Gasperini plans continuity at Lecce with only one change from Fiorentina

Roma are pursuing reinforcements on three fronts with three days left in the transfer window. Sporting director Tony D'Amico has reached agreement with Zenit Saint Petersburg for Luiz Henrique on a paid loan with a conditional right of redemption that converts to an obligation, pending the Brazilian's final approval. Other options for a left-sided attacking midfielder remain under consideration: Jamie Gittens, with Chelsea evaluating a loan opening; Jamie Leweling of Stuttgart; and Ecuadorian prospect Keny Arroyo from Cruzeiro. In midfield, Neil El Aynaoui is set to leave for RB Leipzig in a deal worth €4 million for the loan, €25 million for the right of redemption, and a percentage of any future resale. To replace him, Roma have secured Marten De Roon. The Dutchman has asked Atalanta to release him to reunite with coach Gian Piero Gasperini and play in the Champions League. The transfer could be completed in the coming days through a gentlemen's agreement worth €1 million with the Bergamo club, though the deal has drawn some scepticism from supporters on social media. Gasperini, appointed in 2025, is overseeing a significant reshaping of Roma's squad ahead of their Champions League campaign this season.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is pressing AS Roma to complete the signing of a winger before the transfer window closes, with the club's latest target reportedly Luiz Henrique, a 25-year-old Brazilian at Zenit Saint Petersburg. The search for an external defender remains a priority for Gasperini, who is counting down the final hours of the market. Roma have blocked the loan move of Robinio Vaz to Hull City, keeping the young French forward at the club until the manager secures his desired winger. Gasperini will not release Vaz while still hunting for an attacking reinforcement. Fofana, another target, appears unlikely to materialise as Lyon will only consider permanent sales rather than loans. The situation has become increasingly uncomfortable for Roma, with further complications arising from Sunderland's interest in Matías Soulé; should the Argentine depart, the club would be forced into a last-minute search for a replacement. One piece of business has been confirmed: Leonardo Balerdi, an Argentine defender, has arrived in Rome to complete Gasperini's central defence options.

Roma have reshuffled their midfield, selling Neil El Aynaoui to Leipzig on a loan deal worth €4 million with a €25 million purchase option, and signing Marten de Roon from Atalanta for €1 million. De Roon, one of Gasperini's trusted lieutenants, requested a move and agreed terms within hours on 29 August, keen to play Champions League football. The Dutch midfielder arrives as El Aynaoui's replacement and bolsters Roma's options in the engine room. Roma had also scouted André from Wolverhampton and Rios, linked with Besiktas, but moved quickly for De Roon once the opportunity arose. The club continues to hunt for a left winger who can play on the right flank—a priority for several seasons. Targets include Fofana and Gittens, though Roma have also registered interest in Luiz Henrique of Zenit, described as a left-footed winger who prefers playing on his right. Chelsea have signalled openness to loaning Gittens, while Stuttgart's Leweling is also in contention. Meanwhile, centre-back Balerdi, departing Marseille after six years, arrived in Rome on 29 August. For now, Roma's wing-back contingent—Wesley, Rensch, Molina and Lulli—will all be right-footed until January. The club has pursued this profile consistently over the past year, seeking greater balance in wider areas.

Roma have completed the signing of Leonardo Balerdi on loan from Marseille. The Argentine defender will join on a loan deal worth €1 million, with a right of rescission that can become an obligation based on certain conditions. The rescission fee is variable between €12 million and €15 million. Balerdi will arrive at Ciampino airport and undergo medical tests before signing his contract. Balerdi is Roma's fifth summer acquisition, following Santiago Castro, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Nahuel Molina, and Rodrigo Mora. The club remains active in the transfer market with other targets still being pursued. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini continues to press for a left-winger, a position the club has lacked for six years. Sky Sport reports Roma are close to meeting Zenit's demands for an unnamed left-sided player, whose transfer fee stands at €40 million and who earns €4 million annually. Negotiations over player agreement are ongoing. In midfield, Roma hold an agreement with Fofana and are pushing for a loan with a right of rescission, though Lyon have not yet accepted this formula. Meanwhile, Sunderland have recently entered the race for a Belgian player as an alternative to Igor Paixao of Marseille, according to FootMercato. Hull City maintain strong interest and have already tabled a €35 million offer to the French club. Gigi Garzya, a former player with strong ties to Roma, stated on the remaining market window: "It is early to say where Roma can reach in their second year under Gasperini's leadership, and the market may not yet be finished. We must see what the other teams do by the closing date. Certainly we must do everything to maintain the Champions League position, because Roma must play regularly in this competition."

