Koné and Venturino return to training as Roma chase Champions League spot

Atalanta sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli confirmed that Marten de Roon requested a move to Roma during the transfer window that has just closed. Speaking at a press conference to present Frank Kessié, Giuntoli said: "When a player asks to leave, you have to listen to him. He asked us to go to Roma and we threw ourselves at Kessié." De Roon joined Roma's squad this summer after spending the previous season with Atalanta. Giuntoli explained Atalanta's approach to the midfielder's departure: "We're sorry, but we have to turn the page and move forward. Kessié is a player with personality who can help us in this new Atalanta." The signing of Kessié was presented as the club's solution to replacing the departing midfielder.

Santiago Castro entered Roma's match against Atalanta at the 62nd minute as an unlikely substitute, replacing the league's in-form forward Donyell Malen, yet the move proved to be the turning point in a game the hosts trailed. In his brief appearance, Castro struck the post and crossbar while providing two key passes, underscoring the quality of Roma's bench and prompting head coach Gian Piero Gasperini to praise his aggression. The Argentine's introduction illustrated the gulf between Roma's attacking depth now and the crisis that plagued them throughout the previous season. Last season Gasperini struggled with inadequate backup at centre-forward. Artem Dovbyk managed only 386 minutes in the league, while Evan Ferguson accumulated 776; injuries to both forced the coach into makeshift solutions, sometimes fielding a lone striker. Malen's January arrival from Dortmund transformed the dynamic, yet even then Gasperini was stretched thin managing the Dutchman's workload in a frenetic system that demands fresh energy. Castro's arrival this summer completes the picture. The forward combines goal-scoring instinct, the ability to run channels, ball retention and defensive work rate—qualities already evident in his early outings in red and gold. Gasperini's post-match verdict captured the shift: "The changes were good and that's what we were looking for—to complete this squad with substitutes who could give important help across matches. In finishing and in the forward area we were good, but we lacked intensity. We were sometimes too neat, aside from Castro's post and crossbar." Against Atalanta, Castro fired four shots—two on target and two off the woodwork—laying down a marker as a genuine alternative to Malen. Soulé scored, Molina offered fresh options on the flank and Balerdi commanded the defence like a squad veteran. Gasperini acknowledged the possibility of using both attackers together: "Castro and Malen together? It's an idea for the future. They can coexist, definitely. They can play together. We'll see; we're doing evaluations now. We'll have many matches so there will be chances for everyone and also to vary these systems." The contrast with previous seasons is stark. Roma's manager can now turn to a bench and find genuine competition for the starting eleven rather than, as José Mourinho once lamented, mere children. The scale of available rotation across the squad—particularly in attack and defence—represents a luxury rarely seen at Trigoria in recent years.

