Lulli's debut night: the 2007-born winger shines in sold-out opener

Santiago Castro made his AS Roma debut at the Olimpico on 25 August 2026 and celebrated in unforgettable fashion by announcing he is expecting his first child. The Argentine striker revealed the news on Instagram, writing: "We are very happy to say that our small family is growing. Eager and emotional to have you with us. We are waiting for you." Castro and his wife posed for a photograph on the pitch immediately after the match, holding a miniature Roma shirt bearing his name to mark both occasions at once. The couple chose to announce the pregnancy on the night of Castro's first appearance in the giallorossi shirt, combining two significant milestones into a single celebration. The photograph, taken in the stadium, carries dual meaning—recording both his debut and the arrival of a new generation to his family. Castro's daughter will be born in Rome, linking his child to the capital from birth.

Paulo Dybala delivered a performance against Fiorentina on 24 August that Roma fans have not seen before, returning to the form he showed at Juventus with tireless running, shooting, creativity and team play. The Argentine remained the squad's standout player, with the recovery of the ball in the second half and his physical intensity signalling a player in elite condition. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini knew what he had: Dybala completed the full pre-season preparation without missing a day and followed every instruction without compromise. Dybala's three assists were the headline, but the display itself raised an immediate question for Roma's ownership: what happens if he stays this sharp? The renewal contract he signed is built on performance bonuses—appearances, goals and assists—meaning the stronger he plays and the more he contributes, the more the Friedkins will pay. Yet that has become, by the club's own logic, a problem Roma wanted to have. The financial structure is detailed. Dybala cuts his base salary to 2.2 million euros—a reduction of over 70 per cent—but unlocked significant bonus layers. Each appearance as a starter with a minimum of 45 minutes earns 100,000 euros, up to a maximum of 20 matches totalling 2 million euros. From the 21st such appearance, that bonus rises to 150,000 euros per match. Substitute appearances of at least 20 minutes are worth 75,000 euros each. Goals and assists activate further bonuses: for every five combined across both categories, he earns between 100,000 and 1 million euros. Against Fiorentina, playing 79 minutes as a starter and recording three assists, Dybala already triggered 100,000 euros in appearance bonuses. The three assists fell short of the five needed to unlock the goals-and-assists tier—that remains in progress. In the post-match interview, Dybala said: "The will to stay has always been there." His commitment came down to an act of faith in his own talent and in Roma's project.

Emanuele Lulli made his Serie A debut in Roma's 4–0 victory over Fiorentina on 24 August 2026, delivering numbers that exceeded the seasonal average of predecessor Zeki Çelik. The 19-year-old academy product recorded four successful tackles, 56 touches, 86.5% pass accuracy, seven duels won out of ten, and a decisive recovery that led to Donyell Malen's goal for the 3–0. In the 2025–26 season, Çelik averaged a rating between 6.7 and 7.0 with roughly two tackles per 90 minutes and solid passing precision; Lulli's intensity and physicality in his opening match surpassed that baseline. The comparison extends beyond statistics. Çelik managed play with experience and positional sense across four years in the shirt; Lulli brought the aggressive, tireless profile that Gasperini has consistently sought in his wide defenders—more in the mould of a pressing, high-intensity fullback than a controlled operator. Gasperini's system rewards corsa, aggressiveness and constant covering rather than refined crossing. Çelik departed for Juventus without generating significant regret, but a Palestrina and Trigoria academy graduate has now demonstrated, at least in raw output, superior performance to the departed player's average. Lulli remains incomplete. He must improve his ball management and the quality of his final pass. He showed no signs of being overwhelmed by the context and contributed concretely to Roma's cause. The performance serves as more than tactical encouragement: it reinforces a working principle that the academy, when given proper development and managerial backing, can generate solutions better suited to Gasperini's model than external recruitment alone.

