Lulli shows fearlessness on debut as Roma uncovers another young talent

Roma trained on Wednesday afternoon as Gasperini's squad prepared for Sunday's midday kickoff at Como. The coach was reunited with Argentine trio Matías Soulé, Leonardo Balerdi and Santiago Castro, who returned to Italy on Tuesday morning after international duty. The session included running, small-sided matches and drills in rainy conditions as the squad readies itself for a demanding October fixture list starting with the Sinigaglia away trip. Gasperini will hold his pre-match press conference on Thursday, with Real Madrid's visit to the Olimpico following on Wednesday as the next major challenge. Away from the pitch, the Friedkin Group has announced the sale of Everton, a decision that has sparked optimism among sections of Roma's support who have long urged the ownership to concentrate fully on the Serie A club. The move has prompted contrasting reactions, with English Everton supporters responding differently to the announcement.

Roma held a training session at the Fulvio Bernardini centre on the afternoon of 8 October as preparation ramped up ahead of Sunday's Serie A fixture at Como, which kicks off at 12:30. The session, conducted in heavy rain but with a relaxed atmosphere mixing athletic work, running and tactical drills, saw the final reunion of the South American contingent with the rest of the squad. Matías Soulé, Leonardo Balerdi and Santiago Castro, who returned to Italy on the morning of 8 October, completed the entire session and put themselves at the disposal of the coaching staff. CEO John Galantic attended the training to show the board's proximity during this phase of preparation. Former Roma legend Antonio Tempestilli, who celebrated his 67th birthday, reflected on the approaching match in an interview. He spent 12 seasons at Roma between 1981 and 1993, split evenly with Como. Tempestilli highlighted the risks of the long international break, saying: "A break that long can cause some problems with many players away on international duty: you have to see if there has been fatigue, hope everyone has returned fit. But that applies to everyone, starting with Como. Now you have to switch back on the mentality that Roma showed before the break. Gasperini is a guarantee in that sense." Gian Piero Gasperini will hold his pre-match press conference at Trigoria tomorrow at 13:30. Elsewhere, Vincenzo Montella's tenure as Turkey's head coach has officially ended. The Turkish Football Federation announced today that its board formally removed him from his position following a series of four consecutive defeats in the recent UEFA Nations League cycle. Montella, an ex-Roma player and former manager of the club, had held the role since September 2023.

Kylian Mbappé will start for Real Madrid against Villarreal on Wednesday 14 October, just two weeks after suffering a left knee injury against Turkey. José Mourinho has opted against managing the forward's workload ahead of the visit to the Olimpico, instead electing to test his condition in match action immediately. Mbappé has been training with the group for days and the injury appears resolved. Mourinho is determined to get his attacker back to full sharpness without delay. The Villarreal fixture serves as a gauge of Mbappé's readiness before the Champions League encounter with Roma. Gian Piero Gasperini will now have to contend with the French forward at his best, having previously faced uncertainty over his availability. Federico Valverde has also recovered and will feature against Villarreal, providing another boost for Madrid's midfield. The message from Mourinho is clear: Mbappé is ready, and there will be no further caution. Gasperini is now studying how to stop him.

Roma continued preparations for Sunday's match against Como at the Sinigaglia, which kicks off at 12:30, with an afternoon training session on Wednesday. Matías Soulé, Leonardo Balerdi and Santiago Castro returned to the squad after arriving back in Italy on Tuesday morning from international duty. The group trained in mixed conditions with running drills, small-sided games and rain, with CEO John Galantic present at the training ground. Bryan Cristante remains sidelined with a knee problem, with Marten de Roon standing ready to replace him. Niccolò Pisilli, who sat out the previous session due to flu symptoms, trained normally with his teammates and will be available for selection. Roma face a demanding October fixture schedule beginning with the trip to Como.

Roma's radio phone-in shows debated the Friedkin Group's position in football following reports of the sale of Everton, with opinion divided on whether the move signals a strategic retreat from sport or a commitment to focus solely on Roma. Gianluca Piacentini of Rete Sport argued the Everton sale could be a precursor to exiting Roma: "The sale of Everton by the Friedkin could be a step towards also selling Roma. They invested first in the stadium and then in the club there. Here in Rome they did the opposite. It may be they realised football is not the business they imagined and are liquidating. When there is final approval for the stadium construction, they could decide to leave Roma too." Tiziano Moroni took the opposite view, seeing the move as freeing resources to concentrate on Roma. Checco Oddo Casano suggested Everton's position in England and location offered poor strategic returns, though he too speculated the Friedkin might eventually sell Roma. Piero Torri expressed hope the sale was genuine, saying: "If the Friedkin have only Roma, it is better for us." On the pitch, David Rossi criticised Gasperini's approach to midfield strength: "There is one thing Gasperini is very wrong about: the number of central midfielders Roma needs to have available. I think four is too few, given the type of strain they undergo. When one gets injured, you have only one substitute at midfield. If there is an unfortunate suspension or something else, you are left with two central midfielders for two places. An ambitious squad cannot go into a grind like the one coming up with three midfielders for two spots. There is another aggravation: Pisilli is a different kind of reserve from all the others—more of an alternative than a reserve. If you need a thinking midfielder, that is another weakness." On Rodrigo Mora, Francesca Ferrazza of Tele Radio Stereo said: "The problem for Mora is that he needs time, but Roma has no time. He would need to be protected and sheltered, and for that another player should have been signed to give him time to grow. Instead he has to be a starter already, because you have Soulé who is adapted to the left, you have Pellegrini, and you have nothing else. The point seems clear to me: Mora would need to be sheltered, but we have no time for it." Mario Corsi backed Mora's quality and urged Gasperini to start him at Como. Roberto Pruzzo suggested Pisilli deserved midfield minutes on Sunday. Mario Mattioli rated a draw as the most likely result at Como, defending Marten de Roon's fitness despite his age: "I have followed him always—he is an inexhaustible motor. He has 35 years, and well, there are players who have an athleticism and longevity that others do not. Perhaps he cannot play every match, but we will see his contribution in the coming matches."

