Gasperini warns Roma: two squad spots remain, aims to complete roster before UEFA reckoning

Fiorentina manager Raffaele Grosso has declared his squad ready to face Roma at the Olimpico, saying the team is physically and mentally prepared for a high-level fixture. Speaking ahead of the match, Grosso confirmed that all his players are available after recovering from various injuries, and that he will have squad depth to rotate. Grosso acknowledged Roma's quality and the difficulty of the challenge away from home. "The opponents are strong, they had a tremendous season and have a very clear manager," he said. "Many characteristics make this fixture difficult, but difficult things, if you dive into them and try to stay inside them, can become even more beautiful. There are many pitfalls in this match, but we have the characteristics to try to play a great match." On the defensive setup, he noted flexibility: "Yes, I have no reservations but I prefer to put them in the positions they prefer. We have four central defenders with different experiences and characteristics. The skill is to make the players who take the field express themselves." Grosso highlighted the responsibility of maintaining Fiorentina's momentum and the support of the club's supporters. "One of our objectives is to ride this beautiful enthusiasm that is being created," he said. "We are aware of it. It is a beautiful responsibility; we want to keep it that way, knowing it won't always be easy. People support us and make many sacrifices to follow us. We take that into account, always." He stressed the importance of consistency: "The skill is giving continuity to doing things well; if you lower your level the other side will raise it and do well." On starting the season away from home, Grosso noted that many players know the Olimpico while others will discover it in time, but the group is prepared for the test ahead.

Fiorentina head coach Fabio Grosso has cleared his squad fit and ready for tomorrow evening's Serie A opener against Roma at the Olimpico. At his pre-match press conference on 23 August, Grosso reported that all injury concerns have been resolved. "We are all well, fortunately we have recovered the players who were carrying knocks," he said. "Physically and mentally we are ready for Roma. We have excellent weapons at our disposal. Kean is well and will be with us tomorrow." Grosso acknowledged the significance of the fixture for Fiorentina's supporters but stressed his focus remains on the immediate challenge. "We know how much this match means in Florence—it is one of our objectives to ride the enthusiasm we feel in the city," he explained. "Roma has a clear identity. It will be a difficult match, but difficult things can give you satisfaction when you throw yourself into them and stay in them." On the broader squad picture, Grosso indicated the club is still seeking attacking reinforcements, saying "We are looking for someone up front with different characteristics." Grosso defended his selection options across the defensive line, noting he has no preference for left or right-footed centre-backs. "Pongracic has played many times on the left," he said. "We have four defenders with different paths and characteristics. The skill here is finding the best combination—there is always a need for everyone in the squad." On his attacking options, Grosso outlined his forward contingent: "We have only four attacking players for the three attacking positions we have. I want to take all the time available. Pellegrino and Kean are doing very well, as are Gudmundsson and Mastantuono, who is growing a lot." The match kicks off tomorrow, 24 August, as Fiorentina aim to make a winning start under Grosso.

Fiorentina manager Fabio Grosso addressed reporters on 23 August ahead of Roma-Fiorentina, the opening fixture of the 2026-27 Serie A season, in what will be his official debut on the Fiorentina bench. Grosso confirmed that all squad members are available and physically ready for the challenge, with forward Kean fit both physically and mentally. He acknowledged Roma's strength under Gasperini but expressed confidence in Fiorentina's ability to compete: "We know the opponent's qualities and what awaits us. We prepare ourselves to counter and put our qualities on the pitch. The opponents are good, they had a great season and a very clear coach. Many characteristics make the fixture difficult, but difficult things if you throw yourself into them can become even more beautiful." Grosso also addressed the transfer market, stating that Fiorentina are on track with the club's plans. "We go hand in hand with the club. In the days before matches we focus on the priority aspect and the players we have. In these days we have talked little about the market, but we remain where we were. The squad needs filling in some points," he said. He outlined his defensive approach, noting that he prefers to position his defenders in their favoured roles rather than focus solely on containing specific opponents. "We have four centre-backs with different experience and characteristics. The skill is making the players who take the pitch express themselves well." Grosso reflected on his appointment as an emotional moment rooted in his deep passion for the work, while emphasizing the scale of the challenge ahead. He described Fiorentina's project as one requiring time and collective effort to rebuild competitive status. "We are aware of being many new things, we must blend together to walk together with a precise identity and a real squad," he said.

