Gasperini unchanged for Istanbul as Roma field full strength against Fenerbahce

Roma scouts were among those watching Porto against PSV Eindhoven at the Estádio do Dragão in the Champions League, as the club keeps working ahead of the January transfer window to strengthen Gian Piero Gasperini's squad. Sporting director D'Amico is looking for talent to complete the attack and the wide areas, where a left-sided midfield winger is still missing. Scouts from Everton, Manchester United, Brentford and Nottingham Forest were also present, according to English outlet Sport Witness. Many talents featured for PSV as well as for Porto, who are coached by Farioli. Among the possible targets Roma are monitoring is Sven Mijnans, an attacking midfielder born in 2000 who had already been followed in the summer. Also on the list is Bajraktarević, a Bosnian left-sided winger born in 2005. Roma will keep working on these ideas in the coming weeks, as a side that has made a top start still needs reinforcements. Porto's young standouts also drew attention. Oscar Pietuszewski, a right-footed winger born in 2008, is very young. Alberto Costa, a 23-year-old full-back, was close to joining Roma in January 2025.

Roma's defence has been named in the Sofascore Team of the Week for the latest Champions League round, with Mario Hermoso, Leonardo Balerdi and Daniele Ghilardi all selected and dominating the back line of the ideal side. The trio's performance earned the recognition after they kept a clean sheet against Slovan Bratislava, the club's first clean sheet in Europe this season, and gave nothing away to Yaya Touré's side. The spotlight on the defence comes as Roma prepare for a big match against Napoli, with the squad continuing its work at Trigoria. The back line has been one of the strengths of the start to the campaign, conceding just three goals in the first seven Serie A matches. The Italian report adds that the award reflects the solid form of a unit that has been central to Roma's strong start, with the three defenders combining for a shutout that underlined the club's improved resilience at the back. Roma are next in action against Napoli, with the squad focused on maintaining that defensive record.

Roma's central defenders Hermoso, Balerdi and Ghilardi have been named in Sofascore's Team of the Week for the latest Champions League round, after a performance that kept Slovan Bratislava out completely. The three Roma defenders gave away nothing to the side coached by Yaya Touré. Roma have conceded only three goals in their first seven Serie A matches, a record built on a back line that is growing more solid despite the absence of several players who were fundamental in recent years. The arrivals of Balerdi and Koulierakis, and the continued development of Ghilardi, have given Gasperini the option to rest two first-team regulars, Ndicka and Mancini. Sofascore's selection was described as deserved. The Team of the Week's defence, drawn from the best side in the League Phase, was dominated by Gasperini's Roma backline. The selection also includes attackers Doué, Nico Paz, Foden and Ngumoha from the wider group of top clubs in the competition.

Former Roma winger Max Tonetto has said a Roma centenary without Francesco Totti, Bruno Conti and Daniele De Rossi would not be a true centenary, as the club's 100th anniversary approaches in 2027. Speaking to Roberta Pedrelli on RadioBruno, Tonetto backed a possible return for Totti in a club role. "I hope so, a centenary without players like Totti, Bruno Conti and De Rossi is not a centenary of Roma. The history of Roma is those three. They were absolute legends, and seeing Francesco in the stands gives me hope for his return." The interview also touched on the recent exchange between Totti and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with Pedrelli recalling the invitation to organise a new dinner. Pedrelli then asked whether the club should keep the number 10 shirt unassigned or give it to a player such as Paulo Dybala. Tonetto said: "I don't consider it such an important issue. Whatever decision is taken will not erase what Totti has done for Roma, but keeping it available would be a dream for a future Roman and Roma fan who longs to wear such an important shirt." The conversation then turned to Niccolò Pisilli, who wore the captain's armband on Tuesday in the Champions League match against Slovan Bratislava. The moment carried strong symbolism for a player who came through Roma's youth sector. Asked about the emotion of that occasion, Tonetto said: "I am a romantic, I love these things, and seeing scenes like these is still the essence of football." Finally, responding to a question from Verdenelli, Tonetto reflected on his own time at Roma, during which he won three trophies without lifting the Scudetto. "Those three trophies are a fine haul, but there were also three second-place finishes. In one of them Inter were truly much stronger, while in the other two we fought until the very end. To win, you have to keep fighting until the end, and in those years, despite a short squad, we achieved a lot. If you fight every year, sooner or later the victory comes."

