Lulli and Mora among Golden Boy 2026 nominees

Roma travel to Turin on Monday at 18:30 for the fourth Serie A match of the season aiming to secure a fourth consecutive league victory and maintain their position at the top of the table. The fixture will feature a compelling duel on the flanks between two rising stars of Italian football: Alessio Cacciamani of Torino and Emanuele Lulli of Roma, both born in 2007 and tipped as future resources for the Italian national team. Cacciamani was long pursued by Roma during the summer before joining Torino. He is a left-sided full-back capable of playing as either a traditional defender or an attacking winger, quick and technical, particularly effective when receiving the ball wide and taking on opponents. His game centres on accelerations, ball-carrying and attacking space, combining ball-playing quality with a willingness to join the attack. Though young, he already displays personality in one-on-one duels and a strong commitment to defensive work. In the first three league matches he has made 3 appearances, totalling 227 minutes and recording 1 assist. Lulli, a Roma academy graduate, has been a major surprise for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini this season. Gasperini handed him a starting role from the opening day against Fiorentina following a pre-season in which the young defender showed quality and character. Unlike Cacciamani, Lulli appears more structurally complete and balanced across both phases of play. He can operate as a right-sided defender but possesses the characteristics of a modern wing-back: good athleticism, defensive awareness, the ability to support attacking moves and notably solid quality in the final pass. He has started all three opening matches, accumulating 234 minutes, 4 key passes and 15 balls recovered, figures that underline his contribution in both build-up and defensive work. The flank contest promises to be particularly interesting: Cacciamani relies more on acceleration and one-on-one play, while Lulli can offer greater equilibrium and defensive reading. Both 2007-born players are already carrying significant responsibility at the highest level despite their youth, yet with distinctly different qualities.

Roma are preparing for their trip to Turin with manager Gian Piero Gasperini planning several changes to manage the squad across a long season. Leonardo Balerdi is set to start in place of Gianluca Mancini, who will rest. The Argentine defender has been a standout performer in Roma's recent matches and has impressed every time Gasperini has called upon him, including a moment that went viral after contact with Lukaku. In attack, Rodrigo Mora is in line to start ahead of Paulo Dybala, with Mora among the Golden Boy candidates and keen to prove himself. Niccolò Pisilli is positioned to replace Manu Koné in midfield, as the French midfielder continues to train separately and is heading towards missing the match. Gasperini is taking no risks with Koné's fitness. The strategy reflects Gasperini's intention to rotate his squad without compromising quality, with the season stretching ahead and every player needed. Mora, alongside Emanuele Lulli, is among those in contention for the Golden Boy award and will see the Turin fixture as an opportunity to demonstrate his value. Koné's absence is being managed carefully, with the manager preferring not to force the situation. Separately, Salah Eddine has found a new club. The Moroccan player will join Greek side Panathinaikos.

Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing to rotate his squad heavily ahead of matches against Torino and Inter, with Koné, Dybala, Malen and Mancini among those likely to be rested. Castro, Mora, Soulé, Pisilli and De Roon are expected to see more action as Roma look to preserve their key players and test the depth of the squad while addressing defensive issues that have emerged in recent fixtures. Salah-Eddine's departure to Panathinaikos is confirmed. The left-back moves on a loan deal with a right of redemption and underwent medical tests in Athens today to complete the transfer. Separately, defender Oosterwolde has reopened the possibility of joining Roma. An achilles tendon operation had scuppered a move earlier this summer, but Oosterwolde met with Roma officials in Istanbul and signalled his willingness to return. "I hope to come back to Roma in the coming months," he said. The club remains interested with D'Amico continuing to monitor developments. Gasperini values Oosterwolde's versatility, and his recovery from surgery will be key to determining whether Roma can revive the deal as early as January. Carina told Radio Radio: "I've read plenty of criticism of Roma. In 30 years doing this job I'd never known a situation where I couldn't speak to my colleague—there was an absurd broadcast an hour and a half before the match and 30 minutes after. Given where it was played, Roma put in a more than decent performance: they dominated the first half. From the stadium, I had the sense that Roma wouldn't lose it, and could even have won it." Pruzzo added: "I saw a good Roma. What I keep thinking is that I have many doubts about whether the squad is qualitatively as strong as people say: I don't have that perception. In the first half they played like last season, but in the second, when you need to change, there isn't the same level. I think Castro is Roma's best option off the bench. Then Molina comes on and does the same thing as Rensch, and Mora yesterday did nothing."

