Malen returns to Trigoria as Roma push to land Tresoldi as backup striker

AS Roma and adidas have officially unveiled the new third kit for the 2026-27 season, featuring dark grey as the base colour with traditional yellow and red accents on inserts and trim. The design draws inspiration from Roman Fides, representing loyalty, stability and unshakeable trust, with the collar bearing the inscription 'LOTTA CON IL CUORE'—a tribute to a historic Giallorossi chant. Roma's focus now turns to their Champions League debut on Thursday at 18:45 away at Fenerbahce. The Spanish refereeing team will be led by Jesús Gil Manzano, with Diego Barbero and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso as assistants, César Soto Grado on VAR, Valentín Gómez as AVAR, and Juan Martínez Munuera as fourth official. Gil Manzano has two previous encounters with Roma: a 5-3 penalty shootout victory against Feyenoord in the 2023-24 Europa League after a 1-1 draw, and a 2-1 defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 2019-20 Europa League. Francesco Totti, now an advisor to the newly launched Maxima Roma basketball club in Serie A, spoke to Rai Sport about the Giallorossi. On the title race, he said: "Roma and Inter are the candidates for the title, we're not saying anything and we're waiting for the rest of the season. In 10 or 15 matches we'll see." Reflecting on his connection to the club ahead of the upcoming centenary, Totti stated: "The centenary I'll celebrate with my fans, with my people. What they've always given me I'll give back to them in this beautiful year. Did I expect something different from the club? No, there's no controversy. I'm a Roma supporter and I spent a quarter of a century with them. I think of myself and my fans, as they have always thought of me." Meanwhile, Roma have ruled out moves for two available free agents. Raphael Guerreiro, the Portuguese left-back from Bayern Munich with significant international experience, was proposed by intermediaries but talks did not progress; the club has taken no official steps to pursue the 1993-born player. Similarly, Jadon Sancho will not join Roma. Manager Gasperini and the board have decided against targeting the English winger, who has had complicated recent seasons and remained without a club after failing to renew with Manchester United. Beyond financial obstacles, concerns over his physical and athletic reliability after prolonged absence from group training proved decisive. Roma prefer to wait until January rather than make a short-term signing.

Roma sporting director D'Amico pursued Luiz Henrique, the Zenit winger, until the final day of the transfer window but failed to secure the Brazilian. According to ESPN, Zenit rejected an offer of €38 million plus €5 million in add-ons from Roma — the same package tabled by Al-Ittihad. Botafogo and Flamengo also made enquiries about the forward, but the move did not materialise. Gasperini had been seeking an attack-minded winger throughout the window, and Henrique was among the priority targets. Roma may revisit the possibility in January. The club is not expected to turn to free agents, ruling out players such as Guerreiro and Sancho for now.

Matías Soulé remained at Roma despite being available throughout the summer transfer window after negotiations between the Giallorossi and Juventus over a potential swap deal broke down. Juventus wanted to send Teun Koopmeiners to Roma in exchange for the Argentine winger, with the two clubs working on the proposal until the final days of the market but unable to agree on formulas and figures. Soulé featured off the bench in Roma's recent clash against Atalanta and has since been alternating with Rodrigo Mora. Fiorentina and Milan also approached the winger during the window, but Roma consistently preferred to sell him to the Premier League to maximise profit. His price tag never fell below €35 million, which complicated negotiations with other Serie A clubs. However, Soulé never personally requested to leave Roma according to Corriere dello Sport. The proposed deal would not have significantly improved either club as currently structured; it would only have made sense had Roma found a right-footed speedster to complement Paulo Dybala and Juventus sold Nicolas Gonzalez. Gian Piero Gasperini would have been pleased to reunite with Koopmeiners given his versatility, though reclaiming him would have proved challenging and expensive. Roma ultimately had limited need for midfield reinforcement since Manu Koné remained at the club. Juventus instead signed Nick Woltemade late in the window as their attacking addition.