Leonardo Balerdi, an Argentine defender, arrived at Rome's Ciampino airport on 29 August 2026 to complete his transfer to AS Roma. He is the club's fifth summer signing, following Santiago Castro, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Nahuel Molina and Rodrigo Mora. Balerdi joins on a loan deal worth €1 million, with a right of redemption that can become an obligation under certain conditions. The redemption fee ranges from €12 million to €15 million. The 24-year-old will undergo the standard medical examination before signing his contract with the giallorossi. The transfer represents Roma's continued investment in their defensive options ahead of the 2026–27 season, during which the club compete in the UEFA Champions League.

Former Roma and Lecce player Gigi Garzya has warned that Roma must be ready for an opponent who gives nothing away when the sides meet on Monday. Speaking ahead of the match, Garzya praised Lecce's performance in their opening away win at Venezia, saying the team of Di Francesco "remained in the game with the right mentality and lucidity that weighed heavily in the final half-hour". He highlighted Olaf Gorter as a player who impressed with both quality and personality, and noted the arrival of Ilić as evidence of Lecce's focus on adding strength in the transfer market. On Roma's prospects under Gian Piero Gasperini in his second season, Garzya acknowledged the squad has been reinforced, though he described Zeki Çelik's departure as a "heavy" loss—while backing Nahuel Molina to compensate with his quality and competitive drive. He was effusive about midfielder Rodrigo Mora, saying: "Technically he has numbers that make him an important prospect; one characteristic struck me more than others: he is the type of player you do not see frequently in the various leagues, because his thinking arrives first, and consequently he then makes the ball travel in an unpredictable way for opponents. When people say he is a bit light physically, they forget that the most important characteristic is playing the ball always with some instant of anticipation for whoever controls it." On the defence, Garzya explained that Konstantinos Koulierakis represents a deliberate and necessary choice rather than mere cover: "This year, with the Champions League, you need at least six established defenders in the department, calculating also that the game starts from the back, there are so many matches and Gasperini's football is very demanding in every role. The choice was targeted; the Roma coach never approves a signing just to make up numbers." Regarding Roma's ambitions, Garzya urged caution: "It is too early to say and ultimately the transfer market may not be finished yet; let's also see what the others do by the close; certainly you must do everything to maintain Champions League qualification, because Roma must play this competition regularly. Then we'll see if appetite comes with eating."

Bryan Cristante was the standout performer in midfield as Roma opened their season with a dominant 4–0 win over Fiorentina at the Olimpico on Monday, playing a decisive role in stabilising the team's shape while an attacking force of Paulo Dybala, Donyell Malen and Rodrigo Mora created havoc in the final third. Gasperini deployed a 3–4–1–2 formation, and Cristante's 90 minutes of tactical control were awarded an 8.4 rating by Sofascore. He attempted 83 passes with 88 per cent accuracy, including a 91 per cent success rate in the opposing half, while collecting 8 ball recoveries—more than any other player on the pitch. Defensively, he won 6 of 7 aerial duels and 5 of 7 ground duels, made 4 tackles (2 won), 2 interceptions and 4 defensive clearances. Cristante's ability to drop between the centre-backs, clean up loose balls and restart play with composure allows Roma to push their attacking players forward into dangerous areas. He has been a fixture under every head coach since arriving at the club—Di Francesco, Ranieri, José Mourinho, Paulo Fonseca, Daniele De Rossi and Júrić among them—proving his value transcends tactical philosophy or midfield partners. The 29-year-old has now made 365 official appearances for Roma, entering the club's top 10 all-time list and surpassing Masetti. After the victory, Cristante told Sky Sport: "I am honoured, and I hope to make as many appearances as possible and to continue like this." Roma's next fixture is a trip to Lecce.