Roma will make their Champions League debut for seven years when they travel to Istanbul to face Fenerbahçe on 8 September, their first taste of Europe's premier competition since March 2019. After winning their opening three Serie A matches, Gian Piero Gasperini's side returns to the tournament that has been absent from the Stadio Olimpico since the 2018–19 season, when Roma last played in it away to Porto in the round of 16 under Eusebio Di Francesco. The gulf between then and now is vast: that side held De Rossi as captain and featured Dzeko, Kolarov, Marcano, Manolas, Juan Jesus and Karsdorp in defence. Today, Roma take the pitch with fresh momentum and a manager ready for his 35th Champions League bench. For Gasperini, Istanbul marks a return to the tournament after his Atalanta years. Across 34 previous Champions League matches as a coach, his record stands at 12 victories, 9 draws and 13 defeats. His sole previous campaign outside Atalanta came in 2011 on Inter's bench, when he lost 1–0 to Trabzonspor at San Siro. Atalanta provided all 33 other appearances, including his finest hour: the 2019–20 quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain, a result that stings still. Atalanta had led 1–0 thanks to Pasalic until the 90th minute, before Marquinhos and Choupo-Moting scored at 90 and 93 minutes respectively. His last Champions League outing was the playoff elimination against Club Brugge in the 2024–25 season, a 5–2 aggregate defeat. For Fenerbahçe, the wait has been even longer: 18 years since they last featured in the group phase, which was the 2008–09 season. Roma's drought has lasted seven years, their previous fixture coming on 6 March 2019, a 3–1 loss after extra time to Porto. Across all European competitions, Roma have played 111 matches, recording 41 victories, 27 draws and 43 defeats, with their finest hour the 1984 European Cup final against Liverpool, decided on penalties. Fenerbahçe's best European run reached the quarter-finals in 2007–08, when they beat Chelsea 2–1 at home before elimination. The two clubs have never met in an official fixture; their only previous encounter was a friendly on 19 August 2014 at the Olimpico, which finished 3–3 before 35,000 spectators in Roma's pre-season presentation under Rudi Garcia. Totti opened the scoring from a penalty at 26 minutes; Bruno Alves equalised from a free-kick six minutes later. Kuyt and Sow put Fenerbahçe 3–1 up in the second half before Mattia Destro's double at 82 and 86 minutes secured a draw. Salih Uçan, who had transferred from Fenerbahçe to Roma weeks before, appeared for Roma in that second half. Romelu Lukaku, who spent one season at Roma as their centre-forward two years ago, will lead Fenerbahçe's attack. He scored 21 goals in 47 appearances for Roma—13 in Serie A, 7 in the Europa League and 1 in the Coppa Italia—under both Mourinho and De Rossi before joining Napoli. Mason Greenwood, the English forward who came close to signing for Roma this summer before Fenerbahçe's intervention secured his services with a substantial offer, will also feature. Mattéo Guendouzi, the French midfielder, is suspended for four match days by UEFA—two of them suspended for a year—following the incident in the playoff against Lyon, and will miss Roma's visit and the subsequent match against Aston Villa. Vedat Muriqi, the Kosovo striker who returned to Fenerbahçe after a spell at Mallorca, has already scored three goals in seven appearances this season, including the decisive strike in a 2–1 win over Lyon that sealed qualification. Jayden Oosterwolde, the defender, was due to join Roma after arriving at Ciampino on 25 August, but a medical examination revealed a serious issue with his left thigh beyond the initial diagnosis. After Roma attempted to renegotiate and Fenerbahçe refused, he returned to Istanbul and underwent surgery in Finland on 1 September; he will watch from the sidelines.

Gasperini's tactical gamble paid off as Roma came from behind to beat Atalanta, with five substitutions made by the 21st minute of the second half transforming a match the club was losing 1–0 after Ederson's goal. With Ndicka and Mancini struggling against Atalanta's counter-attacks, Gasperini brought on Molina, Soulé, Castro, Ghilardi and Balerdi in rapid succession. The changes proved decisive: Ghilardi and Balerdi immediately steadied the defence and neutralised Atalanta's transitions, while Castro came close with efforts that hit the post and crossbar. Soulé delivered the most telling contribution, providing an assist and scoring a goal in the 93rd minute—an impact matching what he produced in Roma's match at Lecce. Gasperini had stated before the match: "Titolari and riserve ormai non contano più, si gioca in sedici"—effectively that first-team status and substitutes no longer matter, the game is played by sixteen—and the field immediately vindicated him. The depth demonstrated reflects substantial improvement from the previous season. In a match such as Parma last May, the bench contained only Venturino and Vaz; Gasperini now has access to a squad rich with genuine alternatives capable of reshaping a match. The quality of those replacements gives him the tactical weapons to win even when games turn against Roma mid-contest.

