Koulierakis bids farewell to Wolfsburg ahead of Roma move

Alessandro Romano, a Roma academy graduate who departed for Cagliari a few weeks ago, has impressed his new club sufficiently to earn a call-up to the Italy national team at the behest of coach Mancini. Cagliari manager Pisacane highlighted Romano's development after his side's victory over Udinese, drawing a comparison to a former Roma midfielder. Pisacane told Sky: "Romano? I don't think he even knows how strong he is himself. He's a complete player—if I have to give an example, he's a player like Strootman but with more physical impact. Perhaps Strootman had a more educated left foot, but he's a player who understands the game, has sacrifice, has dedication, knows how to play football. He's a complete player. He needs to play a lot, even if he makes mistakes: he surprised me—compared to Palestra, who made two or three mistakes at Udinese, he seems a player much more mature than his age would suggest."

Leonardo Balerdi has explained his departure from Olympique Marseille after six years and his desire to play for Roma. Speaking to DAZN France, the defender reflected on his move to Serie A and what drew him to the Giallorossi. Bareldi said of leaving Marseille: "It was a difficult moment to leave the OM. But I take everything that came with it: the beautiful things and the bad things." He acknowledged the mixed reception from supporters but used that experience as motivation. "I didn't remember being booed in the last match — sometimes people loved me, sometimes they didn't. I took the love they gave me as energy. I felt it was time to go. Six years at a club is a lot. But six years at Olympique de Marseille is something few players do. It was time to discover another league. I wanted to prove my value, try to do something different. I was very happy to leave." Bareldi joined Roma this summer as part of the club's defensive reinforcements for the 2026-27 season.

Leonardo Balerdi's loan deal from Marseille contains a complex purchase structure tied directly to his match appearances. If the Argentine defender plays in at least 55% of Roma's fixtures across all competitions for a minimum of 45 minutes, the buyout becomes mandatory at €14 million. Should his appearance rate fall between 40 and 55%, the obligation drops to €11 million. Marseille has secured a protection clause requiring Roma to pay a minimum €9 million if Balerdi accumulates just 20% of minutes played in the second half of the season. Balerdi will earn €1.5 million annually under the loan agreement—a significantly reduced figure relative to his market value—with a salary increase guaranteed if Roma exercise the permanent transfer option from next season onwards.

Roma drew 2–2 with Inter at the Olimpico in a match shaped by a stark contrast between the sides' first and second halves. Manu Koné scored twice for Roma—once to open the scoring early and again to double the lead—but Lautaro Martínez levelled before the interval ended and added a second in the second half, when Roma's resistance crumbled. The hosts began with intensity and control under Gasperini, but a pattern of conceding goals immediately after the restart proved decisive once more. Several Roma players arrived for the match with depleted energy; the upcoming international break will offer a chance to recharge. Mancini had a difficult afternoon and took responsibility for Roma's defensive lapses, notably on Martínez's first goal. Balerdi was composed and physical against Thuram, lasting just over an hour before withdrawal. Hermoso maintained positional discipline but lacked sharpness in execution. Wesley patrolled the flank tirelessly, shutting down Dimarco's advances repeatedly. Cristante operated as the engine room, covering more ground than any other Roma player. Koné's two-goal display was the bright spark—a particularly sharp irony given he could have joined Inter instead—though his early withdrawal raised questions about fatigue management. Dybala orchestrated Roma's attacking play in the first half with incisive passes that set up Koné's goals and fulfilled defensive duties, though he too faded after the break. Soulé provided quality when he found space, running the full 90 minutes with consistency. Malen troubled Bastoni with his movement and nearly broke through. Molina crafted the assist for Koné's opener with an impeccable header after reading the play perfectly. N'Dicka entered at the hour mark and worked to hold the defensive line steady, earning a yellow card for a necessary foul on Thuram. Pisilli came on at 59 minutes but lacked Koné's substance and appeared tentative. Rensch struggled to impose himself when Inter pressed hard. Ghilardi joined the proceedings at 65 minutes and quickly picked up a yellow card; his challenge on Thuram was insufficient. Koulierakis received a caution immediately upon entering late on. Svilar made a miraculous save from a corner and could not be faulted for the two Martínez finishes, maintaining his high standards throughout. Gasperini had urged the team to tighten up after the interval, yet Roma conceded again in the second half and allowed Inter back into the contest. The manager salvaged a point against a strong opponent, though the manner of the collapse—defensive errors and fatigue after 59 minutes of substitutions—left room for frustration. The international break arrives at a timely moment to restore freshness across the squad.

