Gasperini hails Mora's talent and Dybala's importance after Roma's opening win

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."

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini praised Rodrigo Mora as a talent of exceptional potential following Roma's first-day Serie A match against Fiorentina. The 19-year-old, who arrived from Porto after winning the Scudetto, showed personality and physicality in his appearance, entering the squad only a week before the fixture. Gasperini said: "We are in front of an extraordinary talent. He is 19 years old and has already won the Scudetto with Porto. He certainly has room for evolution but he has personality and showed it tonight. Every time he touches the ball something beautiful happens. For the characteristics he has he is resilient and has athletic values at a high level. A versatile player who can play anywhere across the front and has football as a talent. There is work to do on all aspects, he has been here a week but will give us great satisfaction." Gasperini centred his post-match assessment on the squad's mentality and commitment. He highlighted the continuity from last season, noting that players including Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Bryan Cristante and Mario Hermoso had driven to remain at Roma, while new arrivals including Mora and others "did everything to come to Roma". The coach stressed the strength of the environment: "I feel strongly the desire and the beauty of this setting, where they want to express themselves." On Dybala's form at 32 years old, Gasperini was emphatic: "Absolutely yes, he is a boy who at 32 is in the full maturity both physical and technical. He may have a bit less speed but not that much less. He has a bit less power in his shot, but even today he is among the very first in our championship, if not the first. He is well, he plays. Last year he was very unfortunate, he had two injuries one kicking a penalty and one a free kick. This time he did a preparation as perhaps he had never done in recent years, proof that he is increasingly resilient. At the end I took him off but he can play even extra time and is always one of the freshest." On the squad more broadly, Gasperini noted that new signings including Konstantinos Koulierakis, Nahuel Molina, Santiago Castro and Mora were positioned correctly: "We have not yet completed, rather numerically we need to play three competitions. If you look at the calendar after the break there is reason to shudder, so we necessarily need to have some extra numbers to tackle the season." Gasperini acknowledged Roma's tactical flexibility and praised Donyell Malen as a world-class operator who feels valued in the environment and is "a leader on the pitch". He added that Manu Koné, who featured in the Fiorentina match, had been pushed slightly given his recent return from World Cup duty and is recovering his best condition. On the increased effective playing time implemented in the fixture, Gasperini supported the new rule: "It benefits the public, who no longer has to watch the goalkeeper wasting time holding the ball. Now nobody makes a scene anymore. These are very well thought-out rules: people want to see the game, not players wasting time."

Bryan Cristante entered Roma's top 10 all-time appearance makers after the club's 4-0 victory over Fiorentina on the opening weekend of the 2026-27 season. Speaking in the post-match interview, Cristante highlighted the impact of the attacking pair on display: "Dybala is in Italy for years now, and when he's fit he makes the difference in every match. Malen since he arrived in January has scored from the first game and has given us so much right away. Hopefully they continue like this as much as possible." The midfielder praised Roma's preparation over the summer and the consistency of Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical foundation. "We're doing well, we had a good pre-season and we've put in our work. As long as it leads to performances like this, that's fine. We arrive more ready than last year—the core group is the same. We're more prepared for the coach's workload, his ideas and his style of play. We have an extra gear." Cristante expressed pride at reaching the milestone: "It's an incredible club and an incredible city. I'm honoured to have entered the top 10. Hopefully I can make more appearances and continue winning and putting on performances like this." On the opening match itself, Cristante described the performance as near-perfect: "It went better than we could have hoped. It was hard to do better than this. A massive match—we needed to start strong, and the opening games are always important." He outlined Roma's ambition for the campaign: "The objective is to do what we did last year, if not better. We're starting from a more solid base, the same playing principles, the same coach, and we're starting with an extra gear compared to last year. The league is long but it's important to start like this." On summer arrival Donyell Malen's clinical finishing, Cristante said: "He's a killer in the box, a finisher, an extra weapon that becomes essential. Hopefully we have him at this level always."

