Gasperini meets Ryan again as Roma pursue director appointment

Roma are already looking to the January transfer window to strengthen Gian Piero Gasperini's squad, with the club's primary target a left-sided attacking winger who plays with his right foot. Sporting director Tony D'Amico confirmed the plan to Sky Sport in the pre-match build-up to Roma-Sassuolo. D'Amico said: "We are missing a winger with pace, a player who can counter-attack. We will try to sign one in January, evaluating the opportunities, to give these characteristics to the coach." The winger has been a long-standing request from Gasperini. D'Amico said the list of profiles includes several interesting names, some already pursued at length in the summer. Among the favourites are Gittens of Chelsea, Kvernadze of Frosinone and Endrick of Real Madrid. The international break brings mixed news for Roma. Gianluca Mancini had already complained of a muscle problem in the previous days and felt pain in his right hamstring again on the morning of the Sassuolo match, forcing him to withdraw. The injury also rules him out of Italy duty. In total, 13 Roma players have been called up by their national teams: Vásquez (Colombia), De Marzi (USA U21), N'Dicka (Ivory Coast), Ghilardi and Pisilli (Italy), Lulli (Italy U21), Balerdi, Castro and Soulé (Argentina), Koulierakis (Greece), Wesley (Brazil), Mora (Portugal) and Malen (Netherlands). Mario Hermoso has been one of the club's key figures this season, becoming a fixture in every phase of play: solid in defence, effective in build-up and dangerous in the box. He has scored three goals this season, including the one that broke the deadlock against Sassuolo. The club want to tie him down and have reportedly already opened talks over a contract extension. The Spaniard's deal is currently due to expire in June. Those talks are said to be at an advanced stage, with both sides keen to reach an agreement and close the matter quickly. On Roman radio, the focus has been on the progress of Rodrigo Mora. Fabrizio Aspri told Radio Radio: "Mora's situation tells us that Gasperini is very intelligent. Mora was not a useful player for the coach. The player is moving very well, that goal is a number 10's goal. Not everyone makes that diagonal run, and the players who are important score that kind of goal. Gasperini is wise and has re-evaluated the player. Well done Gasperini first and foremost, then a little further on, well done Mora." Andrea Pugliese added: "Mora is an attacking midfielder, he doesn't have the pace to play on the flank. In January D'Amico will find a winger with pace. Mora wasn't used to defending at Porto. Last year he had different numbers. Malen, on that missed goal, did not expect that assist from Soulé."

AS Roma have already opened talks over a contract extension for defender Mario Hermoso, according to La Repubblica, with the Spaniard's current deal due to expire in June 2027. The discussions are reportedly at an advanced stage, with both sides keen to reach an agreement that would secure the defender's long-term future at the club. Hermoso has become one of the fixed points of Gian Piero Gasperini's side this season. He has earned the coach's trust through consistent performances and his ability to contribute in attacking phases, a level of form that is carrying growing weight both in team selection and in the club's thinking about the future of the squad. Gasperini is reportedly the main driving force behind keeping the player, having already pushed for him to stay at Trigoria last season. The coach's faith has been repaid on the pitch, and a renewal would strengthen one of the key figures in the back line. The report does not contain any details on the length of a new agreement or its financial terms. Hermoso joined Roma in July 2024 as a free transfer from Atlético Madrid, and his contract expiry in June 2027 makes the renewal a priority for the club as the season progresses.

Mario Hermoso scored the opening goal in Roma's 3-0 win over Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico, a strike that came almost as if from a midfielder and underlines the freedom Gasperini gives the Spaniard within the Giallorossi system. Hermoso has become one of the symbols of Gasperini's Roma, operating as a centre-back, full-back, ball-playing presence and, when needed, an attacking threat. Gasperini has repeatedly described him as "the perfect example". According to Niccolò Maurelli of La Repubblica, the coach is pushing for Hermoso's contract to be renewed. The Spaniard's deal currently runs until 2027, and dialogue over an extension is reportedly already well advanced. Hermoso is now one of the players the coach regularly calls part of the "nucleo portante", the core of the squad, and is a reference point in the dressing room for his attitude, availability and performances. Hermoso's importance is also reflected in his numbers. Across Serie A and the Champions League, he has missed only the match against Cagliari and has scored three goals, against Atalanta, Slovan Bratislava and Sassuolo. Gasperini had wanted to keep him at Trigoria a year ago, and Roma are now working to secure him for even longer. Hermoso is 31.