Donyell Malen has explained his move to Roma and his early impressions in an interview with Corriere dello Sport, crediting the club's environment and coaching for unlocking his best form. The forward said he had never scored as many goals as he has in his first weeks at Roma, attributing the change to finding the right place with the right people. "I've played a lot everywhere, but today I believe I'm in the right place with the right people," Malen said. "The coach and my teammates give me a lot of confidence, and all these things together bring me to be what I dreamed of." He described an immediate connection with Paulo Dybala, laughing at online nicknames like "Dymalen" and "Dybalen" that play on their names. Malen confirmed he decided to leave Aston Villa himself, seeking regular football and a central role in the team. "I wanted to play, to be part of a squad where I could take the pitch every weekend and be important," he said. "In that phase I didn't feel I was, so I think I made the best choice." He praised Roma's stature, fanbase, and coaching staff as decisive factors in his decision, and highlighted the adjustment to Serie A's climate and defensive structure compared to the Premier League. "In England it rains a lot and it's cold. Here, in summer, you have to slow the game down: you can't go back and forth at forty degrees. In the Premier League there's a different philosophy—you never find defensive blocks like those in Italy." Malen revealed he was injured during the recent international break and regretted being unable to answer a Netherlands call-up. He also praised several teammates, singling out Niccolò Pisilli as "very young but you see immediately that he has quality" and Manu Koné as "fantastic." On head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, Malen said: "The way he manages players: you know he'll never lie to you." He acknowledged Gasperini's training sessions are "very heavy at times" but stopped short of confirming he had vomited from exhaustion like some other players have reported. He did reveal Gasperini threw furniture in the dressing room after the Parma match in celebration: "It was incredible. He was too happy: a table flew too."

Roma recorded the lowest minute tally among Serie A's top sides during the latest international break, accumulating 1,204 minutes across their squad members on national duty. AC Milan led the ranking with 2,625 minutes, followed by Inter on 2,352 and Napoli on 2,094. Roma's relatively modest figure reflects fewer players being called up for the four matches played by their national teams during this fixture congestion period. Rodrígo Mora topped Roma's minutes register for Portugal Under-21 with 225, ahead of Evan N'Dicka (Ivory Coast) on 187 and Gianluca Mancini (Italy) with 180. Niccolò Pisilli matched Mancini's total for Italy Under-21, while Manu Koné accumulated 152 minutes for France. The minutes spread unevenly across the squad: Konstantinos Koulierakis (Greece) played 90 minutes, Leonardo Balerdi (Argentina) 79, Matías Soulé (Argentina) 45, and Emanuele Lulli (Italy Under-21) 45. Santiago Castro (Argentina) featured for just 21 minutes, while Daniele Ghilardi (Italy) and Giorgio De Marzi (Italy youth) saw no action. In the broader Serie A comparison, Juventus recorded 1,772 minutes with Como on 1,587 and Lazio on 1,232. Among the top three, Milan's total was driven by players such as Jashari (Switzerland, 295 minutes), Pavlovic (Serbia, 275) and Ramos (Portugal, 275). Inter's Akanji (Switzerland) and Napoli's Lobotka (Slovakia) each played the maximum 360 minutes across their respective nations' campaigns. The international window has added significant load to players' schedules as calendars become increasingly congested with fixtures.

Como and Roma meet on Sunday in a fixture that spotlights two clubs most actively invested in youth development. The pair have the lowest average squad ages in Serie A: Como at 24.5 years and Roma at 25.8 years, ahead of Milan (26.5) and Juventus (26.8). Napoli lag furthest behind at 28.5 years. Both clubs field multiple players under 23 in prominent roles, with Como deploying Diao, Paz, Liberali, Ramon, Valle, Rodriguez and Baturina, while Roma call on Pisilli, Mora, Lulli, Wesley, Castro, Soulé and Ghilardi. The matchup represents a broader strategic commitment to the future across both squads. Roma and Como have both made future-focused recruitment a priority and plan to continue doing so in the next transfer window whilst maintaining experienced depth. Roma blend youth with senior players including Paulo Dybala, Bryan Cristante and Mario Hermoso. Como similarly pair development with established figures such as Milla, Butez and Douvikas under Fabregas. The contrast in playing styles is notable—both clubs seek to dominate opponents and entertain—yet they share this generational philosophy. Monza and Frosinone currently lead the league's average age table at 23.8 years, having reached matchday five. However, the quality of young talent matters as much as the statistical average. Neither Roma nor Como lack for that calibre of prospect, positioning the two clubs as genuine title contenders built on youth rather than veteran squads.

