El Aynaoui and Gasperini relationship breakdown; Rios eyed as replacement

Alessio Cacciamani's name dominated Roma's transfer activity over the summer, but the Torino winger ultimately remained with the club and renewed his contract. Torino's sporting director addressed the matter before his side's match against Udinese, telling Sky Sport that Roma were not alone in their interest. He stated: "Cacciamani and Roma? The giallorossi were not the only ones interested in the player. The president had said he did not want to sell the player: only an important proposal would have prompted evaluation, but this did not arrive and so we will enjoy having him." The director's comments clarify that despite sustained speculation linking Cacciamani to Roma, no offer of sufficient scale materialised to shift Torino's stance on their player. With Cacciamani's contract now renewed, he will continue as part of the Granata's plans moving forward.

Torino sporting director Gianluca Petrachi confirmed that Roma made a genuine attempt to sign Alessio Cacciamani during the summer transfer window. Cacciamani, who started for Torino in their Serie A match against Udinese on 12 October, was among several clubs tracking the winger, but no deal materialised. Petrachi disclosed that Torino's president had stipulated the player would only leave for a sufficiently substantial proposal. Speaking before kick-off, he said: "There was not only Roma interested in Cacciamani. The president had said he didn't want to sell the player: only an important offer would have made us consider it. It didn't arrive, and we're enjoying him." The winger remains at the club as Torino continue their Serie A campaign.

Cicinho, who joined Roma from Real Madrid in August 2007 and won a Coppa Italia and Supercoppa during his time in giallorosso, has backed the club to challenge for honours and urged young Brazilian forward Endrick to make the switch from Madrid if the opportunity arises. Speaking exclusively to Forzaroma.info ahead of Wednesday's match at the Olimpico, the former right-back reflected on Endrick's situation and Roma's current trajectory under Gian Piero Gasperini. Asked whether he would advise Endrick to join Roma or remain at Real Madrid awaiting his chance, Cicinho said: "If I were Endrick, I would go to Roma without thinking twice. I think Real Madrid should also consider this possibility, because it would be very positive for him. A player with his talent needs to be on the pitch, not getting rusty on the bench. He still has a lot to learn and I think he would adapt very well to Gasperini's energetic style and the intensity of his game." Cicinho also addressed Paulo Dybala's worthiness of Roma's number 10 shirt, a subject on which Francesco Totti recently expressed reservations. "The Captain gave Roma's number 10 a meaning that goes well beyond football and borders on magic," Cicinho reflected. "Twenty-four years of devotion to the giallorosso shirt, during which he brought professionalism and dedication to the highest levels and, above all, reminded everyone in the dressing room that they had a duty to represent that fanbase. Dybala is also, as they say in Italy, a fantasist, a player capable of making fans dream, and has already shown great attachment to the club, even refusing economically more advantageous offers. I think the number 10 would be in good hands with Dybala, but we must make peace with the idea that we will never find another Totti." On Roma's title prospects, Cicinho expressed cautious optimism about Gasperini's project but suggested it remains in a growth phase. "Yes, I believe in it, but it seems to me that the Roma-Gasperini project is still in a phase of growth and could reach its peak perhaps in the next season, provided we manage to retain the most important players, like Manu Koné, and continue to strengthen well in the market," he said. "Roma's starting eleven is exceptional, but I believe it is necessary to increase the depth of the squad. The second half against Inter was an example. Matches like that decide the title, not only for the points in the table, but also for the message they send to opponents." Cicinho also spoke of finding contentment away from football, having previously described a period in which he "saw no joy in anything." He credited his family and simpler life with providing genuine happiness. "Being able to be with my wife and my children, seeing them grow. True happiness lies in simple things, in the possibility of enjoying them without rush and with a clear mind, to fully live these beautiful moments. That is the real luxury of life, not cars, parties or spotlights."

