Mora on Dybala's brilliance, Mourinho's Roma passion and his own title ambitions

Roberto Mancini has named his Italy squad for four upcoming Nations League matches, with three AS Roma players included in the 34-man group. Gianluca Mancini, Bryan Cristante and Daniele Ghilardi have been selected for fixtures against Belgium (25 September), Turkey (28 September), France (2 October) and Turkey again (5 October). Mancini and Cristante are established members of the Italian national team, but for Ghilardi, a 2003-born defender, this represents his first call-up to the senior squad. The squad announcement marks the beginning of a new era under Mancini, who returns to the Italy job following the team's third consecutive World Cup qualification failure.

Roberto Mancini has named a 30-player Italy squad for the Nations League, including Roma defenders Daniele Ghilardi and Gianluca Mancini, midfielder Bryan Cristante, and nine players receiving their first national team call-up. Among the newcomers is Daniele Ghilardi, who earns his debut call after joining Roma from Torino. Cagliari forward Daniel Maldini also features in the squad despite being involved in a drink-driving incident in recent days. Ghilardi's inclusion marks recognition of Roma's defensive investments this summer, while Cristante continues as a regular fixture in Mancini's midfield plans. The three Roma players form part of an extended squad assembled to rebuild confidence after Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup. Mancini has opted for a large group to manage what he faces: four matches in eleven days, a demanding schedule designed to restore enthusiasm and belief. The nine first-time international calls are: goalkeepers Massimo Pessina (Bologna); defenders Michael Kayode (Brentford), Eddy Kouadio (Monza), and Daniele Ghilardi (Roma); midfielders Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP) and Alessandro Romano (Cagliari); and forwards Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo), Antonio Vergara (Napoli), and Mohamed Alì Zoma (Nürnberg). Nicolò Fagioli and Nicolò Zaniolo return after absences since October 2024, while Rolando Mandragora is recalled for the first time since March 2021.

Roberto Mancini has named 34 players for Italy's Nations League campaign in his second spell as head coach. Three AS Roma players feature: Daniele Ghilardi, Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante. Ghilardi's inclusion marks his first call-up to the senior squad. Italy's opening Nations League fixture comes on Friday 25 September against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. The squad will begin their first training session at Coverciano on Monday 21 September. After the Belgium match, Mancini's side travel to Turkey to face them on 28 September at the Atatürk Spor Kompleksi in Bursa, then play France on Friday 2 October at Saint-Denis. The window closes with a second home match against Turkey on Monday 5 October at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Bologna. The full squad includes goalkeepers Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Massimo Pessina (Bologna) and Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus). Defenders include Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta) and Alessandro Bastoni (Inter). Midfielders feature Nicolò Barella (Inter), Sandro Tonali (Tottenham) and Davide Frattesi (Lazio). Forwards include Moise Kean (Como), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta) and Nicolò Zaniolo (Udinese).

Rodrigo Mora is settling into life at Roma and learning Gasperini's system after his summer transfer from Porto, with backing from an unexpected source: José Mourinho. The Portuguese playboy, born in 2007, has made a positive initial impact in Italy but recognises there is much to learn, especially from teammates like Paulo Dybala. Speaking to Sky Sport, Mora praised his senior partner: "With Paulo he is a player who doesn't need words: you look at him and understand. On the pitch, every time he touches the ball, you can expect something that few know how to do: that pass others don't even see, that play that changes the match. Off the pitch he welcomed me brilliantly from day one — he's a very humble and available person. I'm truly grateful for how he helped me settle in." Mourinho, who managed Roma previously, has publicly said Mora has the qualities to win over the club's supporters. Mora confirmed the pair have spoken: "Yes, when I arrived we talked a bit. He told me how much he loves this club, how much he likes Rome and how special the relationship with the city is. It wasn't a long conversation, but he's a great manager and a great person, and I'm truly grateful for the words he spent on me. He made me feel welcome." On his ambitions, Mora was clear about his priority. "I want to win titles," he said. "That's the most important objective I have, the one that pushes me every morning when I arrive to train. I want to win them with Roma, in this city, with these fans, and I want to do it as a protagonist, giving my contribution on the pitch."

