Koulierakis arrives in Wales to join Gasperini and the squad

Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico spoke to reporters before Udinese v Roma, a Serie A matchday 10 fixture at the Bluenergy Stadium, and said the club is not rushing its January transfer decisions. Asked about Endrick's prospects in the January window, D'Amico said it was difficult to think of names because the squad was short of numbers, adding: "Endrick is strong, but we are focused on what we have to do on the pitch. There will be time for the market." D'Amico also spoke about Mario Hermoso's contract. He said the club was happy with the whole squad, given the number of matches ahead and the need to widen the squad, and described Hermoso as important to the club, including during the week, and an example for the younger players. Asked about extending Hermoso's deal, D'Amico said: "We are happy to have him with us, and we will also talk about the renewal." He added that the club was also pleased with how the young players were being developed alongside Gasperini. On Paulo Dybala's fitness, D'Amico said the Argentine needed a few more days and that the club would assess him midweek. He admitted that losing an important resource during a busy run of games hurt, adding: "These things happen." Describing Udinese, he said: "Udinese are difficult to play against, physical, regardless of their league position. We need quality, and we think we can put in a good performance." Asked about comments from Massimiliano Allegri, D'Amico said: "We think about ourselves, we work hard, and the result is what you deserve on the pitch. Today will be difficult for us."

Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico says there is no hurry over the transfer market or Mario Hermoso's contract renewal, while Paulo Dybala needs a few more days and will be reassessed midweek. D'Amico spoke to Dazn before Roma's match against Udinese. D'Amico said it was a source of pride to see young players featuring for the team. Roma have plenty of matches to play, and as Gasperini says, it is important to widen the squad. The club has no immediate timeline on the Spaniard's future. Dybala's absence is a blow, as it leaves Roma one fewer option at a time when the fixtures are piling up. Roma play every three days, so the squad needs depth. On Hermoso, D'Amico said: "Mario is important on Sundays but also during the week, he is an example for the young players. We will talk about the renewal at the right moment." On Dybala, he said: "Today we face a strong and physical team. They are difficult to play against. We are convinced we will put in a good performance. Dybala needs a few more days, we will see midweek. It is a pity because we will be a player short, and there are a lot of matches." Asked about comments from Allegri, D'Amico said: "We are focused on ourselves. We think about working, and the final result of every championship is what a team deserves on the pitch. We think about ourselves." On reported interest in Endrick, he said: "Today it is hard to think about names. There is a long way to go. Endrick is strong, but we are focused on what we have to do on the pitch. We play every three days, there will be time."

Roma are monitoring Monza midfielder Manga Foe-Ondoa as they look to add reinforcements in midfield ahead of the January transfer window, according to market expert Ekrem Konur on X. The French midfielder, born in 2005, could also attract interest from Lazio, which would set up a transfer derby between the two Rome clubs. Roma's sporting director Tony D'Amico is seeking new signings to widen the options available to Gian Piero Gasperini. Foe-Ondoa is not yet a Roma player, and the interest described is exploratory, with no offers or concrete negotiations so far. Lazio are also said to have looked at the midfielder. Foe-Ondoa joined Monza last summer from Estoril Praia and is carving out a place in the side coached by Ivan Juric. He has made seven Serie A appearances, five of them as a starter, and has provided one assist so far this season. The Frenchman can play several roles in midfield, and is described as physically strong, dynamic and good at winning back possession. He is under contract at Monza until June 2030 and is regarded as a player with promising room to improve. With January approaching, his name could become one to watch closely.

Roma produced a dominant display to beat Udinese 5-2 at the Bluenergy Stadium in the tenth round of Serie A, with Cristante, Rodrigo Mora, Malen, Ndicka and Ghilardi all on the scoresheet. Cristante was named the best player on the pitch by the Giallorossi.net editorial team, which rated him 8 out of 10, after a first half the reviewer described as monstrous: he opened the scoring with a header and then set up Rodrigo Mora for the second goal. Soulé was credited with an assist for the third goal and also set up Ndicka's header for the fourth. The result was a commanding performance from Gasperini's side, who were rated 7.5 for the manager's work despite heavy absences. The first half was largely one-sided, with Roma playing an attacking, brilliant brand of football. The second half was more loose, and Udinese scored twice, though the reviewer felt those goals were avoidable and did not detract from a strong evening. Ghilardi was rated 7.5 and was praised for playing with a composure surprising for his age, staying clean in his challenges and sealing the win with a late goal. Ndicka, rated 7, was described as attentive and was rewarded with a headed goal that made it 4-0 for the time being. Hermoso, rated 6.5, was praised for his passing and his quality with the ball. Soulé was rated 7.5 and was singled out for quality, personality and an added concreteness, with the reviewer saying he had finally made the step up that had long been asked of him. De Roon, rated 7, was praised for taking control of midfield and for his positioning. Wesley, rated 6.5, was credited with the cross for Cristante's opening header but was criticised for avoidable technical errors. Molina, rated 6, was judged to have been less convincing and was said to have made numerous simple mistakes. Gollini was rated 6, having had little to do in the first half before being beaten twice after the break. Rodrigo Mora, rated 7, scored the second goal, his third of the season, despite limited minutes, and was described as a player who knows how to find the net. Malen, rated 7, had a missed chance against the crossbar but then produced a clinical left-foot finish past Okoye. Malen was described as always dangerous, and Castro, rated 6, came on and was said to have been repeatedly called back to the bench by Gasperini before providing the pass for Ghilardi's late goal. Pisilli was rated 6 after coming on, and Koulierakis and Rensch and Mancini all came on late in the game without leaving a mark.

