Mora and Roma: Gasperini expects him ready for October's crucial run

Roma have turned their attention to Giorgi Kvernadze, Frosinone's attacking talent, as they pursue a long-standing search for a left-winger. The 2003-born player has made an impressive start to the season with 5 goals and 2 assists across Serie A and the Coppa Italia. Gian Piero Gasperini has been seeking a left-sided winger for two years, and Kvernadze's profile appears to match what the coach wants: a right-footed left-winger capable of driving at defenders, making runs in behind, and offering physicality and pace in the final third. Frosinone acquired Kvernadze for €300,000 but are now targeting a substantial profit of at least €25 million from his sale. The geographical proximity—Frosinone lies roughly 90 kilometres from Rome—adds practical appeal to the pursuit. Napoli are also monitoring the player's availability.

Roma are closely tracking two breakthrough prospects as the club pursues a strategy of acquiring young talent to strengthen the squad's depth and potential. Following summer additions Rodrigo Mora and Santiago Castro, the Giallorossi have set their sights on Mathis Bakola, a French midfielder born in 2007 at Sassuolo, and Giorgi Kvernadze, a Georgian winger at Frosinone. The club intends to move early to secure Bakola ahead of the January window, though Juventus have also registered interest in the eighteen-year-old. Kvernadze, born in 2003, represents a concrete candidate for the January transfer window and possesses the characteristics of a left-sided winger with attacking thrust and quality that head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has long sought to complete the forward line. Roma must overcome competition from Napoli, who are also pursuing the Frosinone talent. The January window will likely determine whether either deal progresses further, with the left-winger position emerging as a priority for Gasperini to address the attacking setup.

Abel Balbo, the former Roma striker, has praised the club's attacking prowess in an interview with Il Messaggero, backing them to challenge for the Serie A title this season. Balbo said Roma are "beautiful to watch, entertaining and getting results" and predicted "an extraordinary campaign", though he acknowledged Inter remain the stronger squad overall. "Roma is the only one that can compete for the title," he said. Balbo reserved special praise for Dybala and Malen's partnership. On Malen specifically, he said: "He is a simple and effective player and the most difficult thing in football is to play with simplicity and he does it better than anyone. He's quick, he knows how to move, he attacks spaces, he sees goal easily. He is outstanding. He scores goals the way great strikers do." Balbo highlighted Malen's versatility: "He scores in every way. With great play or as he did against Torino by shooting from the ground. The striker is like that — he doesn't care how he puts the ball in the net as long as he scores and reaches the objective." When asked if Malen could surpass the 36-goal record held by Higuain and Immobile, Balbo said: "It's difficult to maintain that goal average but if others have managed it why can't he? I wish it for him because if he does it means Roma would get close to or even actually win the title." On Dybala, Balbo added: "Paulo is a champion and he always improves. This year he is doing extraordinary work, with him on the pitch the team flows better. He is magic and fantasy." Balbo also noted the importance of Roma's Argentine contingent, saying they bring "character and quality" and a "winning mentality that they transmit to the group."

Roma are closely tracking two breakthrough prospects as the club pursues a strategy of acquiring young talent to strengthen the squad's depth and potential. Following summer additions Rodrigo Mora and Santiago Castro, the Giallorossi have set their sights on Mathis Bakola, a French midfielder born in 2007 at Sassuolo, and Giorgi Kvernadze, a Georgian winger at Frosinone. The club intends to move early to secure Bakola ahead of the January window, though Juventus have also registered interest in the eighteen-year-old. Kvernadze, born in 2003, represents a concrete candidate for the January transfer window and possesses the characteristics of a left-sided winger with attacking thrust and quality that head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has long sought to complete the forward line. Roma must overcome competition from Napoli, who are also pursuing the Frosinone talent. The January window will likely determine whether either deal progresses further, with the left-winger position emerging as a priority for Gasperini to address the attacking setup.

Rodrigo Mora is settling into Roma after arriving from Porto this summer with high expectations and a significant financial investment. The Portuguese midfielder has had to earn every minute of playing time while adapting to Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical demands at Trigoria. So far this season he has made 5 appearances across Serie A and the Champions League for a total of 187 minutes — the equivalent of roughly two full matches. In Gasperini's 3-4-2-1 formation, Mora has been rotating primarily with Matías Soulé to complete the attacking trio alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in an offensive department rich with talent and competition. Gasperini expects Mora to deliver concrete contributions in goals and decisive plays, elements essential to increase the attacking threat and prevent the entire goalscoring burden falling on Malen alone. The opportunity to significantly raise his playing time comes immediately after the international break. From Como to Sassuolo, Roma face an intensive tour de force of 9 matches over 27 days — including 3 Champions League fixtures — in which squad rotation will be intense and all squad members will have the space to prove their worth.

