Fofana back in focus as Galatasaray enters race; Wesley sidelined for Dortmund friendly

Wesley has attracted the attention of Manchester United, with the English club considering the Roma defender as part of their future recruitment plans. According to the British website Theatreofred.com, the Brazilian left-back has impressed Michael Sansoni, Manchester United's director of data. Sansoni joined the club in 2025 after spending 11 years with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team, where he worked as a Senior Performance Engineer and contributed to eight championship-winning seasons with Lewis Hamilton. The approach marks a return of Premier League interest in Wesley following Roma's rejection of a Chelsea offer last summer. The 24-year-old joined Roma from Flamengo in July 2025 on a five-year contract, initially on a deal worth €25 million plus €5 million in add-ons. Manchester United's renewed pursuit suggests the Brazilian has made a strong impression in his first season in Serie A, though Roma are unlikely to consider selling one of their key defensive reinforcements from the previous transfer window.

Roma closed the summer transfer window with one significant regret: the absence of a left-sided attacking winger. Despite extensive negotiations until the final days, sporting director Tony D'Amico has already signalled that the club will return to the market in January to provide Gasperini with the reinforcement needed to complete the squad. Several targets who fell through over the summer are now in very different circumstances, potentially reopening old pursuit lines. Jamie Gittens, Trigoria's preferred option for the position, has struggled to find playing time in the Premier League under Xabi Alonso, appearing for only 52 minutes in the League Cup and suffering an ankle injury with the Under 21s. Jamie Leweling, who rejected Roma at the last moment, is also struggling: he has failed to become a regular starter in the Bundesliga and has lost his call-up to the German national team under new manager Jürgen Klopp. Brazilian options Luiz Henrique and Endrick are also in flux. Luiz Henrique remained at Zenit after bureaucratic complications derailed his Roma transfer, though he plays regularly and has fallen out of favour with the Brazil national team. Endrick is enduring a difficult start at Real Madrid under José Mourinho, with only four minutes on the pitch. Brazil's national team coach Carlo Ancelotti has reminded young players of the importance of continuous playing time. A loan move could become relevant again on 14 October, when Roma face Real Madrid at Stadio Olimpico in the Champions League.

Four players Roma pursued over the summer transfer window could resurface as targets when the January window opens, with left-sided attacker emerging as a priority gap in Gian Piero Gasperini's squad. Jamie Gittens, Jamie Leweling, Luiz Henrique and Endrick were the main names in the final stages of the summer campaign after moves for Greenwood and Summerville fell through. Gittens was Roma's preferred choice on technical grounds, but Xabi Alonso blocked a loan move with a buy option or obligation during the off-season, viewing him as central to his plans. The Borussia Dortmund winger's season has stalled significantly: he has played no minutes in the Premier League and only 52 minutes in the League Cup, and he has suffered an ankle injury while on England Under-21 duty requiring medical tests. Leweling's deal with Stuttgart collapsed in summer after the German player withheld permission, and in the Bundesliga he has yet to start a match, appearing only as a substitute. That form cost him a place in Jürgen Klopp's first squad list as Germany's new manager. Luiz Henrique remained at Zenit after bureaucratic problems halted Roma's summer approach, has regained playing time in Russia but dropped out of Brazil's plans. Endrick moved to Real Madrid, where Carlo Ancelotti stated: "Players so young must play to grow"; the teenager has collected only four minutes under Ancelotti. Director of sport Tony D'Amico confirmed Roma's intention to complete the squad in January with a pair of signings for Gasperini. The opportunity for fresh talks over Endrick could come on 14 October, when Roma face Real Madrid at the Olimpico in the Champions League.

Wesley has attracted the attention of Manchester United, with the English club considering the Roma defender as part of their future recruitment plans. According to the British website Theatreofred.com, the Brazilian left-back has impressed Michael Sansoni, Manchester United's director of data. Sansoni joined the club in 2025 after spending 11 years with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team, where he worked as a Senior Performance Engineer and contributed to eight championship-winning seasons with Lewis Hamilton. The approach marks a return of Premier League interest in Wesley following Roma's rejection of a Chelsea offer last summer. The 24-year-old joined Roma from Flamengo in July 2025 on a five-year contract, initially on a deal worth €25 million plus €5 million in add-ons. Manchester United's renewed pursuit suggests the Brazilian has made a strong impression in his first season in Serie A, though Roma are unlikely to consider selling one of their key defensive reinforcements from the previous transfer window.

Roma's training camp at Trigoria resumes today following a rest period authorised by Gasperini. The squad will prepare for the Como fixture with most players available, though those on international duty will not yet return. Evan N'Dicka is the first to rejoin, with Sunday's return to Rome marking the start of a phased reintegration. Wesley, Bryan Cristante and Donyell Malen are improving and will resume group training in the coming days, clearing them for the 11 October away trip. A final decision on Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina's availability will be made today, following Argentina's fixtures.