Gianluca Piacentini of Rete Sport insisted Roma paid 25 million euros for Mora, not 50 million, in the latest instalment of the Roman radio roundup. He said: "Roma paid 25 million for Mora, then if this year he scores 100 goals and is worth 200 million, Roma have the option of paying 25 million to remove that clause on a future resale. But they did not buy 50% of the player, they bought 100% of the player. If they sell him, they must give 50% of what they receive, which Roma can remove by paying another 25 million. Since you have been insinuating for days that he is rubbish but you do not have the courage to say it, you say he was paid 50 million, but it is not true! If Roma take Mora to the end of his contract, they will have paid 25 million. It is very clear." Rossi, also on Rete Sport, reopened the debate over Pellegrini, saying that some people had doubted Roma's decision to renew Dybala and Pellegrini this summer, citing a history of injuries. He said Dybala has not reached half of his appearances and that Pellegrini had reached his 100th injury. Pellegrini has now re-injured the musculotendinous junction of the flexor, and will take another three months out. Rossi added that the injury was not fixed and that the club paid five million gross for the player, money he said Roma could have spent better. On Tele Radio Stereo, Alessio Nardo asked whether this is Pellegrini's last season with Roma, adding that the speculation should be hedged because "with Pellegrini you never know". He also questioned whether Gasperini chose to speak at his press conference today to avoid questions about possible errors in the transfer market and about underestimating certain aspects. Nardo described a city that remains bitter even after a third-place finish and seven wins in ten matches, saying Mora had become "the new Zaragoza" and had been "destroyed" over the last 48 hours. Lorenzo Pes disagreed, arguing that Gasperini skipped the press conference simply because of a run of closely spaced matches. Valentina Catoni argued that the real problem was not renewing Pellegrini but failing to sign another forward, saying Gasperini had asked for at least one more player up front. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said Roma are playing the season with only 20 outfield players, two of whom, Dybala and Pellegrini, have had a hard few years. He said the club's wage bill problem is the card Roma will play in front of UEFA, and claimed Pellegrini has played only 150 minutes in total. Torri also said he would have signed El Shaarawy at the end of the window, since he could play as a wide attacker or in midfield. Paola Cosenza voiced concern about Cristante, who is returning from a collateral ligament problem, fearing he may force his recovery. Marco Valerio Corsi said he expected Gasperini to protect Mora in the match at Napoli if he delivered another lacklustre performance, and that he doubted Wesley could play as a forward. Roberto Pruzzo said Soulé is growing and that Roma should build around him, and that he sees Santiago Castro as the alternative, adding that Mora looks too far behind the level required for the stage he is being asked to perform on. He said: "We must hope Malen doesn't even have a cold, otherwise it gets tough." Mario Mattioli argued that Pellegrini had only returned from injury two matches earlier and that the club had already lived through a similar situation. Nando Orsi criticised the constant talk of signings and of how Gasperini's training compares with that of previous years. The discussion is set to continue on the same programme, with pundits calling for Roma to reach January in contention for the top places before the club reassesses its options.

Former Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo has said Roma must return to the transfer market if injuries continue to pile up, warning that the side would struggle if Donyell Malen were to fall ill. Speaking on Radio Radio (104.5), Pruzzo said: "We need to understand what role Castro can play, because at the moment he can be the alternative. Mora seems too far behind. We have to hope Malen doesn't catch a cold, otherwise it becomes hard. Above all in managing the matches: we must make sure we reach January still in the race, and then go to the market and sign players." The comments come amid a spell of fitness problems at the club. Pellegrini's injury has prompted calls for a squad rethink, and Dybala and Koné are also repeatedly sidelined. Mario Mattioli, also on Radio Radio (104.5), took a different view, arguing that not every injury should send the club back to the market. He questioned what would happen once the regular starters returned, and suggested the squad should have been prepared for Gasperini's training methods. "Roma now train with a capital A," Mattioli said. "Before it wasn't like that, but the blame certainly does not lie with the market." Lorenzo Pes, on TeleradioStereo (92.7), returned to the question of Pellegrini's contract, saying a debate had opened in June over its length and over how fragile players could change the shape of the squad. "Dybala, Pellegrini and Koné often stop, and with the first two you have to reckon with it. You go to Napoli with 17 outfield players: that is very few. He wanted to keep this group together, believing he could improve this season. He was determined to keep Dybala and Pellegrini."

Former Roma midfielder Angelo Di Livio, speaking to Retesport, said he likes the idea of playing Wesley further forward against Napoli, with Molina dropping deeper on the same flank. Di Livio believes Gasperini will be missing two important players, including Dybala, and he questioned Lorenzo Pellegrini's latest injury, asking what fault the player had for having to stop again. Di Livio said Cristante is not well and does not think he can start. He expects Gasperini to have prepared alternative plans in midfield to cover the absences. The attacking absences of Pellegrini and Dybala in the final third are what make the idea of Wesley further up the pitch appealing to him. Di Livio expects Evan Lulli...

