Fenerbahçe make enquiry for El Aynaoui

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.

Marten De Roon is settling into his opening weeks as a Roma player after nine years at Atalanta. Head coach Gasperini, who worked extensively with the Dutchman at Bergamo, brought him in to strengthen the midfield following the departure of Neil El Aynaoui. De Roon has already featured in the closing stages of Roma's match against Lecce, and he has taken a lighter approach to his adjustment by sharing a social media post of a video call with fellow countryman Kevin Strootman, the former Roma midfielder, asking for advice about life in the capital. Strootman spent five seasons in giallorosso between 2013 and 2018, making 131 appearances and scoring 13 goals. He became a fans' favourite for his combative style and the passion he showed for the club. De Roon's post joked about the situation, using his Dutch connection to seek tips on settling in at Roma. De Roon wrote on social media: "Happy to be here. There is only one Dutchman to call when you want advice on Roma." The post reflected the 33-year-old midfielder's sense of humour as he begins life at the Stadio Olimpico, tapping into Strootman's experience of the club and the city to guide his early months in the Italian capital.

Roma's loanees across Italy and Europe made an impact on the weekend. Artem Dovbyk was the standout performer, coming off the bench in the 66th minute for Bologna against Sassuolo and scoring the equaliser in the 91st minute to secure a 2–2 draw and the Rossoblu's first point of the season. The Ukrainian striker's decisive finish came in an Emilia derby on loan with a right of redemption clause. Elsewhere, young goalkeeper Radoslaw Zelezny put in a strong performance for Perugia in their 2–1 victory over Pineto, playing all 90 minutes as the side's first-choice keeper. The 2006-born Zelezny was blameless for the goal conceded and made several crucial saves, including a high-quality intervention in the first half and a decisive stop in the second. He is on loan at the Umbrian club with an option and counter-option attached. Midfield prospect Alessandro Romano again started for Cagliari in Serie A, remaining on the pitch for the full 90 minutes as the Sardinians won 1–0 away at Lecce thanks to a Daniel Maldini goal in the 29th minute. Romano's loan includes an obligation to buy if certain sporting conditions are met. Neil El Aynaoui made an immediate first-team debut for RB Leipzig, starting in the away fixture against Werder Brema and playing until the 75th minute. However, Leipzig suffered a 3–1 defeat. The Moroccan midfielder's move is on loan with a right of redemption. Filippo Reale, a 2006-born defender, played the full 90 minutes for Carrarese on the flank in their 1–0 home loss to Empoli, conceding in the 74th minute; he is on loan with an option and counter-option in Roma's favour. Luigi Cherubini started in attack for Benevento in the first half at Ascoli before being substituted at the interval; Benevento were reduced to ten men in the 41st minute by Prisco's red card and lost 1–0 to a Brunori penalty in the closing stages. Cherubini's loan includes a right of option and obligation to buy. Mattia Mannini received his first call-up after joining Benevento on loan but remained unused from the bench in the same Ascoli defeat. Angeliño was an unused substitute as Deportivo La Coruña won 3–2 away at Villarreal in La Liga. Robinio Vaz was included in a Premier League squad for the first time after a late-market transfer to Hull City but did not feature in a 0–0 draw with Aston Villa. Jan Ziółkowski was unavailable for Monza's away trip to Parma—which ended 1–1—due to a plantar fascia problem requiring monitoring. Marash Kumbulla likewise missed Rayo Vallecano's 3–2 victory over Racing Santander as he continues to deal with a knee issue.

Gian Piero Gasperini held his pre-match press conference ahead of Roma's Serie A fixture against Atalanta on matchday three, addressing injury updates and his feelings about the club. Paulo Dybala's tests have shown nothing concerning, though he will train on the day of the press conference to build confidence before three matches this week. On free-agent recruitment, Gasperini expressed doubt: "I believe it is difficult, I do not know what the possibilities might be, but I would not count on it much." He closed the door firmly on reintegrating Salah-Eddine, stating the player "has had several opportunities that he has refused. As far as Roma goes, I have already made choices and he is not in Roma's plans." Evan N'Dicka's injury status has improved substantially, with Gasperini saying "N'Dicka much better, I believe he is in the match. Today we will try him out." Lorenzo Pellegrini is progressing gradually and may return "perhaps with Inter or after the break," indicating a timeline beyond the immediate fixtures. Donyell Malen continues to impress, though Gasperini suggested working on his repertoire. The coach praised Rodrigo Mora's development after two consecutive appearances: "He is young but has already shown his talent against Fiorentina and Lecce. He has ample room for growth in the physical aspect, resistance and fitness. We are dealing with a boy of absolute value." Gasperini defended his decision not to name hierarchies in midfield despite the departure of Neil El Aynaoui and the arrival of Marten de Roon. "Pisilli is very far advanced: he has taken on maturity, awareness, he has grown, he is strong," Gasperini said. "I have four players there, I do not make hierarchies. De Roon, Balerdi and the latest arrivals must reach their best condition; they will play spells and we will see them at full-time probably after the break. Pisilli, Koné and Cristante are solid. We play in 16 and there are many matches. Do not make distinctions between those who start at the beginning and those who come in because in the end you will see that the playing time will be similar for everyone." On squad depth and tactical flexibility, he confirmed Santiago Castro and Mora can operate as forwards and that multiple tactical interpretations are possible. When asked about his time at Roma changing him, Gasperini reflected: "Certainly this experience has enriched me. I arrived in a different environment after nine years of great satisfaction and great integration with the city and the environment. It was not an easy choice, but I am happy to have made it because the conditions no longer existed. Great gratitude and great respect though for Atalanta. To feel alive again, the Roma piazza has been the maximum: it motivates you, stimulates you and we needed to improve the squad, so there was the challenge of needing to improve on what had been done up to that point." On Matías Soulé, he confirmed the player's pubalgia is behind him and he has recovered to excellent condition.