Roma beat Udinese 5-2 away, with Daniele Ghilardi scoring the fifth goal. In the player ratings, Ghilardi earned a 7, Ndicka a 7, while Gollini and Hermoso were each given a 6. Gasperini had predicted that Ghilardi would find more and more space in the team, and the defender started immediately. He showed personality and a healthy aggression in the tackle. In the first half, few dangers came down his side, though part of the credit for that was his. After the break, Udinese's attackers changed, but Ghilardi's concentration did not, and he went on to score Roma's fifth. Gollini got through his first two minutes as Miller tested him from distance, then watched much of the game from a distance. He made a brave save from Palma's header at the end of the first half. The second half opened with a familiar scene: a short, central parry, with a deflection, and a tap-in from Zaniolo. Hermoso was often used to build play from deep, and his urge to push the ball into dangerous areas was a trait that pleased Gasperini. He headed clear at the middle of the first half and dozed slightly on Zaniolo's goal, but he made many important interventions. Ndicka was tested when the danger came in his own area, a feeling he rarely experiences. He appeared unexpectedly in the opposition box, like Michael Myers. Koulierakis came on at 84' and was not rated.

Roma head to Udinese with Gian Piero Gasperini making several changes to his starting line-up, with Daniele Ghilardi coming into the defence. The match is part of a demanding run of fixtures for the Giallorossi, and the team sheets for both sides have been confirmed. In midfield, Marten de Roon keeps his place rather than being rested and will pair with Bryan Cristante. Up front, Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé form the attacking partnership, with Donyell Malen playing behind them. Udinese are coached by Runjaic and line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Okoye in goal and Zaniolo and Ekkelenkamp supporting Davis in attack. Roma's starting XI is Gollini; Ghilardi, Ndicka, Hermoso; Molina, Cristante, De Roon, Wesley; Soulé, Mora; Malen, set out in a 3-4-2-1. For Udinese, Okoye starts in goal, with Abankwah, Kabasele and Palma in defence, Vojvoda, Piotrowski, Karlström and Kamara in midfield, and Davis leading the line. On the bench, Roma have Vásquez, De Marzi, Koulierakis, Rensch, Mancini, Pisilli, Lulli, Di Nunzio, Castro, Arena and Camara among the options available to Gasperini. Udinese's replacements include Padelli, Mrozek, Bertola, Ebosse, Zarraga, Miller, Lovric, Arizala, Chakvetadze, Jovanovic, Unai Gómez and Vinciati.

Roma have scored 28 goals in their first ten matches of the 2026-27 season, a club record, after a 5-3 win at Udinese. The tally surpasses the previous record of 26 goals, set in 1960/61 and 2016/17, and the goals have come from a wide spread of players rather than relying on Donyell Malen, although he is leading the side. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, Roma have become a side that is always dangerous and always able to finish, with many matches won by at least four goals across Serie A and the Champions League. Roma have scored with 14 different players so far: Malen, Niccolò Pisilli, Manu Koné, Matías Soulé, Mario Hermoso, Emanuele Lulli, Rodrigo Mora, Bryan Cristante, Marten de Roon, Santiago Castro, Nahuel Molina and Leonardo Balerdi. Evan N'Dicka and Daniele Ghilardi also scored against Udinese and join that list. The results are reflected in the table: 24 points from ten matches, the club's best start since 2013. Last season Roma had 21 points at this stage, and two seasons ago they had just 13. To find similar numbers, you have to go back to 2022, when Mourinho reached 22 points. The Udinese victory was not simply a big win but proof of a team that scores with a consistency never seen before at the club. The 28 goals in the opening ten rounds represent a milestone the club had never reached, and the tally was built across Serie A and the Champions League alike.

Bryan Cristante has said Roma must stay near the top of Serie A for as long as possible after a 3-0 win...

