Gian Piero Gasperini has given a wide-ranging interview ahead of Roma's match against Atalanta, addressing the club's title ambitions, the financial constraints that shaped the summer transfer window, and the standout early-season performances of several squad members. The head coach struck a measured tone on the scudetto talk already emerging from Bryan Cristante and Lorenzo Pellegrini, saying: "I dreams are never stifled. The important thing is knowing that when the alarm clock goes off, reality is another thing. Then, if you live reality the right way, you can make it match your dreams too. But these aren't conversations for early September." He praised the maturity of Roma's supporters, calling their enthusiasm "conscious" rather than blind.
Gasperini revealed that financial fair play rules severely constrained Roma's market activity over the summer. He disclosed two specific targets the club had pursued but could not complete: Mason Greenwood and Crysencio Summerville. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, he said: "Financial Fair Play is a sort of Uefa scam? I got it. In June, I thought we'd solved our problems with Champions League money. When we tried to get Greenwood and Summerville, I understood it wasn't like that. Summer was torture, constantly revising market ideas and giving up on lads who were keen to come to Roma because of salary limits. The ownership did everything it could within the financial constraints. Either way, my regret has been made up for." That compensation came from players who cut their own wages: Paulo Dybala, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Bryan Cristante, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Emanuele Lulli.
Gasperini addressed the future of Manu Koné directly, denying Chelsea interest: "I had no role in any Koné deal simply because it never existed. On the final day of the market we received no offer for Manu Koné, and in any case there wouldn't have been time to close an operation." On Dybala, he rejected concerns about managing the Argentine's physical workload, saying: "I hate words like preserve, spare, rest. I ask Paulo: 'Do you want to play again?' If he says yes, I keep him on even at 4–0 to us. Never stop a lad who enjoys playing." Donyell Malen has scored five goals in the opening two matches, and Gasperini explained his approach to the Dutch winger: "The first touch, with which he creates space. With the second he prepares, with the third he shoots. I thought: if I move those three touches closer to goal, he becomes lethal." When asked how many goals Malen might score, Gasperini predicted: "If he threatens Higuaín's record of 36, it won't surprise me."
Gasperini described Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso as "my gladiators," underlining their importance to Roma's defensive structure. He also expressed significant confidence in young midfielder Rodrigo Mora and praised Emanuele Lulli's athleticism: "By athletic values, speed and resistance, he's better than everyone, even Wesley. A force of nature. And he's a golden lad. He needs to grow technically." On Roma's immediate challenge, Gasperini avoided downplaying Atalanta, his former club, saying: "Very strong, with the economic power of a big. As last year, they remain a benchmark. I knew that if we finished ahead of the Bergamaschi, we'd have good chances of Champions League, because for 8 years Roma always finished behind Atalanta. It would be about time" to beat them.
