Konstantinos Koulierakis set to join Roma as second summer signing

AS Roma have officially confirmed the departure of Anass Salah-Eddine to Panathinaikos on a temporary basis. The Dutch winger leaves on a loan deal with a right of redemption, ending a stint at the club in which he made limited impact. Salah-Eddine arrived in the winter transfer window of 2025 and accumulated only 3 appearances in giallorosso colours. The move brings to a close, at least temporarily, his time with Roma after he struggled to secure regular playing time at Trigoria. Roma's official statement read: "AS Roma confirms having reached an agreement with Panathinaikos for the departure of Anass Salah-Eddine. The operation concludes with the formula of a loan with a right of redemption. The Dutch winger, who arrived in the winter market of 2025, collected 3 appearances in giallorosso."

Inter scouts attended Cagliari's match against Atalanta to monitor midfielder Alessandro Romano and striker Paul Mendy, two emerging Serie A talents. Romano has been one of the season's early revelations and is expected to earn his maiden Italy call-up during the international break. Mendy, younger and still developing, has scored all three of his Serie A goals against Atalanta. Romano arrived at Cagliari on loan from Roma with a €4.9M conditional obligation to buy after impressing at Spezia last season. Roma allowed him to leave permanently. He represented Switzerland at youth level before switching allegiance under Roberto Mancini's persuasion. Mendy is a Cagliari academy product who progressed from their Primavera side to the first team late last season and has recorded four goals in 15 appearances. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Inter view both as prospects for the future, though the midfielder is the more established prospect while the striker remains a work in progress. Inter would negotiate solely with Cagliari for either player. Scouts are conducting standard due diligence; both have performed well so far. The development represents a significant miss for Roma, given Romano's trajectory. Inter's midfield is already well-stocked, but their offensive strategy will centre on Marcus Thuram, with potential interest in strong prospects should they part with a star player and promote Francesco Pio Esposito.

Alessio Cacciamani will face Roma and Gian Piero Gasperini on tomorrow evening when Torino visit, just days after signing a contract renewal with the Serie A club. The 19-year-old, who attracted Roma's interest during the summer, has committed to Torino until 30 June 2031 with an improved salary package. Gasperini had identified Cacciamani as a left-sided talent to develop and integrate into the first team, envisioning a role in both Serie A and European competition, potentially alternating with Wesley or Molina. The renewal strengthens Torino's negotiating position economically, though Roma retain the financial means to pursue another attempt for the young forward—possibly in January or more likely in the summer of 2027. Other Italian clubs and English sides are also monitoring his progress. Cacciamani's early season form has been encouraging. He has started all five of Torino's fixtures across Serie A and Coppa Italia, recording one assist in the league. The prospect of facing the club that pursued him intensely offers him motivation to demonstrate his readiness for the highest level. Roma continue to observe from the sidelines, aware that Torino may be forced to sell next summer if a significant offer arrives, particularly if the club decides to redirect spending toward an attacking player in the January window. The article notes that Gasperini and Roma's scout D'Amico are watching his development closely. Torino hope Cacciamani will immediately prove capable of performing at an elite level, thereby justifying their confidence in him and potentially deterring some interest. However, the competitive landscape around him is expanding. Beyond Roma's continued interest, other major Italian clubs and several Premier League sides are tracking the teenager. The club faces a delicate balance: rewarding his potential with renewed terms while managing the likelihood that a well-resourced suitor may tempt him away within two transfer windows.

Roma's radio stations have dissected Gasperini's tactics ahead of tonight's match against Torino, with particular focus on Paulo Dybala's continued presence in the starting XI and the coach's squad rotation policy. Nando Orsi argued that Roma will remain unbeaten as long as they maintain their physical condition, saying the team has adopted Gasperini's system entirely: "The way Gasp plays is this: as long as Roma is in condition they will be unbeatable, Roma has become gasperinised, it plays exactly like Atalanta. But there are moments when you have to catch your breath and there you have to be careful." Francesca Ferrazza suggested Torino are preparing defensive traps from the 1980s to stop Roma's attacking approach. Gasperini's decision to keep Dybala on the pitch for consecutive matches rather than rotate him drew extensive discussion. David Rossi noted that the coach is transmitting psychological conviction to the Argentine forward, saying Gasperini wants him to understand: "You play, you're fine, you must play. And I'll show you: I remove everyone except you." Gianluca Piacentini acknowledged concerns that hierarchy decisions could create unrest within the squad, with some players beginning to feel sidelined, yet noted that Gasperini has used almost all his squad members: "With the exception of Gollini, they have all played. With the exception of Cristante, everyone has played, including De Roon and Koulierakis." Roberto Pruzzo observed that Dybala appears in optimal condition and was specifically prepared to reach the winter break in top form. Fabio Petruzzi added that Dybala's unconditional confidence from Gasperini has improved his self-belief: "When a player goes into a challenge, if he goes in weakly he gets hurt. I saw Dybala changed, especially in his running." Mario Corsi criticised Roma's lack of a left winger, noting that Rodrigo Mora is excellent but performs a different type of role, while criticising the club's previous failures to sign other targets. Daniele Lo Monaco reported that Roma had offered €35 million plus bonuses and a resale percentage for an unspecified winger before the player joined Milan for €50 million plus bonuses instead. Tonight's fixture will test whether Roma can maintain their form against Torino's expected defensive intensity after their midweek European match.

