Gotti backs Molina arrival: perfect fit for Gasperini, but needs defensive sharpness

Roma have made contact with free agent Matteo Darmian as they explore defensive reinforcements during an extended fixture break. The 36-year-old has fielded approaches from smaller clubs during the summer with no result, but would prioritise Roma over potential moves to Parma or Torino. He has also received lucrative proposals to move to Dubai and may not wait long for a decision. The Giallorossi created space after sending Anass Salah-Eddine on loan to Panathinaikos with a €7 million option to buy, despite his solid spell at PSV and a Morocco World Cup call-up. While Roma's wingback options are in reasonable condition—with Emanuele Lulli emerging as an early revelation—Gian Piero Gasperini favours adding experienced players to manage demanding roles. A left-sided defender would be the preference. The former Inter man was not retained by the Nerazzurri after six years and over 200 appearances, starting only nine times in 2025-26 owing to competition and a serious calf injury. Darmian, a Milan academy product, began his career at Palermo before flourishing at Torino. He later moved to Manchester United and returned to Italy through Parma before joining Inter. His veteran status and experience align with Gasperini's preferences, though questions remain about his physical condition after a difficult previous season.

Roma's radio shows dissected Saturday's 2–2 draw with Inter, with commentators praising the first-half performance but questioning the manager's tactical decisions in the second. Gianluca Piacentini argued that Roma should have converted more of their chances and that Gasperini erred in removing Manu Koné, saying: "For me Gasperini was wrong to take off Koné. If we're looking at who doesn't have 90 minutes in them, Dybala doesn't have it more than Koné does." Mario Corsi defended Koné's role in midfield, remarking: "The Frenchman holds the entire midfield on his own—at one point he seemed like Gullit." Roberto Pruzzo expressed disappointment at the substitutions, noting that Rodrigo Mora "cost an absolute fortune and the manager doesn't even bring him on," and citing Koné's missed opportunities as a turning point: "When you see Koné take two shots and score two goals instead of sending it into the corner, that's a moment you can't waste." Roma dominated the opening 45 minutes, creating numerous chances and holding Inter scoreless at the interval, but conceded almost immediately after the restart—a pattern of weakness several analysts highlighted. Alessio Nardo drew a stark contrast to Roma's 5–2 loss at San Siro on 5 April, saying: "Only a few months have passed, and whilst playing away is different, Roma not only didn't lose, they drew and are also disappointed. The real signal is that." Lorenzo Pes pinpointed the problem: "The goals conceded and the lapses at the start of the second half are the issue to solve." Piero Torri suggested Roma are pursuing left-winger Kvernadze, saying: "I have the impression that Roma are looking for him—and as it happens, he's a left-sided player with a right foot. He seems like an interesting player to me. You're short numerically on that type of player there." Checco Oddo Casano noted that Dybala has scored zero goals this season but provides one assist per match, whilst admitting he has squandered at least three goalscoring chances. Francesca Ferrazza warned of the fixture congestion ahead, stressing Roma need ready players before January. Fabio Petruzzi and David Rossi were among those who felt Roma had matched Inter's intensity, with Petruzzi declaring Roma and Inter "the two strongest teams in the league and will fight it out until the end." The consensus was that Roma's first-half dominance and the narrow scoreline represented real progress, though the defensive vulnerability in the second half must be corrected.

Roma will not pursue free-agent signings during the international break, despite rumours around players such as Darmian, Sancho and Guerreiro. Gasperini prefers to work with his current squad rather than add names for their own sake. The club's transfer strategy will shift in January, when Roma will target the two positions that remained unfilled in the summer window: a left-back and an attacking winger. Oosterwolde, a Dutch defender from Parma, is Roma's primary left-back target. He had already begun his move to Roma but was halted by a thigh tendon injury and subsequently underwent surgery. He will be ready for selection in January. Fenerbahçe intends to loan him out, and the position at Roma—filling a gap alongside Molina, Wesley, Lulli and Rensch—suits Gasperini well. The greater priority remains an attacking winger. After missing out on Leweling and Summerville, Roma's attention has shifted to two players reportedly unhappy at their current clubs: Endrick and Gittens, from Real Madrid and Chelsea respectively. Both clubs could be persuaded to loan their players out. Roma are also monitoring new names, particularly Kvernadze of Frosinone. Tony D'Amico had previously said, "We'll see further ahead" regarding free-agent acquisitions to bolster the summer market. The plan to strengthen an incomplete squad will take concrete shape when the January window opens.