Roma beat Sassuolo 3-0 to move up to third place in Serie A, just two points behind the top of the table. With the league now pausing for international fixtures, Gian Piero Gasperini will use the break to recover injured players, starting with Mile Svilar and Paulo Dybala, who are expected to return against Parma when Serie A resumes. The break will also see 13 Giallorossi players leave Trigoria to join their respective national teams. The international fortnight comes at a time when Roma are looking to build on their strong start to the campaign and keep pace with the leaders. The Italian article also features a cartoon by longtime reader Michele from Oman, published alongside the match report to mark the departures of the national-team players.

Paulo Dybala has posed in front of a superhero-style mural of himself painted by street artist Drugi, after the Argentine forward was celebrated on the wall in a pose with a child. The artwork was created in recent weeks, and in the final minutes Dybala had a photograph taken in front of it. The mural shows Dybala as a superhero in the hands of a young boy. Dybala is a hero to supporters on and off the pitch, particularly to younger fans, and the image reflects that bond with the club's followers. The Roma forward's visit to the artwork kept him in the spotlight away from the training ground. Dybala shared the photograph on social media with the caption: "Il calcio mi ha regalato tanto. Poter ricambiare facendo sorridere un bambino per le strade è una delle cose più belle!" In English: "Football has given me so much. Being able to give back by making a child smile on the streets is one of the most beautiful things!"

Gianluca Mancini will miss Italy's international fixtures after suffering a fresh pain in his right hamstring that forced him out of Roma's clash with Sassuolo. The defender will stay at Trigoria during the two-week break to continue his recovery, with the aim of returning for the league match against Parma. Thirteen Roma first-team players have been called up by their national teams. With Mancini out, only Ghilardi and Pisilli will travel to Italy's senior squad, while young Lulli is set to feature for Baldini's Italy Under-21 side. Mancini had already reported a muscle problem in the days before the Sassuolo game. Gasperini will use the break to recharge and take stock of the injury list. He has welcomed back Koné for the Sassuolo match and is optimistic about players returning for the resumption of competitions. The international picture is wide-ranging. Vásquez returns to the Colombia squad for the first time in three years, a welcome note after a special week that saw the goalkeeper make his Champions League and Serie A debuts for Roma. Young De Marzi has been called up by the USA Under-20s. Balerdi, Castro and Soulé will answer Argentina coach Scaloni's call. Wesley joins Brazil under Ancelotti, while Malen will play under Xavi for the Netherlands for the first time. N'Dicka (Ivory Coast) and Koulierakis (Greece) have also been named. Nineteen-year-old Rodrigo Mora is ready to make his senior debut for Portugal. On the injury front, Dybala's condition is improving markedly, and the break offers him the ideal chance to regain his best form. Mile Svilar is set to return between the posts in Parma, having put his right foot fracture firmly behind him.

