Koné swap for Frattesi possible if right offer arrives; Pruzzo sees Soulé sale as realistic option

Alessio Cacciamani's name dominated Roma's transfer activity over the summer, but the Torino winger ultimately remained with the club and renewed his contract. Torino's sporting director addressed the matter before his side's match against Udinese, telling Sky Sport that Roma were not alone in their interest. He stated: "Cacciamani and Roma? The giallorossi were not the only ones interested in the player. The president had said he did not want to sell the player: only an important proposal would have prompted evaluation, but this did not arrive and so we will enjoy having him." The director's comments clarify that despite sustained speculation linking Cacciamani to Roma, no offer of sufficient scale materialised to shift Torino's stance on their player. With Cacciamani's contract now renewed, he will continue as part of the Granata's plans moving forward.

Torino sporting director Gianluca Petrachi confirmed that Roma made a genuine attempt to sign Alessio Cacciamani during the summer transfer window. Cacciamani, who started for Torino in their Serie A match against Udinese on 12 October, was among several clubs tracking the winger, but no deal materialised. Petrachi disclosed that Torino's president had stipulated the player would only leave for a sufficiently substantial proposal. Speaking before kick-off, he said: "There was not only Roma interested in Cacciamani. The president had said he didn't want to sell the player: only an important offer would have made us consider it. It didn't arrive, and we're enjoying him." The winger remains at the club as Torino continue their Serie A campaign.

Cicinho, who joined Roma from Real Madrid in August 2007 and won a Coppa Italia and Supercoppa during his time in giallorosso, has backed the club to challenge for honours and urged young Brazilian forward Endrick to make the switch from Madrid if the opportunity arises. Speaking exclusively to Forzaroma.info ahead of Wednesday's match at the Olimpico, the former right-back reflected on Endrick's situation and Roma's current trajectory under Gian Piero Gasperini. Asked whether he would advise Endrick to join Roma or remain at Real Madrid awaiting his chance, Cicinho said: "If I were Endrick, I would go to Roma without thinking twice. I think Real Madrid should also consider this possibility, because it would be very positive for him. A player with his talent needs to be on the pitch, not getting rusty on the bench. He still has a lot to learn and I think he would adapt very well to Gasperini's energetic style and the intensity of his game." Cicinho also addressed Paulo Dybala's worthiness of Roma's number 10 shirt, a subject on which Francesco Totti recently expressed reservations. "The Captain gave Roma's number 10 a meaning that goes well beyond football and borders on magic," Cicinho reflected. "Twenty-four years of devotion to the giallorosso shirt, during which he brought professionalism and dedication to the highest levels and, above all, reminded everyone in the dressing room that they had a duty to represent that fanbase. Dybala is also, as they say in Italy, a fantasist, a player capable of making fans dream, and has already shown great attachment to the club, even refusing economically more advantageous offers. I think the number 10 would be in good hands with Dybala, but we must make peace with the idea that we will never find another Totti." On Roma's title prospects, Cicinho expressed cautious optimism about Gasperini's project but suggested it remains in a growth phase. "Yes, I believe in it, but it seems to me that the Roma-Gasperini project is still in a phase of growth and could reach its peak perhaps in the next season, provided we manage to retain the most important players, like Manu Koné, and continue to strengthen well in the market," he said. "Roma's starting eleven is exceptional, but I believe it is necessary to increase the depth of the squad. The second half against Inter was an example. Matches like that decide the title, not only for the points in the table, but also for the message they send to opponents." Cicinho also spoke of finding contentment away from football, having previously described a period in which he "saw no joy in anything." He credited his family and simpler life with providing genuine happiness. "Being able to be with my wife and my children, seeing them grow. True happiness lies in simple things, in the possibility of enjoying them without rush and with a clear mind, to fully live these beautiful moments. That is the real luxury of life, not cars, parties or spotlights."

