Lulli's academy lesson: when a 2007-born prospect outperforms Zeki Çelik

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."

Roma are working on multiple transfer targets for the January window beyond Endrick, the Brazilian forward who has caught coach Gian Piero Gasperini's eye. While Endrick is a striker and left-footer who has shown he can operate in a secondary role at Lyon, his arrival may prove redundant given Paulo Dybala's elevated form and Matías Soulé's recent return to top condition — both players already operate in the centre-forward areas where the Brazilian would likely be deployed. Director Tony D'Amico is therefore pursuing alternative options, with initial contact already made on two specific players. The first is Georgian left-winger Kvernadze, a right-footed player with an imposing physical presence, pace and goalscoring ability who could compensate on that flank for the different profile offered by Rodrigo Mora. The second is Ruben van Bommel of PSV, son of the former Milan and Barcelona midfielder and current Belgium coach. Van Bommel, born 2004, was sidelined by a serious injury last season but has since recovered and is back at peak fitness. Van Bommel has scored 2 goals and provided 4 assists, and has already gained early Champions League experience. Roma's recruitment staff view both players as capable of strengthening the squad in areas where tactical balance is needed.

Donyell Malen has spoken about his move to Roma and early impressions under Gian Piero Gasperini. Asked about the nickname 'Dymalen' or 'Dybalen' with Paulo Dybala, Malen said: "Dymalen… it makes you think of the connection, yes, it's funny online… The feeling with Paulo was immediate." Malen left Aston Villa by his own choice, seeking regular first-team football. "I wanted to play, to be part of a team where I could get on the pitch every weekend and be important," he explained. "In that phase I didn't feel I was. I think I made the best choice." He believes Roma and Gasperini offer what he was looking for. "I think pretty much everything has changed. I've played a lot and everywhere, but today I believe I'm in the right place with the right people. The coach and my teammates give me a lot of confidence, and all these things together bring me to be what I dreamed of." On Gasperini's approach, Malen said: "The way he manages players—you know he will never lie to you about anything." Malen also recalled Gasperini's exuberant reaction after the Parma match: "It happened after Parma. Amazing. He was too happy—a table flew too."

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 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 full-backs have become a cornerstone of Gian Piero Gasperini's push to the top of Serie A, a marked shift from last season when they proved problematic. Wesley and Nahuel Molina are now among the club's key strengths, and both will start when Roma resume the league campaign against Como, where they will face manager Fabregas. The turnaround reflects Gasperini's tactical evolution since arriving at the club: in his first season, Wesley was the only defender fully convincing on the flanks, while Zeki Çelik had to make do elsewhere. Now the picture is entirely different. Gasperini has uncovered Emanuele Lulli in the course of the season, and Molina has gradually built his fitness, delivering quality and assists to Roma's attacking phase. For the Como fixture, Gasperini plans to deploy Molina on the right and Wesley on the left. The selection reflects not just Roma's attacking ambitions but also Gasperini's defensive strategy: by using two attacking full-backs, he aims to stretch Como's wide players—Baturina on one flank and Diao on the other—and occupy them throughout the match. Wesley, the more naturally offensive of the pair, will be tasked with driving forward and supporting the build-up play. Molina is likely to carry greater defensive responsibility, balancing his own contributions with the need to contain Como's threats on the wing.

Gian Piero Gasperini will deploy Nahuel Molina and Wesley as twin wingers in Roma's visit to Como, harnessing simultaneous attacking thrust down both flanks to counter Cesc Fabregas's side. With Molina fully recovered and Wesley in continued form, Roma will field two genuine wide operators capable of delivering width, high pressing and chances for the attacking midfielders. The tactical choice targets Como's possession-based play built around Baturina and Diao's unpredictability; Molina and Wesley are instructed to close down Como's wide references and attacking midfielders immediately, forcing them away from build-up play into long balls. In possession, the overlapping runs of Molina and Wesley will create lateral chains with Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé, opening space for crosses and inside passes. Last season Roma's right wing relied solely on Wesley alongside the converted Zeki Çelik, but the club now possesses one of Serie A's strongest selections of wide midfielders. Gasperini's side has already created thirteen goalscoring actions from wide midfielders this season—second in the league behind Inter's fourteen. Wesley leads with seven goal contributions, followed by Molina on four and eighteen-year-old Emanuele Lulli, an academy product promoted to the first team, who has added two decisive contributions and demonstrates the depth of alternatives available on the flanks. A key feature of Gasperini's system is the tactical flexibility of both players. Wesley and Molina can interchange wings during matches without loss of effectiveness, alternating deep play and crosses with cuts inside on their stronger foot to link with the attacking midfielders. This constant switching prevents opposing defences from finding fixed reference points and allows Roma to vary attacking approaches throughout the game.