Roma's loanees made their mark during the international break, with Mohamed Seck delivering a commanding defensive display, Luigi Cherubini scoring for Italy's Under-21s, and Neil El Aynaoui clocking over 240 minutes for Morocco across three matches. Seck, a 2007-born defender, started the full 90 minutes in Foggia's 2-0 victory at Cosenza, keeping a clean sheet and earning praise from local media. The Corriere della Calabria awarded him 6.5, while Foggiacalciomania highlighted an almost flawless performance. He picked up a yellow card in the 28th minute but remained unaffected. Radoslaw Zelezny continued his fine form between the sticks for Perugia, playing all 90 minutes in a 3-1 derby win over Gubbio; he conceded little that was preventable and earned a 6.5 rating for his security in possession and distribution. Federico Nardin also impressed at Pescara, completing the full match in a 1-0 win at Livorno achieved by a late Sardo goal, and has now been called up to Italy's Under-19 squad for friendlies against Scotland on 10 and 13 October. Cherubini made the most impact during the break. After coming off the bench in the 79th minute of Italy U21's 1-0 win in Armenia, he was introduced again at the same stage against Poland on 4 October and scored just seven minutes later to seal a 6-2 victory and confirm Italy's direct qualification to the Under-21 European Championship final tournament. El Aynaoui started all three of Morocco's matches—a 2-0 win over Gabon (90 minutes), a 2-0 victory against Lesotho (67 minutes), and a 1-1 draw with Mali on 4 October (full 90)—demonstrating his standing with the national team. Anass Salah-Eddine also featured for Morocco, starting the full 90 minutes at left-back in the Mali friendly. Marash Kumbulla entered Albania's 3-0 Nations League win over San Marino at half-time and played the full second half. Artem Dovbyk, on loan at Bologna, skipped his Ukraine convocation to continue recovering from a muscular problem affecting his hamstring and has already resumed full training with the Bolognese squad ahead of the league's resumption.

Roma have made a strong start to the 2026-27 season with 13 points from five matches, matching Inter and Lazio at the top of Serie A but ahead on goal difference. A second-half goal by Lautaro in a direct clash with Inter prevented a perfect record, but the squad's overall level remains high. The arrival of summer players has been central to the club's early form. Nahuel Molina is still building fitness but establishing himself in the team, while Rodrigo Mora has made an immediate impact with a goal already on his account. Leonardo Balerdi has already won over the supporters and claimed a starting berth, and Konstantinos Koulierakis, Marten de Roon and Santiago Castro are all expected to become important resources as the fixture list intensifies through October and November, though some have yet to feature heavily. The squad recruitment was balanced by significant outgoings managed by director Tony D'Amico, which allowed Roma to fund their incomings. With the first international break now reached, a review of Roma's players still on loan across Europe becomes timely. Neil El Aynaoui and other loan-out players carry combined recall obligations of €95 million, making their performances and development over the coming months a matter of considerable financial consequence for the club.

Roma's players on loan across Europe experienced a mixed week of midweek and league fixtures. Neil El Aynaoui performed well for RB Leipzig despite a 2–0 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, completing 31 of 34 passes and winning 8 of 14 duels while receiving a yellow card in the 74th minute. His statistical rating reached 7.2, among Leipzig's best performances. Anass Salah-Eddine made a convincing debut for Panathinaikos in a Greek Cup tie against Kifisia, playing all 90 minutes on the left flank in a 2–0 victory. FotMob rated him 7.3 for a clean display as Panathinaikos dominated with 71 per cent possession in the first half. By contrast, Angeliño's week at Deportivo La Coruña ended disastrously: he was sent off for a challenge on Miguel Sierra in the 59th minute of a midweek fixture against Sevilla—initially given a yellow card before the VAR review led to a direct red—leaving his side to lose 1–0 already down in the scoreline. Statistical ratings gave him just 5.7, and Deportivo manager Hidalgo noted how the expulsion undermined the team's comeback effort. Angeliño subsequently missed the following 1–1 draw against Betis through suspension. Mohamed Seck at Foggia produced sharply contrasting displays within days. Playing 90 minutes in a goalless midweek draw against Savoia, he was identified as Foggia's best performer, winning nearly every duel against opposing attackers. Coach Auteri retained him for the next match against Inter U23, but this time his form dipped noticeably. Foggia lost 2–1, and a careless passing error by Seck enabled the decisive goal from Fumagalli. Foggiacalciomania rated him 5.5, noting good physical condition but a costly mistake. The week illustrated the growth trajectory of a defender aged just 20, with evident talent and physicality that must be coupled with fewer lapses in concentration. Elsewhere, Federico Nardin at Pescara played the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 midweek draw against Gubbio, earning ratings of 6 and 6.9 for personality and reliability despite some refinements needed, but sat out the subsequent 1–0 win at Vado. Filippo Reale completed 90 minutes for Carrarese in a 1–0 home defeat to Benevento, earning 6 and 6.7 ratings for an orderly display, while Luigi Cherubini entered at the 77th minute for Benevento and struck the post with a close chance in the 83rd. Radoslaw Zelezny, Perugia's goalkeeper, conceded five goals across two matches but received ratings of 6 in both a 3–0 home loss to Spezia and a 2–0 away defeat at Grosseto, with no clear responsibility on most goals. Robinio Vaz at Hull City entered off the bench in the 78th minute during a 2–1 loss at Newcastle after more than ten minutes without notable incident, marking his second consecutive Premier League appearance. Marash Kumbulla remained unused at Rayo Vallecano despite being named in squads for a 2–1 win against Espanyol and a 1–1 draw at Osasuna. Jan Ziolkowski has not returned to action for Monza, continuing recovery from plantar fasciitis. Artem Dovbyk spent another week without playing time at Bologna.

