Koné to push for selection, but Pisilli on standby; Balerdi in contention to start against Torino

Leonardo Balerdi has established himself as a key figure at Roma, and his permanent transfer to the club now looks close to completion. The Argentine defender, who arrived from Marseille, is likely to start in Roma's trip to Udine after recovering from a knock he picked up on Saturday. Roma's first talk of making his move permanent has begun to circulate in the club's environment. The purchase option is subject to clauses tied to his playing time. Roma can buy Balerdi for around €14 million if he plays at least 55% of the club's matches. If he plays between 40% and 55% of matches, the fee drops by €3 million. Despite the conditions, the redemption does not appear to be in doubt. Balerdi's rise in recent months has been built on his fighting spirit and the way he conducts himself on the pitch. The defender has earned a leading role at the club in a short space of time, and the clauses give Roma a clear route to keeping him on a permanent basis.

Leonardo Balerdi has firmly established himself at Roma and is set to be available for the trip to Udine, having recovered from the blow he took on Saturday, with a strong chance of starting. The Argentine defender, fresh from a crucial brace in Naples, is in line to play from the start. Balerdi's future at the club is tied to a buy-back clause. Roma would pay 14 million euros if he plays at least 55% of matches for at least 45 minutes. Between 40% and 55%, the figure would fall by 3 million euros. The buy-back does not appear to be in doubt. Balerdi said: "It feels like I've been here for 2-3 years," confirming his desire to stay at the club for a long time.

Leonardo Balerdi is set to be regularly available for Roma's away trip to Udine after recovering from the knock he suffered on Saturday. The Argentine defender has already carved out an important role at the club, and his future is tied to a buy-option whose price depends on how often he plays. Despite conceding five goals across the matches against Napoli and Cagliari, Roma's defence remains one of the most solid units in the squad. Balerdi has become a fixed point in the back line, while Daniele Ghilardi and Konstantinos Koulierakis are increasingly part of Gian Piero Gasperini's rotation. The centre-backs have also contributed in attack: eight of Roma's 31 goals this season have come from them, roughly 25% of the total. Balerdi said: "It feels like I've been here for 2-3 years", confirming his desire to stay at the club for a long time. The buy-option clauses are worth €14 million if he plays at least 55% of matches for at least 45 minutes. If he plays between 40% and 55% of matches, the figure would drop by €3 million.

Rodrigo Mora's decisive header against Cagliari has delighted Roma supporters and revived regret among Porto fans over the midfielder's departure. Before Tuesday evening, the young Portuguese had had an uneven spell in the capital. He arrived in August with high expectations after an initial outlay of €25 million, alternating flashes of talent with less convincing displays and even finding himself on the bench in recent weeks. Then came a superb header at the Olimpico, followed by the assist that set up Malen's 4-2, which changed the picture overnight. His performance was noticed in Portugal too. As Il Romanista reports, the debate over a sale that some Porto supporters have never accepted has resurfaced on social media. One fan wrote: "Mora was sold because of Farioli, and now he is showing why everyone said 50 million was a bargain... Roma are lucky." Another went further, saying: "Great technique and grit, the place in Portugal's team must be his, not Ronaldo's." A third took a swipe at Roma: "He is too great a talent for a club that doesn't know how to value its players." Among the regret, though, there is also pride from those who watched Mora grow in the blue and white shirt. One Porto supporter wrote: "Even though there remains regret over how he could have become with us with more time, seeing him score like this makes us proud. May he keep growing, shining and showing the qualities we already knew. Talent has never been in doubt!" The message shows how much the player left his mark on the Dragão, despite a departure marked by controversy and division. Gian Piero Gasperini continues to manage him carefully. Mora has made 10 appearances in the first 12 matches, totalling 425 minutes, numbers that reflect a talent still seeking full consecration. The coach has always defended him, pointing out that he must improve above all physically and in his stamina over 90 minutes. After the Cagliari game, however, Gasperini described him as "una mina vagante", a wildcard. The header was his seventh goal of a young career, scored despite his height of 168 centimetres. Mora said: "I dream of being a decisive player." A first start could come soon, on Saturday at Udine, with Paulo Dybala absent. It is a chance to show that the Cagliari performance was not an isolated flash. Roma hope they have found a future protagonist, while in Porto some still wonder whether a mistake was made in letting him go so early.

Mile Svilar faces a decisive fitness test today as he works towards returning from a foot fracture, with Roma's goalkeeper having flown back from Belgium, where he has spent recent weeks on his recovery. The main target is the Roma-Sassuolo fixture on 7 November, though a return for the Manchester trip is not ruled out, according to Il Tempo's Lorenzo Pes. Roma's infirmary at Trigoria remains busy after a run of injuries in recent weeks. Hermoso and Balerdi, who both stayed on the bench for 90 minutes against Cagliari with physical complaints, are not a cause for concern and are expected to be available for the match against Udinese. The picture is less clear for Paulo Dybala. After the Cagliari game, Gian Piero Gasperini raised concern by casting doubt on the Argentine's availability for the next league fixture. Koné is also hoping to be back before the international break.

