Gasperini holds pre-derby press conference at 13:30

José Mourinho won his first Champions League match as Real Madrid manager on 8 September, defeating Inter 2–1 at the Bernabéu. The victory came in the opening fixture of the league phase, and in approximately one month Mourinho will return to Rome to face AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico—a reunion he described as emotionally charged. Speaking to Sky Sport after the match, Mourinho said: "It's the first time I'll return to Roma against Roma. It will be like today (the special feeling and emotion). Before and after, but not during the match." He added: "Last season I faced Chelsea immediately, I always play against my former clubs, but I can't hide from it." Mourinho reflected on his appointment at Real Madrid: "The situation was tough, when it's easy it's not for me. When it's tough it helps to have José." Roma know this well from his time managing the club.

Roma will spend the day before their opening Champions League league-phase match in Turkey, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini scheduled to hold a press conference in Istanbul at 18:00 local time (17:00 Italian time) on 9 September. A squad member will join Gasperini at the media briefing to discuss the fixture. The team will then train at 18:30 local time (17:30 Italian time) in a final session to prepare for their continental debut against Fenerbahce.

Gian Piero Gasperini hailed Roma's mental strength after a comeback victory, telling Sky Sport that losing such a match would have been difficult to process. The manager praised his players' composure when trailing, noting that they refused to panic and maintained tactical discipline throughout. "The most important aspect was the comeback itself," Gasperini said. "We didn't throw anything away, we kept the field open and played with lucidity. Even if we had lost, it would have been difficult to talk about it." Gasperini highlighted the impact of his five substitutions, particularly the defensive changes. "The substitutions were very important," he explained. "When you keep attacking like that you spend a lot of energy and risk the match taking a different turn. The changes at the back were important too – Balerdi and Ghilardi came in and we had continuity of action even though they started dangerously." He also credited goalkeeper Carnesecchi as "extraordinary" but acknowledged his side lacked clinical finishing. "We had many slow shots and were rewarded in the end," Gasperini said. On his squad depth, Gasperini noted qualitative improvements despite numerical gaps. "In terms of numbers we're missing two or three players," he said. "Qualitatively, yes – tonight's substitutes proved it. On the bench I still had De Roon, Koulierakis and Rensch, and Pellegrini is out. The important thing is to avoid injuries because numerically we don't have a Champions League squad. Qualitatively we can make changes without drops in performance." Dybala completed 98 minutes and was not injured, though Gasperini noted fatigue from the heat and the physical demands of mounting a comeback. The manager said rotation will become necessary once fixtures intensify after the international break, with potential Sunday-Wednesday-Saturday schedules ahead.

Matías Soulé remained at Roma despite being available throughout the summer transfer window after negotiations between the Giallorossi and Juventus over a potential swap deal broke down. Juventus wanted to send Teun Koopmeiners to Roma in exchange for the Argentine winger, with the two clubs working on the proposal until the final days of the market but unable to agree on formulas and figures. Soulé featured off the bench in Roma's recent clash against Atalanta and has since been alternating with Rodrigo Mora. Fiorentina and Milan also approached the winger during the window, but Roma consistently preferred to sell him to the Premier League to maximise profit. His price tag never fell below €35 million, which complicated negotiations with other Serie A clubs. However, Soulé never personally requested to leave Roma according to Corriere dello Sport. The proposed deal would not have significantly improved either club as currently structured; it would only have made sense had Roma found a right-footed speedster to complement Paulo Dybala and Juventus sold Nicolas Gonzalez. Gian Piero Gasperini would have been pleased to reunite with Koopmeiners given his versatility, though reclaiming him would have proved challenging and expensive. Roma ultimately had limited need for midfield reinforcement since Manu Koné remained at the club. Juventus instead signed Nick Woltemade late in the window as their attacking addition.