Roma open their 2026–27 Serie A campaign at the Olimpico against Fiorentina in less than 24 hours, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini still finalising his starting lineup. Rodrigo Mora is a serious contender to make his debut from the first minute in the attacking midfield role behind the Paulo Dybala–Donyell Malen partnership. Gasperini is expected to deploy a 3-4-1-2 formation to counter Fiorentina's four-man defence, with Wesley and Nahuel Molina set to operate on the flanks. Fiorentina boss Fabio Grosso addressed the challenge in his pre-match press conference on Friday morning. "Roma is strong, but we are prepared," Grosso said. "It will be a battle." Fiorentina have no remaining injury concerns and will have all squad members available for selection, including Atta and Kean.

Roma's Serie A season opens on Monday at the Olimpico against Fiorentina. Gasperini will largely depend on the core squad from last season, with few new faces starting from the first minute. Molina is certain of a place in the lineup, while Mora is competing with Soulé for a starting spot. Castro and Koulierakis will begin on the bench. Malen and Dybala will lead the attack, with Koné expected to start in midfield alongside Cristante, and Wesley playing on the left. The defence will feature the familiar trio of Mancini, Ndicka, and Hermoso. Roma–Fiorentina is the opening fixture of Serie A Enilive. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN and in co-exclusive coverage on Sky Sport, with kickoff at 20:45. Viewers will need a DAZN subscription to watch on television; the app can be downloaded on smart TV, Xbox, or PlayStation. Alternatively, the match can be streamed via Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast, and TIM VISION Box. Live commentary will be available on Forzaroma.info, with updates across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Gasperini is preparing Roma's opening lineup for Monday's visit of Fiorentina, with the shape of his team already taking clearer form in the final days of the transfer window. The Stadio Olimpico will host Fiorentina, managed by Grosso, who despite their youth and last season's league position will present a stern test. Gasperini has identified Fiorentina's preference for a 4-3-3 setup during summer friendlies and is likely to counter with a 3-4-1-2 formation against their four-man defence, adapting his usual structure. That system would see Rodrigo Mora operating as the trequartista behind the Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen partnership, a position where the Argentine could make an immediate impact and deliver more options than Matías Soulé offers from the left flank. The formation can shift to a 3-4-2-1 during play when Malen presses higher up the pitch. Gasperini will keep some selection decisions until the final stages of Monday's match. Wesley and Molina appear set for the right flank, while Kostas Tsimikas contests the left-back role against Mario Hermoso for a starting place. The central defensive duel between Evan N'Dicka and Fiorentina's Kean will be a critical battleground — N'Dicka has struggled more than usual against Kean's pace and explosive moments from his time at Juventus. Fiorentina's Arthur Atta will be their wildcard variable, looking to disrupt Roma's defensive shape by dropping deep and unsettling the back line. Molina will have dual duties: creating danger down the flank through his runs while containing the constant forward drives of Valdepeñas. The final training session takes place this afternoon at Trigoria, where remaining selection dilemmas—including the Mora-Soulé contest and the Cristante-Neil El Aynaoui decision—will be resolved. Gasperini continues to wait for one more attacking wide player with different characteristics from Mora during the summer window. Monday brings the first competitive test of the season, a tactical chess match between two managers with distinct philosophies and clear identities. Roma will need a strong start in a title race that this year features more Champions League contenders than ever before.

Roma's Serie A season opens on Monday at the Olimpico against Fiorentina. Gasperini will largely depend on the core squad from last season, with few new faces starting from the first minute. Molina is certain of a place in the lineup, while Mora is competing with Soulé for a starting spot. Castro and Koulierakis will begin on the bench. Malen and Dybala will lead the attack, with Koné expected to start in midfield alongside Cristante, and Wesley playing on the left. The defence will feature the familiar trio of Mancini, Ndicka, and Hermoso. Roma–Fiorentina is the opening fixture of Serie A Enilive. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN and in co-exclusive coverage on Sky Sport, with kickoff at 20:45. Viewers will need a DAZN subscription to watch on television; the app can be downloaded on smart TV, Xbox, or PlayStation. Alternatively, the match can be streamed via Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast, and TIM VISION Box. Live commentary will be available on Forzaroma.info, with updates across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Roma are pushing to complete their squad before the transfer window closes, with Jamie Gittens emerging as a priority target. The Chelsea winger, a left-footer playing on the right flank, is available on loan and is being monitored after missing significant time last season through a thigh injury. Roma want a straight loan deal but are open to structuring the move with conditional obligations attached. The club believes the injury poses no lasting concern and views Gittens, born in 2004, as a quality option. Chelsea will play Fulham away at roughly the same time Roma face Fiorentina, with both clubs expected to reconvene on negotiations from Tuesday onwards. The transfer push comes as Roma seek to balance adding depth with financial discipline ahead of an autumn UEFA judgment on their settlement agreement compliance. After investing heavily in Castro, Rodrigo Mora, Koulierakis and Molina, the club is now eyeing loan moves with optional purchase clauses to avoid further strain on the balance sheet while maintaining competitive quality across three fronts following their Champions League qualification secured in May. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini requires a complete, competitive roster. On the left flank, Roma continue monitoring Cacciamani from Torino, though the club's asking price remains a barrier to a deal. A new option has emerged in Jayden Oosterwolde, a Dutch centre-back capable of playing left-back. Currently at Fenerbahce, Oosterwolde is sidelined by injury with an expected return in three weeks. Roma have studied his file and can close a loan agreement with a discount given his current unavailability. The winger Endrick, meanwhile, has suffered an injury that will rule him out of Real Madrid's opening fixture tonight against Espanyol, dimming any late market hopes around the Brazilian.