Paulo Dybala's comeback has been put on hold after a new discomfort in his right calf, leaving him unavailable for Roma's match against Cagliari. The Argentina forward injured the same calf during the Real Madrid game on 14 October. Initial diagnosis had been encouraging, and Dybala had been aiming for a place on the bench as early as the Slovan Bratislava match. Further tests, however, revealed that an oedema had concealed a small tear. Dybala returned to group training on Sunday, following the draw at Napoli, and pushed hard in an attempt to make the squad for Cagliari. The small tear diagnosed by the medical staff needs a few more days to heal. Doctors have now circled 7 November on the calendar as his new target date. Dybala is pressing to speed up his recovery and wants to be available for the trip to Manchester to face United on the 3rd, but the medical staff are expected not to give the green light, as caution is at its highest. Yesterday, on the rest day, Dybala was at Trigoria, where he completed a personalised training session. Donyell Malen was also present, and the pair took part in a photo shoot for Adidas together.

Rodrigo Mora's decisive header against Cagliari has delighted Roma supporters and revived regret among Porto fans over the midfielder's departure. Before Tuesday evening, the young Portuguese had had an uneven spell in the capital. He arrived in August with high expectations after an initial outlay of €25 million, alternating flashes of talent with less convincing displays and even finding himself on the bench in recent weeks. Then came a superb header at the Olimpico, followed by the assist that set up Malen's 4-2, which changed the picture overnight. His performance was noticed in Portugal too. As Il Romanista reports, the debate over a sale that some Porto supporters have never accepted has resurfaced on social media. One fan wrote: "Mora was sold because of Farioli, and now he is showing why everyone said 50 million was a bargain... Roma are lucky." Another went further, saying: "Great technique and grit, the place in Portugal's team must be his, not Ronaldo's." A third took a swipe at Roma: "He is too great a talent for a club that doesn't know how to value its players." Among the regret, though, there is also pride from those who watched Mora grow in the blue and white shirt. One Porto supporter wrote: "Even though there remains regret over how he could have become with us with more time, seeing him score like this makes us proud. May he keep growing, shining and showing the qualities we already knew. Talent has never been in doubt!" The message shows how much the player left his mark on the Dragão, despite a departure marked by controversy and division. Gian Piero Gasperini continues to manage him carefully. Mora has made 10 appearances in the first 12 matches, totalling 425 minutes, numbers that reflect a talent still seeking full consecration. The coach has always defended him, pointing out that he must improve above all physically and in his stamina over 90 minutes. After the Cagliari game, however, Gasperini described him as "una mina vagante", a wildcard. The header was his seventh goal of a young career, scored despite his height of 168 centimetres. Mora said: "I dream of being a decisive player." A first start could come soon, on Saturday at Udine, with Paulo Dybala absent. It is a chance to show that the Cagliari performance was not an isolated flash. Roma hope they have found a future protagonist, while in Porto some still wonder whether a mistake was made in letting him go so early.

Roma have scored more late goals than almost anyone in Serie A this season, with only Inter having a better record in the closing stages of matches. Their latest late surge came against Cagliari, where Rodrigo Mora and Malen struck in the final five minutes. Roma have now scored seven goals after the 75th minute in nine league matches, two fewer than Inter, who beat the Giallorossi yesterday. The pattern marks a clear change from last season. Writing in Il Tempo, Lorenzo Pes noted that Gasperini's first Roma side struggled badly to overturn results and often lost games once they fell behind. This season's team attacks with order even when little time remains, and it has shown a hunger for major targets. The comeback at Napoli was followed by another late strike against Cagliari, and the squad has rallied in the closing stages of several games. Gasperini can now draw on important options from the bench, and the numbers show that substitutes have often decided matches. Two of the late goals came against Cagliari from Mora and Malen. Balerdi made the difference at Napoli, Soulé did so against Atalanta, and Pisilli did so in the first matchday against Fiorentina.

