Gasperini set for Fiorentina debut: Mora on trial in attacking trio, Wesley cleared to return

Roma will host Fiorentina on Monday at a Stadio Olimpico expected to be entirely giallorosso after Fiorentina supporters were banned from travelling. Visiting-section tickets have been on sale since yesterday, and the club has already certified 64,000 attendances. Only a handful of tickets remain before Roma registers their first sold-out fixture of the season. The club is also approaching capacity for their Champions League season-ticket campaign, which reached 39,700 subscriptions as of yesterday. The momentum reflects strong supporter engagement as Roma prepare for the new season.

Roma's 2026–27 campaign begins on Monday 24 August at 20:45 against Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico, marking the start of Gian Piero Gasperini's second season in charge and the club's return to the Champions League after years away. The match will draw 64,000 supporters, with 40,000 season-ticket holders among them. The club recently opened sales for the Nord-Ovest Distinti section to Roma fans, a sector normally reserved for visiting supporters. For Mora, Molina, Koulierakis and Castro, the fixture represents their first home appearance before the Olimpico crowd. Gasperini's squad has been strengthened during the transfer window, though the coach is still awaiting signings in two positions: left wing and full-back. Roma holds the highest subscription numbers in Serie A, tied with Inter at 39,700 season-ticket holders registered for Champions League fixtures. The Champions League group stage draw will take place on 27 August at 18:00, with enthusiasm building around the club's centenary year ahead. The focus now shifts to competitive action after the summer break. Gasperini continues to seek reinforcements to complete his squad ahead of the campaign proper, with Roma supporters backing the team with 64,000 expected at the Olimpico for the Fiorentina opener.

Wesley has returned to full training and will start at left-back in Monday's Serie A opener against Fiorentina at the Olimpico (20:45), after recovering from an ankle injury that disrupted his summer preparation. Gian Piero Gasperini has settled on a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso in defence, Wesley and Molina on the wings, and Dybala and Malen leading the attack. The main tactical question concerns the number 10 position: Gasperini is tempted to deploy Rodrigo Mora's pure talent from the start, but faces a dilemma. Launching Mora could risk losing defensive balance and midfield cover; instead, Gasperini appears inclined toward a more cautious approach, pairing either Pisilli or El Aynaoui alongside Koné in midfield, with Cristante advanced to the number 10 role to provide substance, runs, and physical presence. Lorenzo Pellegrini remains unavailable as he continues his rehabilitation after knee surgery, while young Bah has successfully undergone right-knee surgery.

Matías Soulé is fighting for a starting place in Roma's opening Serie A match against Fiorentina on 24 August, with competition from Rodrigo Mora for the attacking midfield role behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Mora has impressed the coaching staff in early training and is challenging Soulé for the position, which does not perfectly suit the Argentine's playing style but which he must learn to interpret effectively. Soulé has regained fitness during pre-season after arriving at Trigoria carrying extra weight in mid-July, and his enthusiasm has been boosted by the arrival of two other Argentine players. However, transfer speculation has continued to shadow the final weeks of the summer window. Milan have been linked with a move, though no concrete offers have materialised and a departure appears unlikely at this stage. Soulé does not wish to leave the club and remains motivated to carve out his role in Gasperini's squad.

Fabio Capello has assessed Roma's prospects ahead of their Serie A return against Fiorentina on Monday evening at the Olimpico, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini tasked with delivering an immediate response after a mixed pre-season. Inter, the defending champions, opened the new season on Saturday, while Roma must wait two more days for their own campaign debut. Capello warned that Gasperini faces an urgent challenge in fine-tuning his squad before facing a Fiorentina side that has undergone significant changes this summer, including a managerial switch, and will be keen to avoid another difficult campaign. Roma's return to the Champions League after seven years comes on the back of friendly matches that have not gone smoothly, though Capello acknowledged that pre-season tests help identify where tactical adjustments are needed. In his assessment, Capello said: "Gasperini has done a fine job and I think he will continue to do so, but if he finished third he must thank Malen. Very valid and dangerous. It's no accident that he's the one Roma's market activity has been built around." The former manager emphasised the midfielder's importance both in achieving last season's third-place finish and in anchoring the club's transfer strategy heading into the new campaign.

Fabio Capello has identified Donyell Malen as the driving force behind Roma's third-place finish last season, saying Gasperini will need to work quickly to prepare the squad for their Serie A restart. Roma host Fiorentina at the Olimpico in two days, while Inter begin the campaign today against Monza. Capello told La Gazzetta dello Sport that Roma's pre-season friendlies have not gone smoothly, but the test matches show where improvements are needed. Fiorentina, who have invested heavily in the transfer market this summer and changed their manager, will arrive in strong form after a difficult previous season and will want to avoid another year of struggle. Roma are back in the Champions League for the first time in seven years. Capello acknowledged Gasperini's work but stressed the importance of Malen, saying: "Gasperini communique has done, and I think will continue to do, a fine job but if he arrived third he must thank Malen. Very valid and dangerous. It is no accident that it was from him that Roma's market activity restarted." The winger's performances appear to have reset expectations for the club's summer recruitment.