Roma will learn the full league-phase schedule for the UEFA Champions League on 29 August, with the phase running from 8–10 September through 27 January. Real Madrid, Sporting, Lille and Slovan Bratislava will visit the Olimpico, while Roma travel to face PSG, Manchester United, Fenerbahçe and AEK Athens. The club has already sold 40,000 cup subscriptions, with the Curva Sud and Distinti Sud sections sold out. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini appears set to keep the starting eleven largely intact following Roma's convincing opening display against Fiorentina, fielding it again away at Lecce on Via del Mare. Rodrigo Mora is on course to start alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in attack, with a battle between Giorgio De Marzi and Nahuel Molina for the right-back position. Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, Mario Hermoso, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné are expected to retain their places. Defence headaches persist: Devyne Rensch will miss the Lecce trip due to a left-flexor problem and continues treatment, while Lorenzo Pellegrini continues his recovery work on an individual programme.

Roma's prospects for the 2026–27 season drew mixed assessments from prominent radio commentators on 29 August, with particular focus on the squad's readiness and the still-unresolved left-wing forward slot. Roberto Pruzzo told Radio Radio Mattino that Roma are "a strong squad, stronger still if they sign the left-sided forward," but stressed the importance of Paulo Dybala's physical condition: "I have the feeling that much of what will make Roma stronger than last season will depend on Dybala's condition more than the transfer campaign. Castro is one of the best available on the market; I'm convinced he'll have more playing time than people think. I hope Rodrigo Mora gains confidence and personality." Sandro Sabatini, also on Radio Radio Mattino, was harsher: "The left-sided forward position at Roma has become a joke—it's been going on for over a year and a half and still hasn't been filled. A Dybala like the one we saw against Fiorentina, we haven't seen in ten years. Mora's start pleased me, but if the shirt had said Baldanzi on it we'd have talked about a good Baldanzi performance. He certainly stood out with meticulous marking of Fagioli." Earlier on Radio Radio pomeriggio, Giancarlo Padovan remarked that Roma were "the team that played best among those who featured on the opening day," and that Gasperini's tactical approach, "once absorbed by the players, is an idea that can take them far. I don't know if it's in the Champions League or the domestic campaign, but Rome can get into the top 24, and after that we'll see." Luca Marchetti noted the squad's structure under Gasperini: "one piece is still missing, at the level of names that warning light keeps flashing." He praised Mora as "strong and bold—someone not physically structured, who reads the play early." Paolo Cannavaro discussed the left-back situation: Wesley was initially deployed at right-back, but no replacement has arrived; without a signing, Devyne Rensch will play left-back as "an adapted player." Federico Camelio raised tactical concerns: "Mora is not a winger, not a Papu Gómez, nothing like him. The manager has made two choices on the flank and still nobody arrives." Daniele Ordine suggested if the market deals close as expected—"adding a Kessié and not selling Koné"—Roma would field "a squad of real substance" capable of reaching the knockout stages.

Gian Piero Gasperini will return to Lecce on 31 August having twice visited the Via del Mare in circumstances that left deep frustration. On both occasions—after Roma victories at Lecce and later at the Olimpico—Gasperini skipped the post-match press conferences, his silence masking mounting tensions over the club's transfer activity and squad injuries. The January 2025 visit came during a transfer window when Roma desperately sought a striker; Evan Ferguson scored in a 2–0 win but suffered an ankle injury weeks later, while Artem Dovbyk also scored before injury forced him to undergo surgery. Gasperini's frustration centred on sporting director Massara, whom he felt was moving too slowly in the market, particularly in securing a left winger with a right foot—a need that persists to this day. The tensions that erupted at Lecce deepened significantly after Roma travelled to Turin. Claudio Ranieri was appointed to stabilize the situation, but the arrival of another authority figure widened the rift rather than healed it. Massara and then Ranieri departed; Gasperini ultimately secured the head coach position. The squad then delivered an exceptional run of form that culminated in third place and qualification for the Champions League. The manager's mood has improved substantially since those turbulent January weeks. According to reporting by Alessandro Angeloni in Il Messaggero, Gasperini overturned tables at the Via del Mare in his rage and blamed Massara for the slow pace of business. Donyell Malen's arrival in the winter window proved transformative, helping to spark the turnaround. Roma arrive in Lecce having rebuilt their trajectory and secured European football at the continent's highest level.