Massimo Moratti has spoken ahead of Inter's visit to Roma on 19 September at 18:00, telling La Repubblica that he expects a competitive fixture between two clubs whose strength often rises and falls in tandem. 'It is destiny that Roma are competitive when we are too. By now it is a classic, like Inter-Juventus and Inter-Milan,' Moratti said. 'In a single match it is hard to say who will have the better of it. Over the course of the season, though, I say Inter.' He praised Roma's current manager, noting: 'Chivu is capable, has good sense, knows how to hold the squad together.' Moratti reflected on his personal connection to Roma through players he signed from the club. He recalled Chivu's courage after a near-fatal head injury: 'I went to see him in hospital. He said he would come back soon, without complaining. A brave man.' On his fractured relationship with Gasperini, Moratti said: 'We have met, shaken hands, embraced. I have no grudge. He perhaps does, and it would be justified. It was an unlucky moment: we were not winning a match.' Moratti also spoke of his long-standing desire to sign Francesco Totti, Roma's all-time great. 'Totti. I tried. I told Sensi I would not make a fuss over the price. He replied that it was not to be discussed. He behaved like a Romanista, not a merchant.' Moratti went on to describe his actual Roma signing: 'I took Batistuta from Roma. He scored only one goal but I would do it again.' On the upcoming match, Moratti expects an open contest: 'A fine one. We are at the start, the teams do not have too much fear of losing points. And it can be valuable as training for the Champions League, where you cannot afford to be foolish.'

Roma host Inter on Saturday in a high-profile fixture drawing extraordinary media attention: 61 photographers, over 250 journalists, more than 50 outlets and 8 foreign broadcasters are accredited, with coverage expected from China, the United States, Brazil, Argentina and major European nations. Ed Shipley, Dan Friedkin's right-hand man, has arrived at Trigoria, and a surprise visit from Ryan Friedkin is not ruled out. Former Roma striker Marco Delvecchio has weighed in on the matchup between Roma's Donyell Malen and Inter's Lautaro Martinez ahead of the Olimpico encounter. Delvecchio said: "In the final twenty metres, today, I see Malen a step above Lautaro." He praised the Dutchman for his speed of execution and quality of first touch, while acknowledging Lautaro's superiority in aerial play. On output, Delvecchio predicted: "I say 25 goals for Malen and 20 for Lautaro." Inter's interest in Roma players stretches back years. In summer 2025, the Nerazzurri considered Mile Svilar before his contract renewal; in 2024 they came close to signing Mario Hermoso but pulled out. More recently they assessed Evan N'Dicka and Gianluca Mancini, and Nahuel Molina as a possible alternative to Dumfries. The most significant detail involves Manu Koné: in August 2025, Inter's Ausilio reportedly reached an agreement worth 40 million euros before Roma's ownership blocked the deal. In 2022, Dybala's agent also reached an understanding with Inter, which ultimately pivoted to Lukaku's return. Gasperini faces two key selection decisions before Saturday. In defence, Leonardo Balerdi, standout performer against Torino, threatens Evan N'Dicka's place, while on the right flank Emanuele Lulli could start ahead of Molina. Mario Hermoso is fit, Wesley returns at left-back, and Matías Soulé is favoured over Rodrigo Mora in the attacking midfield role. Gasperini and Inter's Chivu will meet as opponents after both having served the club they face on Saturday. Chivu once called Gasperini "an example, an innovator," and Gasperini reciprocated: "I have always held great regard for him." Gasperini carries a painful memory of his Inter spell, which ended after just five matches.

