Gemitaiz on Roma: 'Life and passion, but not an easy team to support'

In 1998, Aldair made a decisive gesture that shaped Roma's history: the Brazilian defender handed the captain's armband to Francesco Totti, then an emerging talent. That decision set Totti on a path to lead the club for nearly two decades. In a recent interview for Sky's documentary series *Aldair, Cuore giallorosso*, Totti reflected on the moment with gratitude for its long-term significance. "I didn't know anything about it," Totti said. "He told me on the spot: 'From now on, you'll be the captain of this squad.' At the time I didn't understand what it meant, I didn't realise what could happen. But day after day I came to understand the beauty of wearing this armband." The transfer of the captaincy marked a turning point in Roma's identity, elevating Totti from promising young player to the symbolic leader of the club.

Christian Vieri has praised Gian Piero Gasperini's start as Roma head coach, saying the club must heed his guidance if they are to achieve their ambitions. Roma have collected 12 points from four matches with 12 goals scored and only one conceded—a record Vieri views as evidence of Gasperini's tactical impact. The side face Inter on Saturday in what Vieri calls "the first real test of the season", followed by a home fixture against Real Madrid at the Olimpico. Vieri told Adnkronos: "He has made a very very good start, with 12 points in four matches. Gasperini's work is visible; he is one of the greatest coaches in the world, so if the club listens to him, he can take Roma high." The former striker also praised Paulo Dybala as "always the number one, a great striker", and expressed confidence that Gasperini will prepare the team correctly for the challenges ahead. Of the Madrid visit, Vieri said: "It will be a cauldron", and predicted that Gasperini "will get his players to a thousand, it will be a beautiful match to watch."

Former Roma striker Francesco Graziani has praised José Mourinho's impact at the club ahead of the manager's return to the Olimpico with Real Madrid in the Champions League. "A fantastic manager," Graziani said in an interview with Il Tempo. "When he left Roma I was enormously disappointed. I almost cried. Beyond winning a European cup and coming close in another, he was able to bring the environment back together, and what you experience at the stadium today is also the fruit of his great work." Graziani turned his focus to the current project under Gian Piero Gasperini, who arrived from Atalanta. "After a long experience full of satisfaction at Atalanta, he chose Roma and arrived with a strong desire to prove himself," Graziani said. "Last season he was good at building; this summer he worked very well to strengthen the squad and the results are showing. I believe the arrival of D'Amico was decisive. The two know each other perfectly and have already shown they are a couple capable of building top-level teams." Roma face title contenders Inter on Saturday. "It will be a great match, between two teams that so far haven't dropped a point," Graziani observed. "Anything can happen at the Olimpico, but it won't be a decisive match—it comes too early and whatever the final result, both teams will have time and the means to compete."

Roma won 2–0 away at Torino with goals from Malen and Pisilli to remain level on points with Inter at the Serie A summit, both teams on four victories from their opening four matches. The squad returned to training at Trigoria this morning ahead of Saturday's meeting at the Stadio Olimpico against Inter, who sit joint-top with a perfect record. Lorenzo Pellegrini is available after recovering from injury and is in contention to make his seasonal debut. Inter's preparations have been hampered by injury setbacks. Midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu will miss Saturday's fixture after suffering a muscular strain of the right adductor, with Inter confirming: "Hakan Calhanoglu underwent instrumental examinations this morning which revealed a muscle strain of the right adductor. His condition will be assessed in the coming days." Defender John Stones, who departed yesterday during his competitive debut with injury, is also a doubt; his status will be monitored day by day until the match. John Galantic made his first appearance at a Lega Serie A assembly as Roma's new chief executive, sitting in on discussions regarding international broadcasting rights. The gathering featured presentations from league chief executive Luigi De Siervo and JP Morgan adviser on investment fund interest and proposals. Galantic told reporters on the sidelines: "It was a first meeting, all good." No clear consensus has emerged among clubs, who have yet to examine the specific financial proposals in detail. Former Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo praised the team's performance against Torino on Radio Radio: "I liked Roma: in the first half-hour it found solutions, exploited opponents' errors. Malen is too decisive and too dangerous, Dybala showed he is in good condition." Analyst Stefano Carina added: "Roma seems to me to have something more even compared to rivals, even Inter, who seem to have some injury problems, especially in defence. Roma instead seems well set, alongside Como. Inter don't have their attackers anywhere else in Italy: Lautaro didn't play yesterday and nobody noticed, but they have problems that Roma and Como don't have."