Roma's summer transfer strategy underwent a dramatic reversal during the window, moving away from established stars towards younger, more financially sustainable targets. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini had begun the window pursuing elite profiles including Mason Greenwood, Crysencio Summerville and Antonio Nusa, but as weeks passed the club progressively shifted direction. The turning point came when Roma abandoned a planned deal for Summerville and instead invested rapidly: 36 million plus 3 million in bonuses for Castro, 16.5 million plus 1.5 million for Koulierakis, and 13 million plus 4 million for Molina. These signings consumed the available budget and forced a complete change in approach. The root cause lies in Roma's Settlement Agreement with UEFA. Gasperini believed Champions League qualification would ease financial constraints, but the club's wage cap restrictions proved immovable. A decisive meeting during the club's Wales retreat saw CEO John Galantic communicate the ownership's new direction to the coaching staff: away from expensive, established players and towards young prospects capable of appreciating in value. Gasperini acknowledged the shift: "We started looking for very high-profile players but had to contend with the need to keep the wage bill under certain ceilings. Communications changed." He added: "I thought that once we reached the Champions League, financial fair play problems were solved and maybe the club thought so too. We had a different vision that we had to change over the weeks, including as strategies." Gasperini explained the domino effect of the decisions: "Maybe if we had done Summerville we couldn't have done anything else. Or perhaps his contract was sustainable at that moment." On UEFA's constraints, he stated: "There are situations that UEFA imposes from which the ownership cannot escape. All this forces us into a creative market, a necessity that also comes from what was done in previous years. In perspective Roma will certainly have value, but now the reckoning has arrived." The final phase of the window sees the club still seeking two players—a central midfielder (with Oosterwolde arriving for that role) and an attacking winger—but any additions must maintain financial balance. Gasperini confirmed: "Yes, two players. The left winger? We'll take it only if it brings added value."

Roma's transfer window has been solid on paper, but a sense of incompleteness lingers as the 2026–27 season approaches. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini harboured genuine title ambitions and believed the club could break free from the trophy drought that has gripped Roma since 2001 with a pair of elite signings. Names such as Greenwood, Summerville, Nusa and Fofana circulated—not transcendental acquisitions, but players who could have offered greater guarantees to a squad that has failed to close the gap with Inter and Napoli. Instead, Roma finds itself lumped among Como, Milan, Juventus and Atalanta in what the article describes as "the usual free-for-all". While the squad is objectively stronger than it was a year ago—with changes such as Castro for Dovbyk, Molina for Çelik, and Mora for Bailey—no blockbuster arrival materialised. Gasperini has acknowledged both D'Amico's serious work and the communication difficulties with the Friedkin Group ownership. Roma avoided selling major players, a point in its favour, yet failed to offload the figures whose departures might have unlocked genuine transformation. The question of whether that constitutes merit or fault remains open. Even the most optimistic voices cannot claim Roma is positioned as Inter's antidote this season, nor can anyone expect the kind of transfer signing that would have forced police deployment at Rome's airports. Gasperini is acutely aware the squad does not possess title credentials—arguably not even Champions League credentials, despite finishing third last season on a photo-finish. The breakthrough he sought was meant to unlock funds throttled by UEFA agreement complications that have clouded recent years. Instead, "the reckoning" will arrive in the coming months, after which title dreams may finally take root. Much will depend on Paulo Dybala's form, the promises of Mora and the consistency of Donyell Malen. Ten days remain before the season begins, and that nagging sense of "I would but I cannot" has not yet lifted.