Zeki Çelik produced a costly error in Turkey's match against Italy in Bursa, clearing a corner kick directly to Alessandro Bastoni, who opened the scoring for the Azzurri. Italy dominated the fixture in a redemptive performance after losing to Belgium on Friday. Çelik's mistake was immediately seized upon by social media users, with Roma supporters among those criticising the defender's display. One Roma fan wrote: "La spazza Celik" (Çelik the sweeper), while others joked about whether a 'Çelik-cam' video would emerge—a reference to footage released by DAZN following Çelik's first friendly for Juventus. The Turkish international has endured a difficult start to his spell in Serie A, facing criticism not only from Roma fans but also from his country's supporters.

Roma face Como in a tactical battle between Fabregas and Gasperini, two coaches with contrasting philosophies seeking to dictate play. Gasperini is considering deploying Rodrigo Mora on the trequarti in support of Dybala and Malen, a move with both technical and tactical significance. Against Como's four-man defence, this setup would allow Mora to exploit space between the lines and combine quickly with two players whose strengths complement each other: Dybala's ability to read situations others miss and Malen's capacity to attack space immediately. Marten de Roon is expected to anchor midfield, providing equilibrium and tactical knowledge of Gasperini's systems crucial against Como's possession-based approach. Evan N'Dicka is favoured over Leonardo Balerdi in defence, with Nahuel Molina and Wesley operating on the flanks. The match's decisive factor may lie on the wings. Como build superiority through passing and draw pressure to free players in space; Roma counterpress through individual aggression and advanced recovery. The fullbacks will be fundamental, needing to support attacking play without leaving the corridors Como exploits. Molina and Wesley could prove decisive both in pressing and by forcing Como's wingers to defend, preventing Fabregas's side from developing their game with continuity. The sides have met twice previously in contrasting circumstances. At the Olimpico, Roma imposed themselves through intense pressing, with Wesley scoring the decisive goal. In the return fixture, a side lacking clear attacking reference points gradually lost shape and ceded initiative to Como. However, this Roma present different offensive possibilities. The presence of Malen, Dybala's talent and Mora's potential deployment offer Gasperini solutions capable of troubling a well-organised team like Fabregas's. Roma must start aggressively, press immediately and prevent Como from gaining confidence in their passing patterns.

Donyell Malen has spoken about his move to Roma and early impressions under Gian Piero Gasperini. Asked about the nickname 'Dymalen' or 'Dybalen' with Paulo Dybala, Malen said: "Dymalen… it makes you think of the connection, yes, it's funny online… The feeling with Paulo was immediate." Malen left Aston Villa by his own choice, seeking regular first-team football. "I wanted to play, to be part of a team where I could get on the pitch every weekend and be important," he explained. "In that phase I didn't feel I was. I think I made the best choice." He believes Roma and Gasperini offer what he was looking for. "I think pretty much everything has changed. I've played a lot and everywhere, but today I believe I'm in the right place with the right people. The coach and my teammates give me a lot of confidence, and all these things together bring me to be what I dreamed of." On Gasperini's approach, Malen said: "The way he manages players—you know he will never lie to you about anything." Malen also recalled Gasperini's exuberant reaction after the Parma match: "It happened after Parma. Amazing. He was too happy—a table flew too."

Roma's media panel debated squad selection and the Como fixture ahead of the club's return to action after an international break. Carina highlighted Gasperini's challenge in a congested fixture schedule: following weeks without the full squad available for training, the manager faced a first full session yesterday, 8 October, with today marking the real start of preparation. The key tactical doubt lay on the left wing—between Mora and Soulé—with Mora favoured so far due to more days at Trigoria, though that contest remained fluid. "Chi non giocherà a Como, giocherà contro il Real Madrid," Carina noted, pointing to Como's importance as a league fixture before the Champions League showdown. With only three central midfielders in the squad, Pellegrini's potential return offered vital depth; the pundit called Como–Roma "the most important match for Gasperini, not the Real Madrid one." Torri, speaking on Mana Mana Sport, predicted Soulé would start the Como match "if he is well." "Gasperini will assess him over these two days, and if he is fit, he will play," Torri said. Dybala and Malen were automatic selections. Pruzzo underlined the value of a healthy Pellegrini, noting that returning him to the three-man midfield would create a fourth option—"an alternative you must have." He stressed that beating Como would maintain Roma's level and force Como's manager Fabregas to chase a result against Fiorentina, establishing "a certain gap" in the standings. Orsi and Mattioli backed De Roon as a reliable midfield presence. "De Roon can start quite comfortably," Orsi said. "He doesn't move the centremidfield dynamically, but he already knows Gasperini's tactical systems." Mattioli called De Roon "an inexhaustible motor" with "incredible athletic longevity," though he acknowledged the midfielder cannot play 96 matches. "His contribution will come. I believe Roma can come away with points—I do not know if a draw or a win." Pes reflected on José Mourinho's tenure, commenting: "At an emotional level, Mourinho's period was a moment of truly great unity. Budapest could have been the crowning of his season with Roma—he would have entered history, and there his adventure ends. A season that finished badly and became worse with the De Rossi question. There were certainly better Roma sides in terms of play, but emotionally something unique was created: Mourinho left a mark on Roma. Against Como it is an open, difficult match to read. But Roma can win it, if it has more desire than it showed against Inter. I think Roma will hardly fail."