Rodrigo Mora is settling into life at Roma and learning Gasperini's system after his summer transfer from Porto, with backing from an unexpected source: José Mourinho. The Portuguese playboy, born in 2007, has made a positive initial impact in Italy but recognises there is much to learn, especially from teammates like Paulo Dybala. Speaking to Sky Sport, Mora praised his senior partner: "With Paulo he is a player who doesn't need words: you look at him and understand. On the pitch, every time he touches the ball, you can expect something that few know how to do: that pass others don't even see, that play that changes the match. Off the pitch he welcomed me brilliantly from day one — he's a very humble and available person. I'm truly grateful for how he helped me settle in." Mourinho, who managed Roma previously, has publicly said Mora has the qualities to win over the club's supporters. Mora confirmed the pair have spoken: "Yes, when I arrived we talked a bit. He told me how much he loves this club, how much he likes Rome and how special the relationship with the city is. It wasn't a long conversation, but he's a great manager and a great person, and I'm truly grateful for the words he spent on me. He made me feel welcome." On his ambitions, Mora was clear about his priority. "I want to win titles," he said. "That's the most important objective I have, the one that pushes me every morning when I arrive to train. I want to win them with Roma, in this city, with these fans, and I want to do it as a protagonist, giving my contribution on the pitch."

Paulo Dybala has been immortalised as a Superman figure in a new mural by celebrated Roman street artist Drugi, who regularly creates works celebrating the club's colours across the city. The artwork depicts Dybala as the giallorossi's superhero, cradled in the hands of a young Roma supporter. The mural arrived as Dybala prepares for tomorrow's Serie A summit clash between Roma and Inter at the Olimpico, with kickoff at 18:00. Drugi shared the work on Instagram accompanied by the caption: "Every child has his superhero."

Roma and Inter, the only two Serie A sides with 12 points after four rounds, meet at the Olimpico on Saturday in a high-stakes title clash. Gian Piero Gasperini's side have made a superb start to their second season in charge, winning all four league matches by an aggregate of 12–1, including a 2–0 victory at Torino on Monday with goals from Donyell Malen and Niccolò Pisilli. That came after a 1–1 draw at Fenerbahce in their opening Europa League fixture. Roma will attempt to reverse a damaging recent record: they have won only two of their last 16 encounters with Inter (D6, L10), and have lost their last five league clashes against them at home, failing to score four times in that sequence. The Giallorossi will seek to avenge an embarrassing 5–2 defeat from their last meeting. Despite the historical disadvantage, Roma's form this season suggests they can compete. They are the only Serie A team to have scored at least two goals in each of the first four rounds, and have extended their remarkable winning streak in the division to 11 games, including matches from last season. They are the second-highest scorers in Italy's top flight after four matchdays. Roma are also unbeaten in their last 14 home league matches (W11, D3) and boast one of the best defensive records in Europe's top-five leagues this season—only Arsenal and Freiburg have conceded as few goals as the Giallorossi (1). Inter, the reigning champions, are unbeaten in their last 30 Serie A games (W23, D6) despite netting just once in their only league trip so far in 2026–27, a narrow win over Cagliari. They top the scoring charts with 13 goals and have demonstrated remarkable fighting spirit, coming from 2–0 down to beat Napoli 3–2 and Udinese 5–3. However, they have conceded five goals across their last two league matches and let in at least two goals in three of their last five Serie A away games. Gasperini will have his entire squad available on Saturday, with Wesley Franca and Evan N'Dicka resuming full training earlier in the week. Manu Koné, who came off the bench at Turin, could return to the starting lineup in place of Pisilli. Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé are expected to start behind Malen. Inter will be without midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu (adductor strain) and summer signing John Stones (thigh injury), with Yann Bisseck, Manuel Akanji and Alessandro Bastoni forming the defensive trio. Marcus Thuram could make his first Serie A start of the season after two impressive substitute appearances. Roma's projected lineup: Svilar; Mancini, Balerdi, N'Dicka; Molina, Koné, Cristante, Wesley; Soulé, Dybala; Malen. Inter's projected lineup: J. Martínez; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Diouf, Barella, Zielinski, Jones, Dimarco; Thuram, L. Martínez.