Gasperini draws a line: Roma must make sacrifices, but the leaders stay

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."

Endrick's next move remains unclear after the Brazilian forward failed to secure playing time at Real Madrid, despite José Mourinho blocking his summer move to Roma. With the January transfer window approaching, Roma have joined AC Milan and foreign clubs including Lyon and Aston Villa in pursuing the 2006-born striker. Roc Nation Sports International, the agency representing Endrick, signalled little likelihood of a departure. Alan Redmond, vice-president and Global Head of Football at the agency, said: "In 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'll see what happens in the future, honestly I think he will stay at Real for a long time." Redmond added that Endrick had multiple suitors last summer but remained set on continuing in Spain.

Como and Roma meet in a high-quality fixture on 11 October as both sides look to test their ambitions early in the season. Gasperini's Roma face significant absences: Bryan Cristante and Mile Svilar are unavailable, with Marten de Roon and Pierluigi Gollini stepping in. Como manager Cesc Fabregas is without Kean, his backup striker. Pellegrini returns to Roma's lineup after six months out, wearing the captain's armband on the trequarti alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. The fixture is early enough in the campaign to offer limited guidance on league position, but Gasperini will use it to gauge the squad's form and competitive level. Roma field a 3-4-2-1: Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, de Roon, Koné, Wesley; Dybala, Pellegrini; Malen. Substitutes: Vasquez, De Marzi, Balerdi, Ghilardi, Rensch, Lulli, Pisilli, Soulé, Castro, Mora. Como line up in 4-2-3-1: Butez; Couto, Ramon, Chalobah, Valle; Da Cunha, Perrone; Diao, Paz, Baturina; Douvikas.

Lorenzo Pellegrini will start for Roma in the Serie A match against Como on 11 October, marking his first time in the team's opening formation for six months. Gian Piero Gasperini's side travel to the Giuseppe Sinigaglia for the sixth-round lunch kick-off, where they face Cesc Fabregas's Como side. The appointment comes during the international break window and presents Roma with a challenging away fixture. Gasperini must manage two significant absences: Mile Svilar is sidelined by a fracture to the fifth digit of his hand, and Bryan Cristante is unavailable. Pierluigi Gollini takes the goalkeeping role in Svilar's place. Wesley and Donyell Malen have recovered from their previous issues and are available. Marten de Roon is set to partner Manu Koné in midfield following Cristante's absence. Roma line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, De Roon, Koné, Wesley; Dybala, Pellegrini; Malen. The referee is Fabbri from Ravenna, with Imperiale and Baccini as assistants, Sozza as fourth official, Gariglio on VAR and Abisso as assistant VAR. Como deploy a 4-2-3-1: Butez; Couto, Ramon, Chalobah, Valle; Milla, Da Cunha; Diao, Nico Paz, Baturina; Douvikas, under manager Fabregas.

Roma prepare to face Como after the international break with Gian Piero Gasperini contending with significant absences. Goalkeeper Mile Svilar is sidelined and will miss the entire run of matches until the next international pause, while Bryan Cristante remains injured. Konstantinos Koulierakis is also unavailable due to a contusion, leaving the manager stretched in key areas as the campaign resumes and the title race intensifies. The tactical picture remains fluid across the available reports. Pierluigi Gollini will deputise in goal, with Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso forming the defensive line in a three-man system. Marten de Roon is expected to start in midfield, while Lorenzo Pellegrini is favoured over both Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé in the attacking midfield slots. The formation varies between configurations, with some reports suggesting a 3-4-2-1 shape featuring Paulo Dybala and Pellegrini behind Donyell Malen, while others propose a 3-4-1-2 with Pellegrini in a deeper midfield role supporting Dybala and Malen in attack. Nahuel Molina and Wesley feature as wing-backs across most predictions, with Manu Koné anchoring the midfield. The competing lineups reflect ongoing debate among observers about Gasperini's preferred balance between defensive security and attacking thrust, particularly given the personnel constraints imposed by injury.

Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico spoke to DAZN shortly before the match between Como and Roma on 11 October, addressing the squad's readiness and key personnel changes. With goalkeeper Mile Svilar sidelined by injury, D'Amico expressed confidence in Pierluigi Gollini's ability to step in, alongside midfielder Marten de Roon. "It is a great shame to lose important players like Svilar or Cristante to injury," D'Amico said. "They are fairly lengthy injuries and both will miss some matches. But all the players who are part of the squad have great trust from the club and the coach, and that is why they are here. For Gollini, like de Roon or all the players who have the opportunity to show themselves, it is a motivation and not a burden." D'Amico framed Lorenzo Pellegrini's return as a strategic acquisition. "For us, Pellegrini was a signing—we found him out of contract," he explained. "He, like Dybala and Cristante, were our first signings in the market. Pellegrini lived very difficult months after his injury in May, worked hard over the summer, and for him too I believe it is a great motivation to return today. We are very happy to see him on the pitch and we are convinced he can give great help to the group." D'Amico acknowledged the challenge posed by Como, noting the squad had limited preparation time with international players returning on Friday. "The principles of the two teams are somewhat different, and we expect a fine match between two strong sides," he said. "The time to prepare it has not been great, but there are months of important work behind us. We hope for a fine match between two strong sides and a showcase for Italian football."