Roma travel to Turin on Monday at 18:30 for the fourth Serie A match of the season aiming to secure a fourth consecutive league victory and maintain their position at the top of the table. The fixture will feature a compelling duel on the flanks between two rising stars of Italian football: Alessio Cacciamani of Torino and Emanuele Lulli of Roma, both born in 2007 and tipped as future resources for the Italian national team. Cacciamani was long pursued by Roma during the summer before joining Torino. He is a left-sided full-back capable of playing as either a traditional defender or an attacking winger, quick and technical, particularly effective when receiving the ball wide and taking on opponents. His game centres on accelerations, ball-carrying and attacking space, combining ball-playing quality with a willingness to join the attack. Though young, he already displays personality in one-on-one duels and a strong commitment to defensive work. In the first three league matches he has made 3 appearances, totalling 227 minutes and recording 1 assist. Lulli, a Roma academy graduate, has been a major surprise for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini this season. Gasperini handed him a starting role from the opening day against Fiorentina following a pre-season in which the young defender showed quality and character. Unlike Cacciamani, Lulli appears more structurally complete and balanced across both phases of play. He can operate as a right-sided defender but possesses the characteristics of a modern wing-back: good athleticism, defensive awareness, the ability to support attacking moves and notably solid quality in the final pass. He has started all three opening matches, accumulating 234 minutes, 4 key passes and 15 balls recovered, figures that underline his contribution in both build-up and defensive work. The flank contest promises to be particularly interesting: Cacciamani relies more on acceleration and one-on-one play, while Lulli can offer greater equilibrium and defensive reading. Both 2007-born players are already carrying significant responsibility at the highest level despite their youth, yet with distinctly different qualities.

Roma are preparing for their trip to Turin with manager Gian Piero Gasperini planning several changes to manage the squad across a long season. Leonardo Balerdi is set to start in place of Gianluca Mancini, who will rest. The Argentine defender has been a standout performer in Roma's recent matches and has impressed every time Gasperini has called upon him, including a moment that went viral after contact with Lukaku. In attack, Rodrigo Mora is in line to start ahead of Paulo Dybala, with Mora among the Golden Boy candidates and keen to prove himself. Niccolò Pisilli is positioned to replace Manu Koné in midfield, as the French midfielder continues to train separately and is heading towards missing the match. Gasperini is taking no risks with Koné's fitness. The strategy reflects Gasperini's intention to rotate his squad without compromising quality, with the season stretching ahead and every player needed. Mora, alongside Emanuele Lulli, is among those in contention for the Golden Boy award and will see the Turin fixture as an opportunity to demonstrate his value. Koné's absence is being managed carefully, with the manager preferring not to force the situation. Separately, Salah Eddine has found a new club. The Moroccan player will join Greek side Panathinaikos.

Roma placed two young players in Tuttosport and Transfermarkt's Golden Boy 2026 rankings on Saturday, 12 September. Rodrigo Mora occupies 28th place, while Emanuele Lulli ranks 76th. Former Roma player Robinio Vaz, now at Hull City, also appears in the top 100 at 91st. On the women's side, Roma Femminile secured a place in the Women's Cup semi-final following victory over Fiorentina and Inter's simultaneous win over Lazio. They will face Sassuolo on Sunday at 12:00, the same opponent that beat them in the group stage and will also be their first league adversary of the season. The match will be broadcast on Sky Sport and NOW. In Serie A, Monday brings the first managerial meeting between Ignazio Abate and Gian Piero Gasperini, separated by 29 years and 637 top-flight benches. Gasperini has reached 640 bench appearances, climbing to fifth on the all-time list; his next target is Nils Liedholm at 644. Il Foglio highlighted Roma's impressive start under Gasperini, driven by an increasingly full Stadio Olimpico and a squad in strong form. The publication stressed the significance of the club's decision to reject Manu Koné's departure, a choice that strengthened the bond between coach and supporters. Roma's early season has become a symbol of unexpected momentum and high expectations.

