El Aynaoui runs extra to impress Gasperini as Roma midfielder seeks breakthrough

Roma are reportedly showing renewed interest in Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara, according to the German outlet fussball-news.de, as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini looks to strengthen the midfield when the January window opens. The report says Gasperini expects to add a midfielder, particularly after the serious injury suffered by Lorenzo Pellegrini. The Brazilian, born in 1999, plays for Galatasaray and has attracted the attention of several clubs. Roma had already sought him a couple of years ago. Napoli are also interested in Italy, while in the Premier League Newcastle and Everton have already expressed interest and are ready to offer around 30 million euros to secure his services. The report places the midfielder among the names under consideration as Roma look to reinforce the department, with the focus falling on a player who could fill the gap left by Pellegrini's absence.

Pierluigi Gollini returns to Old Trafford twelve years after leaving Manchester United, the club he joined as a teenager and the place where he first made his name. The Roma goalkeeper is coming back in a key moment of his time in Rome. Gollini left Fiorentina's youth sector in 2012, aged 16, to move to England. The decision angered sporting director Corvino. After two seasons in the Academy, he moved into the Under-21 side, alongside Macheda, and began training regularly with the first team. In 2013/14 he played three Youth League matches but never made a first-team debut for the Red Devils. A few months later he returned to Italy, signing for Verona. He went back to the Premier League two years later with Aston Villa, and again with Tottenham in 2021. Looking back on his time in Manchester, Gollini has spoken of how the experience shaped him deeply, both as a person and as a player, exposing him to a completely different culture and reality. He recalled how his father first raised the idea: "My dad at one point asked me: 'Would you feel up to going to play abroad?' We went out to dinner at a restaurant and at a certain point my dad pulled a little card out and placed it in front of me: it was the business card of Manchester United. I was incredulous, I couldn't believe it." He also said: "Manchester was fundamental for my development. In England there is a different mentality, much more open and functional. Looking at how a club is run, what surprises you most is the level of the youth sectors, where they immediately work on physicality. In Italy a young player coming from the Primavera can't establish himself because of his physique, while in England the gap between the Under-23s and the first team is not so pronounced." The return comes at a particular moment in his Roma career. A stress fracture to the foot suffered by Svilar gave Gollini the starting berth. The former Atalanta keeper seized the opportunity, making his seventh consecutive appearance of the season in Udine. An important test now lies ahead before the gloves are handed back to Svilar.

Roma are reportedly monitoring midfielder Gabriel Sara, who was tracked for several weeks in summer 2024 and could be back on the club's radar. The Turkish-based player is finding limited game time and is reportedly keen to make the step up to Serie A. The interest is part of a wider search to add options for Gian Piero Gasperini, particularly after recent physical problems for Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné. Reports from Germany say Roma face strong competition. Napoli have also reportedly shown interest, while Newcastle and Everton from the Premier League are said to be ready to offer around €30 million. For now, the interest is at the market-sounding stage, with no advanced negotiations between clubs.

Roma's loan players had a busy week across the Champions League, the Bundesliga, the German Cup, La Liga, Serie C and the Europa Conference League. Neil El Aynaoui was involved in three matches for RB Leipzig, while Luigi Cherubini was back in the Benevento starting line-up and came close to scoring twice. Robinio Vaz has returned to action after a physical problem he suffered against Fulham, and Mohamed Seck helped Foggia to a win. El Aynaoui, a Moroccan midfielder on a loan deal with a buy option, started Leipzig's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, a 4-1 loss, and played until the 63rd minute. On Saturday he played the full 90 minutes of a 4-0 win over Elversberg. His most eventful match came on Tuesday against Rot-Weiss Essen in the German Cup last 16. He began on the bench, but came on at half-time with Leipzig trailing 1-0 and reduced to ten men after Seiwald was sent off in the 44th minute. Baumgartner scored twice, in the 78th and 82nd minutes, to complete the comeback and send Leipzig through 2-1. El Aynaoui was booked in the 76th minute and played 45 minutes without a goal or assist. The win came after heavy defeats to Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. Cherubini, a winger born in 2004, returned to the starting line-up on Saturday in a 3-0 win at Arezzo. He played 74 minutes and twice came close to scoring, first with a spectacular scissor kick that was saved by goalkeeper Nunziante, then with a shot that hit the post. He started again on Tuesday in a 1-1 home draw with Catanzaro. He won the decisive penalty early in the second half, which Salvemini converted in the 51st minute after Candela fouled him, a decision confirmed by VAR. He was substituted for Saio in the 86th minute. Buso equalised for Catanzaro in added time, in the 92nd minute. Cherubini did not score or assist, but BeneventoNews24 and CalcioBenevento both gave him a 6.5. Mattia Mannini, a midfielder born in 2006, was an unused substitute for both matches, with Floro Flores opting for other players during the second-half changes. Mannini had played for Italy's Under-20 side during the previous international break. Mohamed Seck started at centre-back in Auteri's three-man defence as Foggia beat Cavese 1-0 at the Zaccheria, ending two straight defeats to Potenza and Giugliano. Foggiacalciomania gave him a 6 for a solid performance, noting his willingness to move forward from the defensive line. Goalkeeper Saro saved a penalty from Orlando, and Ravasio scored the winner in the 87th minute. Federico Nardin, a defender born in 2007, started for Pescara in a 2-1 win at Perugia, playing all 90 minutes without a booking. Merola scored twice for Pescara, first from open play and then from a penalty, after Carriero had given Perugia a lead inside the first minute. Radoslaw Zelezny, the Polish goalkeeper for Perugia, played the full match but conceded both Pescara goals, with Merola scoring in the 47th and 51st minutes. Marash Kumbulla, an Albanian defender on loan with a buy option, started for Rayo Vallecano in a 3-2 extra-time win over Recreativo Huelva in the first round of the Copa del Rey. He played 80 minutes after being on the bench for the 3-0 home defeat to Elche. Alemão scored Rayo's equaliser from the penalty spot and then the winner in extra time, with De Frutos also scoring. Anass Salah-Eddine, a Moroccan left-back playing for Panathinaikos, was not used in the 5-1 Conference League win over Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan on Thursday. He started on Sunday in a 1-0 league win at Volos.