Rodrigo Mora is set to return to Roma's squad after the international break and will have a chance to revive his season in the trip to Como on 11 October. The Portuguese midfielder has started three matches this season—against Fiorentina, Atalanta and Lecce, where he scored—but has since sat on the bench for three consecutive fixtures against Fenerbahçe, Torino and Inter. Head coach Giampiero Gasperini remains convinced of his potential, describing him as "an extraordinary talent" while calling on young players to deliver immediate results. Mora leads Roma's squad in dribbling success rate at 80%, ahead of Donyell Malen among attacking players, who sits at 67%. Roma invested €25 million to sign Mora from Porto, with a further €25 million available to eliminate a 50% resale clause owed to the Portuguese club. He is currently on international duty with Portugal's Under-21 side, where he has already provided an assist against Bulgaria, and will rejoin after matches against Gibraltar and Czech Republic. His return is scheduled for 7 October, four days before the league resumes. Gasperini is increasingly considering a 3-4-1-2 formation, which could suit Mora's characteristics alongside Paulo Dybala and Malen. Malen is back from a minor knee issue, while Dybala was not called up by Argentina. Roma resumed training at Trigoria today after four days' rest. The coaching staff will monitor Bryan Cristante, Malen and Wesley, all recovering and expected gradually back in full training during the week. Gasperini is also considering a friendly during the break to prepare for the Como trip. Dybala has been ever-present in the opening six matches and ranks third in playing time among outfield players with 407 minutes, behind Cristante and Mario Hermoso. The Argentine has not yet scored this season but has four assists and is in strong physical condition. Roma plan to deny both Dybala and Nahuel Molina permission to travel to Buenos Aires for Messi's final Argentina match, avoiding two intercontinental trips close to the league's resumption. After Como, the fixture list intensifies sharply: Roma face nine matches in twenty-eight days through October and November, including Champions League encounters with Real Madrid, Napoli and Manchester United. The increased minutes will provide Mora with opportunities to prove he can be far more than an investment for the future.

Gian Piero Gasperini has made wing play central to Roma's football, and the club is working to maximise the impact of their flanks ahead of the league's resumption. Wesley, the Brazilian who has been the most brilliant performer in recent months, is recovering from an ankle distortion near the end of summer training and a subsequent muscle problem, and is using three weeks of focused work at Trigoria while sitting out national team duties to return to peak fitness for the match against Como. On the opposite flank, Nahuel Molina is asserting himself with force. The Argentine returned to Serie A with four years at Atlético Madrid and a World Cup winner's medal in his record, and has integrated quickly into Gasperini's system. He has played against both Torino and Inter, showing versatility as a left winger in the 3-4-2-1 formation, cutting infield onto his stronger foot and coming close to goals while already recording one assist. Beyond the summer transfers, a major surprise for Roma is nineteen-year-old Emanuele Lulli. Though he caught Gasperini's attention in the previous season without being a primary Primavera player, the young right-sided defender has carved out important space through pace and attacking boldness. The club is working to secure him with a meeting scheduled soon between the management and his representative to discuss a contract renewal that expires in June. With Devyne Rensch completing the full-back contingent, Gasperini has all the tools to unlock Roma's flanks.

Gian Piero Gasperini has steered Roma to the top of Serie A after four wins and a draw in his opening matches, accumulating 13 points alongside Inter and Lazio. The coach, who guided Roma to third place and Champions League qualification in the 2025-26 season, has introduced three key innovations that have reshaped the squad's identity. The first centres on the fullback role. Despite having four right-sided options available in Molina, Rensch, Lulli and Wesley, Gasperini has stabilised Wesley on the left flank, instructing him not only to attack but to drift infield to link play with teammates. Gasperini explained the reasoning: "There was an idea to sign a left-footer, but not having one is no problem for me. Like in attack, we can have inverted wingers." The second innovation is Gasperini's ability to reshape the team mid-match without predetermined patterns, including reorganising the defence on tactical impulse. In Roma's clash against Atalanta, he changed two-thirds of the back line to overturn a deficit, saying: "When you go behind you rarely think about changing at the back, but we were struggling and fresh energy there put the ball back in our hands." Beyond the pitch, Gasperini has transformed the handling of the Roman environment—traditionally a source of complex pressure. He has repositioned supporters' enthusiasm as a motivational force, stating: "The city is everything, it motivates and stimulates you. The Olimpico always full is wonderful, it gives you positive pressure." At Trigoria training ground, he has fostered an atmosphere where players want to be: "There is an environment here where you have pleasure in coming. I am in love with this group."