Neil El Aynaoui is poised to leave Roma after just one season, with Crystal Palace having tabled an opening offer structured as a loan with a right of purchase that would convert to an obligation under certain conditions. Roma value the midfielder at €30–35 million and are seeking either a permanent sale or a guaranteed obligation to buy, neither of which Crystal Palace's initial proposal meets. Bayer Leverkusen has also shown interest, while Saudi Arabian clubs registered prior enquiries. El Aynaoui's potential departure would mark the near-complete dismantling of the squad built last summer by director of football Frédéric Massara under the supervision of head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Bought from Lens a year ago for €23 million plus €2 million in bonuses, El Aynaoui was among Massara's primary investments in summer 2025 and arrived following protracted negotiations for Richard Rios, whom Gasperini had identified as a target midfielder. Yet twelve months on, he has failed to establish himself as a central figure in Roma's project. Of the eight main signings Massara made that summer—El Aynaoui, Wesley, Ghilardi, Evan Ferguson, Bailey, Jan Ziółkowski, Vasquez and Zelezny, plus further arrivals during the season including Robinio Vaz and Donyell Malen in January—almost none remain integrated into the first-team plan. Bailey departed in January; Ferguson and Kostas Tsimikas have returned to their parent clubs; Zaragoza, Venturino and Zelezny have left; Ziółkowski is bound for Monza; and Robinio Vaz is joining Hull City on a paid loan with a purchase option. Only Wesley and Malen have endured as meaningful squad members—notably, both were explicitly endorsed by Gasperini himself. The wholesale reversal reflects a fundamental disconnect between Massara's construction and Gasperini's tactical requirements. The head coach arrived with precise ideas about player profiles: intensity, one-on-one strength, athletic capability, aggression, willingness to defend in open play, and specific positional characteristics. Much of Massara's market activity, the article suggests, proceeded on different criteria. El Aynaoui, aged 25 with international appeal and genuine quality—hardly a failed signing on financial grounds—has attracted bids from Champions League and Bundesliga clubs yet appears expendable to Roma's current thinking. A sale at €30–35 million would recoup the initial investment while generating profit useful for UEFA financial compliance, and would free capital to invest in a midfielder Roma believes better suited to Gasperini's system alongside an attacking winger the head coach has requested for weeks. Roma has already absorbed a year of transfer misalignment and is now attempting correction. Should El Aynaoui depart, Wesley and Malen will stand as the last substantial survivors of Massara's legacy—both players explicitly favoured by Gasperini. The club cannot afford further directional error; Tony D'Amico must construct a roster that is recognisable, coherent and durable, avoiding a return to similar discussions in August 2027 regarding the summer 2026 window.

Roma's final weeks of the summer transfer window will see not only the completion of Gian Piero Gasperini's squad but also a profound transformation of the group built in previous sessions—a wholesale dismantling of the roster assembled under former sporting director Florent Ghisolfi and Ricky Massara. Defender Jan Ziółkowski is poised to leave. The Polish centre-back has opened talks over a move to Monza, who are ready to pay approximately €1.2 million for a paid loan. Details of the buyout clause remain to be finalised, though one proposal links the cost of the loan to Ziółkowski's appearances—the more he plays, the lower the fee for Monza. Roma will not greenlight his departure until a replacement arrives. The primary target is Morato, a Brazilian centre-back at Nottingham Forest, with negotiations centred on a loan formula, though no agreement has yet been reached between the clubs. Thilo Kehrer of Monaco has also been evaluated as an alternative, as has Nayef Aguerd, the 1996-born Moroccan defender at Marseille, in a potential loan deal. More delicate is the situation of Neil El Aynaoui. The Moroccan midfielder has failed to build the tactical understanding with Gasperini required to become a cornerstone of the project, and Roma are ready to let him go after just one season if the right offer arrives. However, proposals from Germany so far have been structured only as loans with buyout clauses, while Trigoria prefers an outright sale. El Aynaoui's departure would force Roma to return to the market. Gasperini had identified Franck Kessié as his target, but the Ivorian is now close to joining Juventus, leaving Roma to find an alternative quickly. Ziółkowski and El Aynaoui could join a lengthy list of players who arrived under Ghisolfi and Massara but have since exited the project: Bailey, Ferguson, Tsimikas, Venturino and Zaragoza are cited, while Robinio Vaz is close to Hull City, with an agreement between the clubs pending the player's approval. The transformation reflects Gasperini's tactical preferences and the new sporting direction's priorities.

Roma's radio stations have given their verdicts on Saturday's victory over Atalanta, with commentators split between praising the performance and assessing the squad's depth ahead of the Champions League debut on Thursday. Piero Torri of Radio Manà Manà said: "For now Roma are on full points alongside Inter, and these are certainly positive responses. From now until December it will all be a question of injuries: if Roma are not hit by injuries, their squad is sufficient. In any case, Pisilli and Rensch remained on the bench on Saturday, then Pellegrini will return. Without excessive problems, then, the squad is sufficient; in January you can possibly fine-tune something at a quantitative level. In any case, you have 21 players, and good ones too: if you put them on the pitch you don't have a collapse in quality." Torri added that when a team functions well, a player rated 6 can look like an 8. Francesco Balzani highlighted Balerdi's impact as a substitute, calling it "decisive" and praising the victory as "a win in the Mourinho style with Gasperini's football." Antonio Felici stressed that the win over Atalanta showed Roma can succeed even when facing difficulty in the 90 minutes, representing "the victory of self-awareness." Simone Valdarchi echoed the praise for Gasperini's tactical substitutions, saying Balerdi in particular "changed the inertia of the match" and allowed Roma to escape the difficulties created by Krstović and return to dominating play. Nando Orsi noted Roma have scored 10 goals so far and represent "a complete team where everyone can score," calling them underperformers on 9 points in the league table. Lorenzo Pes said Gasperini's next step is convincing Dybala he can score again, noting the striker will want to feature in Thursday's Champions League debut.

