Malen and Pisilli surge in market value as Ferguson and Angeliño decline

Gian Piero Gasperini has a full squad to select from as Roma prepare for their upcoming match against Inter, with Mario Hermoso back available after injury. The head coach spent time on personal grooming today, getting a new haircut in the lead-up to what is already shaping up as a heavyweight fixture worth far more than three points. A photo shared by his barber on social media quickly circulated among Roma fans. Gasperini will make his final selection decisions in the coming hours. His barber, Gennaro, posted about the visit: "When the boss comes by, there's not much to say. Even the details make the difference. See you next time."

Roma have no injury concerns over Mario Hermoso ahead of Saturday's big match against Inter, with the defender set to be available for Gasperini to deploy against Chivu's attack. Hermoso will line up alongside Gianluca Mancini, with Leonardo Balerdi candidating for a starting spot after impressing in early appearances and set to compete with Evan N'Dicka for the centre-back role in the coming days. Gasperini is preparing multiple tactical options for the fixture. Emanuele Lulli could feature to counter Dimarco's threat, while Niccolò Pisilli might operate in a more advanced role on the trequarti, and Nahuel Molina could be deployed on the left wing. In a wide-ranging interview, the Roma head coach addressed the scudetto ambition, saying: "It is not this way of raising the bar. The bar is not raised by setting more or less achievable objectives: it is raised by improving every day, working on ourselves through this variety of players with all their own characteristics, trying to do better each time. Objectives can only be discussed after about twenty matches."

Gian Piero Gasperini has urged Roma to focus on daily improvement rather than chase trophy talk after a perfect start to the season. Speaking to Sky Sport ahead of the Inter fixture, the coach said: "I hoped for it more than I expected it. Today we are a squad that knows itself better than at the start of last season and we have already assimilated many things." On title ambitions, he was emphatic: "The bar does not rise by setting objectives, but by improving every day. You can only talk of targets after around twenty matches." Gasperini praised Leonardo Balerdi's immediate impact as a professional "ready to contribute straight away" and highlighted the group's balance: "The young players bring freshness, the more experienced are an example every day. It is a squad that feeds itself." Mario Hermoso trained fully with the group on 17 September after undergoing differentiated work the previous day for a mild ankle contusion, and is on course to be available for the match against Inter on Saturday 19 September at 18:00 at the Stadio Olimpico. Gasperini spoke of upcoming fixtures against Inter, Como and Real Madrid, saying: "We have earned the chance to face these teams. They will be important matches to understand what we are truly capable of." Rodrigo Mora, who arrived from Porto in the summer, has already won over supporters. The Portuguese midfielder scored his first Serie A goal against Lecce and told Sky Sport of his reasons for joining: "Roma is a very prestigious club and the style of play it proposes was one of the main reasons why I chose to come. Playing in the Champions League is an important step for my career." On his relationship with Gasperini, Mora added: "He is a very demanding coach with the whole squad, but that pushes you to grow every day." Reflecting on his first goal in giallorosso colours, he said: "It was a special moment. I like to score, but my aim is above all to help the team with goals, assists and everything needed to win."

Andrea Stramaccioni, a former manager of both Roma and Inter, praised Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical intensity and winning mentality in a radio interview, describing him as having been a force to reckon with even in his early years as a coach. Stramaccioni first encountered Gasperini when the Roma boss was managing Crotone. "He was a fury," Stramaccioni recalled. "I didn't know him personally, but I started following opponents for the first-team coach. He played 3-4-3, an ultra-offensive style. In the lower divisions that system is devastating because you find fewer strong individual players in the opposition—it's a dominant system. He had a vertical rise, reaching Serie B with Crotone. I witnessed and understood his mentality. He fought battles of mentality even with the board and Crotone's president—he didn't want to travel by coach for four hours to play in Campania but preferred flying, and would rather buy one fewer player to improve the mentality, a word that encompasses many values." Stramaccioni described how Gasperini has evolved since then. "He's gotten worse positively," Stramaccioni said with a laugh. "He's an absolute hammer and I'm not surprised by Roma's results. Then I met him again professionally at Inter—I was the Primavera coach in 2011 when he became the first-team manager." The two will now face off when Roma play Inter on Saturday. Stramaccioni predicted tactical adjustments from Gasperini, saying: "Generally Mister Gasperini does that. He'll find an Inter with Zielinski in front of the defence. Malen on the right flank, Dybala on Bastoni and then another player on Zielinski. We'll see on Saturday."