Roma's intensive run of fixtures is over, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has given the squad three days off. Training resumes on Wednesday, with Roma's next match away at Parma on 21 November, after the international break. Gasperini is hopeful of having Paulo Dybala and Mile Svilar back available. Gianluca Mancini will not join up with his national team because of a muscle strain in his right hamstring, and he will remain in Rome to receive treatment. Manu Koné will also be available to the coach for the next two weeks. Lorenzo Pellegrini's recovery is taking longer, and he is not expected back until 2027.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini said his side will not be drawn into talk of finishing second, after a 3-0 win over Sassuolo, and insisted the team would "stay on the perch like owls" while focusing only on their own results. Speaking to Sky Sport after the match, Gasperini praised Balerdi, who had played well at Manchester, and said the defeats in the Champions League were different from one another. "There are defeats and defeats," he said. "We lost against Real and Manchester, we had a run of wins, we drew and then always won in the league. The defeats hurt because they came late, but with performances of a high level and against teams of absolute value." Gasperini explained how Roma have been scoring goals with ease. "We reach the goal in a different way and with many players: we have reached confidence and clarity. The goal Hermoso scores is that of a quality striker. Soulé's performance was extraordinary, we have a predisposition to score, and we have done it even in defeats. This squad gives confirmations, not answers, and then you can lose." He added: "There was an unlucky episode at Manchester, that of Balerdi, and the match was born from an absurd penalty, and that must be said." Asked whether he would sign up for second place, Gasperini replied: "No. It is nice to play this championship. You must not have illusions, but neither should you be disappointed, especially when you make a journey like ours. Inter are the most accredited team, and for everything else we can compete like all the others. If you want Lazio too, I put them among these. If Inter slip up a bit, everyone else can have a go. We do not look at the others, they do not interest us: we will stay on the perch like owls." Gasperini also responded to Ciro Ferrara, who had recalled his early steps in Juventus's youth sector. "You were an incredible powerhouse, I learned a lot watching your training sessions. At that time Italian football was really strong. It was a great school." On the international break, which interrupts the league again, though only for one week this time, he said: "I hope to find the squad just as I left it. International matches please me when they play for something important. For friendlies or matches of little substance it is a shame to lose so many players, although wearing the national team shirt is always a milestone for a player." Gasperini concluded by discussing the fixture schedule: "It is difficult to play 9 matches in 27 days. We have had tough clashes against Como, Napoli, Manchester and Real Madrid. Managing the workload has not been a problem, and this allowed us to rotate the whole squad and everyone has played several times. It has also been an advantage in giving value to everyone." He turned to injuries: "The problem is injuries. We have had Svilar out for 9 matches, Cristante at the start, Dybala, Koné has returned today, and we have lost Pellegrini. Our squad is competitive but numerically it is not among the largest. We have had some injuries to strong players but not very long ones, and not many in number, at most 3-4."

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini spoke to SkySport after his side beat Sassuolo, saying the win came through patience and quality. He said Roma had been patient against a Sassuolo side that sat deep, and that the goal from Mario Hermoso, which broke the deadlock, was the key moment. Gasperini said: "Loro si chiudevano, abbiamo avuto pazienza e abbiamo vinto la partita" ("They were shutting up shop, we had patience and we won the game"). He also praised Balerdi's performance after Old Trafford, saying he had put in a strong display apart from one incident, and said Hermoso's goal was the work of a striker. Soulé also drew praise. On reacting to defeat, Gasperini said there are defeats and defeats. He noted that Roma lost to Real Madrid and Manchester United but then put together a run of wins, only dropping points in games against Como and Napoli. He said: "Sono sconfitte che bruciano per come sono arrivate ma sono state prestazioni di livello e contro due grandi squadre" ("Those defeats hurt because of how they came, but they were top-level performances against two great teams"). He said the team had increased its ability to score in different ways and with different players, and had gained important composure alongside confidence. He added that the squad keeps confirming itself and that Roma had scored plenty of goals against Real and United too. He also referred to a fortunate episode for Balerdi and a dubious penalty. Asked whether he would sign up to second place, Gasperini said: "Brutale: no." He added: "Però è bello giocarlo questo campionato. Non bisogna illudersi e nemmeno deludersi" ("But it is nice to play this championship. You must not get carried away, nor be disappointed"). He believes Inter are the most favoured side, while the rest of the table, including Lazio, can compete. On Como versus Inter, he joked that everyone is perched like owls. Speaking to DAZN, Gasperini said he was very satisfied, that winning is always enjoyable, and that the team had shown personality and quality. He recalled his time coaching Juventus youth teams, when Roma's Primavera side had beaten them, and said he had learned a great deal from watching their training sessions. Discussing the international break, he said he hopes to get the squad back in the same condition he left it, noting the break interrupts the league for just one week. He said national team call-ups are welcome when the matches are important, but that losing many players for friendlies is a shame. On the schedule, Gasperini said playing nine matches in 27 days was difficult, but the rotation policy worked and gave value to the whole squad. He said injuries were the main problem: Svilar was out for nine matches, Cristante was out at the start, Koné has returned and Pellegrini was lost. He said the squad is competitive but not numerically large, and that Roma had suffered injuries to strong players that were not long-term. Asked about improvement, he said there is always room and that the team wants to remove a few flaws, mentioning a few too many missed chances. He said the team gives its fans satisfaction, and that the club's aim is beyond results. Asked whether this is his strongest team, he said he had been unlucky in his career and that he could not make comparisons. On the transfer market, he said he is focused on the league and on getting players back, adding that Roma are clearly not well covered in attack. He said: "A gennaio si farà quel che sarà possibile, per ora non ne abbiamo parlato" ("In January we will do what is possible, for now we have not discussed it"). Gasperini confirmed Koné's return was a relief, as he had been out for seven matches. He said Koné had joined the group the previous day and was going well, and that De Roon, Cristante and Pisilli had all played a lot. He said Koné wanted to play and was given the chance. France, he noted, had made their own call-ups. Gasperini also said he would be in Genoa for an award the next day at 18:00.