Bryan Cristante has said it is important for Roma to win in order to build continuity, after the club beat Cagliari in their Serie A ninth-round fixture. Speaking after the match, the Roma midfielder played down the concerns raised by the performance, insisting the team had not conceded much. Roma conceded a goal from a deflection and one from a set piece in the second half. Cristante said the side must nonetheless be more concentrated and that the result was acceptable as the team moves on. Asked whether the team can sustain this run until the end of the season, he said: "We're trying. It's hard, there are many matches and many strong teams, but clearly if we play like this we can make it. As long as we're in it, we'll do everything to stay in it." On the team's attacking options, Cristante said Roma are scoring and creating plenty of chances. "Obviously, the more goals you score, the easier it is to win. If we keep going like this, that's better." Roma now travel to Manchester United, and Cristante described the trip as a difficult one. "It's always Manchester United, a strong team with many good players. It will be very difficult at their place because they will want to do well and bounce back. We're going there and we'll try to bring home the result, as we always do."

Gian Piero Gasperini said Roma's goal tally from many different scorers is a "great signal" after his side beat Udinese 4-0 in the tenth round of Serie A at the Bluenergy Stadium. Roma have scored 28 goals in ten matches, a striking change from last season, and Malen is not the only source of their threat. "The numbers sometimes count and say something. Certainly, as well as scoring many goals, we are scoring them with many different players. This is also a sign of confidence, of many players who now believe they can be decisive, both in the assist, as in this case, and in the finish. So we are scoring more goals and with more players. This is a great signal." Roma led 4-0 at half-time, but the second half saw them ease off, particularly in offensive intensity. Gasperini said the drop was understandable: "I don't know, because even the teams fighting for the top positions have some small problems. I have to say it is quite normal. When you go 4-0 up, although at half-time we told each other to be very careful, keep defending well and not conceding, it is clear something can drop. We play in Manchester in three days, we are playing a lot. This was our eighth match in less than twenty days. So what is lacking is not so much physical strength as a little attention and concentration. Then we conceded a goal from distance that reopened the game a little. It was a bad goal, because we were set up and that is exactly the sign of having switched off mentally. We would never have conceded a goal like that. But it is also true that as soon as we had the chance to accelerate, we could still be dangerous." Asked about the impressive performances of Roma's young players, and Ghilardi's goal, Gasperini credited the group's attitude: "I have the good fortune of having all the players, even the less young ones, who give me great availability. With young players there is always this availability, because they want to emerge and improve. I am lucky to have a group with a fantastic mix. We may have other kinds of faults, but in terms of availability it is total." He added: "Ghilardi, moreover, was quite angry because recently a goal was disallowed for him in the Champions League against Slovan, a really beautiful goal. That desire to score stayed inside him and tonight he scored a beautiful goal." On the physical demands of the calendar, Gasperini said: "A period this long, with this continuity of matches three times a week, I struggle to remember. It has happened to me at other times, for example with Atalanta in the year we won the Europa League. We had reached the final of the Coppa Italia too and were fighting for the Champions League in the league. But that was March-April, a different period. A situation like this I do not remember. There is certainly a lot of fatigue, because the matches you go to play are all high-level and very difficult. I think after the next break, although the commitments will continue to be many, the situation will be a little less heavy. Especially for us, who for almost all of this period have had the absences of Svilar, Koné, Dybala and Pellegrini. Being able to rotate the squad, get everyone playing and distribute minutes is certainly helping us." Asked whether any of the injured players could return before the break, Gasperini said: "It is difficult, but I hope so. In theory all three could recover, but it could also be that none of them do. We will see, this will be a decisive week." On Cristante, who was outstanding, Gasperini said: "The pre-season preparation has stayed the same. What varies a little is the reading of individual players, we also work individually. It is difficult to train Mora the same as Mancini or N'Dicka, we have our own parameters and reads, and we work a lot on the players, that yes. There is a lot of individualised work. Honestly, I remember Cristante like this." He explained that Cristante had been out for a month with a knee injury that affected the collateral ligament, adding: "He has played three games in a row after a month out, a bit like De Roon, the more he plays the better he gets. He recovers quickly and that is a good sign." Gasperini also reflected on the season so far: "You can never know beforehand what will happen. I have a group that is hungry to improve and sets team goals to get better, we are not thinking about anything grand. Tactical work we do not have much time for, we learn during matches. By playing we have undoubtedly grown, and we have great confidence in the whole squad. Using everyone also helps, so everyone is ready." On the attacking play, he said: "I see myself in all the concepts of play. There were also goals of fine quality, N'Dicka scoring with a header from a corner, and all the others were fine assists with equally fine goals. Right now everyone is in confidence, when we get there there is aggression from everyone." Roma return to Manchester in three days' time, with Gasperini's side facing a demanding run of matches before the international break.