Fabio Capello has praised Roma's form under Gian Piero Gasperini, comparing the current squad's winning mentality to the 2001 Serie A champions. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Roma manager said he sees Roma as Inter's main challengers this season. Capello highlighted the team's one-on-one pressing across the pitch and their ability to create chances through quality passing in the final third. "The Roma has continued on the same path as last season and is maintaining the same attitude with an important playing base and quality: moreover it has fielded a new player, Mora, who has already integrated perfectly into the team's mechanics. I had said it even twenty days ago: the anti-Inter in effect is Roma," Capello said. Capello credited Gasperini with instilling a sacrifice mentality in the players and building the squad alongside sporting director Massara. He praised the depth of Gasperini's squad, noting that the manager wanted two starting-quality players per position—a strategy that showed its value in Saturday's match at the Olimpico through second-half substitutions. The former coach was particularly impressed by the attitude of substitute players coming off the bench, saying they all display the same winning desire without any sense of grievance about being brought on mid-match. Capello highlighted several attacking options available to Gasperini: "Malen-Castro, Dybala-Soulé, Mora and then midfielder Pellegrini: they are options for the league but also for the Champions League. They are quality players who integrate well; Gasp's continuous rotations will also help them give their best. They all play with great determination." He singled out Wesley as the engine on the flank, noting he dominates in Serie A but is now facing a test of strength and maturity in European competition. On Paulo Dybala and Mora, Capello said: "You cannot give up Dybala when he is playing well. And Mora is showing he has class and also concrete finishing. But I also want to emphasise the importance of Soulé: playing even 20 minutes in the second half, he is someone who can make the difference as he did against Atalanta." Capello drew explicit parallels with his own Roma title-winning side: "Many similarities. My first year at Roma we understood we were strong, then we completed the squad with Batistuta." On whether a northern coach's temperament suits Rome's volatile environment, he reflected: "I am always convinced that you need the players to win. But at Rome it is true that you easily move from exaltation to depression: equilibrium is always necessary, a bit of cold blood—perhaps someone recognises these characteristics in me and in Gasp." Regarding the January transfer window, Capello said Roma should only sign if the right profile emerges: "Taking for the sake of taking, no. If anything, we would need to sign a player who can make an impact."

Roma's momentum under Gasperini reached new heights on Saturday when the team overturned Atalanta in a display that has sparked genuine championship-contending optimism at the club. The performance was built on extraordinary attacking output: an expected goals figure of 3.24, 39 total shots on Carnesecchi's goal, 67% possession and just two shots on target conceded. Over three league matches, Roma have now scored 10 goals and conceded only 1—figures that place them among Europe's most dominant teams this season, with only Barcelona ahead in Europe on 12 goals. Gasperini's tactical setup and substitutions proved decisive: Castro, Balerdi, Molina and particularly Soulé made decisive impacts from the bench in a display built around Paulo Dybala and an Argentine contingent. The club's defensive solidity matches its attacking prowess, reflecting a squad with genuine depth across two balanced elevens despite missing a left-winger signing that Gasperini hopes to address in January. By Friday, Roma had returned to training with Lorenzo Pellegrini available ahead of Thursday's fixture against Fenerbahçe in European competition. However, Saturday's celebrations were marred by a serious incident at Stadio Olimpico. Sporting director D'Amico was verbally assaulted by Luca Percassi as he left the stadium; Percassi pursued the Roma executive to the car park before security intervened. Roma issued a strong statement in response to the episode.

