Gasperini backs Malen to play as centre-forward, not on the wing

Paulo Fonseca, manager of Olympique Lyonnais, has publicly backed Malick Fofana to stay at the club despite Roma's interest in signing the Belgian winger to strengthen their attack. Speaking at a press conference ahead of Lyon's Champions League playoff return against Fenerbahçe, Fonseca addressed Fofana's fitness after recent injury problems and his prospects at the club. "Now he is well, physically and mentally," Fonseca said of the 2005-born winger. "I think he is a player who will continue with us. He is very motivated to continue with us." The Lyon boss made clear the club has already fielded offers for Fofana and rejected them. "We are not worried about selling Malick. We have offers. If other clubs want him, they will have to pay well. The club refused offers because it believes in this player," Fonseca stated, raising the financial bar around the winger precisely as Roma continues to evaluate his profile to complete their attacking options for the 2026–27 season.

Gian Piero Gasperini praised Roma's mentality and attacking prowess after a 4-0 victory over Fiorentina on 24 August, singling out Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen as world-class talent and calling for further recruitment to strengthen the squad for a demanding fixture schedule. Speaking to DAZN, Gasperini said: "The mentality of this group. These boys have recommenced as it was last season. We carry more knowledge. Their attitude in the match and in training is extraordinary. There are players who have done everything to play at Roma or remain: Dybala, Pellegrini, also Mora with his agent. They feel the beauty of this environment." Gasperini highlighted Dybala's physical condition at 32 years old as crucial to the club's ambitions. "Absolutely yes. He is a boy who at 32 is in the fullness of maturity. He may have less speed, but not much, and less force in the shot. He is among the very first in our league, if not the first." He noted that Dybala suffered misfortune last season with injuries from a penalty kick and a free kick that cost him a meniscus, but has made an "absolute level" preparation and is now more resilient. Gasperini withdrew him during the match because other important players were available, "but he can play even extra time." On the Dybala-Malen partnership, Gasperini declared: "They are of European level, therefore World level. Dybala has always been so, he only had too many injuries. This one is a beast: anything but silk muscles as someone said. He can even play extra time. Malen is extraordinary, but it is not by chance: he feels appreciated and strong, he is a leader on the pitch and can grow further still." Gasperini stressed that Roma's recruitment remains incomplete despite the convincing display. "We are not done. If you look at the calendar after the international break there is something to shudder at. It is absolutely necessary to have some numbers more, not too many, to face the season with the league, Champions League and Coppa Italia. With this risk we know there is the risk of losing players in the same period." He praised recent arrivals Konstantinos Koulierakis, Nahuel Molina, Santiago Castro, and Rodrigo Mora for fitting into the team's structure, noting that the group has a foundation built over the past year and new arrivals are functional. He also commended the new Serie A rule extending effective playing time, saying: "Beautiful, fantastic. I like it very much. The public is advantaged this way: before it saw matches of deadly boredom, with the goalkeeper touching more balls than everyone else. These are excellent rules: no one now stays on the ground more. They were thought out very well, the public wants to see play and not waste time."