Roma head into a demanding stretch of fixtures with Gasperini now ready to rely heavily on the summer recruits who have gradually been introduced to the squad. The club closed the first part of the campaign level on points with Inter and Lazio at the top of the table, but a punishing run awaits: between Serie A and Champions League, there will be no respite until November. With only one week in four featuring a European fixture so far, Gasperini has largely favoured the established players while carefully integrating the new arrivals, deploying them either from the start or off the bench. Several summer signings have already made an impact. Balerdi has made a strong early impression, while Molina began well despite arriving physically behind schedule after playing in the World Cup final. He provided his first assist against Inter and showed promising effectiveness when fielded on the left at Turin. Rodrigo Mora presents a mixed picture: the Portuguese midfielder impressed in two starting performances against Fiorentina and Atalanta but struggled when introduced as a substitute, failing to read the rhythm of matches. Paradoxically, he scored when coming off the bench at Lecce. Gasperini intends to gradually unlock the full potential of the talent he strongly pursued. Konstantinos Koulierakis and Marten de Roon will also prove invaluable—the latter was Gasperini's move to shore up the midfield. Lorenzo Pellegrini completes the picture as the squad faces its most testing period of the season.

Abel Balbo, the former Roma striker, has praised the club's attacking prowess in an interview with Il Messaggero, backing them to challenge for the Serie A title this season. Balbo said Roma are "beautiful to watch, entertaining and getting results" and predicted "an extraordinary campaign", though he acknowledged Inter remain the stronger squad overall. "Roma is the only one that can compete for the title," he said. Balbo reserved special praise for Dybala and Malen's partnership. On Malen specifically, he said: "He is a simple and effective player and the most difficult thing in football is to play with simplicity and he does it better than anyone. He's quick, he knows how to move, he attacks spaces, he sees goal easily. He is outstanding. He scores goals the way great strikers do." Balbo highlighted Malen's versatility: "He scores in every way. With great play or as he did against Torino by shooting from the ground. The striker is like that — he doesn't care how he puts the ball in the net as long as he scores and reaches the objective." When asked if Malen could surpass the 36-goal record held by Higuain and Immobile, Balbo said: "It's difficult to maintain that goal average but if others have managed it why can't he? I wish it for him because if he does it means Roma would get close to or even actually win the title." On Dybala, Balbo added: "Paulo is a champion and he always improves. This year he is doing extraordinary work, with him on the pitch the team flows better. He is magic and fantasy." Balbo also noted the importance of Roma's Argentine contingent, saying they bring "character and quality" and a "winning mentality that they transmit to the group."

Francesco Totti has disclosed in his autobiography *Oltre* that AS Roma attempted to persuade him to present Paulo Dybala with the number 10 shirt during the Argentine's official unveiling. In the summer when Dybala arrived at the club, Roma conveyed the request indirectly to Totti, but he rejected it firmly. "The response was blunt: 'Are you all mad?'" Totti explained. "If you have the courage, give it to him yourselves. Nothing against the player—I like him very much, as a person too. He's a fine lad. If you have this intention, go ahead, without dragging me into it." Rather than expose himself to comparisons with Totti's legacy, Dybala chose the number 21 instead. Totti reiterated his respect for the player, saying "Dybala, for me, if he is fit, can make the difference." He also outlined his philosophy on the number 10, Roma's most iconic shirt. "The number 10 jersey of Roma, I would never retire it permanently—that would be like denying a wonderful dream to children. Every day I hope another Totti appears. One born in Rome, raised in Rome, who chooses Roma for life." He drew a distinction between such a candidate and a player arriving from elsewhere: "It would be a different matter to assign that shirt to someone coming from the other side of the world, who stays for a limited period and then leaves. It is a symbol that should be entrusted only to someone who, at least potentially, can play for Roma for fifteen or twenty years."