Marten de Roon delivered one of Roma's standout performances in the match against Como, silencing doubters within the fanbase and justifying head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's confidence in the midfielder. Playing at the Sinigaglia, de Roon covered more ground than any other player on the pitch, recording 11.657 kilometres and effectively taking on the statistical mantle from Bryan Cristante, who has typically led Roma in that metric. The Dutch midfielder also registered five tackles—three of which he won—and won six of eleven duels, but it was his tactical intelligence that truly shaped Roma's equilibrium. Gasperini brought de Roon to Roma specifically for displays of this calibre, and the Como fixture laid bare his reasoning. His positional awareness was exemplified by a crucial intervention on Couto, whom he stopped after the forward had been released into space at pace. The 35-year-old's physical and athletic durability proved remarkable given his age and his continued work to regain full match fitness. His contribution became particularly vital at a moment when Gasperini must manage without Cristante. De Roon completed the match with six defensive actions and reached a top speed of 27.627 km/h, underscoring his endurance across ninety minutes. The former Atalanta player has now repaid Gasperini's backing and confirmed his value as a key resource for the squad.

Roma will face Real Madrid in the Champions League group phase on Wednesday 14 October at 21:00 at the Stadio Olimpico, the second round of fixtures after opening with a 1–1 draw away to Fenerbahce. Real Madrid enter on three points following a 2–1 victory over Inter at the Bernabéu. Gian Piero Gasperini's side are without goalkeeper Mile Svilar, who has suffered a stress fracture to the fifth toe and will miss several weeks, leaving Pierluigi Gollini to start after featuring in the 0–0 draw at Como. Bryan Cristante remains uncertain with a right knee problem that forced him to miss the Como trip. Roma's last four Champions League meetings with Real Madrid have ended in defeat without scoring, making this fixture a chance to reverse a poor record. The clubs have met 12 times in the competition, with Real Madrid winning eight, Roma winning once and three draws recorded. Gasperini is expected to deploy a 3–4–2–1 formation, with Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso in defence, Nahuel Molina and Wesley on the flanks, and Marten de Roon partnering Manu Koné in midfield. Paulo Dybala will operate behind the forward, with Matías Soulé in contention after starting on the bench at Como and Donyell Malen leading the line. Malen's red card against Como applies only to Serie A and will not prevent him playing in Europe. José Mourinho's Real Madrid will likely field a 4–2–3–1. Thibaut Courtois starts in goal with a back four potentially featuring Matthijs de Ligt, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Ferland Mendy, though alternatives include Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rüdiger and Álex Carreras. Yan Diomande, who scored the winner against Villarreal last weekend, is being monitored as a threat to Vinícius Júnior for a starting berth. Federico Valverde and Tchouaméni will anchor midfield, with Arda Güler, Jude Bellingham and Vinícius supporting Kylian Mbappé. Real Madrid are without Éder Militão, who has returned to training but will miss Roma and subsequent fixtures, and Mendy is not included on the club's UEFA squad list. The match will be broadcast exclusively in Italy on Amazon Prime Video, with build-up coverage starting at 19:30 and kick-off at 21:00 on Wednesday 14 October. Official team sheets will be released approximately one hour before the start.

Paulo Dybala has become AS Roma's most heavily deployed player under Gian Piero Gasperini this season, having accumulated 586 minutes of action so far. In the match on 11 October, the Argentine remained on the pitch for nearly the entire game, withdrawn only in the closing stages of added time. No other outfield player has surpassed his total; Mario Hermoso (569 minutes) and Gianluca Mancini (556 minutes) follow, while Bryan Cristante, Roma's usual leader in this statistic, is pursuing the figure after injury. Roma face Real Madrid on Wednesday, managed by José Mourinho—the coach who convinced Dybala to join the club. The current Roma side now plays with noticeably sharper attacking football than the team previously built around Dybala as its creative fulcrum. Speaking to PRIME ahead of the fixture, Dybala reflected on the previous season: "We gave everything last season. It brought joy to us and the fans, and pride too. We face some of the most decorated teams in the world, but with our people behind us we'll have something extra." Dybala expressed hope of concluding his career in Rome. "I never imagined having a career like this here," he said. "This country welcomed me with open arms, the people helped me grow as a man and player. There are so many emotions here—beautiful moments and difficult ones, like in any life. I hope there can be an Italian ending. Where? At Roma and with Roma. But it's premature to talk about it." The midfielder added that last season "put happiness and pride" into both the squad and supporters.