Roma held a training session at Trigoria on 13 October at 15:00 ahead of their next fixture against Real Madrid. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini used the session to assess squad condition and finalise his starting lineup. Konstantinos Koulierakis has recovered from injury and is available for selection, but Bryan Cristante remains sidelined as he continues his rehabilitation from a knee injury. The session included goalkeeper work, with Devis Vásquez included in the UEFA squad list following Mile Svilar's injury. The press access portion of training concluded with the squad working on possession drills.

Mile Svilar is determined to return to action as quickly as possible after suffering a stress fracture to the fifth toe of his right foot ahead of Roma's match against Como. The goalkeeper will be sidelined for several weeks, but posted images on social media showing him working in the gym with a protective brace on his foot, alongside video of upper-body exercises. He accompanied the content with a message: "Tenere sotto controllo ciò che è possibile nonostante le battute d'arresto" — keeping control of what is possible despite setbacks. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged the blow Svilar's absence represents. "It is a bad setback," Gasperini said in his press conference. "It is not a displaced fracture, but it will require at least a month of recovery." Against Como, Pierluigi Gollini stepped in as substitute goalkeeper and delivered a convincing performance, offering Roma some reassurance ahead of the next fixture against Real Madrid while Gasperini awaits the return of his number one.

Pierluigi Gollini marked his return to Serie A action after two years with a clean sheet at Como, keeping out Nico Paz with two vital saves. His next test arrives tomorrow against Real Madrid in the Champions League, where stars including Mbappé and Vinicius will pose a far stiffer challenge. The Stadio Olimpico stage is familiar territory for the goalkeeper, who earned ten Champions League appearances while at Atalanta under Gasperini—the most of any Roma player in the competition this season, ahead of Mile Svilar (4 appearances), Matías Soulé (4), and Gianluca Mancini, Wesley and Manu Koné, who all made their competition debuts in September against Fenerbahçe. Real Madrid hold particular significance in Gollini's European history. His last Champions League outing came against the Spanish club in 2021, when Atalanta lost 0–1; de Roon also featured that evening and will line up again tomorrow in place of the injured Bryan Cristante. Roma will be aiming to replicate Sunday's result at Como, when they secured victory at the final whistle.

Donyell Malen will lead Roma's attack alongside Paulo Dybala in tomorrow's Champions League match against Real Madrid, with Matías Soulé deployed behind them. The Dutch forward is chasing redemption after his red card in the Como fixture. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will hold a press conference at 13:30 alongside Malen, with a training session scheduled for 15:00. Santiago Castro is expected to start in Malen's place on Saturday against Genoa, with a possible rotation between the two for the Real Madrid encounter. Defensive decisions remain fluid: Leonardo Balerdi is pushing for a starting role, while either Evan N'Dicka or Mario Hermoso could be rested. José Mourinho is due to speak at 18:00.

Donyell Malen will appear alongside head coach Gian Piero Gasperini at the pre-match press conference as Roma prepare for their Champions League fixture against Real Madrid. Gasperini's media duties begin at 13:30, followed by a training session at 15:00. Malen, seeking redemption after receiving a red card in Roma's recent match at Como, is set to lead the attack alongside Paulo Dybala, with Matías Soulé in support. Santiago Castro will start in Saturday evening's fixture instead, playing against Genoa at the Olimpico. Defensive concerns loom, with Leonardo Balerdi pushing for minutes and either Evan N'Dicka or Mario Hermoso potentially rested. The article also notes that former manager José Mourinho will hold his own press conference at 18:00.

