Mancini on Champions League push: Roma focused on their own race

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will address the media on Saturday 23 August at 13:30 from the Fulvio Bernardini press room to preview Monday's Serie A opener against Fiorentina. The match kicks off at 20:45 on 26 August in the first fixture of the 2026–27 season. Gasperini is expected to discuss several topics including the potential involvement of Rodrigo Mora, the club's ongoing transfer activity in the final days of the window, and Roma's campaign launch. Starting the season well is crucial, though August presents challenges with numerous clubs navigating squad changes as the transfer market remains open.

Gianluca Mancini spoke to Sky Sport from Trigoria, emphasizing his deep commitment to Roma and reflecting on the club's recent arrivals. The defender stressed his emotional bond with the club, saying: "Al cuore non si comanda. Io ho un rapporto speciale, la Roma me la sento dentro di me, dal primo giorno che sono arrivato e poi negli anni è aumentato." He outlined his desire to remain under the current management and continue contributing as the new season approaches. Mancini praised the intensity of pre-season preparation and the squad's readiness for the campaign ahead. On Rodrigo Mora, who completed his first training session on the day of the interview, Mancini noted that the Portuguese defender impressed him when Roma faced Porto two years ago. He credited manager José Mourinho's assessment of Mora's qualities, saying new arrivals strengthen the group which functions as a family. Regarding the league title race, Mancini acknowledged Inter's status as favourites but stressed Roma's ambition to compete: "il nostro obiettivo è pensare partita dopo partita, ragionare da squadra, passare dai momenti belli e cavalcare l'onda." Mancini also reflected on his experience with the Italian national team, acknowledging lingering disappointment over missing the World Cup while emphasizing the need to focus forward under new leadership.

Gianluca Mancini spoke at Trigoria about his decision to stay at Roma after Inter's approach this summer, his commitment to the club, and the arrival of new midfielder Rodrigo Mora. "At heart you cannot command," Mancini said. "I have a special relationship with Roma—I have felt it inside me since the first day I arrived, and it has grown with the years. I wanted to stay strongly with the coach and my teammates, to continue being a protagonist in this new year that is coming and do things in the best possible way, because we deserve it as players, the city, the fans, the club. When you are part of a family it is difficult to leave." Mancini highlighted Roma's Champions League qualification last season as a major milestone and backed the squad to compete this term. On Gasperini's demanding pre-season regime, he stressed that tough preparation is part of football and the coaching staff put players in the right condition to face the season. He acknowledged Inter as favourites for the title but said Roma's objective is "to think match after match, to reason as a squad, to ride the wave in good moments and not collapse in difficult ones, but always improve ourselves." On Mora's arrival, Mancini noted the new signing trained with the squad that day and said experienced players help newcomers settle on and off the pitch. He referenced a Porto match two years ago in which Mora impressed, adding that José Mourinho's endorsement of the player carries weight. Mancini also touched on his national team hopes, saying the disappointment of Italy's World Cup absence remains but the focus must turn to objectives ahead.

Rodrigo Mora impressed in his first training session and now has four days to convince Gasperini he deserves the starting role in Roma's match against Fiorentina on Monday. The Portuguese forward will compete with Matías Soulé for the trequartista position in a 3-4-1-2 formation that Roma trialled on 19 August. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are set to start as the two strikers, with Mora eyeing an opportunity to stake his claim in the role that suits him best. Soulé's availability for the match remains uncertain as AC Milan continues to press for his signature, alongside English club Sunderland. The competition for places elsewhere in the team appears settled: Molina is ready to make his debut, Wesley will start at left-back, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné will operate in midfield, and the defensive line in front of Mile Svilar will comprise Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso. Gasperini's early feedback on Mora has been positive, giving the forward genuine scope to earn a starting berth.

Rodrigo Mora has been assigned shirt number 86 at Roma, completing a historical milestone for the club. The Portuguese player, a class of 2007 talent, chose the number on 19 August, and it marks the first time the 86 has been worn since Roma introduced fixed squad numbers in the 1995–96 season. Mora wore the number at Porto and had worn the 10 in UEFA Youth League there; across Portugal's national youth levels he has worn 11, 24, 20, 17, 28, and 10 in Under-21, but returns to the 8 and 6 combination familiar from his time at Porto. The 86 was the final unassigned number in Roma's history of squad allocation, a gap that has persisted for three decades. Though some numbers have been selected but never worn in matches—such as the 84 given to Del Bello and Louakima in 2022–23 and the 79 assigned to Edoardo Morucci in European League action last January without deployment—the 86 remained untouched until Mora's arrival. The club's iconic numbers include the 10 retired for Francesco Totti since 28 May 2017, the 21 currently worn by Paulo Dybala, the 23 of Gianluca Mancini, the 22 of Mario Hermoso, the 5 of Falcao, the 6 of Aldair, the 16 of Daniele De Rossi, and the 9 of Roberto Pruzzo. Mora will now seek to make the 86 uniquely his own in Roma colours.

Rodrigo Mora landed at Ciampino yesterday to a reception of nearly 500 supporters as Roma completed the Portuguese attacking talent's signing. The 19-year-old expressed his gratitude in an official interview: "I want to thank Roma and Porto. I'm very happy to be here, and I thank the fans for the support they showed me at the airport. I'm very pleased and hope to have a great season here." José Mourinho endorsed the move, calling Mora "one of the greatest talents in Portuguese football. Technically very strong, a creative player who unbalances matches. I think Roma fans will love him." Meanwhile, Roma remain in talks over striker Malick Fofana from Lyon. An agreement in principle is in place for €35 million plus bonuses, but the deal is conditional on Lyon's European preliminary round results and awaits approval from the Friedkin Group ownership, who are reluctant to commit such a sum without significant departures or cheaper payment structures, mindful of financial fair play constraints. Defender Gianluca Mancini discussed the challenge ahead under Gian Piero Gasperini in an interview with Sky Sport. On competing in the Champions League for the first time, he said: "Yes, we pursued it for some years. Last season we secured it and we can't wait to take part in this beautiful competition." He added on Gasperini's training intensity: "I think all preparations are tough because you come from a holiday period and when you restart in the heat the first sessions are tough everywhere, what the manager and his staff do is put us in the right conditions to face the season in the best way possible. We as a group follow exactly what he tells us to do." Manu Koné is expected to remain at Roma after Manchester United withdrew from the race for the French midfielder.