Roma are expected to maintain the attacking setup Gian Piero Gasperini has adopted since preseason when they face Fenerbahçe: a central playmaker operating behind two strikers, rather than the traditional two wide attacking midfielders he has historically favoured. This tactical shift has been applied specifically against teams defending with four defenders, particularly those with a deep-lying midfielder that needs to be screened during build-up play. Every opponent Roma have faced so far this season—Fiorentina, Lecce, and Atalanta—has set up with four defenders. Fenerbahçe operates the same system, making the same approach likely for the encounter in Istanbul. The central playmaker role has primarily been filled by Matías Soulé or Rodrigo Mora, positioned behind a strike partnership of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Against Lecce, Soulé operated between a central position and the flank, but the formula has remained consistent across matches. Following his strong display against Atalanta, Soulé appears to have the edge over Mora in Gasperini's selection for the upcoming fixture. The tactical flexibility—shifting from wide support to a more direct central attacking presence—reflects Gasperini's adaptation to opponents' defensive structures as he continues reshaping Roma's approach.

Gian Piero Gasperini will oversee his 35th Champions League match as a manager when Roma travel to Istanbul to face Fenerbahce. The coach has opted against rotation and will deploy his strongest available squad on the pitch of the Turkish club. The starting eleven will feature Paulo Dybala, Donyell Malen, Manu Koné and Gianluca Mancini from the first minute. The only change from the previous Serie A fixture against Atalanta concerns the right flank, where Nahuel Molina is set to replace Emanuele Lulli and bring his 37 appearances accumulated across the competition to bear. Gasperini has guided Roma back to Europe's elite competition after the club finished third in Serie A last season. The manager carries a continental record of 12 victories, 9 draws and 13 defeats across his Champions League career. Roma's squad will fly to Turkey on 9 September for a pre-match training session ahead of Gasperini's scheduled press conference at 17:00 Italian time. On the club front, Roma's sporting director Tony D'Amico was questioned by the FIGC Federal Prosecutor on 8 September to clarify an incident that occurred after the recent Serie A match against Atalanta. D'Amico provided his account of sustained insults he received from Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi near the Tribuna 1907 and in the stadium car park at the Olimpico. His testimony aligned with statements given by stewards on duty in that section.

Roma's supporters delivered a vital performance in the final half-hour against Atalanta, providing what the article describes as a 'cardiac massage to the hope' of a team that deserved better. Gian Piero Gasperini's side produced an assured display under constant, relentless pressure, with Manu Koné orchestrating the midfield and Bryan Cristante directing operations. The team's quality merited victory even before the goals arrived. Matías Soulé scored a deserved goal that crowned a summer of redemption for a player who had battled through earlier difficulties. Gasperini's endorsement of the winger's progress underlined his return to form. Santiago Castro made an immediate impact, showing hunger and clarity in his play, though finishing proved elusive. Artem Dovbyk scored Bologna's goal, salvaging their display after a complex sequence of play. Donyell Malen's performance was erratic; the article suggests he had uneven moments throughout the match. The week's verdicts also included criticism of Luca Percassi's conduct as 'undignified and deplorable, regardless of context', and sharp judgement of the decision to sack Grosso, with the editorial noting that ending a manager's tenure and forcing another coach to restart from zero serves only to worsen matters. Juventus's match against Milan drew unflattering comparison to a sleeping aid, relieved only briefly by Cissè and Gatti.

