Dybala stays at Roma; Riquelme hides disappointment over failed Boca pursuit

AS Roma and adidas have officially unveiled the new third kit for the 2026-27 season, featuring dark grey as the base colour with traditional yellow and red accents on inserts and trim. The design draws inspiration from Roman Fides, representing loyalty, stability and unshakeable trust, with the collar bearing the inscription 'LOTTA CON IL CUORE'—a tribute to a historic Giallorossi chant. Roma's focus now turns to their Champions League debut on Thursday at 18:45 away at Fenerbahce. The Spanish refereeing team will be led by Jesús Gil Manzano, with Diego Barbero and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso as assistants, César Soto Grado on VAR, Valentín Gómez as AVAR, and Juan Martínez Munuera as fourth official. Gil Manzano has two previous encounters with Roma: a 5-3 penalty shootout victory against Feyenoord in the 2023-24 Europa League after a 1-1 draw, and a 2-1 defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 2019-20 Europa League. Francesco Totti, now an advisor to the newly launched Maxima Roma basketball club in Serie A, spoke to Rai Sport about the Giallorossi. On the title race, he said: "Roma and Inter are the candidates for the title, we're not saying anything and we're waiting for the rest of the season. In 10 or 15 matches we'll see." Reflecting on his connection to the club ahead of the upcoming centenary, Totti stated: "The centenary I'll celebrate with my fans, with my people. What they've always given me I'll give back to them in this beautiful year. Did I expect something different from the club? No, there's no controversy. I'm a Roma supporter and I spent a quarter of a century with them. I think of myself and my fans, as they have always thought of me." Meanwhile, Roma have ruled out moves for two available free agents. Raphael Guerreiro, the Portuguese left-back from Bayern Munich with significant international experience, was proposed by intermediaries but talks did not progress; the club has taken no official steps to pursue the 1993-born player. Similarly, Jadon Sancho will not join Roma. Manager Gasperini and the board have decided against targeting the English winger, who has had complicated recent seasons and remained without a club after failing to renew with Manchester United. Beyond financial obstacles, concerns over his physical and athletic reliability after prolonged absence from group training proved decisive. Roma prefer to wait until January rather than make a short-term signing.

Roma sporting director D'Amico pursued Luiz Henrique, the Zenit winger, until the final day of the transfer window but failed to secure the Brazilian. According to ESPN, Zenit rejected an offer of €38 million plus €5 million in add-ons from Roma — the same package tabled by Al-Ittihad. Botafogo and Flamengo also made enquiries about the forward, but the move did not materialise. Gasperini had been seeking an attack-minded winger throughout the window, and Henrique was among the priority targets. Roma may revisit the possibility in January. The club is not expected to turn to free agents, ruling out players such as Guerreiro and Sancho for now.

Matías Soulé remained at Roma despite being available throughout the summer transfer window after negotiations between the Giallorossi and Juventus over a potential swap deal broke down. Juventus wanted to send Teun Koopmeiners to Roma in exchange for the Argentine winger, with the two clubs working on the proposal until the final days of the market but unable to agree on formulas and figures. Soulé featured off the bench in Roma's recent clash against Atalanta and has since been alternating with Rodrigo Mora. Fiorentina and Milan also approached the winger during the window, but Roma consistently preferred to sell him to the Premier League to maximise profit. His price tag never fell below €35 million, which complicated negotiations with other Serie A clubs. However, Soulé never personally requested to leave Roma according to Corriere dello Sport. The proposed deal would not have significantly improved either club as currently structured; it would only have made sense had Roma found a right-footed speedster to complement Paulo Dybala and Juventus sold Nicolas Gonzalez. Gian Piero Gasperini would have been pleased to reunite with Koopmeiners given his versatility, though reclaiming him would have proved challenging and expensive. Roma ultimately had limited need for midfield reinforcement since Manu Koné remained at the club. Juventus instead signed Nick Woltemade late in the window as their attacking addition.

Matías Soulé remained at Roma despite being available throughout the summer transfer window after negotiations between the Giallorossi and Juventus over a potential swap deal broke down. Juventus wanted to send Teun Koopmeiners to Roma in exchange for the Argentine winger, with the two clubs working on the proposal until the final days of the market but unable to agree on formulas and figures. Soulé featured off the bench in Roma's recent clash against Atalanta and has since been alternating with Rodrigo Mora. Fiorentina and Milan also approached the winger during the window, but Roma consistently preferred to sell him to the Premier League to maximise profit. His price tag never fell below €35 million, which complicated negotiations with other Serie A clubs. However, Soulé never personally requested to leave Roma according to Corriere dello Sport. The proposed deal would not have significantly improved either club as currently structured; it would only have made sense had Roma found a right-footed speedster to complement Paulo Dybala and Juventus sold Nicolas Gonzalez. Gian Piero Gasperini would have been pleased to reunite with Koopmeiners given his versatility, though reclaiming him would have proved challenging and expensive. Roma ultimately had limited need for midfield reinforcement since Manu Koné remained at the club. Juventus instead signed Nick Woltemade late in the window as their attacking addition.

Radio pundits across Rome's airwaves offered their verdicts on Gasperini's Roma ahead of the new season. The debate centred on Francesco Totti's absence from the club's plans, with Ugo Trani claiming the former captain was let down by both the national team and Roma itself. Trani defended Totti's character and noted that Gasperini alone had given his approval to a return: "Gasperini was also the only one to go to dinner with him and, as he has stressed, is a free man: he does what he wants, without anyone being able to tell him what to do." Francesco Balzani observed that Totti appeared hurt by how things unfolded at Roma, having waited for a call that never came. Looking ahead to the squad's composition, Balzani predicted Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné would start in Turkey, with Rodrigo Mora also featuring behind Dybala and Donyell Malen. Roberto Pruzzo praised the bond between squad and coach: "The team and manager have formed a working group that functions very well, this is a positive signal. This year Gasperini also has quality substitutes; now we'll see what happens with congested fixture schedules." Nando Orsi took the boldest stance on Roma's ambitions this season: "Gasperini knows how to manage multiple competitions. Roma will fight for the Scudetto; it is a squad that can take advantage of stumbles by Inter and Napoli. The Champions League is a fine reality, but the objective must be to win the league."

Roma's third kit went on sale from today, featuring dark grey colouring with the traditional club crest on the chest and the phrase 'Lotta con il cuore' ('Fight with Heart') emblazoned across the back of the neck. The design showcases yellow and red details positioned to frame the club badge and Adidas logo, with the same giallorossi colouring running through the sleeve details. The kit emphasises the traditional crest as a symbol of shared ideals of unity and trust, and carries the Fides virtue—a historical emblem of loyalty within the club, squad and fanbase. The 'Fight with Heart' message itself draws from a celebrated rallying cry in Roma's supporter culture. Priced between €100 and €150 for adults, with a lower price of €75 for children's versions, the kit was unveiled via a social media video featuring Paulo Dybala and actor Edoardo Leo. In the clip, Leo carries a suitcase containing the new shirt, which Dybala opens while exclaiming: "It's beautiful." Leo responds: "Now show it to all of Europe."