Donyell Malen has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad during the international break due to a minor left knee issue sustained in Roma's match against Inter, though head coach Gasperini will retain him, Paulo Dybala, Bryan Cristante and Wesley at Trigoria. Over 20 days, 12 Roma players will scatter across the globe for international duty. Malen's injury is not considered serious. Netherlands coach Xavi commented: "It's a shame because Donyell is in excellent form. I think he's fine, I don't know how long it will take him to recover, but the injury is not serious." The decision to rest him was precautionary. Argentine players Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi will feature in friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin respectively. The Benin match doubles as a farewell appearance for Lionel Messi, to which Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina have also been invited.

Roma drew 2–2 with Inter in a Serie A match on which pundit Daniele Adani offered detailed analysis. Adani highlighted Roma's attacking aggression in the opening period, noting how Molina won the ball back and provided an assist for Koné, and how Hermoso and Balerdi pushed forward into the opponent's penalty area. However, he identified defensive lapses, particularly Soulé being caught out of position against Bisseck on a throw-in, and singled out Gianluca Mancini for a lapse on Lautaro Martinez's first goal. "Mancini is a bit superficial and Roma concede in numerical superiority in the area," Adani said. Adani suggested Roma would have held their advantage had they resisted another 15–20 minutes without allowing Inter back into the contest. He emphasised the tactical toll of Gasperini's system, noting that Roma defended one-on-one eighty metres from goal and allowed themselves to be beaten despite playing well. He remarked that Paulo Dybala closed down on the second post against Lautaro Martinez during the match. On Inter's comeback, Adani observed that while Inter made two substitutions at the 90-minute mark, it was Inter who rose to the occasion rather than Roma's performance dropping. "The first hour of Roma is sensational," he said. "Inter feel in control, so the blows come. Even if you are the strongest team, if you don't show it you go down to everyone. Against Real Madrid like against Udinese. They also believe they are the strongest because they are the architects and feel in control."

Twelve AS Roma players will be absent during the 20-day international break as they answer calls from their national teams, though coach Gian Piero Gasperini managed to retain Wesley, Bryan Cristante and Donyell Malen. The Argentine contingent—Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi—depart for friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin respectively. The final fixture doubles as Lionel Messi's farewell match; Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina have also been invited to that occasion. Italy's representatives Gianluca Mancini and Daniele Ghilardi will face Belgium, Turkey and France in Nations League action, where Manu Koné features for France alongside Italy's other two group opponents. Emanuele Lulli and Niccolò Pisilli join the Under-21 squad for European qualifying matches against Armenia and Poland. Konstantinos Koulierakis represents Greece, Evan N'Dicka plays for Côte d'Ivoire, and Rodrigo Mora turns out for Portugal's Under-21 side. Third-choice goalkeeper Giorgio De Marzi competes in Under-19 action alongside young prospect Antonio Arena and other Primavera players.

Donyell Malen, Wesley and Bryan Cristante will remain at Trigoria during the international break after withdrawing from their national team commitments due to minor injuries, with no serious alarm felt over their condition. Malen has been ruled out of the Netherlands squad with a physical problem that emerged in recent days, Wesley has suffered a right thigh muscle strain that forced him to withdraw from Brazil's call-up, and Cristante is unavailable for Italy's fixtures. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini aims to have all three available again when the league resumes. Roma have released twelve players to their respective national teams following the 2–2 draw against Inter. The departing squad members, including youth representatives, are Gianluca Mancini, Daniele Ghilardi, Evan N'Dicka, Emanuele Lulli, Niccolò Pisilli, Manu Koné, Leonardo Balerdi, Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Rodrigo Mora and Giorgio De Marzi. A fixture to watch closely is France versus Italy in the Nations League on 2 October, which will pit Koné against squad-mates Mancini and Ghilardi. Off the pitch, Jason Morrow has departed his position as Chief Financial Officer of AS Roma to return to the United States within the Friedkin Group, as previously agreed with the ownership. The club has decided not to appoint an immediate replacement, with a successor arriving later. John Galantic will consolidate his role as a point of reference for both the administrative and technical spheres, maintaining the strong working relationship he has built with Gasperini and D'Amico.

Donyell Malen has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad during the international break due to a minor left knee issue sustained in Roma's match against Inter, though head coach Gasperini will retain him, Paulo Dybala, Bryan Cristante and Wesley at Trigoria. Over 20 days, 12 Roma players will scatter across the globe for international duty. Malen's injury is not considered serious. Netherlands coach Xavi commented: "It's a shame because Donyell is in excellent form. I think he's fine, I don't know how long it will take him to recover, but the injury is not serious." The decision to rest him was precautionary. Argentine players Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi will feature in friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin respectively. The Benin match doubles as a farewell appearance for Lionel Messi, to which Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina have also been invited.