Roma drew 2–2 with Inter in a match that saw strong performances from several squad members despite a difficult second half. The ratings reflected a team that dominated stretches of the first half but struggled to maintain that intensity after the interval, with errors at both ends of the pitch proving costly. Mile Svilar made an assured start with a crucial save on Bisseck after 23 minutes, using his body and positioning to deny the Inter forward. His handling remained sharp throughout the first period, though he could not prevent Lautaro's angled finish early in the second half or Inter's second goal. Bryan Cristante put in a leader's performance across midfield, covering ground, assisting, and driving Roma forward with the awareness of someone reading every moment of the match; Roberto Mancini, watching from the stands, took notes on his commanding first-half display. However, the second half saw Cristante unable to maintain that tempo alongside others. Manu Koné emerged as the standout performer with a rating of 8, entering the match with gladiatorial intensity. He silenced doubts about his finishing within five minutes and then scored or assisted twice more—once after the ball was initially ruled out before being overturned, and again dominating centrefield against Barella and Zielinski. Leonardo Balerdi received 7.5 for seemingly impossible recoveries and his ability to retrieve situations with Superman-like intervention. Gianluca Mancini, however, struggled at 5.5, losing a crucial ball early in the second half that led to Lautaro's opening goal and contributing to the confusion on Inter's second. Nahuel Molina impressed with 6.5, winning possession forcefully before delivering a perfect header to Koné. Donyell Malen offered defensive support and communication from the forward line, while Matías Soulé entered the game with growing intensity and Donyell Malen disrupted Inter's shape. Mario Hermoso brought temperament and positional discipline. Substitutes Evan N'Dicka, Niccolò Pisilli and Devyne Rensch struggled to settle into the match's demands, while Konstantinos Koulierakis appeared briefly without decisive impact. The article offers no forward-looking statement or indication of what comes next for Roma.

Roma surrendered a two-goal advantage to draw 2–2 with Inter at the Olimpico, a result that leaves both teams tied on 13 points at the top of Serie A. Manu Koné fired Roma ahead inside five minutes with a powerful right-foot finish after a move involving Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina, then doubled the lead at the 37th-minute mark with a tap-in after Dybala's cross found Gianluca Mancini, whose attempted header inadvertently provided the assist. The opener came from a Dybala change of play to Molina down the right, with the Argentine full-back providing the cross for Koné to strike low past Lautaro Martinez. The first half saw Roma completely dominate proceedings, with numerous chances created through Dybala, Donyell Malen and Wesley, while Mile Svilar made a crucial early save from a Bisseck chance. After an explosive opening, Inter began pressing late in the half and created several opportunities, including a free header for Lautaro that went wide. The second half began badly for Gasperini's side when Lautaro struck within 50 seconds of the restart, punishing Roma's poor transition and reentry from the dressing room. Gasperini responded with visible frustration, striking the bench after the goal, and gradually Roma regained control through systematic substitutions. Donyell Malen came close to a third goal at the 68th minute when he produced an extraordinary turn in the box but Martinez made an outstanding save with his face. Koné was withdrawn along with Mancini and Molina, replaced by Niccolò Pisilli, Evan N'Dicka and Devyne Rensch. Balerdi was later substituted due to cramp, with Daniele Ghilardi taking his place. Inter continued applying pressure, and at the 80th-minute mark constructed a period of sustained attack during which Svilar saved a Bisseck header and Luis Henrique struck the crossbar before Lautaro finished a goalmouth scramble with a clinical volley after controlling with his thigh. The Argentine captain's second goal levelled the match at 2–2 and meant both sides ended with a point apiece after a contest played at intense pace throughout. The stadium observed a minute of respect and prolonged applause before kickoff to honour Sandro Mazzola, who died the day before. Gasperini deployed Svilar in goal with Mancini, Mario Hermoso and Leonardo Balerdi as defenders; Wesley and Molina worked the full-back roles with Bryan Cristante and Koné in midfield; Soulé, Malen and Dybala formed the forward line. Inter introduced Sucic and Carlos Augusto in place of Jones and Dimarco shortly before the hour, with Gasperini subsequently withdrawing Koné, Mancini and Molina. Late defensive changes saw Hermoso replaced by Konstantinos Koulierakis as Roma managed the closing stages. Roma and Inter remain level on 13 points at the summit following a fixture that matched the intensity and quality of a title-deciding clash despite finishing level.