Emanuele Lulli has been one of the surprises of the season, and Gian Piero Gasperini is the coach who insisted on keeping him at Roma and turning him into one of the most interesting wingers in Serie A. After just seven matches in the giallorossi shirt, Lulli has already shown he has what it takes to establish himself: he runs, he fights, he scores and he creates goals for team-mates. He is a complete winger who makes an impact in both phases of play, giving Gasperini exactly what he was looking for. For the coach, it is a return to familiar ground. At Roma he has found the wide players he likes, the same kind that allowed him to build a side capable of making the difference at Bergamo. The greatest credit, though, goes to Gasperini for believing in Lulli when others might have let him go. Looking back shows how much has changed. Turkish full-back Zeki Çelik, who played in that role, collected two goals in 151 appearances for Roma. Lulli needed just seven matches to match that tally. The article describes that gap as enormous, and it says it reflects the weight of this new bet on the young player. Çelik's departure to Juventus, which initially looked hard to swallow, now takes on a different meaning, described as a genuine sliding door moment for the giallorossi season. Roma have found a new protagonist, Gasperini has another winger to back, and the fans have a young player to cherish. Lulli comes from Palestrina, is a 2007-born player and has a world of opportunity ahead of him. Above all, the article concludes, he has already found his place: at Roma, his team.

Roma lost Celik in the transfer market, a departure that many considered painful, but the positive side has been the emergence of Pierluigi Lulli, who has moved from the Primavera to scoring his first Serie A goal. The development has been described as the defining 'sliding door' of the window. The Italian coverage frames Lulli's breakthrough as the positive counterweight to losing Zeki Çelik, whose exit was widely viewed as a painful one for the club. Lulli's first league goal marks a significant step for a player who has come through the youth ranks to the first team. The report was published on 19 October 2026 and is headlined around the idea that Lulli is the key figure to emerge from the market, as Roma look to build on his progress.

Roma's full-backs have become a cornerstone of Gian Piero Gasperini's push to the top of Serie A, a marked shift from last season when they proved problematic. Wesley and Nahuel Molina are now among the club's key strengths, and both will start when Roma resume the league campaign against Como, where they will face manager Fabregas. The turnaround reflects Gasperini's tactical evolution since arriving at the club: in his first season, Wesley was the only defender fully convincing on the flanks, while Zeki Çelik had to make do elsewhere. Now the picture is entirely different. Gasperini has uncovered Emanuele Lulli in the course of the season, and Molina has gradually built his fitness, delivering quality and assists to Roma's attacking phase. For the Como fixture, Gasperini plans to deploy Molina on the right and Wesley on the left. The selection reflects not just Roma's attacking ambitions but also Gasperini's defensive strategy: by using two attacking full-backs, he aims to stretch Como's wide players—Baturina on one flank and Diao on the other—and occupy them throughout the match. Wesley, the more naturally offensive of the pair, will be tasked with driving forward and supporting the build-up play. Molina is likely to carry greater defensive responsibility, balancing his own contributions with the need to contain Como's threats on the wing.