Roma's 0-0 draw at Como revealed a significant shift in Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical identity, demonstrating both defensive resilience and a willingness to accept a hard-fought point when circumstances demand it. The result, secured while playing more than a third of the match with ten men, drew praise from the coach for his team's refusal to surrender. Gasperini said: "I celebrated for the spirit we showed on the pitch until the ninety-fourth minute. Playing more than a third of a match in numerical inferiority against this Como without ever stepping back is a big deal." The performance marked a departure from Gasperini's traditional approach, which has always prioritised sustained attacking, pursuing a second or third goal regardless of defensive risk. This season, Roma have absorbed the principle that if a match cannot be won, it must be prevented from being lost—a pragmatic shift essential to competing for the season's highest targets. The club's overall balance across all departments now reflects this maturity: Roma have conceded just three goals so far, sharing the league's best defensive record with Cagliari, while maintaining the second-most prolific attack with 14 goals, trailing only Inter. Como's dominance of possession in the final stages—reaching 83.8%—was neutralised by Roma's midfield and defensive foundation. Gianluca Mancini handled 51 passes, Marten de Roon 55, Wesley 65 and Nahuel Molina 63. The defensive line, led by Evan N'Dicka and rotating through Mario Hermoso, Leonardo Balerdi and Daniele Ghilardi, proved impenetrable. Paulo Dybala, despite minor errors born of fatigue, managed 47 passes away from Roma's box, functioning as a leader among opponents' attackers and maintaining continuity through all 90 minutes with ten men. This combination of technical quality and competitive intensity forms the foundation Roma will need for the season's major fixtures.

Donyell Malen has been suspended for one match by the Sport Judge following disciplinary action from the latest Serie A matchday, ruling him out of Roma's fixture against Genoa. Matías Soulé received his first yellow card of the season, while midfielders Manu Koné and Marten de Roon were each shown a second caution. Roma has also been fined €4,000 for unjustifiably causing a delay of approximately three minutes to the start of the first half.

Donyell Malen will miss Roma's next Serie A fixture after receiving a suspension following his red card in the match against Como. The forward will sit out Roma-Genoa, scheduled for Saturday at 20.45 at Stadio Olimpico. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will need to reconfigure his attacking setup without one of his key players during this early stretch of the season. Malen will be available again for Roma's subsequent away fixture at Napoli, set for 24 October.

Gian Piero Gasperini held a pre-match press conference at Fulvio Bernardini training ground on the eve of Roma's Champions League fixture against Real Madrid at the Olimpico. The head coach addressed the magnitude of the occasion, the emotions surrounding José Mourinho's return to the club he managed, and Roma's tactical approach to one of Europe's strongest sides. Gasperini said Roma are in good form and eager to measure themselves against elite European opposition. "For us it is a fine moment, we want to test ourselves against one of the best squads in Europe," he said. He acknowledged Real Madrid's quality and recent managerial change under Carlo Ancelotti but noted they "have need of some matches to work themselves in, given that they have changed system and manager. But it is a squad that has great resources and I believe it can grow over time, remaining a very dangerous squad capable of winning any match." On Real's attacking talent—Mbappé, Vinicius Jr, Diomandé, and Bellingham—he observed: "If in front you have Mbappé, Vinicius, Diomandé, then Bellingham, you have extraordinary players who can settle any match but you perhaps lose something on compactness." Regarding Mourinho's reception, Gasperini said it was right and proper. "It is just that it should be so; towards Mourinho there has been important affection and he deserves the recognition of the people. These are things that everyone feels, they cannot be stopped. Then the match starts and all feeling is set aside: the people of Roma will support only their own team." When asked if he would ask Mourinho about Endrick, Gasperini smiled and said: "I do not believe so. We have begun a path and tomorrow will be a great event, we will live it with this pleasure." On squad fitness, he reported that Konstantinos Koulierakis had returned to training with the group after missing time, while Bryan Cristante required more recovery following the recent match against Como. Donyell Malen's goalscoring form drew praise: "No, I did not expect he would have more goals than Mbappé in the calendar year, but these goals are all valid and deserved." Gasperini expressed hope that Roma can surpass what his Atalanta achieved. "This is my objective and my hope. The Atalanta arrived from a lower position than Roma, won the Europa League, played five Champions Leagues. But we cannot launch proclamations for our football: we cannot win the Champions, we need to grow our own garden well. Then the journey will still be long."