Gian Piero Gasperini praised Rodrigo Mora as a rising talent and Paulo Dybala as the key to Roma's ambitions following the Giallorossi's first match of the Serie A season against Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico on 24 August. The coach told journalists after the game that Mora, 19, represents exceptional quality despite having arrived only a week earlier. "We are dealing with an extraordinary talent," Gasperini said. "At 19 he has already completed two seasons, and two years ago he scored ten goals. Every time he touches the ball something good happens. He is resilient, with athletic values at a high level. He can play on the right and left. There is work to do with him, naturally—he has been here a week—but he will give us great satisfaction." Gasperini placed Dybala, 32, at the centre of Roma's championship ambitions, emphasizing his condition and commitment. "Absolutely yes," the coach said when asked if Dybala is the key to aiming high. "He is a player at 32 in the fullness of his maturity. He may have less speed, not much, and less shooting power. He is among the very first in our league, if not the first. Last year he was very unlucky. He suffered an injury kicking a penalty and another on a free kick—the penalty cost him a meniscus. But he has done absolute top-level preparation. He does not have silk muscles; he is increasingly resilient. I took him off because we have other important players, but he could play extra time." On the squad's overall mentality, Gasperini highlighted the attitude displayed in training and on the pitch. "The mentality of this group," he said when asked what gave him most satisfaction. "These lads have restarted as they did last season. We carry forward more knowledge. Their attitude in matches and training is extraordinary. There are players who have done everything to play at Roma or to stay: Dybala, Pellegrini, also Mora with his agent. They feel the beauty of this environment." Gasperini confirmed that several new arrivals—Konstantinos Koulierakis, Nahuel Molina, Santiago Castro, and Mora—have been integrated functionally into the team. He added that Manu Koné, who featured in the match, arrived fatigued after playing in the World Cup and needs further training to regain full condition, as do El Aynaoui and Molina. Gasperini acknowledged that Roma's transfer business remains incomplete, with the fixture schedule presenting challenges ahead. "We are putting the right players in the right place, but we have not completed," he said. "If you look at the calendar after the international break, it is daunting. It is absolutely necessary to have some extra numbers, not too many, to face the season with the league, Champions League and the Coppa Italia. With that risk we know there is the risk of losing players in the same period." The coach expressed satisfaction with the squad's dimension and quality, noting that familiarity among returning players and the functional integration of newcomers had strengthened Roma's starting position.

The relationship between head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and sporting director Ricky Massara deteriorated throughout the 2025–26 season, marked by clashing views on transfer strategy, public criticism and mounting friction that became irreparable. Massara, who felt treated as an amateur despite his substantial track record, endured difficult months in silence, though tension grew steadily. The conflict began last summer during negotiations for Sancho and Fabio Silva, then escalated in late August when Massara said "Sancho at the moment remains a suggestion because I don't think there are the conditions or the motivations," while Gasperini later replied: "Sancho never refused Roma." The situation exploded in early September during a heated discussion at Fulvio Bernardini, where Gasperini accused Massara of being too slow in negotiations, dismissing the restrictions imposed by Financial Fair Play and inherited difficulties. Disputes over specific targets fuelled the rift further: Gasperini's veto on Raspadori, his preference for Malen over Zirkzee, and disagreements over Robinio Vaz. The breakdown continued from a distance after Massara moved to Juventus, with the director's pursuit of Zeki Çelik irritating Roma while Gasperini attempted to insert himself into the Juventus deal for Kessié. The definitive rupture came in spring, when Gasperini rejected Kerim Alajbegovic and made his position clear: having secured the departure of Ranieri, he wanted Massara gone as well to remain at Roma.

Zibi Boniek has backed Roma to fight for the Serie A title, saying the club can compete at the highest level after a strong start to the season. Speaking to Retesport, Boniek praised recent arrivals and squad depth while identifying a priority for the transfer market. "We start brilliantly with a beautiful match. Roma can fight for the top because it only has Inter ahead of it, we're on the same level as the other big clubs," Boniek said. He argued that Roma do not lack a left winger but rather need "another strong number 8", adding that any top-quality player arriving will strengthen the team. He singled out recent debutant Lulli for his fearlessness and praised Santiago Castro as "a serious and genuine striker", though he must wait his turn with Donyell Malen in imperious form and Paulo Dybala in "perfect connection" with him. On academy defender Jan Ziółkowski, Boniek confirmed the young Pole is set to leave on loan to develop regularly elsewhere. He also highlighted Niccolò Pisilli as "the most dangerous midfielder in the squad" who sees goal, saying: "If he plays as a starter he'll bring home 8–10 goals, he will have his space in a strong department."

Six AS Roma players have been nominated for awards at the Gran Galà del Calcio, which takes place on 2 September at the Teatro della Scala in Milan. Sky Sport will broadcast the ceremony live. Mile Svilar is a candidate for best goalkeeper, Evan N'Dicka for best defender, Manu Koné for best midfielder, and Donyell Malen for best forward. Malen has made a strong start to the season with a hat-trick against Fiorentina. Gian Piero Gasperini is also in contention, nominated for best coach of the previous season.