Roma's loanees across Italy and Europe made an impact on the weekend. Artem Dovbyk was the standout performer, coming off the bench in the 66th minute for Bologna against Sassuolo and scoring the equaliser in the 91st minute to secure a 2–2 draw and the Rossoblu's first point of the season. The Ukrainian striker's decisive finish came in an Emilia derby on loan with a right of redemption clause. Elsewhere, young goalkeeper Radoslaw Zelezny put in a strong performance for Perugia in their 2–1 victory over Pineto, playing all 90 minutes as the side's first-choice keeper. The 2006-born Zelezny was blameless for the goal conceded and made several crucial saves, including a high-quality intervention in the first half and a decisive stop in the second. He is on loan at the Umbrian club with an option and counter-option attached. Midfield prospect Alessandro Romano again started for Cagliari in Serie A, remaining on the pitch for the full 90 minutes as the Sardinians won 1–0 away at Lecce thanks to a Daniel Maldini goal in the 29th minute. Romano's loan includes an obligation to buy if certain sporting conditions are met. Neil El Aynaoui made an immediate first-team debut for RB Leipzig, starting in the away fixture against Werder Brema and playing until the 75th minute. However, Leipzig suffered a 3–1 defeat. The Moroccan midfielder's move is on loan with a right of redemption. Filippo Reale, a 2006-born defender, played the full 90 minutes for Carrarese on the flank in their 1–0 home loss to Empoli, conceding in the 74th minute; he is on loan with an option and counter-option in Roma's favour. Luigi Cherubini started in attack for Benevento in the first half at Ascoli before being substituted at the interval; Benevento were reduced to ten men in the 41st minute by Prisco's red card and lost 1–0 to a Brunori penalty in the closing stages. Cherubini's loan includes a right of option and obligation to buy. Mattia Mannini received his first call-up after joining Benevento on loan but remained unused from the bench in the same Ascoli defeat. Angeliño was an unused substitute as Deportivo La Coruña won 3–2 away at Villarreal in La Liga. Robinio Vaz was included in a Premier League squad for the first time after a late-market transfer to Hull City but did not feature in a 0–0 draw with Aston Villa. Jan Ziółkowski was unavailable for Monza's away trip to Parma—which ended 1–1—due to a plantar fascia problem requiring monitoring. Marash Kumbulla likewise missed Rayo Vallecano's 3–2 victory over Racing Santander as he continues to deal with a knee issue.

Gasperini's tactical gamble paid off as Roma came from behind to beat Atalanta, with five substitutions made by the 21st minute of the second half transforming a match the club was losing 1–0 after Ederson's goal. With Ndicka and Mancini struggling against Atalanta's counter-attacks, Gasperini brought on Molina, Soulé, Castro, Ghilardi and Balerdi in rapid succession. The changes proved decisive: Ghilardi and Balerdi immediately steadied the defence and neutralised Atalanta's transitions, while Castro came close with efforts that hit the post and crossbar. Soulé delivered the most telling contribution, providing an assist and scoring a goal in the 93rd minute—an impact matching what he produced in Roma's match at Lecce. Gasperini had stated before the match: "Titolari and riserve ormai non contano più, si gioca in sedici"—effectively that first-team status and substitutes no longer matter, the game is played by sixteen—and the field immediately vindicated him. The depth demonstrated reflects substantial improvement from the previous season. In a match such as Parma last May, the bench contained only Venturino and Vaz; Gasperini now has access to a squad rich with genuine alternatives capable of reshaping a match. The quality of those replacements gives him the tactical weapons to win even when games turn against Roma mid-contest.

Hull City has issued a forceful statement condemning racist insults directed at Robinio Vaz on social media following the announcement of his loan move from Roma, which includes a purchase option. The abuse appeared in comments and memes posted beneath the announcement of the French player's arrival at the English club. Vaz, who departed Roma on loan to Hull City with a right of redemption, became the target of discriminatory content online. The incident highlights the ongoing problem of racist abuse directed at footballers across social platforms. Hull City stated: "Hull City condemns the deplorable racist insults directed on social media at our new signing, Robinio Vaz. No one should ever suffer discrimination or abuse; the Club will provide Robinio with our full support. Hull City operates a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of discrimination and, over the last 24 hours, has contacted the Premier League, the anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out, and the social media platforms involved. We are also working with Humberside Police and other relevant authorities to identify the accounts responsible for these vile insults, in order to take appropriate action against those involved. We are delighted that Robinio has joined the Hull City family and we know our supporters share our excitement in seeing him play at the MKM Stadium."