Gian Piero Gasperini held his pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow's visit to Torino, rejecting suggestions of a squad hierarchy. "Please stop talking about hierarchies, it's not fair to the players who are giving their all," he said. "It makes no sense for these players—they're all making an important contribution. Ghilardi is growing, there's Koulierakis." Emanuele Lulli will be available for selection after recovering from a virus intestinale (intestinal virus) that struck him in recent days; the 2007-born defender from Palestrina is expected to start. On Paulo Dybala's availability, Gasperini was blunt: "If he's well, he plays." The forward has been in excellent form and started in all four league matches so far this season. Lorenzo Pellegrini returns to the squad after his absence, a significant boost for Roma's midfield ahead of the trip to Turin.

Roma return to Serie A action tomorrow at 18:30 away to Torino, seeking to build on their opening Champions League draw. The Giallorossi drew 1–1 at Fenerbahce on their European debut and now face Ignazio Abate's Torino, who recently won a comeback victory over Fiorentina. A win at the Olimpico Grande Torino would leave Roma on maximum points after four matches, with a match against Inter scheduled five days later. Gian Piero Gasperini will address the press at 13:30 on Tuesday from Trigoria. Gasperini confirmed that Lorenzo Pellegrini is fit and available for selection. The squad list also includes Manu Koné, who completed a fitness test during the day, Wesley following a knee knock, and Emanuele Lulli after a bout of fever. In his pre-match conference, Gasperini spoke warmly of recent performances, particularly Donyell Malen's impact since arriving. On Rodrigo Mora's integration into the attack, Gasperini said: "I see what you all see—he is a talented, young player, and that is not considered. He must improve physically and tactically. What he has shown is a young player of talent and level. There is not a younger player who can be more of a protagonist at this moment." When asked whether defensive hierarchy could shift, Gasperini pushed back strongly: "Please stop with this hierarchy talk, it is not right towards these players. It makes no sense for them, it has no effect for the squad. Everyone is giving an important contribution. Balerdi did remarkable things at Marseille, we have to play a lot. A team in the Champions League does not work with hierarchies, but there are many starters who play without promoting one and rejecting another, otherwise it becomes something controversial." The full squad for Torino includes defenders Devyne Rensch, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi; midfielders Bryan Cristante, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Marten de Roon, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli and Rodrigo Mora; forwards Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala.

Inter scouts attended Cagliari's match against Atalanta to monitor midfielder Alessandro Romano and striker Paul Mendy, two emerging Serie A talents. Romano has been one of the season's early revelations and is expected to earn his maiden Italy call-up during the international break. Mendy, younger and still developing, has scored all three of his Serie A goals against Atalanta. Romano arrived at Cagliari on loan from Roma with a €4.9M conditional obligation to buy after impressing at Spezia last season. Roma allowed him to leave permanently. He represented Switzerland at youth level before switching allegiance under Roberto Mancini's persuasion. Mendy is a Cagliari academy product who progressed from their Primavera side to the first team late last season and has recorded four goals in 15 appearances. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Inter view both as prospects for the future, though the midfielder is the more established prospect while the striker remains a work in progress. Inter would negotiate solely with Cagliari for either player. Scouts are conducting standard due diligence; both have performed well so far. The development represents a significant miss for Roma, given Romano's trajectory. Inter's midfield is already well-stocked, but their offensive strategy will centre on Marcus Thuram, with potential interest in strong prospects should they part with a star player and promote Francesco Pio Esposito.

Daniele Ghilardi is expected to start on the bench for Roma's upcoming match, but Roberto Mancini is monitoring the defender closely and will want to see him in action soon. The former Verona player is eager to make an impression, with an opportunity potentially arriving if Mancini rests after Istanbul. Ghilardi's path to the pitch is currently blocked by Leonardo Balerdi, who has made a strong start with Fenerbahce. The Roma contingent in Italy's squad has extra motivation tonight, knowing the national team commissioner will be watching from the stands. For players like Niccolò Pisilli and Emanuele Lulli, it is a chance to showcase their form, confirm their development and catch Mancini's eye. The Italian side fielding a Roma core creates additional incentive for the club's representatives on international duty to impress.

Roma face Torino in Serie A on 14 September at 18:30, four days after their Champions League return, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini managing squad rotation following the trip to Istanbul. The starting XI appears largely settled, though midfield and the right flank remain open questions. Svilar will start in goal, with the familiar trio of Mancini, Ndicka and Hermoso in defence; Ghilardi is the alternative. Wesley is expected to hold the left-back spot, while the right side is contested between Lulli and Rensch, with Lulli marginally favoured, though Gasperini indicated in his press conference that his condition would need to be assessed before the match. The main shift could come in midfield. Manu Koné picked up a knee problem against Fenerbahçe, opening the door for Nicolò Pisilli to partner Bryan Cristante; Koné has attempted recovery and remains an option. Dybala and Donyell Malen are set pieces in attack, with Matías Soulé the likely choice to complete the forward line, while Rodrigo Mora stands ready either from the start or as an in-match solution. The probable Roma formation is 3-4-2-1: Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Lulli, Cristante, Pisilli, Wesley; Soulé, Dybala; Malen.