Gian Piero Gasperini defended Roma's transfer approach at his pre-match press conference on 22 August, two days before the Serie A opener against Fiorentina at the Olimpico. The coach confirmed that UEFA financial regulations have forced a strategic shift in the market, compounding constraints that stem from years of previous spending. "The profile is only that of UEFA; there are no other possibilities," Gasperini said. "There are situations that UEFA imposes and from which our ownership, even wanting to, cannot escape. I thought that after six months or with arrival in the Champions League the situation would be resolved, but it is not so." Gasperini emphasised that Roma remain the only Italian club currently under UEFA supervision. "Roma has already had two deferrals and probably cannot have any more," he noted. "Now the reckoning has arrived, but we will do well anyway." Despite those constraints, he expressed satisfaction with arrivals in the window. Álex Molina replaced Zeki Çelik after winning the World Cup two months earlier; Christos Koulierakis joined as a defensive profile the squad lacked; and Rodrigo Mora arrived as a young long-term investment. Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson departed, replaced by Mateo Castro. El Shaarawy, Bryan Zaragoza, Angeliño and Kostas Tsimikas also left. Gasperini stated: "All the players who arrived have strongly wanted to come to Roma. They have also reduced their salaries—and under this aspect I believe very positive work has been done. There are still ten days of the market left and we hope to complete everything." On the left wing position that Roma had pursued, Gasperini offered flexibility: "Only if he can be added value, otherwise I am not going to load myself with players just for the sake of it." Numerically, two squad slots remain available from a full complement of 23. He praised Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Bryan Cristante for accepting significant wage cuts. On Dybala's fitness prospects, Gasperini said: "I am certain, because I see him not only determined as he was last year but also particularly strong. He completed a pre-season perhaps for the first time without injuries." Dybala suffered two serious injuries last season—one requiring meniscus surgery that sidelined him for three and a half months. Gasperini stated that further squad exits may follow only if they represent tactical switches rather than pure departures. "If there are other exits it is only for changes, to switch," he said. "In this moment there is nothing certain." The window closes in ten days. Roma finished last season on 73 points and third place in Serie A, but Gasperini stressed the slate resets: "Every year you start from zero. What was done was very positive and satisfactory for all, but when the season starts everyone begins at 0 points and the 73 points from last year must be played again."

Gian Piero Gasperini addressed Roma's transfer strategy and squad preparation two days before the Fiorentina fixture, emphasising that while the squad is more competitive, UEFA financial controls have forced creative market decisions. Gasperini confirmed the club can still add two players numerically to the 23-strong squad sheet, but only if conditions can be met within budget limits. "The profile is only that of the UEFA regulations, there are no other possibilities," Gasperini said. "There are situations that UEFA imposes and from which even our ownership, much as they would like, cannot escape. If we had done Summerville we could not have done anything else. There are technical parameters that cannot be explained—you must have trust in the society that they are complex enough and force a club under UEFA control like Roma, unique in Italy right now, to comply." Gasperini revealed that reaching the Champions League last season had not resolved Roma's financial strictures as initially expected. "I thought that after six months or with arrival in the Champions the situation would be resolved, it is not so and this forces this type of market," he said. Roma remains the only Italian club subject to UEFA Financial Fair Play monitoring following accumulated deficits from previous years and has already received two deferrals; no further extension is available. Despite these constraints, Gasperini backed the recruitment approach, particularly the arrivals of Rodrigo Mora from Porto—described as "a very important investment, especially in perspective"—and the swap dealing that saw Zeki Çelik depart for Molina, and Evan Ferguson and Artem Dovbyk exit for Castro. He also praised the contract reductions undertaken by Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini, as well as renewals by Bryan Cristante and others. On the left-wing position, Gasperini stated he will only pursue a signing if it adds genuine value: "Numerically the discussion is what I said before—two players can be added. But only if they can be reached under the conditions we can have. If the market offers this it will be so, otherwise we stay as we are." Regarding Dybala, Gasperini expressed confidence the 32-year-old will achieve more appearances this season. "I am sure of this because I see him not only determined as he was last year but also particularly strong. He had a preparation that perhaps for a long time he could not complete, without injuries. Last year in my view he was very unlucky. I remember two injuries, kicking the penalty in Milan and the free kick against Turin. Two borderline cases—in one it cost him a meniscus and he was out three and a half months. Muscularly he seems much more toned. Perhaps he no longer has the speed and power of shot from when he was young, but he has improved other qualities. At 32 years old today you are in the prime of technical and physical maturity. I think he will have a great season." Gasperini will take stock of any remaining recruitment possibilities before facing Fiorentina, a heavily renovated side. He acknowledged uncertainty in his starting formation for the opening match, citing the integration of recently arrived players Mora and Molina alongside squad members returning from World Cup duty with different fitness levels. On the season's ambitions, Gasperini declined to discuss the Scudetto prospect, saying: "We must look at our own path, we are trying to do the best possible for our possibilities. I am convinced we will do well. To speak of a final result I do not know, it will also depend on the opponents."