Donyell Malen scored a hat-trick as AS Roma won their Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday night—a historic first for the club to begin their league campaign on a Monday. Gian Piero Gasperini, managing Roma, marked the start of his twentieth season in Serie A with a managerial position, an achievement reached previously only by Carlo Mazzone (28 seasons), Nereo Rocco (24), Nils Liedholm (23), Giovanni Trapattoni (23), and Luigi Radice (20). Bryan Cristante delivered a near-perfect midfield performance, Wesley showed his customary commitment on the flanks, and Paulo Dybala appeared in scintillating form, reaching his 100th Serie A appearance for Roma. Dybala extended his run to four consecutive league matches with a decisive contribution, amassing 5 assists during that spell. Malen dominated the match with five shots—more than any player from either side—and claimed top spot in Serie A's scoring chart. His record is striking: 17 goals in 19 Serie A appearances, surpassing Gabriel Omar Batistuta's previous Roma record of 15 goals in the first 20 games of the three-points-for-a-win era. The victory extended Roma's winning streak to six consecutive Serie A matches, all decided by at least two goals, with five clean sheets during that run. The last longer winning streak came in February–March 2025 under Claudio Ranieri, when Roma won seven in a row. Roma's recent record in season openers is formidable: in their last 15 opening-day fixtures, they have lost just once (a 3–0 away to Verona in 2020), winning 8 and drawing 5. Against Fiorentina specifically, Roma have now won three times at the start of seasons, including victories in 2014 and 2021. On 4 May this year, Roma had defeated Fiorentina by four goals—the first such margin in Serie A since Luciano Spalletti's 4–0 in 2017. With this latest win, Roma stretched their run of consecutive Serie A matches with a goal to 16. The squad's average age sits at approximately 24.8 years against a Serie A average of 25.6, making Roma the subject of the most significant youth restructuring among Italy's big clubs—roughly three years younger than Inter and Napoli, and fresher than Milan and Lazio. The signing of Oosterwolde (24) is imminent and will reinforce this trend. Looking at potential starters—Svilar, Wesley, Rensch, Koulierakis, Koné, Pisilli, Soulé, Castro, and Mora—Gasperini may manage one of the youngest Roma squads of the past decade. The youth project was on full display against Fiorentina. Eighteen-year-old Rodrigo Mora, the main youth prospect in the starting eleven, had a shot on target at the 19th minute. Niccolò Pisilli (born 2004) came off the bench to score the fourth goal. The real surprise was the selection of 19-year-old Emanuele Lulli (born 2007), who impressed in Roma's Primavera setup and was aggregated to the first team for the summer retreat. He provided an assist for Paulo Dybala in the friendly against Cardiff before starting in place of Nahuel Molina. The sight of two players from the 2006–2007 generations operating with composure on opening night underscores a club intent on winning while building for the future, guided by Gasperini's experience and the hunger of its young talents.

Manu Koné was withdrawn in the 79th minute with a left thigh problem during Roma's latest match, cutting short an otherwise commanding midfield display. The French midfielder, who had returned late from World Cup commitments, was replaced by Neil El Aynaoui; medical staff immediately applied ice to his thigh on the bench. Over the coming days he will undergo tests to determine the extent of the muscle injury. Head coach Gasperini faces mounting injury concerns ahead of the Lecce fixture. Devyne Rensch also suffered a muscle strain earlier in the session, while Nahuel Molina, not at his best, remained on the bench for the full 90 minutes. Gasperini hopes to have the full squad available for the Lecce clash.

Devyne Rensch will miss Roma's opening Serie A match of the 2026–27 season against Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico on 24 August, ruled out by a left hamstring strain. The Dutch fullback is nonetheless present at the ground to watch the fixture in person. Rensch expressed his disappointment via Instagram, saying: "Sad not to be able to be present at the start of the season. Always here supporting. Come on Roma always!" His absence leaves Gasperini to adjust his defensive lineup for the first matchday encounter.

Gian Piero Gasperini praised Roma's mentality and attacking prowess after a 4-0 victory over Fiorentina on 24 August, singling out Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen as world-class talent and calling for further recruitment to strengthen the squad for a demanding fixture schedule. Speaking to DAZN, Gasperini said: "The mentality of this group. These boys have recommenced as it was last season. We carry more knowledge. Their attitude in the match and in training is extraordinary. There are players who have done everything to play at Roma or remain: Dybala, Pellegrini, also Mora with his agent. They feel the beauty of this environment." Gasperini highlighted Dybala's physical condition at 32 years old as crucial to the club's ambitions. "Absolutely yes. He is a boy who at 32 is in the fullness of maturity. He may have less speed, but not much, and less force in the shot. He is among the very first in our league, if not the first." He noted that Dybala suffered misfortune last season with injuries from a penalty kick and a free kick that cost him a meniscus, but has made an "absolute level" preparation and is now more resilient. Gasperini withdrew him during the match because other important players were available, "but he can play even extra time." On the Dybala-Malen partnership, Gasperini declared: "They are of European level, therefore World level. Dybala has always been so, he only had too many injuries. This one is a beast: anything but silk muscles as someone said. He can even play extra time. Malen is extraordinary, but it is not by chance: he feels appreciated and strong, he is a leader on the pitch and can grow further still." Gasperini stressed that Roma's recruitment remains incomplete despite the convincing display. "We are not done. If you look at the calendar after the international break there is something to shudder at. It is absolutely necessary to have some numbers more, not too many, to face the season with the league, Champions League and Coppa Italia. With this risk we know there is the risk of losing players in the same period." He praised recent arrivals Konstantinos Koulierakis, Nahuel Molina, Santiago Castro, and Rodrigo Mora for fitting into the team's structure, noting that the group has a foundation built over the past year and new arrivals are functional. He also commended the new Serie A rule extending effective playing time, saying: "Beautiful, fantastic. I like it very much. The public is advantaged this way: before it saw matches of deadly boredom, with the goalkeeper touching more balls than everyone else. These are excellent rules: no one now stays on the ground more. They were thought out very well, the public wants to see play and not waste time."

Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala spoke to DAZN after Roma's latest fixture, with the pair highlighting their early understanding on the pitch. In seven matches together, Malen has scored six goals and Dybala has provided six assists. When asked about reports that Gasperini said he returned sad from the World Cup, Malen responded: "I'm happy to be back, what's done is done. Now we've started again and I felt the energy of the stadium." Asked about matching his tally of 14 goals in half a season last year, Malen said: "I don't want to give numbers. I have to create goal-scoring chances, then we'll see." Dybala offered effusive praise for his young teammate. "We're facing an extraordinary talent," Dybala told DAZN. "At 19 he's already completed two campaigns, winning as well. Two years ago he scored 10 goals. He's a boy in evolution, also in the personality with which he played tonight. He's had a bit of physical decline too, which is normal. Every time he touches the ball something beautiful happens. He's resilient, he has elite athletic values. He can play on the right and left. He has football, real talent. There's work to do with him too, clearly—it's been a week he's been here. He'll give us great satisfaction." On the group's mentality, Dybala said: "The attitude of these boys is extraordinary. They've started again as they did last season. We carry more knowledge with us. Their attitude in matches and training is extraordinary. There are players who've done everything to play for Roma or stay: Dybala, Pellegrini, also Mora with his agent. They feel the beauty of this environment." Gasperini stressed Dybala's physical condition is key, noting: "At 32 he's in the fullness of maturity. He may have less speed, not much, and less shooting power. He's among the very first in our league, if not the first. Last year he was very unlucky. He had an injury kicking a penalty and one on a free kick. It cost him a meniscus, the penalty. But he's done absolute-level preparation. He's not made of silk, he's increasingly resilient. I took him off because we have other important players but he can play extra time too." Gasperini acknowledged Roma's squad remains incomplete despite the strong performance. "We've put the right players in the right places this year, like Koulierakis and Molina, who has an important past, Castro, Mora. But we haven't completed," he said. "If you look at the calendar after the international break there's reason to shiver. It's absolutely necessary to have some additional numbers, not too many, to face the season with the league, Champions and Coppa Italia. Knowing this risk, we know there's the risk of losing players in the same period."

Gian Piero Gasperini praised Rodrigo Mora as a rising talent and Paulo Dybala as the key to Roma's ambitions following the Giallorossi's first match of the Serie A season against Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico on 24 August. The coach told journalists after the game that Mora, 19, represents exceptional quality despite having arrived only a week earlier. "We are dealing with an extraordinary talent," Gasperini said. "At 19 he has already completed two seasons, and two years ago he scored ten goals. Every time he touches the ball something good happens. He is resilient, with athletic values at a high level. He can play on the right and left. There is work to do with him, naturally—he has been here a week—but he will give us great satisfaction." Gasperini placed Dybala, 32, at the centre of Roma's championship ambitions, emphasizing his condition and commitment. "Absolutely yes," the coach said when asked if Dybala is the key to aiming high. "He is a player at 32 in the fullness of his maturity. He may have less speed, not much, and less shooting power. He is among the very first in our league, if not the first. Last year he was very unlucky. He suffered an injury kicking a penalty and another on a free kick—the penalty cost him a meniscus. But he has done absolute top-level preparation. He does not have silk muscles; he is increasingly resilient. I took him off because we have other important players, but he could play extra time." On the squad's overall mentality, Gasperini highlighted the attitude displayed in training and on the pitch. "The mentality of this group," he said when asked what gave him most satisfaction. "These lads have restarted as they did last season. We carry forward more knowledge. Their attitude in matches and training is extraordinary. There are players who have done everything to play at Roma or to stay: Dybala, Pellegrini, also Mora with his agent. They feel the beauty of this environment." Gasperini confirmed that several new arrivals—Konstantinos Koulierakis, Nahuel Molina, Santiago Castro, and Mora—have been integrated functionally into the team. He added that Manu Koné, who featured in the match, arrived fatigued after playing in the World Cup and needs further training to regain full condition, as do El Aynaoui and Molina. Gasperini acknowledged that Roma's transfer business remains incomplete, with the fixture schedule presenting challenges ahead. "We are putting the right players in the right place, but we have not completed," he said. "If you look at the calendar after the international break, it is daunting. It is absolutely necessary to have some extra numbers, not too many, to face the season with the league, Champions League and the Coppa Italia. With that risk we know there is the risk of losing players in the same period." The coach expressed satisfaction with the squad's dimension and quality, noting that familiarity among returning players and the functional integration of newcomers had strengthened Roma's starting position.