Roma are preparing for their trip to Turin with manager Gian Piero Gasperini planning several changes to manage the squad across a long season. Leonardo Balerdi is set to start in place of Gianluca Mancini, who will rest. The Argentine defender has been a standout performer in Roma's recent matches and has impressed every time Gasperini has called upon him, including a moment that went viral after contact with Lukaku. In attack, Rodrigo Mora is in line to start ahead of Paulo Dybala, with Mora among the Golden Boy candidates and keen to prove himself. Niccolò Pisilli is positioned to replace Manu Koné in midfield, as the French midfielder continues to train separately and is heading towards missing the match. Gasperini is taking no risks with Koné's fitness. The strategy reflects Gasperini's intention to rotate his squad without compromising quality, with the season stretching ahead and every player needed. Mora, alongside Emanuele Lulli, is among those in contention for the Golden Boy award and will see the Turin fixture as an opportunity to demonstrate his value. Koné's absence is being managed carefully, with the manager preferring not to force the situation. Separately, Salah Eddine has found a new club. The Moroccan player will join Greek side Panathinaikos.

Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing to rotate his squad heavily ahead of matches against Torino and Inter, with Koné, Dybala, Malen and Mancini among those likely to be rested. Castro, Mora, Soulé, Pisilli and De Roon are expected to see more action as Roma look to preserve their key players and test the depth of the squad while addressing defensive issues that have emerged in recent fixtures. Salah-Eddine's departure to Panathinaikos is confirmed. The left-back moves on a loan deal with a right of redemption and underwent medical tests in Athens today to complete the transfer. Separately, defender Oosterwolde has reopened the possibility of joining Roma. An achilles tendon operation had scuppered a move earlier this summer, but Oosterwolde met with Roma officials in Istanbul and signalled his willingness to return. "I hope to come back to Roma in the coming months," he said. The club remains interested with D'Amico continuing to monitor developments. Gasperini values Oosterwolde's versatility, and his recovery from surgery will be key to determining whether Roma can revive the deal as early as January. Carina told Radio Radio: "I've read plenty of criticism of Roma. In 30 years doing this job I'd never known a situation where I couldn't speak to my colleague—there was an absurd broadcast an hour and a half before the match and 30 minutes after. Given where it was played, Roma put in a more than decent performance: they dominated the first half. From the stadium, I had the sense that Roma wouldn't lose it, and could even have won it." Pruzzo added: "I saw a good Roma. What I keep thinking is that I have many doubts about whether the squad is qualitatively as strong as people say: I don't have that perception. In the first half they played like last season, but in the second, when you need to change, there isn't the same level. I think Castro is Roma's best option off the bench. Then Molina comes on and does the same thing as Rensch, and Mora yesterday did nothing."

Gasperini is preparing to rotate his Roma squad for the Torino match while maintaining the quality displayed in the opening three Serie A fixtures. The coach said months after his arrival: "I need everyone." That statement has become urgent now that Roma have returned to the Champions League after seven years, making a packed fixture list impossible to navigate with the same eleven players throughout. Gasperini, not naturally inclined toward rotation, will make targeted changes across defence and attack—adjustments studied carefully rather than wholesale alterations. The forward line will see the most significant shifts. Paulo Dybala, who has started every match so far and remains injury-free, will be protected by dropping him from the starting eleven to preserve his fitness over the long season. Rodrigo Mora is ready to replace him and operate alongside Matías Soulé in support roles. The key decision surrounds the central striker position: Gasperini must choose between Santiago Castro, the Argentine keen to prove himself beyond a reserve role—he scored the decisive goal against Torino last season when he was at Bologna—and Donyell Malen, who has scored four goals in three matches and shows no sign of slowing down. Gasperini may start Malen again to try to settle the match early. The decision will be confirmed in the coming 48 hours. Roma possess sufficient alternatives to rotate without sacrificing quality, marking a rare shift in Gasperini's approach to squad management this season.

Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing to rotate his squad heavily ahead of matches against Torino and Inter, with Koné, Dybala, Malen and Mancini among those likely to be rested. Castro, Mora, Soulé, Pisilli and De Roon are expected to see more action as Roma look to preserve their key players and test the depth of the squad while addressing defensive issues that have emerged in recent fixtures. Salah-Eddine's departure to Panathinaikos is confirmed. The left-back moves on a loan deal with a right of redemption and underwent medical tests in Athens today to complete the transfer. Separately, defender Oosterwolde has reopened the possibility of joining Roma. An achilles tendon operation had scuppered a move earlier this summer, but Oosterwolde met with Roma officials in Istanbul and signalled his willingness to return. "I hope to come back to Roma in the coming months," he said. The club remains interested with D'Amico continuing to monitor developments. Gasperini values Oosterwolde's versatility, and his recovery from surgery will be key to determining whether Roma can revive the deal as early as January. Carina told Radio Radio: "I've read plenty of criticism of Roma. In 30 years doing this job I'd never known a situation where I couldn't speak to my colleague—there was an absurd broadcast an hour and a half before the match and 30 minutes after. Given where it was played, Roma put in a more than decent performance: they dominated the first half. From the stadium, I had the sense that Roma wouldn't lose it, and could even have won it." Pruzzo added: "I saw a good Roma. What I keep thinking is that I have many doubts about whether the squad is qualitatively as strong as people say: I don't have that perception. In the first half they played like last season, but in the second, when you need to change, there isn't the same level. I think Castro is Roma's best option off the bench. Then Molina comes on and does the same thing as Rensch, and Mora yesterday did nothing."