Neil El Aynaoui is in concrete danger of leaving Roma, with Crystal Palace having made an official opening bid structured as a loan with a right of purchase that could become mandatory on certain conditions. The offer does not satisfy Roma's valuation of €30–35 million, which demands either an outright sale or a guaranteed obligation to buy. Bayer Leverkusen has also registered interest, while Saudi Arabian clubs approached the player in recent days. The significance of a potential departure extends far beyond a single transaction: it would mark the near-complete dismantling of the squad assembled by sporting director Frederic Massara just one year ago. El Aynaoui was signed from Lens for €23 million plus €2 million in add-ons in summer 2025, representing one of Massara's principal investments alongside a lengthy pursuit of midfielder Richard Rios, who had been identified by coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Within twelve months the landscape has shifted entirely. El Aynaoui has not become a central figure in Gasperini's Roma, and a sale in the €30–35 million range would recover the original investment and generate a profit useful for UEFA financial compliance. Yet the sale would crystallise a broader pattern: the systematic removal of Massara's summer 2025 recruits—Wesley, Daniele Ghilardi, Evan Ferguson, Bailey, Jan Ziółkowski, and others—in favour of a squad more precisely aligned with Gasperini's demands. Of that original cohort, only Wesley and Donyell Malen (signed in January 2026) remain unchallenged, both having received Gasperini's direct endorsement. Bailey departed in January; Ferguson and Kostas Tsimikas returned to their parent clubs; Zaragoza, Venturino, and Zelezny have left; Ziółkowski is bound for Monza; Robinio Vaz has reached an agreement with Hull City on a paid loan with a right of purchase. The article frames the matter as a fundamental mismatch between Gasperini's precise tactical requirements—intensity, one-on-one strength, athleticism, aggression, defensive commitment in open play, and position-specific qualities—and Massara's recruitment trajectory. El Aynaoui, at 25 years old and in his prime with genuine international market interest from Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen, is scarcely a failed signing; a €35 million sale on a €25 million net spend is not a financial disaster. Yet the underlying tension is unavoidable: when a coach considers almost all his sporting director's signings from one year expendable within the next twelve months, something fundamental in the original construction has failed. A sale of El Aynaoui would convert a principal investment from the previous summer into capital to reinvest in a midfield and attacking flank now sought by Gasperini. The article poses a critical question as Roma seek to correct course: how much would it have cost to build a coherent squad aligned with Gasperini from the outset, rather than spending a year acquiring, waiting, selling, and repurchasing? Sporting director Tony D'Amico must construct a roster that is recognisable, coherent, and durable, because Roma has already consumed a year absorbing marketplace misalignment. Should El Aynaoui depart, Wesley and Malen will stand as the principal survivors—both chosen with Gasperini's strong approval.

Bryan Cristante was the standout performer in midfield as Roma opened their season with a dominant 4–0 win over Fiorentina at the Olimpico on Monday, playing a decisive role in stabilising the team's shape while an attacking force of Paulo Dybala, Donyell Malen and Rodrigo Mora created havoc in the final third. Gasperini deployed a 3–4–1–2 formation, and Cristante's 90 minutes of tactical control were awarded an 8.4 rating by Sofascore. He attempted 83 passes with 88 per cent accuracy, including a 91 per cent success rate in the opposing half, while collecting 8 ball recoveries—more than any other player on the pitch. Defensively, he won 6 of 7 aerial duels and 5 of 7 ground duels, made 4 tackles (2 won), 2 interceptions and 4 defensive clearances. Cristante's ability to drop between the centre-backs, clean up loose balls and restart play with composure allows Roma to push their attacking players forward into dangerous areas. He has been a fixture under every head coach since arriving at the club—Di Francesco, Ranieri, José Mourinho, Paulo Fonseca, Daniele De Rossi and Júrić among them—proving his value transcends tactical philosophy or midfield partners. The 29-year-old has now made 365 official appearances for Roma, entering the club's top 10 all-time list and surpassing Masetti. After the victory, Cristante told Sky Sport: "I am honoured, and I hope to make as many appearances as possible and to continue like this." Roma's next fixture is a trip to Lecce.