Gasperini smiles as Wesley completes full training session

Roberto Mancini has named his Italy squad for four upcoming Nations League matches, with three AS Roma players included in the 34-man group. Gianluca Mancini, Bryan Cristante and Daniele Ghilardi have been selected for fixtures against Belgium (25 September), Turkey (28 September), France (2 October) and Turkey again (5 October). Mancini and Cristante are established members of the Italian national team, but for Ghilardi, a 2003-born defender, this represents his first call-up to the senior squad. The squad announcement marks the beginning of a new era under Mancini, who returns to the Italy job following the team's third consecutive World Cup qualification failure.

Roberto Mancini has named a 30-player Italy squad for the Nations League, including Roma defenders Daniele Ghilardi and Gianluca Mancini, midfielder Bryan Cristante, and nine players receiving their first national team call-up. Among the newcomers is Daniele Ghilardi, who earns his debut call after joining Roma from Torino. Cagliari forward Daniel Maldini also features in the squad despite being involved in a drink-driving incident in recent days. Ghilardi's inclusion marks recognition of Roma's defensive investments this summer, while Cristante continues as a regular fixture in Mancini's midfield plans. The three Roma players form part of an extended squad assembled to rebuild confidence after Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup. Mancini has opted for a large group to manage what he faces: four matches in eleven days, a demanding schedule designed to restore enthusiasm and belief. The nine first-time international calls are: goalkeepers Massimo Pessina (Bologna); defenders Michael Kayode (Brentford), Eddy Kouadio (Monza), and Daniele Ghilardi (Roma); midfielders Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP) and Alessandro Romano (Cagliari); and forwards Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo), Antonio Vergara (Napoli), and Mohamed Alì Zoma (Nürnberg). Nicolò Fagioli and Nicolò Zaniolo return after absences since October 2024, while Rolando Mandragora is recalled for the first time since March 2021.

Rodrigo Mora, the 2007-born midfielder who arrived at Roma this summer from Porto, has outlined his ambitions at the club in an interview with Sky Sport Insider. Mora praised Paulo Dybala as a player of exceptional quality who needs no words to communicate on the pitch. "With Paulo, he's a player that doesn't need words: you look at him and you understand," Mora said. "Every time he touches the ball, you can expect something that few know how to do: that pass that others don't even see, that move that changes the match. Off the pitch he welcomed me brilliantly from day one—he's a very humble and available person, and I'm truly grateful for how he helped me settle in." Mora also recalled a conversation with former manager José Mourinho upon his arrival. "When I came, we spoke a bit," he explained. "He told me how much he loves this club, how much he likes Roma and how special the relationship with the city is. It wasn't a long conversation, but he's a great coach and a great person, and I'm truly grateful for the words he spent on me. He made me feel welcome." Mourinho had previously stated that Mora possessed all the qualities to win over Roma's supporters. On his long-term objectives, Mora was clear about his ambitions: "I want to win titles. It's the most important objective I have, the one that drives me every morning when I arrive to train. I want to win them with Roma, in this city, with these fans, and I want to do it as a protagonist, giving my contribution on the pitch."

Roma and Inter, the only two Serie A sides with 12 points after four rounds, meet at the Olimpico on Saturday in a high-stakes title clash. Gian Piero Gasperini's side have made a superb start to their second season in charge, winning all four league matches by an aggregate of 12–1, including a 2–0 victory at Torino on Monday with goals from Donyell Malen and Niccolò Pisilli. That came after a 1–1 draw at Fenerbahce in their opening Europa League fixture. Roma will attempt to reverse a damaging recent record: they have won only two of their last 16 encounters with Inter (D6, L10), and have lost their last five league clashes against them at home, failing to score four times in that sequence. The Giallorossi will seek to avenge an embarrassing 5–2 defeat from their last meeting. Despite the historical disadvantage, Roma's form this season suggests they can compete. They are the only Serie A team to have scored at least two goals in each of the first four rounds, and have extended their remarkable winning streak in the division to 11 games, including matches from last season. They are the second-highest scorers in Italy's top flight after four matchdays. Roma are also unbeaten in their last 14 home league matches (W11, D3) and boast one of the best defensive records in Europe's top-five leagues this season—only Arsenal and Freiburg have conceded as few goals as the Giallorossi (1). Inter, the reigning champions, are unbeaten in their last 30 Serie A games (W23, D6) despite netting just once in their only league trip so far in 2026–27, a narrow win over Cagliari. They top the scoring charts with 13 goals and have demonstrated remarkable fighting spirit, coming from 2–0 down to beat Napoli 3–2 and Udinese 5–3. However, they have conceded five goals across their last two league matches and let in at least two goals in three of their last five Serie A away games. Gasperini will have his entire squad available on Saturday, with Wesley Franca and Evan N'Dicka resuming full training earlier in the week. Manu Koné, who came off the bench at Turin, could return to the starting lineup in place of Pisilli. Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé are expected to start behind Malen. Inter will be without midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu (adductor strain) and summer signing John Stones (thigh injury), with Yann Bisseck, Manuel Akanji and Alessandro Bastoni forming the defensive trio. Marcus Thuram could make his first Serie A start of the season after two impressive substitute appearances. Roma's projected lineup: Svilar; Mancini, Balerdi, N'Dicka; Molina, Koné, Cristante, Wesley; Soulé, Dybala; Malen. Inter's projected lineup: J. Martínez; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Diouf, Barella, Zielinski, Jones, Dimarco; Thuram, L. Martínez.