Roma's long legal dispute with former sporting director Gianluca Petrachi has come to an end after Italy's Court of Cassation made final a dismissal decision handed down by the club in July 2020. The case centred on a message Petrachi sent to then-president James Pallotta, whom he called "a small man", and further accusations that the court found contained "extremely grave insults" and allusions to alleged offences by the club's leadership. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is building Roma around a squad with the lowest average age among Serie A's top sides—alongside Como. Pisilli is now a regular in rotation, and behind him Gasperini can call on several Under-23 players: Mora, Lulli, Wesley, Ghilardi, Castro and Soulé. That youth-focused project will be tested when Roma travel to Como, with both clubs representing two of Serie A's youngest squads. After the international break, Roma face a decisive month: from the Como fixture through Roma-Sassuolo on 7 November, they will play nine matches in 28 days. Three of those are Champions League games against Real Madrid, Slovan Bratislava and Manchester United, alongside a Serie A clash with Napoli. Gasperini has already made no secret of his ambitions, and the stretch will serve as a true measure of how far the squad can go.

Roma are close to securing a contract renewal with Emanuele Lulli after the defender emerged as a standout performer in the club's opening weeks of the 2026-27 season. Lulli impressed Gasperini during a pre-season friendly against Dortmund in mid-August, confirming his credentials for the campaign ahead. The club is now moving to tie down his future. With Lulli's contract set to expire in 2027, Roma's management and the player's representatives are in final negotiations. The proposed deal would extend his terms until 2031 on a salary of €500,000 annually, with performance bonuses to increase the package further.

Roma radio pundits debated the squad and tactics ahead of the Como match on a programme featuring Ugo Trani, Francesco Balzani, Simone Valdarchi, Roberto Pruzzo and Mario Mattioli. The discussion ranged from ownership prospects to midfield selection and the tactical approach Gasperini will adopt. Trani raised the prospect of the Friedkin Group selling Roma in future, noting their acquisition of Everton and other global assets. He argued that the owners made an "all-in" decision by keeping Koné and Svilar this summer and are now trying to strengthen the squad to win silverware and raise its value before a potential sale after the new stadium is built. He contrasted this with José Mourinho's recent interview, saying the former manager showed more attachment to Roma than the owners themselves do. Trani expected strong rotation against Genoa, with Wesley, Molina, Lulli and Rensch all on alert, and suggested Mora is ahead of Pellegrini in the manager's thinking for the Como fixture. Balzani agreed that the Everton sale signals the Friedkin Group's strategic pivot, though he noted they could remain Roma's owners until 2030–32 at minimum. He suggested Mora could be tactically decisive against Como and their four-man defence. Valdarchi cautioned that Pellegrini's potential benching would not signal a defensive approach from Gasperini, but rather reflect the manager's assessment of which midfielder could press Como's build-up play more effectively. Pruzzo highlighted how the long international break creates uncertainty and stressed the importance of extending Roma's lead over Como. Mattioli voiced confidence in the squad's form: "I don't understand the doubts about de Roon. He is an inexhaustible engine in midfield." He praised the giallorossi's momentum and noted that Como, while strong, lack the experience Roma possess.

Roma recorded the lowest minute tally among Serie A's top sides during the latest international break, accumulating 1,204 minutes across their squad members on national duty. AC Milan led the ranking with 2,625 minutes, followed by Inter on 2,352 and Napoli on 2,094. Roma's relatively modest figure reflects fewer players being called up for the four matches played by their national teams during this fixture congestion period. Rodrígo Mora topped Roma's minutes register for Portugal Under-21 with 225, ahead of Evan N'Dicka (Ivory Coast) on 187 and Gianluca Mancini (Italy) with 180. Niccolò Pisilli matched Mancini's total for Italy Under-21, while Manu Koné accumulated 152 minutes for France. The minutes spread unevenly across the squad: Konstantinos Koulierakis (Greece) played 90 minutes, Leonardo Balerdi (Argentina) 79, Matías Soulé (Argentina) 45, and Emanuele Lulli (Italy Under-21) 45. Santiago Castro (Argentina) featured for just 21 minutes, while Daniele Ghilardi (Italy) and Giorgio De Marzi (Italy youth) saw no action. In the broader Serie A comparison, Juventus recorded 1,772 minutes with Como on 1,587 and Lazio on 1,232. Among the top three, Milan's total was driven by players such as Jashari (Switzerland, 295 minutes), Pavlovic (Serbia, 275) and Ramos (Portugal, 275). Inter's Akanji (Switzerland) and Napoli's Lobotka (Slovakia) each played the maximum 360 minutes across their respective nations' campaigns. The international window has added significant load to players' schedules as calendars become increasingly congested with fixtures.