Roma opened the 2026-27 season with a 4-0 victory over Fiorentina, a performance that went beyond the scoreline to signal intent across Serie A. Played at the Olimpico, the match saw Roma dominate from start to finish with what the article describes as a team displaying clear identity, hunger, and tactical maturity. Gian Piero Gasperini's squad moved with naturalness, pressed high, attacked spaces and sustained the same intensity that had carried them through a remarkable comeback campaign last season. Gasperini had pushed throughout the summer to preserve the core of his squad, insisting on keeping the players he considered essential to continuity. That strategy bore immediate fruit. Paulo Dybala was the standout performer, prompting Gasperini to describe him after the match as "a beast" — a characterisation the article frames as a rebuttal of suggestions that Dybala is fragile. Summer preparation appears to have restored Dybala to peak condition: explosive, sharp, and capable of influencing the entire match. His partnership with Donyell Malen proved particularly destructive — Dybala provided three assists and Malen scored a hat-trick, a combination the article suggests may become one of the most dangerous partnerships in the division. Two academy products made notable impressions on their debuts. Emanuele Lulli, thrown into a match that could have intimidated younger players, performed with surprising composure, showing leg, courage and personality without fear. Rodrigo Mora, used for limited minutes, demonstrated ball control, technical sensitivity, and quality movement in space. The article notes both players merit continued development, with Mora in particular showing visible talent despite his youth. The opening day has left Roma with momentum heading forward. The article acknowledges a single 4-0 in August reveals little about May's destination, but stresses that Roma appears to restart from exactly where the previous campaign ended: with conviction, identity and desire to improve. The squad has added quality and may add more before the transfer window closes. The article suggests that if club officials deliver the final two reinforcements Gasperini continues to request — not simple adjustments but players capable of raising the squad's level further — a genuine step forward could materialise.

Roma continue their hunt for a winger in the final week of the transfer window, with Paris Saint-Germain's Mbaye now on the list alongside existing targets Fofana and Gittens. Director D'Amico ruled out the sale of a major player in recent days, but Jan Ziółkowski is close to leaving, with both Parma and Monza interested in the defender. Ziółkowski faces an imminent departure after attracting attention from Serie A sides Parma and Monza. Crystal Palace have also made enquiries about Neil El Aynaoui, suggesting interest in another Roma squad member. Rodriguez Mora's contract includes a €110 million release clause, according to Il Tempo. Roma's pursuit of attacking reinforcement on the wing continues as D'Amico balances departures with potential late arrivals before the window closes.

Roma demolished Fiorentina 4–0 in a commanding display, with Donyell Malen scoring a hat-trick to lead the charge. Paulo Dybala contributed three assists and Manu Koné was withdrawn only through fatigue, underlining Roma's control. Debutant Daniele Ghilardi impressed in an early appearance, while Evan N'Dicka stood firm at the back as the team moved to 3–4–1–2 formation under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. All five major Italian newspapers awarded Roma positive marks across the board. Svilar received ratings between 6 and 6.5 in goal. The defence was solid, with N'Dicka rated 7 to 7.5 by all outlets and Mancini and Hermoso both praised. In midfield, Cristante earned 6.5 to 7, while Wesley was rated 6 to 7 on the flank. Koné's 6.5 to 7.5 reflected his strong showing before substitution. Malen's 8.5 to 9 and Dybala's 8 to 9 dominated the attacking ratings. Corrections made 68 minutes in saw Koulierakis introduced for Hermoso, while Pisilli replaced Koné at 79 minutes. Rodrigo Mora (6.5) and later Matías Soulé (6) featured in attack; Santiago Castro entered for Malen at 68 minutes. Gasperini earned 7.5 to 8 from the press corps. N'Dicka's display of 7 to 7.5, Koné's energy and Ghilardi's first appearance highlighted a Roma side functioning with precision and depth throughout.