Francesco Totti has revealed in his latest autobiography, *Oltre*, that Roma made an indirect approach asking him to present the iconic number 10 shirt to Paulo Dybala during the forward's official unveiling. Totti declined the request and refused to be drawn into the decision-making process. When Dybala arrived at Roma from Juventus, where he had worn the number 10 before departing in tears, the club sent Totti a message through indirect channels proposing the transfer of the legendary shirt. Totti rejected the suggestion outright. "You are all mad," he told them in his account. He made clear his position was not personal animosity towards the player: "Nothing against the player—in fact, I like him very much, also as a person. He is a very good lad. If you have this intention, go ahead, without putting me in the middle." Dybala ultimately chose the number 21 instead, a decision Totti attributed partly to respect for his predecessor. Totti explained his refusal to hand over the shirt by emphasizing the weight and responsibility attached to Roma's number 10. "I didn't want responsibility for someone else's choice, a decision I had absolutely nothing to do with, to fall on me," he wrote. "The number 10 of Roma carries weight, and it would bring inevitable comparisons with me. Dybala, if he is well, can make a difference." He stressed that the choice rightfully belongs to the club rather than to him personally. Totti articulated a broader philosophy on who should wear the shirt. He said he would never retire it outright, as that would deny "a wonderful dream to children" who might one day embody the same commitment. However, he expressed a clear view on criteria: "It is a symbol too important and significant to be entrusted only to someone who, at Roma, can potentially play for fifteen or twenty years." He contrasted that with players arriving from elsewhere who stay only temporarily before departing.

Abel Balbo, the former Roma striker, has praised the club's attacking prowess in an interview with Il Messaggero, backing them to challenge for the Serie A title this season. Balbo said Roma are "beautiful to watch, entertaining and getting results" and predicted "an extraordinary campaign", though he acknowledged Inter remain the stronger squad overall. "Roma is the only one that can compete for the title," he said. Balbo reserved special praise for Dybala and Malen's partnership. On Malen specifically, he said: "He is a simple and effective player and the most difficult thing in football is to play with simplicity and he does it better than anyone. He's quick, he knows how to move, he attacks spaces, he sees goal easily. He is outstanding. He scores goals the way great strikers do." Balbo highlighted Malen's versatility: "He scores in every way. With great play or as he did against Torino by shooting from the ground. The striker is like that — he doesn't care how he puts the ball in the net as long as he scores and reaches the objective." When asked if Malen could surpass the 36-goal record held by Higuain and Immobile, Balbo said: "It's difficult to maintain that goal average but if others have managed it why can't he? I wish it for him because if he does it means Roma would get close to or even actually win the title." On Dybala, Balbo added: "Paulo is a champion and he always improves. This year he is doing extraordinary work, with him on the pitch the team flows better. He is magic and fantasy." Balbo also noted the importance of Roma's Argentine contingent, saying they bring "character and quality" and a "winning mentality that they transmit to the group."

Rodrigo Mora is settling into Roma after arriving from Porto this summer with high expectations and a significant financial investment. The Portuguese midfielder has had to earn every minute of playing time while adapting to Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical demands at Trigoria. So far this season he has made 5 appearances across Serie A and the Champions League for a total of 187 minutes — the equivalent of roughly two full matches. In Gasperini's 3-4-2-1 formation, Mora has been rotating primarily with Matías Soulé to complete the attacking trio alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in an offensive department rich with talent and competition. Gasperini expects Mora to deliver concrete contributions in goals and decisive plays, elements essential to increase the attacking threat and prevent the entire goalscoring burden falling on Malen alone. The opportunity to significantly raise his playing time comes immediately after the international break. From Como to Sassuolo, Roma face an intensive tour de force of 9 matches over 27 days — including 3 Champions League fixtures — in which squad rotation will be intense and all squad members will have the space to prove their worth.

Donyell Malen has become Roma's ideal centre-forward under Gian Piero Gasperini's guidance this season. The 27-year-old Dutch forward, now operating centrally rather than from the wing as he did at Aston Villa, has formed a complementary partnership with Paulo Dybala that echoes Roma's great attacking pairings of the past—Pruzzo with Falcao, Conti, and Totti with Batistuta. While shy and reserved away from the pitch, Malen transforms into an unstoppable force once play begins, combining precise coordination, a devastating first step, and clinical finishing. Gasperini deserves credit for identifying Malen's finishing potential and repositioning him closer to goal. The repositioning from the wing to a more advanced attacking role has made him the driving force of Roma's offensive system. Malen's statistics underline his impact: he is averaging a goal every 58 minutes played and maintains a frequency of at least two shots on target per match. This efficiency demonstrates the effectiveness of Gasperini's tactical adjustment and the quality Malen brings to the Giallorossi attack.