Roma are prioritising the January transfer window over free-agent signings to strengthen their squad, with left-back Jayden Oosterwolde and forward Endrick among their targets. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Roma had agreed a €17 million deal with Oosterwolde but pulled out after medicals revealed his injury was more severe than initially expected. However, if he recovers in the coming months, both parties are expected to resume negotiations. Roma are also pursuing attacking reinforcements alongside Oosterwolde, with Endrick and Luiz Henrique identified as priorities. Per Corriere dello Sport, the Real Madrid forward has reportedly told Wesley and Brazilian teammates that a move to Rome could materialise in January. Roma and AC Milan both attempted to persuade Real Madrid to loan out Endrick, but José Mourinho refused to release him. The situation could change if Endrick fails to secure regular playing time or underperforms, potentially opening the door in coming months. Milan subsequently signed Omari Hutchison after missing out on their own targets. Roma's continued focus on Oosterwolde despite their withdrawal suggests eventual acquisition remains likely. The club has free-agent left-back options available but shows no interest in pursuing them, indicating they are not desperate for defensive reinforcements. With Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala performing well in attacking roles, Roma appear reluctant to add another left-footed forward at this stage.

A motorcycle collision involving Rome's police escort overshadowed Roma's build-up to their Champions League debut on Thursday. A 63-year-old local police officer suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries when his motorbike collided with a car at the junction of via Baldo degli Ubaldi and via Pieralice during the convoy to the team bus on Monday. The Roma squad and CEO John Galantic witnessed the crash, with Galantic requesting updates on the officer's condition. An investigation is now under way to determine why a vehicle was moving on a road that should have been closed to traffic. Roma have already turned attention to Thursday's Champions League opener against Fenerbahçe in Turkey. The squad undertook a recovery session at Trigoria on Sunday, with departure to Turkey scheduled for Wednesday ahead of the press conference and final training. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will assess Wesley and Evan N'Dicka, while Paulo Dybala's energy levels are being monitored after he played 96 minutes in Saturday's match. Nahuel Molina could start in place of Emanuele Lulli, favoured by his international experience, though Gasperini appears unlikely to make wholesale changes. Away supporters face further disruption. Following the closure of Roma's allocated section at Lecce, the upcoming trip to Turin is also at risk. Torino have suspended ticket sales pending decisions from the relevant authorities. The National Observatory on Sporting Events has deferred evaluation to the CASMS, which must rule on the away fixture. On the bench, Gasperini was stopped mid-celebration after the winning goal against Atalanta on Saturday. Assistant Mauro Fumagalli held the head coach back as he moved toward the Curva Sud, with the restraint serving a disciplinary purpose: Gasperini was already carrying a yellow card, and an exuberant display risked a red card and suspension for the Torino match.

Fabio Capello has praised Roma's form under Gian Piero Gasperini, comparing the current squad's winning mentality to the 2001 Serie A champions. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Roma manager said he sees Roma as Inter's main challengers this season. Capello highlighted the team's one-on-one pressing across the pitch and their ability to create chances through quality passing in the final third. "The Roma has continued on the same path as last season and is maintaining the same attitude with an important playing base and quality: moreover it has fielded a new player, Mora, who has already integrated perfectly into the team's mechanics. I had said it even twenty days ago: the anti-Inter in effect is Roma," Capello said. Capello credited Gasperini with instilling a sacrifice mentality in the players and building the squad alongside sporting director Massara. He praised the depth of Gasperini's squad, noting that the manager wanted two starting-quality players per position—a strategy that showed its value in Saturday's match at the Olimpico through second-half substitutions. The former coach was particularly impressed by the attitude of substitute players coming off the bench, saying they all display the same winning desire without any sense of grievance about being brought on mid-match. Capello highlighted several attacking options available to Gasperini: "Malen-Castro, Dybala-Soulé, Mora and then midfielder Pellegrini: they are options for the league but also for the Champions League. They are quality players who integrate well; Gasp's continuous rotations will also help them give their best. They all play with great determination." He singled out Wesley as the engine on the flank, noting he dominates in Serie A but is now facing a test of strength and maturity in European competition. On Paulo Dybala and Mora, Capello said: "You cannot give up Dybala when he is playing well. And Mora is showing he has class and also concrete finishing. But I also want to emphasise the importance of Soulé: playing even 20 minutes in the second half, he is someone who can make the difference as he did against Atalanta." Capello drew explicit parallels with his own Roma title-winning side: "Many similarities. My first year at Roma we understood we were strong, then we completed the squad with Batistuta." On whether a northern coach's temperament suits Rome's volatile environment, he reflected: "I am always convinced that you need the players to win. But at Rome it is true that you easily move from exaltation to depression: equilibrium is always necessary, a bit of cold blood—perhaps someone recognises these characteristics in me and in Gasp." Regarding the January transfer window, Capello said Roma should only sign if the right profile emerges: "Taking for the sake of taking, no. If anything, we would need to sign a player who can make an impact."