Matías Soulé is fighting for a starting place in Roma's opening Serie A match against Fiorentina on 24 August, with competition from Rodrigo Mora for the attacking midfield role behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Mora has impressed the coaching staff in early training and is challenging Soulé for the position, which does not perfectly suit the Argentine's playing style but which he must learn to interpret effectively. Soulé has regained fitness during pre-season after arriving at Trigoria carrying extra weight in mid-July, and his enthusiasm has been boosted by the arrival of two other Argentine players. However, transfer speculation has continued to shadow the final weeks of the summer window. Milan have been linked with a move, though no concrete offers have materialised and a departure appears unlikely at this stage. Soulé does not wish to leave the club and remains motivated to carve out his role in Gasperini's squad.

Roma's recruitment drive continues with three months to go before the start of the new campaign, as Gian Piero Gasperini's squad still requires reinforcement despite the imminent league opener against Fiorentina. The club's hierarchy is working to deliver two additional arrivals before the close of the transfer window: a midfielder and a winger. The arrival of Rodrigo Mora — deployed as a backup to Paulo Dybala on the left — falls short of addressing Gasperini's need for a dynamic wide player capable of breaking matches open with pace and technical ability. These acquisitions are contingent on outgoings; should players like Matías Soulé or Jan Ziółkowski depart, the number of incoming deals could rise to three. Among the targets on sporting director D'Amico's radar is Chelsea's Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, an Elite Project client who has dropped out of the Blues' plans. If Chelsea confirm their willingness to negotiate a loan deal, the operation could accelerate significantly. Roma are also evaluating at least three attacking options while maintaining interest in Youssouf Fofana as a midfield candidate.

Paulo Dybala has become Roma's entire foundation rather than merely the final flourish of an ambitious squad, as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's decisive intervention this summer kept the Argentine at the club despite transfer interest from MLS and Boca Juniors. At 32, approaching 33 in November, Dybala will again be the focal point when Roma debut against Fiorentina on Monday evening at the Olimpico in front of 67,000 supporters. The concentration of attacking responsibility on Dybala presents both an asset and a vulnerability. Having a player of his calibre is undoubtedly an extraordinary resource, but the squad risks becoming entirely dependent on his performances—raising the fundamental question of what happens when the Argentine needs rest or must manage the usual physical complaints. Finding a reliable alternative to lead the attack during his absences remains an open issue for Roma's technical project. Matías Soulé attempted to provide that depth last season before pubalgia problems halted his progression. This season, attention has turned to Rodrigo Mora, a Portuguese talent with crystalline ability, but expecting a recently arrived player to immediately shoulder the responsibility of driving the team represents excessive optimism at present.

Roma's opening fixture of the 2026–27 season against Fiorentina on 24 August at 20:45 will mark the competitive debuts of several new arrivals, including Mora, Molina, Castro and Koulierakis. The club has a recent tradition of fielding multiple debutants in the season's first match since the Friedkin Group took control. The pattern is well established. In 2021–22, José Mourinho's first season, Roma faced Fiorentina in Round 1 and started four debutants: Rui Patricio, Viña and Abraham from the kick-off, with Shomurodov introduced from the bench. The following year, Dybala, Matic and Wijnaldum debuted against Salernitana, while the 2023–24 campaign saw Aouar, Kristensen, Paredes and Renato Sanches make their first appearances in the same fixture. In 2024–25, under Daniele De Rossi, Artem Dovbyk, Matías Soulé and Enzo Le Fée began their Roma careers at Cagliari. Last season marked Gian Piero Gasperini's debut as head coach, when Evan Ferguson and Wesley also featured for the first time against Bologna. The club now awaits further additions from the current transfer window, with hopes that this summer's new signings will produce memorable debuts of their own in the coming days.

Roma director Tony D'Amico is pursuing two signings for the left flank to provide head coach Gian Piero Gasperini with options in each position. Following the recent Rodrigo Mora deal, the club is seeking a deputy for Wesley and a left winger. Luis Henrique of Inter remains a candidate for the backup role, while for the attacking flank Roma will explore a fresh approach to Malick Fofana of Olympique Lyonnais after 26 August, once the Belgian has played Lyon's Champions League qualifying return leg against Fenerbahce. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens of Chelsea is also under consideration as a last-minute loan option in the final days of the window before month's end. Roma's ability to complete both signings depends heavily on outgoing transfers. The club has largely exhausted its allocated budget for this window and will need to sell at least one squad player with market value to free up funds and create space. The next few days are therefore crucial in determining whether the final two additions can be secured before the transfer deadline.

Gian Piero Gasperini has one main selection dilemma ahead of Roma's home match against Fiorentina on Monday evening: whether to deploy Rodrigo Mora or Matías Soulé in the attacking midfield role alongside Paulo Dybala behind Donyell Malen. Mora, Roma's latest arrival, has impressed the coach in early training sessions despite the Portuguese player having only recently begun the season in his home country. Gasperini has recovered Wesley fully after an ankle problem sustained before a test against Borussia Dortmund, with the Brazilian available for the left flank. Molina is set to make his debut on the right wing and will be eager for redemption following a seven-match suspension picked up with Argentina. Soulé continues to be linked with a move away from the club, leaving his position vulnerable. The true uncertainty, then, centres on whether Mora will start or whether Gasperini opts for the consistency of Soulé, who has featured regularly this pre-season.