Radio pundits across Rome's airwaves offered their verdicts on Gasperini's Roma ahead of the new season. The debate centred on Francesco Totti's absence from the club's plans, with Ugo Trani claiming the former captain was let down by both the national team and Roma itself. Trani defended Totti's character and noted that Gasperini alone had given his approval to a return: "Gasperini was also the only one to go to dinner with him and, as he has stressed, is a free man: he does what he wants, without anyone being able to tell him what to do." Francesco Balzani observed that Totti appeared hurt by how things unfolded at Roma, having waited for a call that never came. Looking ahead to the squad's composition, Balzani predicted Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné would start in Turkey, with Rodrigo Mora also featuring behind Dybala and Donyell Malen. Roberto Pruzzo praised the bond between squad and coach: "The team and manager have formed a working group that functions very well, this is a positive signal. This year Gasperini also has quality substitutes; now we'll see what happens with congested fixture schedules." Nando Orsi took the boldest stance on Roma's ambitions this season: "Gasperini knows how to manage multiple competitions. Roma will fight for the Scudetto; it is a squad that can take advantage of stumbles by Inter and Napoli. The Champions League is a fine reality, but the objective must be to win the league."

Roma's third kit went on sale from today, featuring dark grey colouring with the traditional club crest on the chest and the phrase 'Lotta con il cuore' ('Fight with Heart') emblazoned across the back of the neck. The design showcases yellow and red details positioned to frame the club badge and Adidas logo, with the same giallorossi colouring running through the sleeve details. The kit emphasises the traditional crest as a symbol of shared ideals of unity and trust, and carries the Fides virtue—a historical emblem of loyalty within the club, squad and fanbase. The 'Fight with Heart' message itself draws from a celebrated rallying cry in Roma's supporter culture. Priced between €100 and €150 for adults, with a lower price of €75 for children's versions, the kit was unveiled via a social media video featuring Paulo Dybala and actor Edoardo Leo. In the clip, Leo carries a suitcase containing the new shirt, which Dybala opens while exclaiming: "It's beautiful." Leo responds: "Now show it to all of Europe."

Roma prepare for their first away match in the Champions League this season with a trip to Fenerbahce in Istanbul on 9 September. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will hold a press conference at 17:00 (Italian time) on the day before the match. Lorenzo Pellegrini, who has recovered from injury, is expected to be included in the squad and will provide an additional attacking option for Gasperini ahead of the fixture. Spanish referee Jesús Gil Manzano has been assigned to oversee the match. His most recent meeting with Roma dates to 7 November 2019, when he refereed the club's 2–1 defeat away to Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Roma have been fined €2,000 by the Sports Judge for unjustifiably delaying the start of the first half by approximately one minute, a decision announced following the third round of Serie A fixtures. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini received a yellow card in the 40th minute of Roma's match against Atalanta for protesting to the referee. No Roma players face suspension ahead of Monday's fixture against Torino at 18:30. The entire squad remains available to Gasperini, who should have Lorenzo Pellegrini back at his disposal for the encounter.

Roma make their Champions League return on Thursday 10 September at 18:45 at Fenerbahce's Sükrü Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul. UEFA has appointed a wholly Spanish refereeing team, with Jesús Gil Manzano as referee, Diego Barbero and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso as assistants, César Soto Grado on VAR, Valentín Gómez as AVAR, and Juan Martínez Munuera as fourth official. Gil Manzano has previously overseen two Roma matches in European competition, with a mixed record. He refereed Roma's 5–3 penalty shootout victory against Feyenoord in the 2023–24 Europa League after a 1–1 draw (goals from Gimenez and Pellegrini), and the 2–1 defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 2019–20 Europa League. Fenerbahce enter the match with an unbeaten record under Gil Manzano in European ties. The Turkish side won both previous matches when he has officiated in continental competition, most recently a 4–1 victory over Austria Vienna in the 2022–23 Europa League qualifying round.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini exploded with emotion when Matías Soulé scored, sprinting toward the Curva Sud in a moment that recalled José Mourinho's famous touchline celebration in September 2021, when Stephan El Shaarawy netted in the 91st minute against Sassuolo. The comparison was striking: both managers had been unable to contain their joy at critical moments, running to embrace the supporters. Yesterday's display suggested Gasperini is restoring the emotional intensity that Mourinho once brought to the Olimpico. The exuberance was infectious, yet it came to an abrupt halt. A staff member physically stopped Gasperini before he could reach the touchline—not to dampen the celebration, but to protect him from a second yellow card. The coach was already on a caution, and a further offense would have meant a ban for Roma's next fixture, a sensitive away trip to Turin. The intervention, though it cut short the moment, was tactically essential. Gasperini's desire to celebrate was unmistakable, but the immediate need to preserve his availability for the coming matches took precedence. The incident encapsulated what has shifted at Roma: the club has rediscovered emotion and connection with its supporters under Gasperini's leadership. The Curva Sud will wait for their manager's unreserved embrace—though likely not for much longer.

