Malen on immediate chemistry with Dybala, Gasperini's honesty, and finding his place at Roma

Roman radio stations offer their verdicts on Roma's upcoming fixture against Como, with opinion split on Gasperini's midfield selection. Simone Valdarchi from Radio Manà Manà suggested that whether Gasperini opts for Pellegrini or Rodrigo Mora will not represent a defensive choice, but rather depend on each player's willingness to press Como's build-up play from the start. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio Mattino flagged the Champions League context as a conditioning factor for both sides, noting that a long international break brings uncertainty and that reaching +6 on Fabregas's Como would be significant for Roma. Mario Mattioli, also of Radio Radio Mattino, dismissed concerns about midfielder Marten de Roon. "I don't understand the doubts about de Roon," Mattioli said. "He is an inexhaustible engine in midfield." Mattioli acknowledged Como as a strong team but stressed that Roma's squad carries greater experience overall. He characterised the Giallorossi as flying on the wings of enthusiasm despite some organisational gaps in certain areas of the squad. The discourse reflects the prominence of Rome's radio culture, which hosts a unique ecosystem of stations, journalists, former players and opinion-formers who shape debate around the club in ways unmatched elsewhere in Italy.

Roma are preparing a significant bid of close to €25 million to sign Frosinone left winger Giorgi Kvernadze, a priority target for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and sporting director Tony D'Amico. The Georgian, born in 2003, has made an explosive start to the season with 5 goals and 2 assists, showcasing technical ability, pace and continuous dribbling that has earned him the Serie A lead in successful dribbles. Kvernadze plays as a natural right-footer capable of devastating one-on-one play, a profile Roma have identified as the dominant left winger they need after failed attempts to sign Summerville and Leweling. Roma face competition from Premier League and Bundesliga clubs monitoring Kvernadze closely, but the club lead the race. The Georgian has also attracted interest in comparisons to compatriot Kvaratskhelia, with whom he shares the same agent and similar movement patterns. Kvernadze has overcome rival candidate Jamie Bynoe-Gittens in Roma's thinking. Having developed in Georgia through Saburtalo and Dinamo Batumi before joining Frosinone, the winger would be positioned alongside Paulo Dybala's quality and Donyell Malen's power in Roma's attack, offering the chance to make the decisive step into elite football.

Roma routed Sorianese 20-0 in a training match at Trigoria on 8 October, with Rodrigo Mora and Lorenzo Pellegrini among the standout performers in a session that has given head coach Gian Piero Gasperini fresh insight into his squad ahead of Sunday's fixture at Como. The friendly's primary value lay not in the scoreline—inevitably skewed by the gap in category between Serie A and the Eccellenza Laziale side—but in the individual responses Gasperini observed. The attacking third remains the only genuine area of tactical debate for the Como trip, and Mora and Pellegrini both delivered encouraging displays. Mora, deployed alongside Paulo Dybala in support of Donyell Malen, continues to hold the edge as favourite to start at the Sinigaglia, having returned from Portugal Under-21 duty with strong match sharpness. The Portuguese midfielder arrives with significant minutes on his legs and showed immediate brilliance upon his return. Pellegrini, meanwhile, has made considerable progress in his recovery from a lengthy injury layoff and used the international break to work uninterrupted at Trigoria. He responded well in the test, though Gasperini appears likely to favour Mora's greater match rhythm for the opener—Pellegrini has not featured in an official match for several months and may be introduced from the bench as the game develops. Matías Soulé, by contrast, stands further down the pecking order for Como after only recently returning from Argentina, where he has been completing recovery from his intercontinental travel. The broad picture presents three contenders for one starting spot, but Mora has gained ground on his rivals in recent hours. The outcome will become clear when Roma face Como on Sunday.

Roma are preparing a significant bid of close to €25 million to sign Frosinone left winger Giorgi Kvernadze, a priority target for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and sporting director Tony D'Amico. The Georgian, born in 2003, has made an explosive start to the season with 5 goals and 2 assists, showcasing technical ability, pace and continuous dribbling that has earned him the Serie A lead in successful dribbles. Kvernadze plays as a natural right-footer capable of devastating one-on-one play, a profile Roma have identified as the dominant left winger they need after failed attempts to sign Summerville and Leweling. Roma face competition from Premier League and Bundesliga clubs monitoring Kvernadze closely, but the club lead the race. The Georgian has also attracted interest in comparisons to compatriot Kvaratskhelia, with whom he shares the same agent and similar movement patterns. Kvernadze has overcome rival candidate Jamie Bynoe-Gittens in Roma's thinking. Having developed in Georgia through Saburtalo and Dinamo Batumi before joining Frosinone, the winger would be positioned alongside Paulo Dybala's quality and Donyell Malen's power in Roma's attack, offering the chance to make the decisive step into elite football.

