Farioli bids farewell to Mora as Roma arrival: 'I'll be his first fan'

Roma's recruitment this summer has been solid without delivering the transformational signing head coach Gasperini believed would unlock scudetto ambitions. The club secured a Champions League return and approaches its centenary in a position of genuine hope, yet the window carries an air of incompleteness. Gasperini had nursed real title dreams and was convinced that one or two top-tier additions could lift Roma out of the dreamlike state that has gripped the club since 2001. Players such as Greenwood, Summerville, Nusa and Fofana were mooted—names that offered greater guarantees than the squad possessed—but none arrived. Roma instead finds itself in a crowded midfield battle alongside Como, Milan, Juventus and Atalanta, unable to close the gap with Inter and Milan. The squad is measurably stronger than last year's. The article cites positional switches: Castro replaces Dovbyk, Molina comes in for Çelik, and Mora arrives for Bailey. Gasperini acknowledged both D'Amico's serious work in the transfer market and the communication difficulties with the Friedkin ownership. Crucially, Roma held firm by not selling any major players, but equally failed to move on the fringe figures who might have opened the door to genuine transformation. The absence of a headline signing—the kind of arrival that might force police to station units at Rome's airports—leaves the club without that superhero figure to lean on during difficult moments. Gasperini knows the squad is not title-contenders material, perhaps not even Champions League material despite finishing third last season. The coach had hoped the previous miracle result might unlock previously blocked spending channels, constrained by UEFA regulations that have clouded Roma's waters for years. That reckoning will arrive in the coming months. Much depends on Paulo Dybala's form, on the promises Mora delivers and on Donyell Malen's consistency. Ten days remain before the season begins. Until then, the sense of wanting but being unable to act lingers unresolved.

Porto manager Francesco Farioli has publicly backed Rodrigo Mora's €50 million transfer to Roma, describing it as the club's largest net income and one of the five most significant sales in Porto's history. Speaking ahead of Porto's match against Arouca, Farioli rejected claims that he had sidelined the 19-year-old Portuguese midfielder, countering accusations made by Mora's lawyer that the player had become his third choice. "I believe sincerely that it was a positive season," Farioli said of Mora's final campaign in Portugal. "He leaves the club as a champion. He leaves Porto with two other titles on the honours list and with an honest and correct relationship between me and him. Everything that has been said about me trying to push him out of the club is absolutely false. I believe I tried to help him according to my way of understanding and seeing football. I think today Rodrigo is a more complete player. He has the same talent he had 14 months ago, but today he is a squad player. I am absolutely certain that what he has learned this year will be very, very useful for his career, for his next chapter at Roma and wherever he goes to play." Farioli revealed that Mora did not feature in Porto's final match because the transfer was near completion, and that he had asked the midfielder to address the squad before that game. "His speech was exclusively about his love for FC Porto. Once again, he demonstrated that he is a very young player, but already equipped with leadership and the ability to take on certain responsibilities. His speech was fantastic: it helped us go out onto the pitch and win another match," Farioli explained. On the suggestion he had deprioritised Mora, Farioli produced detailed statistics: Mora played 1,946 minutes overall, compared to Gabri Veiga's 2,699; in the league, 1,177 for Mora versus 1,622 for Veiga. Both played similarly in Europe League—433 minutes for Mora and 442 for Veiga. Mora started 21 matches and came off the bench 23 times, while Veiga started 31 and was substituted 17 times. "When you have two players of the same level, you have to manage them," Farioli concluded.

Jayden Oosterwolde is close to joining Roma on a loan deal with a right to buy that can become an obligation under set conditions, with the transfer expected to be finalized soon as Roma director D'Amico looks to secure one of two defensive recruits requested by Gasperini with 10 days left in the window. The deal is valued at around 17–18 million euros in total. The 25-year-old Dutch left-back, born in 2001, will arrive in the capital alongside his partner Amaka Enem, whose social media presence has already attracted attention. Amaka, also 25 and Dutch, is an emerging fashion model and content creator signed to Touché Models. She has appeared in prestigious publications including Elle Netherlands and collaborated with leading lingerie brands such as Marie Jo. Known for her natural curls and striking features, she balances casual streetwear and sophisticated elegance across her online platforms. Her social media output includes behind-the-scenes footage from photoshoots, lifestyle content, travel, personal reflections and fitness updates, building a following around her authentic engagement with her audience. The couple's relationship is long-standing and solid, as demonstrated by regular social media exchanges and shared content. During a Fenerbahçe match against Hull City in Turkey, Amaka was captured on camera wearing the club's yellow-and-blue colours, quickly becoming viral on Turkish social media. Oosterwolde brings physicality and leadership on the pitch, while Amaka has drawn attention in the stands. The pair openly share couple photos and playful public interactions without filters, fully embracing their relationship in the public eye. Should Oosterwolde's move to Roma materialize, Amaka would likely settle comfortably in the capital. Accustomed to fast-paced international environments and high-profile settings, she would find Rome an ideal backdrop for her career and personal style.