Roma opened the 2026-27 season with a 4-0 victory over Fiorentina, a performance that went beyond the scoreline to signal intent across Serie A. Played at the Olimpico, the match saw Roma dominate from start to finish with what the article describes as a team displaying clear identity, hunger, and tactical maturity. Gian Piero Gasperini's squad moved with naturalness, pressed high, attacked spaces and sustained the same intensity that had carried them through a remarkable comeback campaign last season. Gasperini had pushed throughout the summer to preserve the core of his squad, insisting on keeping the players he considered essential to continuity. That strategy bore immediate fruit. Paulo Dybala was the standout performer, prompting Gasperini to describe him after the match as "a beast" — a characterisation the article frames as a rebuttal of suggestions that Dybala is fragile. Summer preparation appears to have restored Dybala to peak condition: explosive, sharp, and capable of influencing the entire match. His partnership with Donyell Malen proved particularly destructive — Dybala provided three assists and Malen scored a hat-trick, a combination the article suggests may become one of the most dangerous partnerships in the division. Two academy products made notable impressions on their debuts. Emanuele Lulli, thrown into a match that could have intimidated younger players, performed with surprising composure, showing leg, courage and personality without fear. Rodrigo Mora, used for limited minutes, demonstrated ball control, technical sensitivity, and quality movement in space. The article notes both players merit continued development, with Mora in particular showing visible talent despite his youth. The opening day has left Roma with momentum heading forward. The article acknowledges a single 4-0 in August reveals little about May's destination, but stresses that Roma appears to restart from exactly where the previous campaign ended: with conviction, identity and desire to improve. The squad has added quality and may add more before the transfer window closes. The article suggests that if club officials deliver the final two reinforcements Gasperini continues to request — not simple adjustments but players capable of raising the squad's level further — a genuine step forward could materialise.

Roma opened their 2026–27 campaign with a dominant 4–0 victory over Fiorentina, with the partnership of Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala at the heart of a scintillating display. Malen scored three goals, all created by Dybala's playmaking, before Niccolò Pisilli sealed the result in the closing stages, replacing Manu Koné. The standout impression came from young left-back Lulli, who delivered an assured performance in his first Serie A start at the highest level. The emphatic win provided an ideal platform for Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma to begin the new season. Dybala's creative excellence underpinned the attacking threat throughout, while the defence was sufficiently organised to limit Fiorentina to no clear opportunities. The performance suggested Roma's front-four setup—with Dybala in a creative role alongside Malen—could prove a potent combination in the campaign ahead. Italian football newspapers were unanimous in their praise of the performance and individual displays. La Gazzetta dello Sport awarded Malen 8.5 and Dybala 8, with Gasperini earning an 8 overall. Corriere dello Sport went higher, rating both attackers 9 and the coach 8. Corriere della Sera gave Malen 9 and Dybala 8, with Gasperini receiving 7.5. Il Messaggero and Tuttosport were slightly more measured, rating Malen 8.5 and 8 respectively, and Dybala 8 across both outlets. Lulli received ratings of 6.5 to 7.5 across the publications for his assured debut display.

Roma demolished Fiorentina 4–0 in a commanding display, with Donyell Malen scoring a hat-trick to lead the charge. Paulo Dybala contributed three assists and Manu Koné was withdrawn only through fatigue, underlining Roma's control. Debutant Daniele Ghilardi impressed in an early appearance, while Evan N'Dicka stood firm at the back as the team moved to 3–4–1–2 formation under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. All five major Italian newspapers awarded Roma positive marks across the board. Svilar received ratings between 6 and 6.5 in goal. The defence was solid, with N'Dicka rated 7 to 7.5 by all outlets and Mancini and Hermoso both praised. In midfield, Cristante earned 6.5 to 7, while Wesley was rated 6 to 7 on the flank. Koné's 6.5 to 7.5 reflected his strong showing before substitution. Malen's 8.5 to 9 and Dybala's 8 to 9 dominated the attacking ratings. Corrections made 68 minutes in saw Koulierakis introduced for Hermoso, while Pisilli replaced Koné at 79 minutes. Rodrigo Mora (6.5) and later Matías Soulé (6) featured in attack; Santiago Castro entered for Malen at 68 minutes. Gasperini earned 7.5 to 8 from the press corps. N'Dicka's display of 7 to 7.5, Koné's energy and Ghilardi's first appearance highlighted a Roma side functioning with precision and depth throughout.

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."

Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala spoke to DAZN after Roma's latest fixture, with the pair highlighting their early understanding on the pitch. In seven matches together, Malen has scored six goals and Dybala has provided six assists. When asked about reports that Gasperini said he returned sad from the World Cup, Malen responded: "I'm happy to be back, what's done is done. Now we've started again and I felt the energy of the stadium." Asked about matching his tally of 14 goals in half a season last year, Malen said: "I don't want to give numbers. I have to create goal-scoring chances, then we'll see." Dybala offered effusive praise for his young teammate. "We're facing an extraordinary talent," Dybala told DAZN. "At 19 he's already completed two campaigns, winning as well. Two years ago he scored 10 goals. He's a boy in evolution, also in the personality with which he played tonight. He's had a bit of physical decline too, which is normal. Every time he touches the ball something beautiful happens. He's resilient, he has elite athletic values. He can play on the right and left. He has football, real talent. There's work to do with him too, clearly—it's been a week he's been here. He'll give us great satisfaction." On the group's mentality, Dybala said: "The attitude of these boys is extraordinary. They've started again as they did last season. We carry more knowledge with us. Their attitude in matches and training is extraordinary. There are players who've done everything to play for Roma or stay: Dybala, Pellegrini, also Mora with his agent. They feel the beauty of this environment." Gasperini stressed Dybala's physical condition is key, noting: "At 32 he's in the fullness of maturity. He may have less speed, not much, and less shooting power. He's among the very first in our league, if not the first. Last year he was very unlucky. He had an injury kicking a penalty and one on a free kick. It cost him a meniscus, the penalty. But he's done absolute-level preparation. He's not made of silk, he's increasingly resilient. I took him off because we have other important players but he can play extra time too." Gasperini acknowledged Roma's squad remains incomplete despite the strong performance. "We've put the right players in the right places this year, like Koulierakis and Molina, who has an important past, Castro, Mora. But we haven't completed," he said. "If you look at the calendar after the international break there's reason to shiver. It's absolutely necessary to have some additional numbers, not too many, to face the season with the league, Champions and Coppa Italia. Knowing this risk, we know there's the risk of losing players in the same period."

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini praised Rodrigo Mora as a talent of exceptional potential following Roma's first-day Serie A match against Fiorentina. The 19-year-old, who arrived from Porto after winning the Scudetto, showed personality and physicality in his appearance, entering the squad only a week before the fixture. Gasperini said: "We are in front of an extraordinary talent. He is 19 years old and has already won the Scudetto with Porto. He certainly has room for evolution but he has personality and showed it tonight. Every time he touches the ball something beautiful happens. For the characteristics he has he is resilient and has athletic values at a high level. A versatile player who can play anywhere across the front and has football as a talent. There is work to do on all aspects, he has been here a week but will give us great satisfaction." Gasperini centred his post-match assessment on the squad's mentality and commitment. He highlighted the continuity from last season, noting that players including Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Bryan Cristante and Mario Hermoso had driven to remain at Roma, while new arrivals including Mora and others "did everything to come to Roma". The coach stressed the strength of the environment: "I feel strongly the desire and the beauty of this setting, where they want to express themselves." On Dybala's form at 32 years old, Gasperini was emphatic: "Absolutely yes, he is a boy who at 32 is in the full maturity both physical and technical. He may have a bit less speed but not that much less. He has a bit less power in his shot, but even today he is among the very first in our championship, if not the first. He is well, he plays. Last year he was very unfortunate, he had two injuries one kicking a penalty and one a free kick. This time he did a preparation as perhaps he had never done in recent years, proof that he is increasingly resilient. At the end I took him off but he can play even extra time and is always one of the freshest." On the squad more broadly, Gasperini noted that new signings including Konstantinos Koulierakis, Nahuel Molina, Santiago Castro and Mora were positioned correctly: "We have not yet completed, rather numerically we need to play three competitions. If you look at the calendar after the break there is reason to shudder, so we necessarily need to have some extra numbers to tackle the season." Gasperini acknowledged Roma's tactical flexibility and praised Donyell Malen as a world-class operator who feels valued in the environment and is "a leader on the pitch". He added that Manu Koné, who featured in the Fiorentina match, had been pushed slightly given his recent return from World Cup duty and is recovering his best condition. On the increased effective playing time implemented in the fixture, Gasperini supported the new rule: "It benefits the public, who no longer has to watch the goalkeeper wasting time holding the ball. Now nobody makes a scene anymore. These are very well thought-out rules: people want to see the game, not players wasting time."