Como and Roma meet in a high-quality fixture on 11 October as both sides look to test their ambitions early in the season. Gasperini's Roma face significant absences: Bryan Cristante and Mile Svilar are unavailable, with Marten de Roon and Pierluigi Gollini stepping in. Como manager Cesc Fabregas is without Kean, his backup striker. Pellegrini returns to Roma's lineup after six months out, wearing the captain's armband on the trequarti alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. The fixture is early enough in the campaign to offer limited guidance on league position, but Gasperini will use it to gauge the squad's form and competitive level. Roma field a 3-4-2-1: Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, de Roon, Koné, Wesley; Dybala, Pellegrini; Malen. Substitutes: Vasquez, De Marzi, Balerdi, Ghilardi, Rensch, Lulli, Pisilli, Soulé, Castro, Mora. Como line up in 4-2-3-1: Butez; Couto, Ramon, Chalobah, Valle; Da Cunha, Perrone; Diao, Paz, Baturina; Douvikas.

Lorenzo Pellegrini will start for Roma in the Serie A match against Como on 11 October, marking his first time in the team's opening formation for six months. Gian Piero Gasperini's side travel to the Giuseppe Sinigaglia for the sixth-round lunch kick-off, where they face Cesc Fabregas's Como side. The appointment comes during the international break window and presents Roma with a challenging away fixture. Gasperini must manage two significant absences: Mile Svilar is sidelined by a fracture to the fifth digit of his hand, and Bryan Cristante is unavailable. Pierluigi Gollini takes the goalkeeping role in Svilar's place. Wesley and Donyell Malen have recovered from their previous issues and are available. Marten de Roon is set to partner Manu Koné in midfield following Cristante's absence. Roma line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, De Roon, Koné, Wesley; Dybala, Pellegrini; Malen. The referee is Fabbri from Ravenna, with Imperiale and Baccini as assistants, Sozza as fourth official, Gariglio on VAR and Abisso as assistant VAR. Como deploy a 4-2-3-1: Butez; Couto, Ramon, Chalobah, Valle; Milla, Da Cunha; Diao, Nico Paz, Baturina; Douvikas, under manager Fabregas.

Roma's sporting director addressed the media ahead of the sixth Serie A round at Como, expressing disappointment over key injuries while backing the squad to respond. D'Amico confirmed that both Mile Svilar and Bryan Cristante will miss the fixture through injury, describing them as long-term absences that will sideline the players for multiple matches. "Sicuramente è un dispiacere perdere un giocatore importante come Svilar, ma anche Cristante. Sono infortuni un po' lunghi e quindi salteranno tante partite," he said, but added confidence in the available squad. "Però tutti i ragazzi che fanno parte della rosa hanno grande fiducia da parte del club e dell'allenatore, quindi credo che per Pierluigi come per Marten sia una motivazione e non un peso." D'Amico praised the work done over the summer and highlighted the importance of squad depth despite the absences. He stressed that renewal contracts for players out of contract carried the same strategic weight as new signings. The director also expressed optimism about Lorenzo Pellegrini's role going forward, having worked through a difficult injury period during the off-season. "Per noi rinnovarlo è stato come un acquisto, così come tutti gli altri che erano in scadenza," he explained. Ahead of the Como fixture, D'Amico outlined Roma's expectations: "Sì, i principi delle due squadre sono un po' diversi. Ci aspettiamo una partita bella tra due squadre forti. Il tempo di prepararla è stato poco perchè abbiamo avuto tantissimi giocatori in nazionale, però ci sono mesi di lavoro importante alle spalle. Ci auguriamo che sia una partita bella, uno spot per tutto il sistema calcio italiano."

Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico spoke to DAZN shortly before the match between Como and Roma on 11 October, addressing the squad's readiness and key personnel changes. With goalkeeper Mile Svilar sidelined by injury, D'Amico expressed confidence in Pierluigi Gollini's ability to step in, alongside midfielder Marten de Roon. "It is a great shame to lose important players like Svilar or Cristante to injury," D'Amico said. "They are fairly lengthy injuries and both will miss some matches. But all the players who are part of the squad have great trust from the club and the coach, and that is why they are here. For Gollini, like de Roon or all the players who have the opportunity to show themselves, it is a motivation and not a burden." D'Amico framed Lorenzo Pellegrini's return as a strategic acquisition. "For us, Pellegrini was a signing—we found him out of contract," he explained. "He, like Dybala and Cristante, were our first signings in the market. Pellegrini lived very difficult months after his injury in May, worked hard over the summer, and for him too I believe it is a great motivation to return today. We are very happy to see him on the pitch and we are convinced he can give great help to the group." D'Amico acknowledged the challenge posed by Como, noting the squad had limited preparation time with international players returning on Friday. "The principles of the two teams are somewhat different, and we expect a fine match between two strong sides," he said. "The time to prepare it has not been great, but there are months of important work behind us. We hope for a fine match between two strong sides and a showcase for Italian football."

Como and Roma meet in a high-quality fixture on 11 October as both sides look to test their ambitions early in the season. Gasperini's Roma face significant absences: Bryan Cristante and Mile Svilar are unavailable, with Marten de Roon and Pierluigi Gollini stepping in. Como manager Cesc Fabregas is without Kean, his backup striker. Pellegrini returns to Roma's lineup after six months out, wearing the captain's armband on the trequarti alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. The fixture is early enough in the campaign to offer limited guidance on league position, but Gasperini will use it to gauge the squad's form and competitive level. Roma field a 3-4-2-1: Gollini; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Molina, de Roon, Koné, Wesley; Dybala, Pellegrini; Malen. Substitutes: Vasquez, De Marzi, Balerdi, Ghilardi, Rensch, Lulli, Pisilli, Soulé, Castro, Mora. Como line up in 4-2-3-1: Butez; Couto, Ramon, Chalobah, Valle; Da Cunha, Perrone; Diao, Paz, Baturina; Douvikas.