Roma's loanees across Italy and Europe made an impact on the weekend. Artem Dovbyk was the standout performer, coming off the bench in the 66th minute for Bologna against Sassuolo and scoring the equaliser in the 91st minute to secure a 2–2 draw and the Rossoblu's first point of the season. The Ukrainian striker's decisive finish came in an Emilia derby on loan with a right of redemption clause. Elsewhere, young goalkeeper Radoslaw Zelezny put in a strong performance for Perugia in their 2–1 victory over Pineto, playing all 90 minutes as the side's first-choice keeper. The 2006-born Zelezny was blameless for the goal conceded and made several crucial saves, including a high-quality intervention in the first half and a decisive stop in the second. He is on loan at the Umbrian club with an option and counter-option attached. Midfield prospect Alessandro Romano again started for Cagliari in Serie A, remaining on the pitch for the full 90 minutes as the Sardinians won 1–0 away at Lecce thanks to a Daniel Maldini goal in the 29th minute. Romano's loan includes an obligation to buy if certain sporting conditions are met. Neil El Aynaoui made an immediate first-team debut for RB Leipzig, starting in the away fixture against Werder Brema and playing until the 75th minute. However, Leipzig suffered a 3–1 defeat. The Moroccan midfielder's move is on loan with a right of redemption. Filippo Reale, a 2006-born defender, played the full 90 minutes for Carrarese on the flank in their 1–0 home loss to Empoli, conceding in the 74th minute; he is on loan with an option and counter-option in Roma's favour. Luigi Cherubini started in attack for Benevento in the first half at Ascoli before being substituted at the interval; Benevento were reduced to ten men in the 41st minute by Prisco's red card and lost 1–0 to a Brunori penalty in the closing stages. Cherubini's loan includes a right of option and obligation to buy. Mattia Mannini received his first call-up after joining Benevento on loan but remained unused from the bench in the same Ascoli defeat. Angeliño was an unused substitute as Deportivo La Coruña won 3–2 away at Villarreal in La Liga. Robinio Vaz was included in a Premier League squad for the first time after a late-market transfer to Hull City but did not feature in a 0–0 draw with Aston Villa. Jan Ziółkowski was unavailable for Monza's away trip to Parma—which ended 1–1—due to a plantar fascia problem requiring monitoring. Marash Kumbulla likewise missed Rayo Vallecano's 3–2 victory over Racing Santander as he continues to deal with a knee issue.

Roma's supporters delivered a vital performance in the final half-hour against Atalanta, providing what the article describes as a 'cardiac massage to the hope' of a team that deserved better. Gian Piero Gasperini's side produced an assured display under constant, relentless pressure, with Manu Koné orchestrating the midfield and Bryan Cristante directing operations. The team's quality merited victory even before the goals arrived. Matías Soulé scored a deserved goal that crowned a summer of redemption for a player who had battled through earlier difficulties. Gasperini's endorsement of the winger's progress underlined his return to form. Santiago Castro made an immediate impact, showing hunger and clarity in his play, though finishing proved elusive. Artem Dovbyk scored Bologna's goal, salvaging their display after a complex sequence of play. Donyell Malen's performance was erratic; the article suggests he had uneven moments throughout the match. The week's verdicts also included criticism of Luca Percassi's conduct as 'undignified and deplorable, regardless of context', and sharp judgement of the decision to sack Grosso, with the editorial noting that ending a manager's tenure and forcing another coach to restart from zero serves only to worsen matters. Juventus's match against Milan drew unflattering comparison to a sleeping aid, relieved only briefly by Cissè and Gatti.

Roma return to the Champions League for the first time in seven years when they travel to Istanbul to face Fenerbahce on Thursday evening. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will deploy a squad combining several players making their maiden appearance in the competition's main draw alongside seasoned European campaigners. Gianluca Mancini and Manu Koné will make their Champions League debuts, as will younger squad members including Pisilli, Lulli, Mora and Ghilardi. Gasperini can call on considerable experience to balance the newcomers. Paulo Dybala and Marten de Roon have accumulated nearly one hundred appearances between them at the highest level. Nahuel Molina and Mario Hermoso both bring over sixty European appearances from their time at Atlético Madrid, while Donyell Malen, Leonardo Balerdi and Artem Dovbyk add further continental pedigree. Dybala will lead the attack and is targeting a European goal; his last came in the Europa League final in Budapest against Seville. Roma will be supported by approximately 2,300 fans in the away section at the Turkish stadium. The domestic competition faces a ticketing restriction for the upcoming Serie A fixture against Torino: the CASMS has banned ticket sales to residents of Rome province due to potential clashes with Parma supporters travelling to Como, permitting purchases only to AS Roma Card holders from other Italian regions.