Garnacho Set to Leave Chelsea as Roma Pursue Loan Deal

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."

Atalanta are preparing to tie down striker Gianluca Scamacca with a contract extension to 2030, after he remained with the Bergamo club despite Roma's interest this summer. Head coach Gasperini had wanted to reunite with Scamacca at Roma, where he could have filled the role of backup to Donyell Malen. Atalanta never seriously considered selling him, viewing him as a cornerstone of their attacking unit. The 26-year-old has established himself as essential to the Bergamo side's attacking plans. According to reports, Atalanta are now moving to protect their investment and secure his future by extending his current deal, with the new contract set to run until 2030.

Endrick has emerged as a target for Roma in the January transfer window, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini identifying the Brazilian forward as a suitable reinforcement for the attacking department. The player was close to joining Roma in the summer, but the move fell through because the 2006-born attacker was committed to proving himself at Real Madrid under Mourinho, who appeared ready to give him opportunities. With limited appearances so far this season, speculation over a potential departure has resurfaced. However, Endrick's representatives have moved to dampen the Roma interest. Alan Redmond, executive vice-president and Global Head of Football at Roc Nation Sports International, the agency representing the forward, has insisted the player remains focused on Madrid. There were multiple clubs from various countries interested in Endrick over the summer, but his determination has never wavered. Redmond said: "In the summer there were many clubs from different countries interested in him. His idea has always been to stay in Madrid. I am convinced that when he gets the opportunity he will score many goals. We will see what happens in the future, honestly I think he will stay at Real for a long time."

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.

Davide Moscardelli, a former Chievo Verona and Bologna player and Roma supporter, analysed yesterday's match against Como on Radio Bruno (101.5), defending the side's goalless draw while questioning some of Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical decisions. Moscardelli backed the point secured, saying: "We take home this result, although I would add with a touch of regret. It is certainly a further step forward in the process Roma began last year and is carrying forward very well. It is a shame, because the match had been prepared and approached well. The first 0–0 of the season arrived between two teams from which perhaps we would not have expected it. But it was a good match. Naturally, Malen's expulsion changed the balance." He highlighted Roma's defensive control in the second half as a particular strength, noting: "Roma succeeded in playing a large part of the second half suffering together, without however conceding many truly dangerous chances. Apart from Perrone's chance, comparable in importance to the one that fell to Dybala, the rest of the match was managed quite well." On Paulo Dybala's performance, Moscardelli acknowledged the midfielder's wider role but noted concern at his lack of goals. "He has done exceptional work, including in defensive transitions and helping the squad. However, it is certainly not what we normally ask him or would like to ask him." He expressed surprise at Santiago Castro not entering the pitch, saying Castro as "a fresh player, a fighter" could have eased Como's pressure, though he accepted Gasperini's judgment. On goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini and midfielder Marten de Roon, Moscardelli was complimentary: "Gollini and De Roon were among the best on the pitch. They were called to give a positive response and they gave it. Confidence must be given to them. Everyone will be needed, especially in this month, with many matches concentrated in less than thirty days." Moscardelli also discussed Donyell Malen's red card, saying the forward arrived "with great force, with much impetuousness" but that the contact with the ball was clear. He suggested the referee had focused on the intensity of the challenge rather than intent to injure. On the broader Champions League campaign ahead, Moscardelli urged the squad to enjoy the moment, particularly Gollini: "Finding himself playing in the Champions League against Real Madrid when perhaps, a short time ago, you were used to playing much less, is something special. For him it will certainly be a source of pride and also a reward for all the work carried out."

Roma held Como to a 0–0 draw on 11 October, a result that dominated debate across Roman radio stations and prompted praise for the team's character and tactical flexibility under Gasperini. The match turned on Donyell Malen's red card in the second half; while some commentators accepted the dismissal as correct, others questioned the sequence of play and the referee's positioning. Fabio Petruzzi of Rete Sport struck an optimistic note, saying: "If there is an anti-Inter, it is only Roma." He acknowledged that Malen's absence weakened Roma's attacking threat, noting: "The only problem is that there at Inter, if Lautaro doesn't score Thuram scores, Pio Esposito, Calhanoglu… at Roma if Malen doesn't score we have a bit of a struggle." Multiple voices highlighted Gasperini's tactical acumen in the second half, with Roma playing a notably deeper defensive block after going down to ten men. Francesca Ferrazza of Tele Radio Stereo remarked: "I really liked the lucidity of Gasperini. The boss celebrated at the final whistle because Roma is there." On Malen's expulsion, debate split between those who saw it as inevitable and those who questioned the handling. Checco Oddo Casano argued that referee Fabbri should have blown for a foul on the Dutch winger before the incident in question, while Lorenzo Pes suggested: "That Malen challenge was a yellow-card offence, but the red was not outrageous and for that reason VAR should not have intervened." Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio added: "A great referee blows the whistle for the foul, and having not done so five seconds earlier pulls out the yellow." Nando Orsi was more direct: "The red is clear and that's it." On Roma's wider performance, Alessio Nardo praised the team's "ability to reinvent itself with a low block almost Mourinho-style in the second half when down to ten," while Mario Corsi stressed Roma's pressing and suffocation of Como, calling it "a display of character and strength." Paulo Dybala drew mixed assessment: David Rossi noted his early miss but credited his later contributions, saying he has "become another player" operating as an offensive midfielder rather than the lethal second striker of his past. The broadcast coverage touched on goalkeeper changes, with Mario Mattioli defending Pierluigi Gollini's showing in place of the injured Mile Svilar, and reinforced the view that this result—and Roma's defensive solidity throughout the season—marks genuine progress under the manager's methods.