Roma's first team is running smoothly under Gian Piero Gasperini, with well-targeted signings, a recognisable style and young players developing well. The problem lies with the players out on loan in Serie A and abroad, who have struggled to establish themselves. Some were signed under the previous management of Massara, others under Ghisolfi, and some have been drifting between clubs since the Mourinho era. Many of them, if not all, could return to the club in June without having been redeemed, which the article calls a clear loss. Goalkeeper Zelezny is on loan at Serie C side Perugia. He has started every match, but his figures are less impressive: 17 goals conceded in 11 games for a side that was expected to be among the leaders. In defence, Angelino, Ziolkowski and Kumbulla are out on loan. Angelino, who has recently suffered serious health problems, returned to Deportivo La Coruña. He has made only one start, against Sevilla, and was sent off in the 59th minute. Kumbulla has not played a minute for Rayo Vallecano in La Liga and has made just one appearance in the Copa del Rey. Ziolkowski has one appearance on record, due to a serious plantar fascia injury, and is expected back in November. In midfield, El Aynaoui is a regular starter for Leipzig, but his performances have been unexceptional, with a single assist. Leipzig are fifth in the Bundesliga and 29th in the Champions League. Setting aside Romano and Baldanzi, who both have an obligation to buy, Cherubini has made 7 appearances and scored one goal for Benevento. Salah Eddine, who moved to Panathinaikos in September, has four appearances in total, and it is still too early to judge him. Robinio Vaz's start at Hull City has been disappointing: no starts, only a few minutes late in matches, and no goals. The Frenchman cost 25 million in January and is not finding a place in the side as he did under Gasperini. Mannini, who has also moved to Benevento, has no starts. Dovbyk risks returning as early as January. Palladino never picks him, preferring Osteegard in the unusual role of centre-forward given Piccoli's absence. The Ukrainian has scored one goal in four matches, all under Tedesco while he was still in charge at Bologna.

Neil El Aynaoui has impressed at RB Leipzig, and a permanent move to the German club in June is looking increasingly likely. The midfielder had asked to leave Roma towards the end of the summer transfer window, having not fully convinced Gasperini to give him a leading role at the club. Player and coach spoke calmly with each other and found a solution in the final week of the window, which allowed the Moroccan to win a place in the Leipzig starting line-up. He has made 9 appearances this season, with one assist and three consecutive starts in the Champions League. According to the latest information from Germany, Leipzig are satisfied with the Moroccan's performances, and the obligation to buy is looking more and more probable in June. Leipzig have already paid 3 million plus 1 million in bonuses for his loan. They hold an option to buy for 25 million plus 3 million, up to a maximum of 28 million. Roma could therefore make a useful profit on a sale in June. The club also holds a 20% sell-on clause, which it could collect in the future should Leipzig increase his value further.

