Mora lands in Rome as 62,000 tickets sell out

Roma are preparing a concrete new attempt to sign Endrick in the January transfer window, with head coach Gasperini and sporting director D'Amico maintaining their interest in the Brazilian. The 2006-born forward is struggling for playing time at Real Madrid, despite comments from José Mourinho, and Roma see an opportunity to revive their pursuit. AC Milan, who attempted to bring Endrick to the club in the summer, also remain in contention for his signature. Meanwhile, Roma are advancing contract negotiations with defender Emanuele Lulli, whose performances at the start of the season have impressed the club. Lulli is set for a contract extension through to 2031, with his salary rising significantly to nearly €1 million per year.

AS Roma have been working on a move for Real Madrid forward Endrick over the last few months, with increasingly positive signals that a deal could materialise in January. Sporting director Tony D'Amico is driving the initiative, and crucially, Endrick has already given his approval to join the Giallorossi, viewing a Roma move as an opportunity to regain prominence after his time in Madrid. Endrick's father is also supportive of the transfer, particularly given that his Brazilian teammate Wesley is performing well at Roma. The player has confided to close friends that a switch to the Giallorossi is a genuine possibility. AC Milan have also attempted to recruit Endrick, but Roma are ahead in the race, having already held initial talks with the player and his representatives. A forthcoming fixture between Roma and Real Madrid could provide a suitable moment for both parties to advance discussions further on the deal.

Competition for Real Madrid's Endrick is intensifying, with Roma remaining attentive to a potential January move for the Brazilian forward. Alexandre Pato disclosed at the Trento Sports Festival that AC Milan attempted to sign Endrick during the summer transfer window. "I believe Endrick needs to change, because it is hard for him to play at Madrid. I know that Cardinale was trying to bring him to Milan, we talked about it, but in the end nothing happened," Pato said. "In January? I do not know." Endrick has struggled for playing time at Real Madrid despite assurances from José Mourinho, keeping Roma in the hunt for a winter approach. Pato's comments suggest Milan could resume their pursuit alongside Roma's interest, though a January move remains uncertain.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is ready to reclaim a leading role at Roma after 184 days out. The midfielder has recovered from a long injury, signed a contract renewal on 8 August, and is now pushing for a starting place when Roma face Como. He returns with leadership, technical quality and work completed during the international break at Trigoria. A social media post — "True happiness is being at peace with the people around you" — reflects the calm with which he approaches his comeback after a previous season that yielded seven goals and four assists. Pellegrini's injury began on 10 April. Despite Gasperini assigning the captaincy based on appearances, Pellegrini remains the natural reference point in the dressing room, confirmed by his contract extension and his choice to stay despite several offers from Italian and foreign clubs. His lengthy absence and dedicated rehabilitation put him in fresher condition than squad-mates returning from international duty, including Soulé and Mora. In Gasperini's 3–4–1–2 system, Pellegrini can operate on the attacking midfield line behind Dybala and Malen, providing quality in the final third and pressing intensity. Gasperini is seriously considering starting him, with Pellegrini estimated to have an autonomy of around sixty minutes but ready to begin the match and definitively reclaim his place.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is on the verge of his first competitive appearance in 184 days, with the trip to Como offering the chance to mark his official return. The midfielder finds a Roma squad transformed from the one he left behind: a new system, fresh hierarchies, and a captain's armband assigned under different criteria. Rather than stepping straight back into a pre-established role, Pellegrini must essentially start over—but this fresh start gives Gasperini scope to deploy him in a way no other attacking option in the squad can replicate. In the current 3-4-1-2 formation, Pellegrini can operate behind the two forwards without functioning as a purely classical playmaker. He can drop deeper to supply a passing option to midfielders, press high, make off-the-ball runs, and serve Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in the final metres. This versatility could transform the system into something more fluid—oscillating between a three-man midfield and a genuine three-man attacking line. Against Como, where Gasperini wants to press the opening possession of Fabregas's side, Pellegrini could shield the first phase of opposition build-up before becoming the man for the final pass once possession is regained. This dual function differs sharply from what Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé offer and could prove crucial in matches requiring greater central density. Pellegrini has a practical advantage: while teammates traversed the globe with their national squads, he used the international break to work uninterrupted at Trigoria. His recovery is complete, with his match fitness estimated at around one hour of play. Gasperini can now genuinely consider him a starting option rather than merely a player to integrate gradually. The timing suits Roma well. After Como comes a sequence of nine matches in 28 days, making it impossible to rely on the same players constantly. Pellegrini need not displace anyone; he can allow Gasperini to reshape the squad's character without overturning it, alternating with other attacking players and offering control when needed in midfield. Pellegrini's real challenge differs from his past burden. He no longer must prove himself as captain or symbol of Roma; he must earn his space within a team that has found balance without him. That liberation from the weight of recent years could free him to become exactly what Gasperini is asking—not the project's centre, but an additional weapon in a squad that from October will need everyone available.