Paulo Dybala delivered a performance against Fiorentina on 24 August that Roma fans have not seen before, returning to the form he showed at Juventus with tireless running, shooting, creativity and team play. The Argentine remained the squad's standout player, with the recovery of the ball in the second half and his physical intensity signalling a player in elite condition. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini knew what he had: Dybala completed the full pre-season preparation without missing a day and followed every instruction without compromise. Dybala's three assists were the headline, but the display itself raised an immediate question for Roma's ownership: what happens if he stays this sharp? The renewal contract he signed is built on performance bonuses—appearances, goals and assists—meaning the stronger he plays and the more he contributes, the more the Friedkins will pay. Yet that has become, by the club's own logic, a problem Roma wanted to have. The financial structure is detailed. Dybala cuts his base salary to 2.2 million euros—a reduction of over 70 per cent—but unlocked significant bonus layers. Each appearance as a starter with a minimum of 45 minutes earns 100,000 euros, up to a maximum of 20 matches totalling 2 million euros. From the 21st such appearance, that bonus rises to 150,000 euros per match. Substitute appearances of at least 20 minutes are worth 75,000 euros each. Goals and assists activate further bonuses: for every five combined across both categories, he earns between 100,000 and 1 million euros. Against Fiorentina, playing 79 minutes as a starter and recording three assists, Dybala already triggered 100,000 euros in appearance bonuses. The three assists fell short of the five needed to unlock the goals-and-assists tier—that remains in progress. In the post-match interview, Dybala said: "The will to stay has always been there." His commitment came down to an act of faith in his own talent and in Roma's project.

Donyell Malen earned a match rating of 8.7 from the daily newspapers after scoring a hat-trick in Roma's win over Fiorentina on 24 August, with Paulo Dybala rated 8.2 following three assists. Evan N'Dicka (7.2) and Manu Koné (7.1) also impressed, while Lulli impressed on his debut with 6.9. Lower down the ratings were Konstantinos Koulierakis and Matías Soulé (both 6.1), Mile Svilar (6.2) and Santiago Castro (6.3). Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini earned an overall rating of 7.7. The Malen–Dybala partnership has become central to Roma's attacking play. Across seven matches played together, Malen has scored seven goals, six of which came from Dybala's assists. The partnership reflects a growing understanding between the two forwards as Roma builds momentum through the early season. Gasperini granted the squad a rest day on 25 August following the Fiorentina victory, with players set to resume training on Wednesday, 26 August, ahead of the trip to Lecce. Malen spoke of the connection with Dybala: "Dybala sees before every movement I make—I am blessed to be able to play with him." Dybala added: "I wanted to play, I wanted to do it in this stadium, with my teammates and with this coach."

Roma opened their Serie A season with a commanding 4–0 victory over Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico, powered by a starring performance from Donyell Malen. The Dutch forward scored a hat-trick, setting up by an inspired Paulo Dybala, before Niccolò Pisilli added the fourth. Malen's display—comprising a backheel finish, a burst of pace and a poacher's tap-in—answered mounting criticism from the summer, when national team coach Ronald Koeman had used him on the wing, preferring Brian Brobbey in the central role. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has never wavered in his tactical vision for the attacker. "For me he cannot ever play out wide: he must be close to goal," Gasperini said. Malen's three goals vindicated that conviction and offer an early statement of intent as Roma bid to contend in Serie A. The explosive start also underlines Gasperini's influence over team selection and tactics since his appointment in 2025. With this haul, Malen has now reached 18 goals in 21 official appearances in Roma colours—an extraordinary tally that marks him as a central attacking force for the club going forward. His hat-trick against the Viola demonstrated the clinical finishing and movement Gasperini has been asking of him, a sharp contrast to the peripheral role assigned to him at international level.