Roma radio pundits split on whether Gian Piero Gasperini should keep Gianluca Mancini in the back three or give the starting role to Daniele Ghilardi, while also discussing Manchester United's slump ahead of the Champions League meeting. David Rossi of Rete Sport argued that Ghilardi should play, saying: "Ghilardi deve giocare, non Mancini, sia per un discorso difensivo che offensivo." He pointed to Ghilardi's recent form, with two goals in the last two matches, one of them disallowed, and a decisive assist against Cagliari, adding that he had been the best player on the pitch at Lecce. Rossi said Mancini's continued selection was a dressing-room decision, noting that Gasperini had asked for new contracts for Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala. The debate sits against a strong run for the club. Roma have six matches in a row behind them and have reached the seventh game of a run of nine, which Lorenzo Pes noted with a squad stretched thin. Pes also pointed out that against the same opponents as last season, Roma have seven more points this year. Fabio Petruzzi of Rete Sport said the team was showing strong attitude and that Roma were clearly superior to recent years, adding: "non bisogna aver timore di pensare alla vittoria del titolo." Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo argued that either Roma or Inter would win the Scudetto, and that a stadium project and a Scudetto would make the Friedkins historic. On team selection, Gianluca Piacentini expected some rotation, with Marten de Roon expected to start because he is due at the press conference, and Niccolò Pisilli seen taking Rodrigo Mora's place. Piacentini said Wesley would not play if Gasperini had seen his social media activity. Pes saw Leonardo Balerdi starting in place of Mario Hermoso, with Devyne Rensch as a card the fans underestimate, and expected the three midfielders to return with Mora coming on during the game. Corsi also argued that Bryan Cristante had become more important than Manu Koné. On Manchester United, Roberto Pruzzo said: "Lo United ha staccato la spina", describing them as weakened and unable to motivate anyone under former player Carrick, and calling it an opportunity to exploit. Nando Orsi warned that Old Trafford is always difficult, saying: "Non so se è sicura la vittoria della Roma." Mario Mattioli added that the team must take the game seriously, that entering Old Trafford is intimidating, and that Roma should avoid thinking only of avenging the seven goals conceded. Piero Torri said a win at Manchester would put Roma three-quarters of the way towards a play-off place, while noting that Inter depend heavily on Lautaro Martínez. The programme also covered refereeing controversies, including a revoked penalty in Como-Venezia that Alessio Nardo called inexplicable, and a player struck in the face in Lazio-Cagliari. Roma's next match is the trip to Manchester United in the Champions League.

Stefano Pioli has revealed that Roma considered him before choosing Gian Piero Gasperini as head coach. Speaking to Sky Sport, Pioli said: "There were moments when everyone called me. Roma too, but I had just received the contract from Al Nassr and I could not fail to honour my word." The club's interest came after Claudio Ranieri's departure, and Pioli was among the profiles the Giallorossi weighed up before settling on Gasperini. Bryan Cristante is set to be the only player on the pitch tomorrow who was also involved in Roma's last meeting at Old Trafford, the first leg of a Europa League semi-final they lost to Manchester United. Cristante arrives in excellent form after his goal and outstanding performance in Udine, and Gasperini still regards him as indispensable. He is expected to lead the midfield again, probably alongside De Roon, with Pisilli playing further forward. There is no fitness boost for Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné, who are both expected to miss out against Sassuolo, which takes place tomorrow, 3 November 2026. The update came in Il Tempo's round-up of Roma news, which also included the Pioli revelation and the midfield plans for the coming match.

Radio Radio pundits have offered their views on Roma's upcoming clash with Manchester United, with several saying the moment is favourable for the Giallorossi. Matera said Gasperini had expressed hope of a result, but that it would not be easy, as nobody had yet joined in that optimism. He argued that Roma face a Manchester side in evident difficulty, giving the team an opportunity to pick up points where they might not have seemed likely to before. He said that whoever comes into the side is making a contribution, and that with the players available the team cannot change much more than it already has. Matera said he did not know whether Lulli would get the chance to make his debut against Manchester at Old Trafford. He described the squad as short, noting that Mora had played against Udinese, and added: "I expect a De Roon–Cristante partnership with Pisilli." Carina said: "It is the best moment to face Manchester." She pointed out that Roma have lost all four previous meetings, including the heavy 7-1 defeat, and said those defeats had hurt, so now there is a chance to do well. She described Roma as a pleasure to watch, a side that always wants to score more goals and can trouble any team in the world for as long as their legs hold up. On Dybala, she recalled that the first diagnosis said it was nothing, then it became fatigue, then a hardening, before becoming a tear. She said that what was initially a muscular strain had cost him seven matches. Carina added that she felt the club were navigating from one game to the next, listing Cagliari, Udinese and Manchester, and said Dybala would probably be seen again after the international break. Pruzzo said: "Manchester look like a second-tier side. Against Como they did very badly; it is a team that has switched off. It is an opportunity to seize, without thinking we are much stronger than our opponents. The squad is in full health and I think there are prospects to keep doing well." Orsi said: "It is the best moment to face Manchester, but I don't know... they can find the right day and not lose. This is the best moment, but you always play against United at Old Trafford: you must not take it lightly, you must always produce a great match. On the win I don't know if you can be sure: Manchester are in crisis, so Roma must win for certain."