AS Roma faces UEFA review of its settlement agreement compliance after a summer transfer window costing approximately 125 million euros in purchases and 30 million in sales, with capital gains reaching only 25 million. The club will defend its position to UEFA at Nyon by highlighting a dramatic reduction in the wage bill—the primary evidence it claims of its sustainability strategy. Last season the payroll exceeded 133 million euros gross; it has now fallen to around 113 million, moving closer to the 100-million target. The wage cuts stem largely from player departures including Zaragoza, Çelik, Angeliño, Tsimikas, El Shaarawy and Dovbyk. The signing of Santiago Castro, a younger player with a lower salary spread across multiple years, exemplifies Roma's shift in strategy. Significant savings also came from the exits of El Aynaoui, Vaz, Ziółkowski and Kumbulla. Contract renewals for Dybala, Mancini, Cristante and Pellegrini followed the same model, reducing the fixed portion of salaries in favour of performance and appearance bonuses; these four extensions alone saved approximately 15 million euros. New arrivals Castro, Mora, Koulierakis, Molina, Balerdi and De Roon will cost around 25 million euros gross combined. Roma's overall wage reduction stands close to 45 million euros, reflecting the club's revised commercial approach as it attempts to satisfy UEFA's conditions set out in the 2022 settlement agreement.

Radio pundits across Rome's main sports stations have weighed in on the club's summer transfer window, with assessments ranging from 5.5 to 7.5 out of 10. The dominant theme is that Roma has strengthened their squad depth significantly but failed to address the most pressing gap: a left-sided winger to compete with Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in attack. Fabio Petruzzi gave the window 7.5, saying: "I'm optimistic: Roma is now clearly much stronger, as a squad, in mentality, as players. Between those who left and those who arrived there is a big difference. Between Balerdi and Ziolkowski there is a big difference, between Mora and El Shaarawy there is a big difference, but also between Castro and Dovbyk. For me you are now the second team behind Inter. Roma and Como in my view are up there; Roma has a bit more than the Lombards. There is a touch of disappointment—with something extra now you would be attached to Inter. But my rating is 7.5." Francesca Ferrazza graded it six, saying it would have been seven with Leweling and eight with Greenwood, and called the absence of a left winger "madness." She noted: "Gasperini closes his third transfer window without a left-sided forward. It's madness. The squad is wider, but a starter is missing up front." Other voices offered lower marks. Paolo Cosenza gave 5.5, arguing the bench is too thin and that Gasperini had asked for both a high and low left-sided winger but Roma supplied neither. Lorenzo Pes pointed out there is no left-footed fullback and that deals for Leweling and initially an alternative fell through, with reports of regime indecision before a revised offer to the German was made but rejected. Roberto Pruzzo awarded six, saying: "You've widened the options, you have two very strong centre-forwards. Castro in my view could play in any team in the championship, I won't even mention Malen. Mora will be able to help from the bench. You needed to sign a winger and it didn't happen, and so that's my assessment. There is no new starter compared to last year." Piero Torri suggested Roma may explore free agents including Sancho or Sterling to address the problem, saying: "I believe Roma will think about it. If Dybala stays fit over the coming months, the problem doesn't exist, because Dybala and Malen play there, and then you pick the third. If luck smiles on Roma and from now until 31 December, the absence of the left winger can become less damaging. But in any case I would go out and get a seventh player up front." The window closed with the squad expanded but incomplete.