Roma's evolution under coach Gian Piero Gasperini has taken shape across two decisive fixtures—the Champions League debut against Fenerbahce in Istanbul on Thursday and a four-day-later trip to Turin against Torino—that showcase the impact of the summer transfer market overhaul steered by new sporting director D'Amico. In the first match, Roma's return to Europe's elite competition after a seven-year absence saw Gasperini field performers who had earned third place in Serie A. Against Torino, however, two summer signings started, with three more introduced during play as Roma secured a fourth consecutive league win. Despite missing three key players—Evan N'Dicka, Wesley, and Manu Koné—Roma maintained tactical identity and attacking threat at Turin, underlining how the summer reinforcements have strengthened the squad's reliability compared to the previous season. The shift in personnel tells the story plainly. A year ago, Gasperini would have replaced N'Dicka and Wesley with Kostas Tsimikas and Jan Ziółkowski; neither remains at Trigoria. Manu Koné's role would have gone to Neil El Aynaoui, who has been moved on after one season, as have Tsimikas and Ziółkowski. In their place came Leonardo Balerdi and Nahuel Molina, both Argentine internationals—Balerdi absent from last year's World Cup only through injury, Molina a Qatar winner alongside Paulo Dybala and recently a World Cup runner-up. Niccolò Pisilli, grown into his role at the start of 2026 and a national team player, has inherited Koné's midfield spot. Gasperini paired Balerdi immediately with Marten de Roon, who arrived from Bergamo in the final moments of the window and played more than half the second half against Torino. Lorenzo Pellegrini, called up after five months out, extended Gasperini's roster of captains—the coach has made clear he possesses multiple leaders beyond Bryan Cristante and Gianluca Mancini. Gasperini operates what he calls the "law of sixteen," seeking to deploy the same core of players in every match to guarantee brilliance, intensity and competitive edge. He refuses publicly to divide his squad into starters and substitutes; there is no difference between a player who begins and one who enters in progress. New sporting director D'Amico's tenure has produced a squad numerically smaller than its predecessor, as D'Amico himself acknowledged, yet Gasperini presented it at full strength in Turin. The article notes that one or two adjustments in January may be needed to perfect the squad further.

Evan N'Dicka and Wesley will be available for Roma's match against Inter at the Olimpico on Saturday, despite recent minor fitness concerns. N'Dicka, who had an intestinal virus and some light fatigue, is expected to reclaim his place in defence, though Leonardo Balerdi's performance in Turin means the decision carries some conditionality. Wesley will operate regularly on the left, while the right-back position will see competition between Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli. Manu Koné will return to the starting lineup after his absence. Lorenzo Pellegrini remains on the bench as part of his gradual reintegration following the international break. Roma approach their most difficult fixture of the season with a fully available squad.

Luigi Di Biagio, the former Roma and Inter midfielder who now coaches Saudi Arabia Under 23, has given his verdict on Saturday's Roma–Inter fixture at the Olimpico, stressing that despite the quality on display it will not decide the Scudetto. "Sarà uno spettacolo, ma è presto per immaginarsi qualcosa di definitivo: questa sfida non deciderà lo scudetto," he said. "L'Inter ha l'obbligo di vincerlo per la squadra che ha e per la storia degli ultimi anni. La Roma, invece, è lì per un percorso di crescita ed è una piacevolissima sorpresa: merita tutto per quello che sta facendo." Di Biagio believes Roma have undergone a fundamental shift under Gasperini's direction. "La Roma ha comprato giocatori funzionali alle sue richieste e direi che non ne ha sbagliato mezzo. Quanto sia stato fondamentale Malen è quasi scontato dirlo, ma è cambiata tutta la Roma. È cambiato proprio il motore," he explained. He highlighted the transformation in Paulo Dybala's performances: "Prendete Dybala, che gioca con una continuità che in passato non aveva. È anche merito del metodo Gasperini: sono convinto che più ti alleni forte e più stai bene. Oggi i giocatori della Roma hanno un altro ritmo e un'altra mentalità: vanno all'attacco e cercano sempre di vincere." Di Biagio acknowledged that Inter remain favourites but warned: "L'Inter, numericamente e per i cambi che ha, è ancora più avanti, ma Gasp può darle molto fastidio." On the midfield battle, Di Biagio praised Roma's structure: "La Roma con Cristante ha trovato un mediano che accompagna la costruzione; lui e Koné vanno spesso verso la linea dei difensori e permettono agli esterni di alzarsi. È lo svuotamento del centrocampo tipico di Gasp, una bellezza da studiare." He assessed the goalkeeping situation, noting that while Svilar offers certainty, Inter's Martinez deserves defence: "Se Svilar è una certezza della Roma, anche Martinez è un portiere interessante e moderno." On the forwards, he ranked both as decisive: "Malen fa quasi reparto da solo, è lui solo e tutti gli altri si muovono attorno a lui... Attacca la profondità e negli ultimi trenta metri diventa incredibilmente decisivo. Lautaro... gira di più, viene incontro, gioca anche lontano dalla porta e poi si butta dentro. Sono decisivi entrambi, qui il livello è altissimo." Di Biagio expressed belief that Roma's enthusiasm in the city is entirely positive. "No, a un taglio solo… È soltanto qualcosa di positivo. Mi tengo tutta la vita l'entusiasmo," he said, adding that the critical test for Roma will come in managing both Serie A and Champions League: "Bisognerà capire come la Roma reagirà quando dovrà gestire insieme campionato e Champions, questo passaggio sarà decisivo."