Roma's injury crisis deepened as Lorenzo Pellegrini was lost against Slovan Bratislava, adding to a growing list of absentees ahead of the trip to Napoli. Gasperini is working through his options for the Maradona fixture, with Malen and Soulé almost certain to start, but the final place in the attacking midfield remains open. The Pellegrini injury is already the seventh muscular injury of the season, on top of a bone-related problem suffered by Svilar. Dybala and Koné are also on the treatment list. Rodrigo Mora has not convinced, particularly in terms of attitude, in the recent games against Genoa and Slovan Bratislava, which has opened the door for Bryan Cristante, who has just returned from a knee problem. Cristante has not played since 19 September against Inter, just over a month ago, and his availability will be decisive. If he is not fit to start, Mora would almost certainly be given the nod from the first minute, as the pairing of Castro and Malen is not part of Gasperini's plans for a game of this importance. Gasperini has emergency alternatives. He could push Mancini or Hermoso into midfield, or use Wesley as an attacking winger, a solution already seen during a match last season, with Lulli and Molina then occupying the flanks. Napoli, who appear to have found a new balance in recent outings with De Bruyne dropping into the holding role, are just two days away from the clash at the Maradona, and Gasperini still has plenty of selection questions to resolve.

Roma's injury crisis is opening a door for Rodrigo Mora, with the Portuguese midfielder set to be given a starting chance as Gasperini looks for answers after the 4-0 Champions League win over Slovan. Lorenzo Pellegrini has joined a growing injury list that already includes Mile Svilar, Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala, and the first checks offer little hope of a quick return: he is expected to be out for around a month, though the official extent of the problem will only be confirmed after an MRI scan. Roma are averaging two injuries a week. With Pellegrini sidelined, Gasperini has only Matías Soulé and Mora as specialist attacking midfielders for Saturday's trip to Napoli at the Maradona. Dybala is targeting a return for the match at Udinese, while Bryan Cristante is back in the squad but needs to regain match rhythm. The head coach has backed Mora since his arrival, but his performances have been more subdued in recent starts. After an excellent cameo against Real Madrid, he appeared more in the shadows when starting against Genoa and Slovan. Gasperini expects more concrete answers from him, and Napoli could be the chance to take a step forward and earn a regular place. The night in Bratislava was otherwise a positive one for the Giallorossi. Donyell Malen impressed with his goalscoring, Daniele Ghilardi was reliable at the back, Wesley showed renewed energy and Nahuel Molina scored his first goal for the club. Gasperini can take pride in having built a side with a strong identity, but the injury problem is the main concern. A decision on whether to start Mora alongside Soulé will be central to the coming fixture.

Former Roma goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg has offered his views on the current squad, praising Donyell Malen while placing Mile Svilar short of Europe's elite goalkeepers. Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, the Dutchman gave his assessment of the club's forwards and goalkeeper. Stekelenburg was full of praise for Malen, who he said has quickly become a key figure. He said: "Bobby is very fast and always plays on the edge of the offside trap." Asked about the pairing with Paulo Dybala, he added: "I immediately thought they could be a good partnership. Malen is extremely valuable for Roma." His comments on Svilar were more cautious. He said: "He is doing very well, but among the top five in Europe, no, not yet. He still has to keep improving to get there."

Roma are reportedly preparing to strengthen the January transfer window after a severe injury crisis left Gian Piero Gasperini with a severely depleted squad ahead of the trip to Napoli. Il Messaggero reports that the absences of Pellegrini and Dybala, along with Svilar and Koné, have created a genuine emergency at the club, and the club is expected to spend heavily to give the coach at least two reinforcements between attack and the flanks. Gasperini is being forced to reshape the attacking midfield with only Mora and Soulé behind Malen, and has even considered moving Cristante forward. Gittens and Leweling remain on the club's shortlist, without ruling out the appealing but complicated pursuit of Endrick. On the left flank, Barcelona full-back Alejandro Balde has emerged as a major new name. He has been finding limited game time under Flick, and has been put forward by agent Jorge Mendes. His name joins that of Oosterwolde, and Roma hope to conclude signings of real quality to stay competitive and keep their season ambitions alive.

Roma will be without Mile Svilar, Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala for the trip to Napoli, leaving Gian Piero Gasperini with just two attacking midfielders available, Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé. Bryan Cristante, who has just returned from injury, could be deployed in that role behind Soulé and Donyell Malen, and Gasperini is expected to settle his selection doubts in the coming hours. Lorenzo Pellegrini's situation has also dealt the squad a blow. Daniele Aloisi of Il Messaggero reports that the club must act urgently in the January window. Roma still lack the left-sided winger who plays on his right foot, a signing they did not make even in the previous window. Gasperini reportedly expects at least two additions: one forward and one player to complete the options on the wings of midfield. The club's scouts have Gittense Leweling on their list. Signing Endrick will be harder, though that lead is far from closed. Oosterwolde is also under consideration. The newest name is Balde of Barcelona, a left-back who is finding little playing time under Flick. His availability has been offered through Mendes, the same agent who represents Rodrigo Mora. Any strengthening will require a real effort from the Friedkin Group, which must reinforce a squad that risks reaching the midpoint of the season badly depleted. The hope in Rome is that another signing of Malen's quality can be secured to keep the team performing well.