Roma will host Real Madrid on Wednesday at 20:45 in the second matchday of the Champions League league phase, with French referee Francois Letexier appointed to take charge. Letexier will be assisted by Mugnier and Rrahmouni, with Dechepy as fourth official. The VAR team comprises Higler and Van Boekel. Roma and Letexier have met four times previously, all in European competition. The record stands at two victories and two defeats. The most recent encounter came in the 2024–25 Europa League knockout round, when Roma won 3–2 against Porto at the Olimpico in the return leg, with Dybala scoring twice and Pisilli adding a goal. In the preceding season, Roma lost 2–0 to Slavia Praga in the group stage, defeated Brighton 4–0 in the Round of 16 first leg, and fell 2–0 to Bayer Leverkusen in the semi-final first leg.

Roma held firm at Como for 50 minutes with a display matching a top-six side, only to be undone by a controversial refereeing decision. Referee Fabbri of Ravenna allowed a clear foul on Malen to pass without sanction, then issued a red card to the winger moments later for a challenge of at least debatable intent. That dismissal handed Como territorial control and possession for the remaining 40 minutes of the second half, but Roma emerged unscathed and without defensive risk—a result that, judged against last season's standard, represents genuine progress. Gasperini's side carried home encouraging signs from a bruising 90-minute contest against Fàbregas's combative setup. Gasperini deployed the recently recovered Pellegrini in a hybrid trequartista role on the left, flanking Malen with Dybala operating wide on the opposite flank. Como set up to play through the centre, with both teams vacating midfield spaces before refilling them through timed runs with the ball exposed during build-up play from defence. Fàbregas arranged a three-man midfield behind striker Douvikas, with Nico Paz and Diao operating at his sides. Roma entered the final third through rotations along the wing corridors, with Mancini notably active; Como found their openings through vertical tracers in the central lanes, springing Diao and Nico Paz into space. Both sides suffered from ball quality early on, with Dybala missing a monumental chance inside five minutes and Nico Paz testing Gollini moments later. Koné flanked Perrone while De Roon stood alongside Caqueret; Roma's first defensive difficulty was reaching Da Cunha, who dropped deep then cut transversely into midfield through gaps opened by his teammates. Roma rotated marking between Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso against Como's three attacking players, while Wesley faced a precarious duel with Diao. De Roon gradually took Da Cunha's measure, leaving forward momentum to Koné, whose passes after regaining possession were frequently imprecise, wasting multiple transition opportunities—particularly when Pellegrini and the defensive line sat high, a pattern Roma's midfielders and wing-backs could have exploited both for ball-free runs and to spring Malen. Roma also failed to read Como's aggressive press on the ball-carrier from behind, the intensity Como brought to defensive possession, making a switch of play from flank to flank tactically sensible. At half-time Gasperini withdrew Pellegrini in favour of Soulé to mark Yan Couto, but after five minutes Roma's defensive exhibition began in earnest once Fabbri's red card left them outnumbered, regrouping into a 3-4-2 with Balerdi replacing Hermoso. Fàbregas sensed an opportunity to go for the win, removed Caqueret for Jesus Rodriguez and shifted to 4-2-4, raising his line and attacking with angled runs without needing to defend the depth that Dybala, lacking the required pace, could not threaten. Dybala finished too isolated, though he managed the ball well on several occasions before ceding his place alongside Koné to Lulli, deployed as left-sided midfielder, and Pisilli. Rensch came on for the exhausted Molina. Fàbregas played his final card with Addai, to intensify pressure in the 1v1 wide contests, and Kempf for aerial duels at corners and set plays. At the 90th minute, however, Como managed only tentative attempts, unable to give substance to their pressure—they remained most dangerous when finding open or disorganised opponents in central spaces, a consequence of their coaching and player quality.

Roma drew 1–1 at Como's Stadio Sinigaglia on 12 October, earning a point that pleased head coach Gian Piero Gasperini despite the team having to reorganise and defend in numerical disadvantage for over thirty minutes. The giallorossi showed tactical maturity and mental resilience, demonstrating the compactness and character expected of a top side in a match of considerable difficulty. Italian newspapers offered varied assessments of individual performances. Pierluigi Gollini received consistent praise from most outlets, earning ratings between 7 and 7.5 across the reviews. Evan N'Dicka also impressed, rated between 6.5 and 7.5 depending on the publication. Marten de Roon earned widespread recognition for his midfield work, with scores ranging from 6.5 to 7, underscoring his value as a stabilising presence in the centre. Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso were graded 6 to 6.5, while Bryan Cristante, Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini each received middling marks between 6 and 6.5. Donyell Malen received the most critical assessment across the board, rated between 4.5 and 5, with several outlets using the notation "relativo" to suggest his red card was debatable. Gasperini himself was rated between 6.5 and 7 for his tactical management during the match. Substitutes who came on late—including Balerdi, Lulli, Pisilli, Rensch and Soulé—received sparse or non-numerical marks.