Roma produced a dominant display to beat Udinese 5-2 at the Bluenergy Stadium in the tenth round of Serie A, with Cristante, Rodrigo Mora, Malen, Ndicka and Ghilardi all on the scoresheet. Cristante was named the best player on the pitch by the Giallorossi.net editorial team, which rated him 8 out of 10, after a first half the reviewer described as monstrous: he opened the scoring with a header and then set up Rodrigo Mora for the second goal. Soulé was credited with an assist for the third goal and also set up Ndicka's header for the fourth. The result was a commanding performance from Gasperini's side, who were rated 7.5 for the manager's work despite heavy absences. The first half was largely one-sided, with Roma playing an attacking, brilliant brand of football. The second half was more loose, and Udinese scored twice, though the reviewer felt those goals were avoidable and did not detract from a strong evening. Ghilardi was rated 7.5 and was praised for playing with a composure surprising for his age, staying clean in his challenges and sealing the win with a late goal. Ndicka, rated 7, was described as attentive and was rewarded with a headed goal that made it 4-0 for the time being. Hermoso, rated 6.5, was praised for his passing and his quality with the ball. Soulé was rated 7.5 and was singled out for quality, personality and an added concreteness, with the reviewer saying he had finally made the step up that had long been asked of him. De Roon, rated 7, was praised for taking control of midfield and for his positioning. Wesley, rated 6.5, was credited with the cross for Cristante's opening header but was criticised for avoidable technical errors. Molina, rated 6, was judged to have been less convincing and was said to have made numerous simple mistakes. Gollini was rated 6, having had little to do in the first half before being beaten twice after the break. Rodrigo Mora, rated 7, scored the second goal, his third of the season, despite limited minutes, and was described as a player who knows how to find the net. Malen, rated 7, had a missed chance against the crossbar but then produced a clinical left-foot finish past Okoye. Malen was described as always dangerous, and Castro, rated 6, came on and was said to have been repeatedly called back to the bench by Gasperini before providing the pass for Ghilardi's late goal. Pisilli was rated 6 after coming on, and Koulierakis and Rensch and Mancini all came on late in the game without leaving a mark.

Roma beat Udinese 5-2 at Udine on Halloween, with Bryan Cristante, Rodrigo Mora, Donyell Malen and Evan Ndicka all scoring in a dominant first half, and Daniele Ghilardi adding a late goal. Roma move up to 24 points and are temporarily just one point behind joint leaders Inter and Lazio. Gasperini named Ghilardi, Ndicka and Hermoso in defence in front of Gollini, with Cristante and De Roon in midfield, Molina and Wesley on the flanks, and Malen and Soulé alongside Rodrigo Mora up front. Udinese opened brightly, with Miller testing Gollini from distance, but Roma struck at their first real attack. Cristante headed home from Wesley's cross inside ten minutes, beating Okoye with a powerful run and header. Udinese tried to respond through physical play and Vojvoda's left-foot effort, which Gollini held comfortably. Roma then hit the woodwork twice within a minute. Soulé struck the post after taking advantage of a mistake by Palma, and Malen, with the goal open, hit the crossbar after Okoye parried his first-time shot. Gasperini was seen on the bench in disbelief. The second goal came on the half-hour, when Cristante sent a strong ball to the far post for Mora to tap in. Two minutes later Malen made amends for his miss, skipping past Kabasele and curling a left-footed shot into the corner. Cristante then tried a backheel that Okoye saved, and Ndicka headed in Soulé's perfect corner in the 37th minute. Zaniolo was the main outlet for Udinese, but Ndicka dealt with him well. Maresca sent the teams off at half-time with no added time. The second half began without changes and at a slower pace. Five minutes in, Nicolò Zaniolo reduced the deficit, reacting first to the rebound from Gollini after Miller's long-range effort. Gasperini was furious on the touchline at his side's start to the half. Malen then missed a chance from close range after Molina's cross arrived a moment late. Runjaic made changes on the hour, bringing on Chakvetadze and Unai Gomez for Davis and Ekkelenkamp. Gasperini replied by sending on Castro and Pisilli for Malen and Mora. Palma pulled one back for Udinese with a sweet first-time right-foot strike with twelve minutes left. Gasperini immediately made changes, bringing on Rensch and Mancini for Wesley and Soulé. Unai Gomez came close for Udinese at the 83rd minute. Ghilardi settled the match in the second minute of added time with a powerful first-time right-foot shot that Okoye could not reach. Roma won 5-2, and Maresca blew for full time after four minutes of added time.