Roma will host Inter on 19 September at 18:00 at the Stadio Olimpico in a top-of-the-table fixture. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini held his pre-match press conference on 18 September and confirmed that Manu Koné, Evan N'Dicka, Wesley and Lorenzo Pellegrini are all available for selection. Gasperini described the occasion as a source of satisfaction given Roma's strong start to the season and praised the environment at the stadium. Gasperini acknowledged Inter's standing in Serie A, saying: "Without any doubt Inter is the reference team for our league. Over time they are doing extraordinary things both in Italy and in Europe. For other teams, trying to get closer and compete with them is certainly a reference." He framed the fixture as an opportunity rather than a burden, stating that positive energy and desire to perform are forces to harness. The head coach also ruled out complacency, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the tactical battle ahead. On the injury front, Gasperini delivered encouraging news: "I continue to cross my fingers. We are all available for tomorrow, so everyone is fit. This is already an extraordinary result." Pellegrini, recovering from injury, has now completed a second consecutive week of full training with the squad and is ready to play. Gasperini also expressed confidence in young defender Emanuele Lulli, saying: "He is a player who has come through in recent matches and needs a development process, perhaps accelerating through certain steps. I am very satisfied with what he is doing." Regarding the referee appointment, Gasperini added: "Tomorrow Massa will be perfect. There will be no more controversy."

Roma face Inter at the Olimpico on 19 September with kickoff at 18:00 in a sold-out fixture, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini confirming his full squad is available for the match. Both sides arrive with perfect records, but Gasperini acknowledged Inter's status as the benchmark in Serie A. "Inter is the reference team for our championship and everyone else's," he said. "It's a team doing extraordinary things in Italy and in Europe, with two finals in recent times, it's very strong, recognised by everyone. Then for the others it's a reference point, to try to get closer and compete with them, it's an ambition for everyone because their strength is recognised." Gasperini framed Roma's ambition within realistic terms, describing the task as one of insertion into an ever-higher band of the league rather than overtaking Inter. "We're looking to insert ourselves into an increasingly higher tier of the championship," he explained. On Inter's advantage over Roma specifically, he said: "I think against everyone they have something more, the results show it and they are striking. You have to also have the serenity to recognise it. We look at ourselves, not others: I'm satisfied with what we're doing." The coach also reflected on his record against Inter, noting that results have shifted in their favour in recent seasons despite changes in their managerial personnel. "It can be that they've been my kryptonite," he said. "There was a period where I found results with Inter, in recent years that hasn't been the case. The coaches have also changed: Conte, Inzaghi, Chivu, and the result hasn't changed." On team news, Gasperini confirmed that Manu Koné, Evan N'Dicka and Wesley are all available for selection, with Lorenzo Pellegrini also fit after training with the squad for two consecutive weeks. "It's extraordinary because it happens rarely," Gasperini said of having his full complement. "Then of course, there's someone who is better and worse, there was also some flu. Today is the final training session, but we'll all be there." He backed young defender Emanuele Lulli as capable of performing at this level, noting: "If he plays in the league he's able to do the same in the Champions League. He's young, he's making a path, skipping stages quickly. I look at the present and yes, I'm satisfied with him." On tactical flexibility for the Inter match, Gasperini indicated willingness to adapt his approach. When asked whether Niccolò Pisilli or Bryan Cristante might play in an attacking midfield role, he said: "For me it's fundamental to try to do everything for the result. Every match is different, performances change, players change. It's fundamental to read the situation at the right moment. Against Atalanta I put two defenders to win it, for example. Even changes between defenders must be considered."