Roma have 21 points after nine Serie A matchdays, the same total as a year ago, but the similarity ends there, according to Simone Valdarchi writing in Il Corriere della Sera. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini says the apparent paradox applies to his second Roma side, which has absorbed his tactical principles and now plays almost by memory. The squad's average quality has also risen thanks to the transfer market. The clearest evidence is in attack. In the first nine rounds of Serie A 2025/26, Roma scored with a trickle, spreading their 10 goals across the matches. This season, in the same nine matchdays, the giallorossi have scored 23 goals, more than double the figure from the same stretch a year ago. Such a prolific start has not been seen at Trigoria for a long time; the last comparable beginning came in the 2016/17 season under Spalletti. Ten years on, Gasperini's Roma have Donyell Malen as their guiding star. Across the three Champions League matches played so far, with 8 goals scored, Roma have already had 12 different players find the net. Malen is the driving force, but the article stresses that he is backed by a team ready to support him up front. Malen is no longer alone, and the goals are coming from across the side rather than from one man.

Rodrigo Mora's decisive header against Cagliari has delighted Roma supporters and revived regret among Porto fans over the midfielder's departure. Before Tuesday evening, the young Portuguese had had an uneven spell in the capital. He arrived in August with high expectations after an initial outlay of €25 million, alternating flashes of talent with less convincing displays and even finding himself on the bench in recent weeks. Then came a superb header at the Olimpico, followed by the assist that set up Malen's 4-2, which changed the picture overnight. His performance was noticed in Portugal too. As Il Romanista reports, the debate over a sale that some Porto supporters have never accepted has resurfaced on social media. One fan wrote: "Mora was sold because of Farioli, and now he is showing why everyone said 50 million was a bargain... Roma are lucky." Another went further, saying: "Great technique and grit, the place in Portugal's team must be his, not Ronaldo's." A third took a swipe at Roma: "He is too great a talent for a club that doesn't know how to value its players." Among the regret, though, there is also pride from those who watched Mora grow in the blue and white shirt. One Porto supporter wrote: "Even though there remains regret over how he could have become with us with more time, seeing him score like this makes us proud. May he keep growing, shining and showing the qualities we already knew. Talent has never been in doubt!" The message shows how much the player left his mark on the Dragão, despite a departure marked by controversy and division. Gian Piero Gasperini continues to manage him carefully. Mora has made 10 appearances in the first 12 matches, totalling 425 minutes, numbers that reflect a talent still seeking full consecration. The coach has always defended him, pointing out that he must improve above all physically and in his stamina over 90 minutes. After the Cagliari game, however, Gasperini described him as "una mina vagante", a wildcard. The header was his seventh goal of a young career, scored despite his height of 168 centimetres. Mora said: "I dream of being a decisive player." A first start could come soon, on Saturday at Udine, with Paulo Dybala absent. It is a chance to show that the Cagliari performance was not an isolated flash. Roma hope they have found a future protagonist, while in Porto some still wonder whether a mistake was made in letting him go so early.

Roma have scored more late goals than almost anyone in Serie A this season, with only Inter having a better record in the closing stages of matches. Their latest late surge came against Cagliari, where Rodrigo Mora and Malen struck in the final five minutes. Roma have now scored seven goals after the 75th minute in nine league matches, two fewer than Inter, who beat the Giallorossi yesterday. The pattern marks a clear change from last season. Writing in Il Tempo, Lorenzo Pes noted that Gasperini's first Roma side struggled badly to overturn results and often lost games once they fell behind. This season's team attacks with order even when little time remains, and it has shown a hunger for major targets. The comeback at Napoli was followed by another late strike against Cagliari, and the squad has rallied in the closing stages of several games. Gasperini can now draw on important options from the bench, and the numbers show that substitutes have often decided matches. Two of the late goals came against Cagliari from Mora and Malen. Balerdi made the difference at Napoli, Soulé did so against Atalanta, and Pisilli did so in the first matchday against Fiorentina.

Roma's win over Cagliari has underlined how central the club's young players have become to Gian Piero Gasperini's project. The Giallorossi rely confidently on their Under-23 players, who have made decisive contributions at key moments of matches, as shown by the performances and goals of those who came through the youth sector and have been developed by the coach. Among the positives is the steady progress of Emanuele Lulli, who recently renewed his contract until 2031. The 2005-born defender scored his second consecutive league goal in front of the Curva Sud, and has established himself as a valuable asset and an important presence in the rotation. Alongside him, Niccolò Pisilli has become a consolidated certainty in midfield, combining consistent performances with a nose for goals. According to Il Tempo, the Olimpico clash was also the night of breakthrough for Rodrigo Mora. The 19-year-old Portuguese, who was initially greeted with scepticism over his market valuation, unlocked the match by scoring his first goal in front of the Roma crowd. Gasperini himself praised the young Portuguese's technical qualities after the game, stressing that his imagination is a fundamental factor for the season. The young group is completed by the gradual integration of players such as Koulierakis and Castro, who are asked to provide valid alternatives in a squad that blends the freshness of the youth ranks with the maturity of the senior players. For Gasperini's Roma, young players are no longer just a future prospect but a solid reality capable of making the difference.