Bryan Cristante has sustained a knee injury that will rule him out of upcoming matches, including fixtures against Como and Real Madrid. The midfielder has been absent from the Roma squad only once in the past 668 days—a significant stretch for a player head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has described as essential to the team's tactics and balance. Cristante's last enforced absence came on 4 December 2024, when an ankle problem sidelined him for approximately 52 days. Seven years ago, he started for Roma in one of the club's last memorable Champions League nights at the Olimpico, against Real Madrid. Cristante has established himself as Roma's most reliable midfielder, described as the lungs, mind and strength of the giallorossi's engine room. His injury record since joining the club in July 2018 is remarkable: in 370 appearances, he has missed only 28 matches through injury—an average of 3.8 games per season across an annual squad schedule of roughly 50 matches. His availability stands at 92.5 per cent, a reliability index that underscores his indispensability to Roma's setup. His durability is equally striking: he completed a run of over 38 consecutive league starts without a sign of decline before this injury. The midfielder's clinical history at Roma shows injury stoppages have been rare and concentrated in isolated episodes, making this absence a notable exception to what has been an extraordinary record of physical consistency.

Marten de Roon is using the international break to build his physical condition ahead of the Como match, with Bryan Cristante sidelined and likely to miss the Real Madrid fixture. The Dutch midfielder, who alongside Niccolò Pisilli makes up Roma's quartet of specialist central midfielders, has a significant opportunity to impress both on the pitch and with supporters, who gave him a cool reception owing to his history as an Atalanta mainstay. De Roon has been training and sharing his progress on social media with his family. He wrote: "I am gradually getting used to life in Rome", alongside the she-wolf emoji and the giallorossi colours. The arrival comes as Roma prepare for two particularly important fixtures in the coming period, presenting the midfielder with a chance to win over the fanbase and establish himself in Gasperini's plans.

Radio pundit Piero Torri has voiced concern that Bryan Cristante's injury could be more serious than initially thought, and has outlined how he would approach Roma's upcoming fixtures if the midfielder is unavailable. Speaking on Radio Manà Manà Sport Roma (90.9), Torri said: "I'm afraid Cristante's injury may not be a short one. If he's not fit, I wouldn't risk trying to get him back for Real Madrid. I would play de Roon at Como and Pisilli against Real Madrid." Torri also reflected on head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's handling of Paulo Dybala's minutes, saying the manager's approach has shifted his perspective. "What Gasperini said about Dybala struck me—it erased my previous beliefs about his playing time and management. And so far he's been proved right," Torri noted. He suggested Roma should begin discussions about Gasperini's contract intentions, given that the coach's deal will expire at the end of the season. Former Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio Mattino (104.5), praised goalkeeper Mile Svilar's importance to the team: "Svilar is a world-class goalkeeper for Roma, I have no doubt about it. If there's a normal goalkeeper, it's easy to lose 3–1. But with him it's different."