Niccolò Pisilli is putting together a strong start to the season and could make another appearance in Roma's upcoming match against Inter, potentially in a different role. The midfielder has impressed with his work rate, physical commitment and attacking participation—precisely what Gasperini demands from a player capable of executing both phases with intelligence and decisiveness. In midfield, Koné is expected to return to the starting lineup alongside Cristante, with de Roon ready to come off the bench. However, to counter Inter's 3-5-2 formation under Chivu, Gasperini may deploy Pisilli as a trequartista behind Dybala and Malen. At Trigoria today the squad was complete in training, with one notable exception: Mario Hermoso. The Spanish defender is sidelined by a mild ankle contusion but the injury is not considered serious, and he is expected to recover without significant issues. Wesley and Evan N'Dicka both returned positive updates from the session, signalling they are available for selection.

Roma will face Inter at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, 19 September at 18:00 in a Series A fifth-round fixture that pits two of the season's strongest starts directly against each other. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has reported that nearly his full squad is available for the match after Evan N'Dicka recovered from a gastrointestinal issue and Wesley returned to training following a strong ankle contusion sustained during a European fixture in Istanbul. Both players have been in doubt but are now fit to feature. Roma have won their opening four league matches — beating Fiorentina, Lecce, Atalanta and Torino — to sit on 12 points at the fifth-round stage. Inter arrive at the same points total with an identical record, making the Olimpico clash a direct contest between the Serie A's two unbeaten leaders. The fixture carries significant weight as a first summit meeting in the upper reaches of the table. Historically at the Olimpico, Roma hold the advantage over Inter: in 105 previous meetings there, Roma have won 42, Inter 36, with 27 draws. Roma have also scored more goals at home against Inter, registering 168 to Inter's 152. The last meeting at the stadium came on 10 October 2025, when Inter won 1-0. Gasperini is expected to field a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal, a defensive line of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, and Wesley and Emanuele Lulli as full-backs. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné will anchor midfield. Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé will operate in attacking midfield roles behind Donyell Malen. Leonardo Balerdi remains a candidate to displace N'Dicka from the starting XI after strong recent performances. Inter, managed by Cristian Chivu, face more pressing fitness concerns: Hakan Calhanoglu missed the last match with an adductor strain and his availability remains uncertain, while John Stones was withdrawn in their previous fixture with a muscular issue. No Roma players are suspended or unavailable. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN and Sky. Official team sheets will be released approximately one hour before the scheduled 18:00 kickoff on Saturday, 19 September.