Gian Piero Gasperini has refused to set title ambitions after Roma's opening four consecutive victories, insisting that realistic objectives can only be discussed after roughly 20 matches. Speaking to Sky Sport Insider, the coach acknowledged the city's dreams but grounded expectations in reality: "The reality is that objectives can be discussed only after about twenty matches. Setting them after four or five makes no sense. We certainly have confidence, certainly we want to be high in the table, but at this moment this is the only concrete objective." Gasperini defended his squad's trajectory by noting that Roma began the season with significant advantages over last year's opener. "We had the conviction of having good preparation behind us, and a squad that started advantaged compared to the beginning of last season: we have been together longer, we know each other better, many things we have already assimilated," he said. He highlighted younger players including Emanuele Lulli, Niccolò Pisilli and Daniele Ghilardi, praising their hunger and willingness to learn. On Leonardo Balerdi's impact, Gasperini noted the Argentine defender had delivered "immediately positive" form despite completing only partial preparation with the club, drawing a comparison to Franco Baresi for his recovery speed, intensity in challenges, and composure in building play. Gasperini outlined the complementary nature of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen: "Their characteristics fit together well. Dybala has the capacity to read Malen's runs even when it seems he is not looking at him, and the quality with which he serves him is remarkable. Malen for his part has an extraordinary capacity to convert into goals actions that seem simple but are not. It is a combination that works." He reflected on Roma's return to the Champions League after seven years, describing it as not assured: "The Champions League forces you to overcome obstacles, gives you the opportunity to play against Europe's best teams, puts you against a more difficult and complicated football from which you can grow." When asked to identify flaws, Gasperini said: "The big defects we have eliminated." He credited the unity among environment, squad, supporters and the board as the club's greatest strength, and acknowledged the broader social environment's influence on results as deeply positive.

Donyell Malen has become one of Europe's most prolific strikers at Roma, a dramatic shift from his time as a fringe player at Aston Villa that has drawn attention from the British media. The BBC has analysed how the Dutch forward escaped a struggling Premier League career to become a central figure in Roma's attack, with his output and tactical role transformed entirely under Gasperini. Malen's numbers tell the story of a career reborn. In the Premier League, he managed 10 goals in 46 appearances, often deployed on the wing or used as a central striker only intermittently. At Roma, he has scored 21 goals in 25 appearances and stands as the best goalscorer of 2026 across Europe's top five leagues, ahead of Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal. The key difference is tactical: Gasperini has deployed him almost exclusively through the centre of attack, allowing him to maximise his speed, instinct and finishing. His goal rate has improved dramatically from one goal every 150 minutes to one every 96 minutes. Malen's resurgence has continued unbroken even after a underwhelming World Cup campaign. Upon returning to Roma, he immediately resumed scoring and driving the team forward. The club has not simply recovered a talent, but unlocked his best version and returned him to the centre of European football's stage.

Roma and Inter clash on Saturday at 18:00 at the Olimpico in Serie A's fifth round, both level on points at the top of the table. The match offers Roma a chance to seize sole leadership, while Inter seek a third consecutive victory against the Giallorossi after two wins last season. For Gasperini, it is a chance to break a taboo: he has lost his last ten meetings with Inter. The focal point of the contest will be the left flank, where Wesley and Frederici Dimarco represent contrasting approaches to the same role. Wesley operates as a full-back across the width for Gasperini, tasked with covering ground, creating amplitude and depth in Roma's build-up play. He is more explosive and vertical than Dimarco, inclined toward running with the ball and attacking space through acceleration and incisive insertion. In Gasperini's system he is also required to press high, support attacks and recover quickly in transition—an athletic demand that could prove decisive against Dimarco's style. Dimarco remains one of Inter's principal assets and a cornerstone of the Italian national team. The left-winger brings outstanding technical quality, interpreting the role almost as a playmaking full-back: he attacks constantly, provides finishing passes, delivers precise crosses and poses a standing threat from set-pieces. Last season he was a leading protagonist in Inter's title win, closing the campaign with 6 goals and 18 assists and claiming the Serie A MVP award. His left foot is his primary strength, creating chances from deep or central areas through overlaps and receptions between the lines. He adds intensity, pressure and above-average offensive reading for the position; already this season he has made an impact, notably supplying the assist for Lautaro Martínez in the victory against Napoli. The duel on the flank shapes as one of the match's most compelling individual battles: Wesley will look to exploit pace and depth, while Dimarco will seek to impose technical mastery, crossing and combination play with his teammates.

Leonardo Balerdi has become the focal point of Roma's preparation for Saturday's clash with Inter at the Olimpico after an impressive display on Monday against Torino in place of Evan N'Dicka. His convincing performance prompted Gasperini to view the Argentine defender as a potential starter against the Serie A champions, a promotion that has raised competitive intensity across the defence and the wider squad. Gasperini's team selection will be shaped by who delivers the strongest performances in training at Trigoria: those who maintain full commitment and maximum effort will earn starting places. The likely starting formation will closely resemble the strongest XI fielded last season, built around the established core players. The returning absentees from Monday—N'Dicka, Wesley, and Manu Koné—are set to come back into contention. The intriguing tactical question centres on the left-back slot, where teenage defender Emanuele Lulli has emerged as the focus of recent debate. Lulli's physical test results place him ahead of Nahuel Molina, making him the favourite to start, provided Gasperini prioritises the pace and pressing strength needed to contain Inter's left-side playmaker Dimarco. A third option exists: Wesley deployed on the right with Molina on the left, a setup already tested in training. Elsewhere, Mario Hermoso will mark Nicolò Barella, while Niccolò Pisilli is warming up for a potential late-match impact.