Roma's international break will conclude this weekend, with the Serie A campaign resuming on Sunday 11 October at Como (12:30 CET, Stadio Sinigaglia). The Giallorossi arrive on the back of a 2–2 draw against Inter, a result that underlined their strong start to the season and their ability to compete with title contenders. The timing of the break is awkward—Roma must immediately shift mental gears for a relentless schedule that will see them play nine times in 27 days, a fixture run that will define their seasonal ambitions under Gasperini. The stretch begins at Como and continues without respite. Three days after the Lombard trip, on Wednesday 14 October, the Champions League returns to the Olimpico after seven years; Real Madrid, managed by José Mourinho, are the visitors. Saturday 17 brings Genoa to Rome, followed by Slovan Bratislava at home on Tuesday 20 in the Champions League league phase. Roma then travel to Napoli on Saturday 24 October, a fixture described as capable of revealing much about the Giallorossi's capacity to compete. There is no time to celebrate or recover: Tuesday 27 sees Cagliari at home in a midweek fixture. Saturday 31 brings a trip to Udinese, followed by a journey to England on 3 November to face Manchester United. The run concludes on 7 November with Sassuolo at home, the ninth and final match of the month-long cycle before the second international break of the season. The injury to Bryan Cristante is poorly timed, depriving the midfield of one of its key equilibrating figures at the start of this critical period. However, his absence opens a tactical opportunity: Marten de Roon is primed to take over the midfield and make his Roma debut from the start, likely already at Como. De Roon brings his customary aggression, solidity and experience. Niccolò Pisilli will offer freshness and enthusiasm, though he is more likely to deputise for Manu Koné than for Cristante. Lorenzo Pellegrini's return, even in a different role—more attacking midfielder than central midfielder in a two-man midfield—is the best possible news for Gasperini. The coach has made clear that there are no hierarchies at Trigoria: "those who are in better form play, for Roma's benefit." Roma's squad training resumes on Tuesday afternoon before the Como trip. The fixture list over the next month presents no respite and no room for fluctuation, with injury risk a constant concern as the team aims to navigate this pivotal stretch.

AS Roma have been working on a move for Real Madrid forward Endrick over the last few months, with increasingly positive signals that a deal could materialise in January. Sporting director Tony D'Amico is driving the initiative, and crucially, Endrick has already given his approval to join the Giallorossi, viewing a Roma move as an opportunity to regain prominence after his time in Madrid. Endrick's father is also supportive of the transfer, particularly given that his Brazilian teammate Wesley is performing well at Roma. The player has confided to close friends that a switch to the Giallorossi is a genuine possibility. AC Milan have also attempted to recruit Endrick, but Roma are ahead in the race, having already held initial talks with the player and his representatives. A forthcoming fixture between Roma and Real Madrid could provide a suitable moment for both parties to advance discussions further on the deal.

Wesley was spotted at Ponte Milvio test-driving his new Lamborghini during the international break. The Roma defender, born in 2003, remained in the capital rather than travel during the national team pause, taking the opportunity to enjoy some leisure time away from Trigoria. Wesley is currently recovering from a physical problem that prevented him from answering Brazil's call-up. He is expected to rejoin full training in the coming days with the goal of returning to Gian Piero Gasperini's squad for the resumption of the league campaign.

Roma continued their preparation at Trigoria on 2 October with a session focused on the international break, as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini worked with a reduced squad while players were away on national team duty. The club's next fixture is a trip to Como on Sunday 11 October at 12:30, where they will face the Serie A side at the Stadio Sinigaglia. Lorenzo Pellegrini trained regularly with the group and has recovered from injury, though he remains without competitive minutes this season. The Como match could offer him an opportunity to return to action, with Gasperini to assess his readiness based on the coming days' training. Wesley and Donyell Malen are expected to return to full training in the next few days as staff monitor their condition, while Bryan Cristante will miss the Como fixture due to a knee problem. Roma's sporting director Tony D'Amico attended the session at Trigoria to oversee preparations for the away trip.