Roma and Inter will meet on the pitch this Saturday as the Serie A leaders, but behind the fixture lies a stark contrast in how their respective owners build and sustain their projects. Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma have invested €211 million in player acquisitions since his arrival, while Cristian Chivu's Inter have spent €186 million—a gap of €25 million that illustrates the Friedkin Group's commitment to backing the sporting project despite UEFA financial fair play constraints. By contrast, Inter's ownership under Oaktree has prioritised economic and financial stability. The €211 million Roma figure spans the campaigns that began with Gasperini's appointment. In the 2025–26 season, Roma spent €86.5 million, with Wesley arriving for €25 million and Neil El Aynaoui for €23 million, alongside Robinio Vaz (€20 million), Jan Ziółkowski (€6.5 million), and several expensive loans including Donyell Malen, Bailey, Evan Ferguson, Daniele Ghilardi and Zaragoza. The acceleration came this summer: the Friedkin Group approved €124.5 million for 2026–27, comprising Santiago Castro (€35 million), Rodrigo Mora (€25 million), Malen's permanent transfer (€25 million), Konstantinos Koulierakis (€16.5 million), Nahuel Molina (€13 million), Ghilardi's purchase (€8 million), Marten de Roon (€1 million) and Leonardo Balerdi's loan (€1 million). The Porto agreement for Mora includes a further €25 million for 2027 or 50 per cent of any future sale. The contrast deepens when examining the wider impact on club finances. Since summer 2025, Roma's squad costs—including salaries, depreciation and loan fees—have risen by approximately €15 million, while Inter's have fallen by approximately €10 million. The Friedkin Group has covered losses through fresh capital injections, accepting red accounts to sustain sporting growth; Roma has not closed a profitable financial year since their 2020 arrival, with 2025–26 expected to end in loss. Oaktree delivered a €35 million profit in its first Inter season and is preparing to close the next year in the black. Both approaches remain valid: Chivu inherited a structured squad already competing at the highest level, while Gasperini was tasked with rebuilding after Roma's seven-year absence from the Champions League. Saturday's direct clash will test both strategies on the pitch. One club has chosen acceleration to close the gap; the other is maintaining competitiveness while reducing the squad's economic burden.

As Roma and Inter prepare to meet this week, the two clubs' transfer philosophies have diverged sharply over the past two years. The Friedkin Group has committed €211m in investment across two seasons under Gian Piero Gasperini, while Inter's owners Oaktree have adopted a more cautious strategy, spending €186m under Cristian Chivu with an emphasis on youth development and financial stability. In Gasperini's first season at Roma (2025-26), the club invested €86.5m across the transfer window and January. Summer arrivals included Wesley (€25m) and El Aynaoui (€23m), followed by Robinio Vaz (€20m) in January and a costly loan deal for Donyell Malen (€2m). The squad was further bolstered by acquisitions and loans involving Ziolkowski, Bailey, Ferguson, Ghilardi and Zaragoza. The current 2026-27 campaign has seen Roma spend €124.5m, with major moves including the permanent purchase of Malen (€25m), Santiago Castro (€35m), Rodrigo Mora (€25m), Konstantinos Koulierakis (€16.5m), Nahuel Molina (€13m) and Marten de Roon (€1m), plus the redemption of Ghilardi (€8m) and the loan of Leonardo Balerdi (€1m). Over two years, these investments have increased the squad's salary and amortisation costs by approximately €15m. Inter's approach under Oaktree reflects cost containment and team development. During Chivu's first season they acquired younger talent including Luis Henrique (€24.5m), Bonny (€23m), Diouf (€20m) and Sucic (€15.5m), plus Akanji on loan (€1m), totalling €84m. The 2026-27 window has seen just €102m committed to signings, bringing cumulative Chivu-era spending to €186m. Unlike Roma, Inter has cut squad costs by approximately €10m over the same period, inheriting a competitive core that required less overhaul.

AS Roma have spent €211 million on transfers since Gian Piero Gasperini's arrival in summer 2025, significantly more than Inter's €186 million under Cristian Chivu over the same period. The spending patterns reflect differing philosophies between owner Friedkin, who readily invests in quality acquisitions, and Inter's ownership Oaktree, which has prioritised young prospects and financial stability. Gasperini received immediate backing from Friedkin in summer 2025 with two signings over €20 million each: Wesley for €25 million and Neil El Aynaoui for €23 million. That window also brought Ziolkowski for €6.5 million and loans including Bailey (€3m), Evan Ferguson (€3m), Ghilardi (€2m) and Zaragoza (€2m), totalling €86.5 million. The 2026-27 season saw heavier investment: Donyell Malen's loan made permanent for €25 million, Santiago Castro for €35 million, Rodrigo Mora for €25 million, Konstantinos Koulierakis for €16.5 million, and Nahuel Molina for €13 million. Ghilardi was bought out for €8 million, while Leonardo Balerdi joined on loan for €1 million. Marten de Roon arrived for €1 million, bringing the current season's total to €124.5 million. Inter's approach under Chivu has centred on younger profiles. Summer 2025 signings were Luis Henrique (€24.5 million), Bonny (€23 million), Diouf (€20 million) and Sucie (€15.5 million), plus Akanji on loan (€1 million) — €84 million total. This season added Provedel for €3 million, reaching €102 million. The comparison shows stark strategic differences: Roma's squad cost rose by approximately €15 million through wages, amortisation and loan fees since summer 2025, while Inter's squad cost fell by roughly €10 million over the same span, reflecting their contrasting investment and salary philosophies.