweek fixture. Saturday 31 brings a trip to Udinese, followed by a journey to England on 3 November to face Manchester United. The run concludes on 7 November with Sassuolo at home, the ninth and final match of the month-long cycle before the second international break of the season. The injury to Bryan Cristante is poorly timed, depriving the midfield of one of its key equilibrating figures at the start of this critical period. However, his absence opens a tactical opportunity: Marten de Roon is primed to take over the midfield and make his Roma debut from the start, likely already at Como. De Roon brings his customary aggression, solidity and experience. Niccolò Pisilli will offer freshness and enthusiasm, though he is more likely to deputise for Manu Koné than for Cristante. Lorenzo Pellegrini's return, even in a different role—more attacking midfielder than central midfielder in a two-man midfield—is the best possible news for Gasperini. The coach has made clear that there are no hierarchies at Trigoria: "those who are in better form play, for Roma's benefit." Roma's squad training resumes on Tuesday afternoon before the Como trip. The fixture list over the next month presents no respite and no room for fluctuation, with injury risk a constant concern as the team aims to navigate this pivotal stretch.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is ready to reclaim a leading role at Roma after 184 days out. The midfielder has recovered from a long injury, signed a contract renewal on 8 August, and is now pushing for a starting place when Roma face Como. He returns with leadership, technical quality and work completed during the international break at Trigoria. A social media post — "True happiness is being at peace with the people around you" — reflects the calm with which he approaches his comeback after a previous season that yielded seven goals and four assists. Pellegrini's injury began on 10 April. Despite Gasperini assigning the captaincy based on appearances, Pellegrini remains the natural reference point in the dressing room, confirmed by his contract extension and his choice to stay despite several offers from Italian and foreign clubs. His lengthy absence and dedicated rehabilitation put him in fresher condition than squad-mates returning from international duty, including Soulé and Mora. In Gasperini's 3–4–1–2 system, Pellegrini can operate on the attacking midfield line behind Dybala and Malen, providing quality in the final third and pressing intensity. Gasperini is seriously considering starting him, with Pellegrini estimated to have an autonomy of around sixty minutes but ready to begin the match and definitively reclaim his place.