Pierluigi Massa has been appointed to referee Roma's upcoming match against Inter, a decision that has drawn scrutiny from former referee Graziano Cesari. Roma have failed to win in ten matches in which Massa has officiated, a record that has fuelled concern among supporters. The frustration stems partly from the recent Como–Roma fixture, where Wesley was sent off in a controversial decision. Cesari, now a commentator, spoke to Sportmediaset about the appointment, calling it a "conservative" choice by Giancarlo Orsato, who made the designation. "I expected one of either Massa or Marco Guida," Cesari said. "He is an arbitrator of great experience, with excellent knowledge of the players and their characteristics. If the match becomes more intense at an agonistic level, he could face difficulty in managing it. Experience, character and clarity can certainly help him, but that too is an aspect to keep in mind."

Roma have no injury concerns over Mario Hermoso ahead of Saturday's big match against Inter, with the defender set to be available for Gasperini to deploy against Chivu's attack. Hermoso will line up alongside Gianluca Mancini, with Leonardo Balerdi candidating for a starting spot after impressing in early appearances and set to compete with Evan N'Dicka for the centre-back role in the coming days. Gasperini is preparing multiple tactical options for the fixture. Emanuele Lulli could feature to counter Dimarco's threat, while Niccolò Pisilli might operate in a more advanced role on the trequarti, and Nahuel Molina could be deployed on the left wing. In a wide-ranging interview, the Roma head coach addressed the scudetto ambition, saying: "It is not this way of raising the bar. The bar is not raised by setting more or less achievable objectives: it is raised by improving every day, working on ourselves through this variety of players with all their own characteristics, trying to do better each time. Objectives can only be discussed after about twenty matches."

Leonardo Balerdi has become the focal point of Roma's preparation for Saturday's clash with Inter at the Olimpico after an impressive display on Monday against Torino in place of Evan N'Dicka. His convincing performance prompted Gasperini to view the Argentine defender as a potential starter against the Serie A champions, a promotion that has raised competitive intensity across the defence and the wider squad. Gasperini's team selection will be shaped by who delivers the strongest performances in training at Trigoria: those who maintain full commitment and maximum effort will earn starting places. The likely starting formation will closely resemble the strongest XI fielded last season, built around the established core players. The returning absentees from Monday—N'Dicka, Wesley, and Manu Koné—are set to come back into contention. The intriguing tactical question centres on the left-back slot, where teenage defender Emanuele Lulli has emerged as the focus of recent debate. Lulli's physical test results place him ahead of Nahuel Molina, making him the favourite to start, provided Gasperini prioritises the pace and pressing strength needed to contain Inter's left-side playmaker Dimarco. A third option exists: Wesley deployed on the right with Molina on the left, a setup already tested in training. Elsewhere, Mario Hermoso will mark Nicolò Barella, while Niccolò Pisilli is warming up for a potential late-match impact.

Gian Piero Gasperini has refused to set title ambitions after Roma's opening four consecutive victories, insisting that realistic objectives can only be discussed after roughly 20 matches. Speaking to Sky Sport Insider, the coach acknowledged the city's dreams but grounded expectations in reality: "The reality is that objectives can be discussed only after about twenty matches. Setting them after four or five makes no sense. We certainly have confidence, certainly we want to be high in the table, but at this moment this is the only concrete objective." Gasperini defended his squad's trajectory by noting that Roma began the season with significant advantages over last year's opener. "We had the conviction of having good preparation behind us, and a squad that started advantaged compared to the beginning of last season: we have been together longer, we know each other better, many things we have already assimilated," he said. He highlighted younger players including Emanuele Lulli, Niccolò Pisilli and Daniele Ghilardi, praising their hunger and willingness to learn. On Leonardo Balerdi's impact, Gasperini noted the Argentine defender had delivered "immediately positive" form despite completing only partial preparation with the club, drawing a comparison to Franco Baresi for his recovery speed, intensity in challenges, and composure in building play. Gasperini outlined the complementary nature of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen: "Their characteristics fit together well. Dybala has the capacity to read Malen's runs even when it seems he is not looking at him, and the quality with which he serves him is remarkable. Malen for his part has an extraordinary capacity to convert into goals actions that seem simple but are not. It is a combination that works." He reflected on Roma's return to the Champions League after seven years, describing it as not assured: "The Champions League forces you to overcome obstacles, gives you the opportunity to play against Europe's best teams, puts you against a more difficult and complicated football from which you can grow." When asked to identify flaws, Gasperini said: "The big defects we have eliminated." He credited the unity among environment, squad, supporters and the board as the club's greatest strength, and acknowledged the broader social environment's influence on results as deeply positive.