Donyell Malen, Wesley and Bryan Cristante have withdrawn from their respective national team commitments due to physical problems, but Roma do not view their conditions as a cause for serious concern. All three will remain at Trigoria during the international break to recover without being forced to accelerate their rehabilitation. The aim is to have them available again for Gian Piero Gasperini when the league campaign resumes. Malen will not join the Netherlands squad owing to a physical issue that emerged in recent days. Wesley is dealing with a muscle strain in his right thigh that forced him to withdraw from Brazil's call-up, while Cristante is unavailable for Italy's fixtures. The positive news for Roma is that none of the three is expected to need a prolonged absence. The international break will allow them to work at Trigoria and clear their respective problems, giving Gasperini the chance to have them fully fit again. Malen, Wesley and Cristante are expected to return to full training after the pause.

Roma will not pursue free-agent signings during the international break, despite rumours around players such as Darmian, Sancho and Guerreiro. Gasperini prefers to work with his current squad rather than add names for their own sake. The club's transfer strategy will shift in January, when Roma will target the two positions that remained unfilled in the summer window: a left-back and an attacking winger. Oosterwolde, a Dutch defender from Parma, is Roma's primary left-back target. He had already begun his move to Roma but was halted by a thigh tendon injury and subsequently underwent surgery. He will be ready for selection in January. Fenerbahçe intends to loan him out, and the position at Roma—filling a gap alongside Molina, Wesley, Lulli and Rensch—suits Gasperini well. The greater priority remains an attacking winger. After missing out on Leweling and Summerville, Roma's attention has shifted to two players reportedly unhappy at their current clubs: Endrick and Gittens, from Real Madrid and Chelsea respectively. Both clubs could be persuaded to loan their players out. Roma are also monitoring new names, particularly Kvernadze of Frosinone. Tony D'Amico had previously said, "We'll see further ahead" regarding free-agent acquisitions to bolster the summer market. The plan to strengthen an incomplete squad will take concrete shape when the January window opens.

Roma go into the international break as league leaders following a draw with Inter, but with several players nursing injuries that Gasperini will have time to manage. Wesley remained in Rome with a right thigh muscle strain and should need about a week to recover fully before the trip to Como. Bryan Cristante stayed behind as well, sidelined by lower back pain that prevented him from joining Italy's national team camp. Donyell Malen was forced to withdraw from the Netherlands squad due to muscle fatigue, while Manu Koné's condition is being assessed after an demanding performance against Inter. Gasperini has an interesting group available for work at Trigoria during the break. Goalkeepers, Mario Hermoso, Devyne Rensch, Nahuel Molina, Marten de Roon, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala will all remain in the capital, excluded from their respective national team duties for various reasons. Pellegrini warrants particular attention: the number 7 has only recently returned from a long layoff and still needs to build match minutes, rhythm and match fitness. Gasperini is reportedly considering organising friendlies during the break to maintain match sharpness for players staying at Trigoria and accelerate recovery for those needing competitive action. The three-week break is crucial preparation for what follows. When the season resumes, Roma face nine matches across twenty-eight days, spanning Serie A fixtures from Como to Sassuolo and Champions League ties against Real Madrid, Slovan Bratislava and Manchester United. The depth of the squad will need to deliver more than theory—rotations, quick recoveries and an expanding pool of players capable of matching the standards of the regulars will be essential. Roma arrive at the break top of the league with renewed confidence, and Gasperini has the time to rebuild before the relentless stretch begins.

Roma close the opening phase of the 2026-27 season unbeaten after their 2-2 draw with Inter, maintaining four wins and two draws across the opening block of fixtures. Manu Koné scored twice in that Inter match and heads the player ratings across Italian media with an average of 7.9, rewarded for his dominant display. Bryan Cristante and Paulo Dybala both averaged 6.7, Nahuel Molina 6.6 and Leonardo Balerdi 6.5, while Gianluca Mancini registered the lowest average at 5.3 after an error that led to Lautaro Martinez's opening goal; among substitutes, Daniele Ghilardi struggled with 5.5. The international break presents a significant challenge to Gasperini's plans. Roma will have only seven players available during the roughly 20-day break: Mile Svilar, Pierluigi Gollini, Mario Hermoso, Molina, Devyne Rensch, Marten de Roon and Dybala. Even Dybala will leave for several days to attend Lionel Messi's farewell international match. With numbers so thin at the training ground, Roma will have to draw on Primavera players and schedule a couple of friendly matches. Training resumes on Monday afternoon after most of the squad departs to join their respective national teams over the weekend. Roma were 2-0 ahead at half-time against Inter before conceding twice in the second half to settle for the draw.