Roma routed Sorianese 20-0 in a training match at Trigoria on 8 October, with Rodrigo Mora and Lorenzo Pellegrini among the standout performers in a session that has given head coach Gian Piero Gasperini fresh insight into his squad ahead of Sunday's fixture at Como. The friendly's primary value lay not in the scoreline—inevitably skewed by the gap in category between Serie A and the Eccellenza Laziale side—but in the individual responses Gasperini observed. The attacking third remains the only genuine area of tactical debate for the Como trip, and Mora and Pellegrini both delivered encouraging displays. Mora, deployed alongside Paulo Dybala in support of Donyell Malen, continues to hold the edge as favourite to start at the Sinigaglia, having returned from Portugal Under-21 duty with strong match sharpness. The Portuguese midfielder arrives with significant minutes on his legs and showed immediate brilliance upon his return. Pellegrini, meanwhile, has made considerable progress in his recovery from a lengthy injury layoff and used the international break to work uninterrupted at Trigoria. He responded well in the test, though Gasperini appears likely to favour Mora's greater match rhythm for the opener—Pellegrini has not featured in an official match for several months and may be introduced from the bench as the game develops. Matías Soulé, by contrast, stands further down the pecking order for Como after only recently returning from Argentina, where he has been completing recovery from his intercontinental travel. The broad picture presents three contenders for one starting spot, but Mora has gained ground on his rivals in recent hours. The outcome will become clear when Roma face Como on Sunday.

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 are preparing a significant bid of close to €25 million to sign Frosinone left winger Giorgi Kvernadze, a priority target for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and sporting director Tony D'Amico. The Georgian, born in 2003, has made an explosive start to the season with 5 goals and 2 assists, showcasing technical ability, pace and continuous dribbling that has earned him the Serie A lead in successful dribbles. Kvernadze plays as a natural right-footer capable of devastating one-on-one play, a profile Roma have identified as the dominant left winger they need after failed attempts to sign Summerville and Leweling. Roma face competition from Premier League and Bundesliga clubs monitoring Kvernadze closely, but the club lead the race. The Georgian has also attracted interest in comparisons to compatriot Kvaratskhelia, with whom he shares the same agent and similar movement patterns. Kvernadze has overcome rival candidate Jamie Bynoe-Gittens in Roma's thinking. Having developed in Georgia through Saburtalo and Dinamo Batumi before joining Frosinone, the winger would be positioned alongside Paulo Dybala's quality and Donyell Malen's power in Roma's attack, offering the chance to make the decisive step into elite football.

Roma routed Sorianese 20-0 in a training match at Trigoria on 8 October, with Rodrigo Mora and Lorenzo Pellegrini among the standout performers in a session that has given head coach Gian Piero Gasperini fresh insight into his squad ahead of Sunday's fixture at Como. The friendly's primary value lay not in the scoreline—inevitably skewed by the gap in category between Serie A and the Eccellenza Laziale side—but in the individual responses Gasperini observed. The attacking third remains the only genuine area of tactical debate for the Como trip, and Mora and Pellegrini both delivered encouraging displays. Mora, deployed alongside Paulo Dybala in support of Donyell Malen, continues to hold the edge as favourite to start at the Sinigaglia, having returned from Portugal Under-21 duty with strong match sharpness. The Portuguese midfielder arrives with significant minutes on his legs and showed immediate brilliance upon his return. Pellegrini, meanwhile, has made considerable progress in his recovery from a lengthy injury layoff and used the international break to work uninterrupted at Trigoria. He responded well in the test, though Gasperini appears likely to favour Mora's greater match rhythm for the opener—Pellegrini has not featured in an official match for several months and may be introduced from the bench as the game develops. Matías Soulé, by contrast, stands further down the pecking order for Como after only recently returning from Argentina, where he has been completing recovery from his intercontinental travel. The broad picture presents three contenders for one starting spot, but Mora has gained ground on his rivals in recent hours. The outcome will become clear when Roma face Como on Sunday.

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."

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."

Italy Under-21 head coach Silvio Baldini has called for Serie A clubs to guarantee regular playing time for young prospects, citing Niccolò Pisilli's rise as proof of the method's success. Speaking to the Gazzetta dello Sport, Baldini highlighted Pisilli's journey at Roma, noting that the midfielder was sidelined at the start of last season before being given opportunities that ultimately led to his call-up to the senior national team. "Our hope is that they give space to these boys," Baldini said. "I think of Pisilli at the start of last year, when he was not playing at Roma. Then he was used and he arrived in the senior national team. If they don't play, these boys don't progress. Talent should not be imprisoned in tactics. And 11 or 12 of them, for me, are completely ready for the senior national team: it's just about choosing. I don't choose—for me they are like my sons." Baldini's comments underline the importance of pathway development for young Italian talent at club level.

Roma's radio stations have weighed in on Lorenzo Pellegrini's role in Gian Piero Gasperini's fast-moving squad ahead of the Serie A match against Como. The debate centres on whether the midfielder can adapt to the club's new, high-intensity style of play. Lorenzo Pes of Tele Radio Stereo said: "It intrigues me to see how Pellegrini can fit into a Roma that goes a thousand miles per hour. It seems like a squad somewhat far removed from how this player operates. He limited the damage in a Roma that wasn't playing at this pace; now honestly, I struggle to imagine him in this team. I think he needs to take steps to play in a Roma that plays this kind of football." Piero Torri of Radio Manà Manà countered that Pellegrini should not be underestimated, pointing to strong seasons including the Conference League campaign. "The competitors for that role on the pitch are Soulé and Mora, who have been on international duty. I'm becoming convinced that Lorenzo can start from the beginning," Torri said. Angelo Mangiante of Radio Manà Manà reported that Gasperini fielded Mora and Dybala behind Malen in a trial against Sorianese, with the Portuguese winger in excellent form for the Como clash. Mario Hermoso is expected to replicate last season's performance against Nico Paz at the Olimpico. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio noted that Paz and Dybala could be the tactical key to the match, with Niccolò Pisilli offering a midfield alternative if Marten de Roon's selection makes Roma too predictable against Como's quality. Simone Valdarchi cautioned that the title race is premature despite any confidence gained from the Como fixture.