Gian Piero Gasperini is working to revive Roma's attacking threat from the flanks, with Wesley, Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli forming the core of his wide-play strategy as the club emerges from the international break. In Gasperini's system, fullbacks and wingers are consistently among the key elements, tasked with generating pace, width, numerical superiority and offensive presence. After an opening stretch of the season in which some of these players have struggled to reach their best form, the break provides an opportunity to reset this crucial area. Wesley was one of the most incisive performers in Gasperini's system last season, scoring five goals thanks to the freedom to attack from the flank opposite his stronger foot. This year, however, his start has been complicated. A muscle problem forced him to miss international duty, followed by an ankle injury sustained a week before the league campaign began. Those two setbacks prevented him from starting the season at full fitness. Missing out on national team selection due to fatigue has, though, gifted him three weeks of training at Trigoria that could prove invaluable. The goal is clear: to have Wesley at his best for the match against Como. When fit, his accelerations from either flank transform Roma's offensive structure and force opponents into deeper defensive positions. Gasperini is not reliant on Wesley alone. The transfer market has brought him Nahuel Molina, who has returned to Italy after four years with a wealth of additional experience and a World Cup winner's medal. After early substitute appearances, the Argentine has begun to secure regular playing time and was firmly established in the team hierarchy before the international break. Against Torino and Inter, Gasperini deployed him on the left in a 3-4-2-1 formation, exploiting his ability to cut onto his stronger foot and make an impact in the final third—a tactical solution already used with Wesley that could become one of the new Roma's most interesting variants. Molina has already provided an assist and come close to scoring multiple times, a sign that he is quickly absorbing the role's demands. Rather than a mere alternative, he has the potential to become another genuine starter in a zone of the pitch where Gasperini tolerates no passive interpreters. The biggest surprise has come from within. Emanuele Lulli, only nineteen years old, has been among the most-used players in this opening stretch on the right flank. His running ability, personality and willingness to attack space make him an almost natural fit for Gasperini's football. His performances have convinced the club to work on a contract renewal for terms expiring in June, with a meeting with his agent scheduled soon. Devyne Rensch completes the squad as a more balanced and reliable option. Roma has not closed the market with an additional winger the coach wanted, but now possesses a much deeper pool: Wesley, Molina, Lulli and Rensch. Not all have yet reached the same level of fitness or integration, but the principle is clear—Gasperini intends to inflict damage from the flanks once again as his side seeks to regain momentum after the break.

Greece produced a surprise 1-0 victory over Germany in the second matchday of the Nations League, with a goal from Kourbelis in the 74th minute. The win puts Greece top of their group with six points. Netherlands sit second after beating Serbia 2-1. Roma defender Konstantinos Koulierakis was not included in the Greece squad for the match against Jürgen Klopp's Germany side and watched from the stands.

Roma players scattered across international fixtures during the latest international break produced mixed results, with midfielder Manu Koné earning praise from France coach Zidane after a strong display in a 1–0 loss to France. Koné operated in a new midfield role that drew positive signals from Zidane, who was encouraged by his performance. Evan N'Dicka started for Ivory Coast in a win over Ghana, while Konstantinos Koulierakis remained on the bench as Greece lost to Serbia. Daniele Ghilardi did not feature in Italy's 2–0 defeat to Belgium. Gianluca Mancini started for Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in a poor display but now risks losing his place for Monday's match against Turkey. Rodrigo Mora contributed an assist for Portugal U21. Argentina's players remain on different timelines: Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi are set to face Bolivia in four days, while Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not attend Argentina's celebration for Messi on 6 October.

Roma's international contingent made an impact during the first round of matches across their respective national teams. Rodrigo Mora, representing Portugal's Under-21 side, delivered an assist and created multiple chances in a 90-minute display against Bulgaria that drew praise. Manu Koné continued his strong form for France, deployed as a defensive midfielder against Turkey in a different role than his usual positioning, yet still ranked first for successful dribbles and maintained his stellar start to the season. Koné has now established himself as a cornerstone of the French setup under Zinedine Zidane. Roma sent 12 players on international duty during this break, giving head coach Gian Piero Gasperini a chance to recharge ahead of a strong start to the 2026-27 campaign while maintaining focus on rhythm and fitness. Rodrigo's performance underlined the club's expectations following a €50 million investment, with his growth trajectory in a Roma shirt becoming increasingly significant. The break comes at a critical juncture, balancing necessary rest with the imperative to sustain momentum after the club's impressive opening. Gianluca Mancini's display for Italy proved disappointing, marked by an error leading to Belgium's opening goal and imprecision in the first half, though he improved after the break and came close to scoring. Daniele Ghilardi was not selected for Italy and awaits his national team debut. Konstantinos Koulierakis remained unused on the bench in Greece's match against Serbia. Evan N'Dicka returned to action with Ivory Coast, delivering a solid performance in their victory against Ghana. The three Roma players on Argentina duty—Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi—face a friendly against Bolivia in four days, followed by Argentina's tribute match to Lionel Messi, a fixture where Nahuel Molina and Paulo Dybala are hoped to appear, though Roma has yet to confirm their release.