Roma's opening week in the Champions League has delivered both significant encouragement and a small warning signal. The club's comeback victory against Atalanta—from 1–0 down to a 2–1 win in four minutes—and a draw away to Fenerbahce have created a picture of a squad with considerable depth and psychological resilience, but also a pattern worth monitoring in the matches ahead. Bryan Cristante emerged as the week's standout performer and the clearest evidence of Roma's evolution under Gasperini. Against Fenerbahce, Cristante scored the opening goal and touched the ball 112 times, completing 91 passes and playing 24 balls into the final third. His rise from useful squad member to gravitational centre of the team's balance, personality and order has become impossible to ignore. The bench itself proved the most interesting development of the week. When Gasperini made changes against Atalanta, the team did not lose force but gained it. Nahuel Molina increased the team's thrust down the flank, Santiago Castro signalled he is ready to make an impact, and Matías Soulé came off the bench to decide the match. Leonardo Balerdi also impressed, intent on climbing the manager's hierarchy. Roma's refusal to accept defeat completed the narrative: at 89 minutes against Atalanta, trailing 1–0, the side won 2–1 in the next four minutes through Mario Hermoso and Soulé. That capacity to keep playing and pushing until the final second is among the week's best signals. Two consecutive early-second-half goals, however, have begun to form a pattern. Ederson scored at 47 minutes in Roma's win over Atalanta; Brown equalised at 48 minutes in Fenerbahce's match against Roma. Gasperini himself acknowledged after Istanbul: "they are two clues." It does not necessarily signal a structural problem, but Roma has taken a few minutes too long to fully switch back on after the interval in both games. Donyell Malen's dip comes not from genuine crisis but from unrealistic expectations. He began the season in exaggerated form—multiple goals, a barrage of them, and the sense that every touch would create a chance. Two scoreless matches were enough to shift perception, though he supplied an assist for Cristante against Fenerbahce. At Istanbul he appeared less brilliant and dominant than in his opening displays. Gianluca Mancini and Wesley, meanwhile, remain undisputed pillars but have not yet shown their best form. Mancini has appeared less dominant and assured than his standard, while Wesley must rediscover the continuity, brilliance and ability to devastate the flank that had made him among Roma's most incisive players. No alarm: simply two important engines not yet running at full revs.

Radio pundits dissected Roma's recent performances in commentary collected by Romanews.eu, with particular focus on individual players and the squad's depth in key areas. Carina highlighted criticism of Roma as excessive, noting that in 30 years of broadcasting he had rarely been unable to speak with colleagues—disrupted by an unusually long pre-match show of an hour and a half before kickoff and 30 minutes after. He praised Roma's first-half display as dominant, saying from the stadium he had the sense Roma would not lose and could even win. However, he identified a pattern of defensive lapses: "Mancini has made errors in three matches: Lecce, Atalanta and Fenerbahce. There are some interpreters who at the moment are not doing well—for example, Mancini and Wesley." He noted Atalanta and Fenerbahce have both played with tight lines to double-mark Malen, a problem requiring tactical adjustment. Carina expected three changes for Monday's fixture, anticipating Balerdi might play and raising doubt about whether Koné would be risked after requesting a change mid-match. He observed Roma is short in midfield: "Koné came out and Pisilli came in, but he is a midfielder. De Roon is the substitute for Cristante. To me something is missing there." Pruzzo took a more critical view of squad quality, stating: "I have many doubts about the fact that the squad is qualitatively strong as one hears said—I don't have this perception." He praised Roma's first-half football but saw a dip in the second half when tactical changes were required. Pruzzo identified Castro as Roma's best option from the bench and believed the forward needed to unlock his potential. "The next one could be the right occasion," Pruzzo said. "It is inevitable that Castro has the need to score." He questioned other signings, noting Molina replicates Rensch's role and Mora contributed little in the most recent match.