Mora on Roma debut, Dybala admiration and Olimpico dreams

Roma are monitoring Georgian forward Kvernadze ahead of the January transfer window, with the club looking to fill an attacking vacancy that remained unfilled in the summer. Kvernadze has scored 5 goals and provided 2 assists across league and cup this season, building on strong performances in Serie B last year, displaying physical presence, aggression and execution speed. An unexpected advantage in any pursuit is already in place at Trigoria: Alessandro Frara, the former youth academy director who arrived this summer from Frosinone, is working closely with sporting director Tony D'Amico and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Frara will have already briefed both the director and the coach on every aspect of the player, covering both personal background and purely tactical considerations. The financial margins of any deal remain unclear at present, though Frosinone could be approaching safety or close to it if they lose Kvernadze in January.

Roma's squad has increased in value by approximately €150 million over the past year, driven by Gian Piero Gasperini's management since his appointment. The club has returned to the Champions League after a seven-year absence, and the upturn extends beyond the pitch into the club's finances. Gasperini, who built a successful nine-year project at Atalanta, is repeating that model at Roma, with improvements visible across every department of the squad. Mile Svilar arrived on a free transfer and remains unchanged in value as an integral goalkeeper, while Evan N'Dicka, also a free signing, is now valued at €35 million. Mario Hermoso has been transformed from a surplus player into a defensive cornerstone worth €15 million. Gianluca Mancini's value has climbed to €25 million, and Leonardo Balerdi, a recent arrival, has already proven his calibre and reclaimed his place in Argentina's squad. Wesley, signed last summer for €25 million, has attracted a €40 million offer from Chelsea that Roma rejected. Young prospect Emanuele Lulli exemplifies the club's emerging talents whose economic value is rising. Niccolò Pisilli, a Roma academy product who rejected potential summer moves, now commands €30 million. Manu Koné, the headline signing of the summer window, remained at the capital despite interest and is valued at €60 million according to Transfermarkt. Donyell Malen's worth has jumped from the €25 million Roma spent in January plus €2 million in loan fees to a current valuation of €50 million. With numerous young players in the squad—including Konstantinos Koulierakis, Rodrigo Mora, Daniele Ghilardi, and Matías Soulé—these valuations are expected to grow further if on-field performance remains strong.

Roma have not filled the left-wing attacking position during the summer transfer window despite head coach Gian Piero Gasperini requesting the move since his arrival. The club is now focusing on younger targets for January or later, with Giorgi Kvernadze, the 23-year-old Georgian winger at Frosinone, emerging as a leading prospect. Kvernadze has delivered an outstanding start to the season with three goals and one assist in five matches. A natural left winger who shoots right-footed, the class of 2003 player can operate across the attacking line and could follow the same path as Matías Soulé, who moved from Frosinone to Roma. However, Napoli and Fiorentina are also tracking him. Director D'Amico has placed Kvernadze on a list of prospects representing a youth-focused approach, with comparisons being drawn to fellow Georgian Kvaratskhelia. The search for an attacking left winger has stretched across three transfer windows without success. Kvernadze could potentially repeat Soulé's trajectory from the Frosinone academy to the capital. Alongside Kvernadze, Roma are monitoring Darryl Bakola, an 18-year-old French midfielder at Sassuolo. The club had targeted Bakola last year before Sassuolo signed him from Marseille in January for €10 million. A box-to-box midfielder with technical ability and strong attacking projection, Bakola is being viewed by Gasperini and D'Amico as a comparable prospect to Manu Koné or as a future version of Ederson in his Atalanta days. Juventus, led by Sassuolo's former director Carnevali, are also competing for Bakola's signature. Roma will continue contact with both clubs in the coming weeks.

Roma's squad has increased in value by approximately €150 million over the past year, driven by Gian Piero Gasperini's management since his appointment. The club has returned to the Champions League after a seven-year absence, and the upturn extends beyond the pitch into the club's finances. Gasperini, who built a successful nine-year project at Atalanta, is repeating that model at Roma, with improvements visible across every department of the squad. Mile Svilar arrived on a free transfer and remains unchanged in value as an integral goalkeeper, while Evan N'Dicka, also a free signing, is now valued at €35 million. Mario Hermoso has been transformed from a surplus player into a defensive cornerstone worth €15 million. Gianluca Mancini's value has climbed to €25 million, and Leonardo Balerdi, a recent arrival, has already proven his calibre and reclaimed his place in Argentina's squad. Wesley, signed last summer for €25 million, has attracted a €40 million offer from Chelsea that Roma rejected. Young prospect Emanuele Lulli exemplifies the club's emerging talents whose economic value is rising. Niccolò Pisilli, a Roma academy product who rejected potential summer moves, now commands €30 million. Manu Koné, the headline signing of the summer window, remained at the capital despite interest and is valued at €60 million according to Transfermarkt. Donyell Malen's worth has jumped from the €25 million Roma spent in January plus €2 million in loan fees to a current valuation of €50 million. With numerous young players in the squad—including Konstantinos Koulierakis, Rodrigo Mora, Daniele Ghilardi, and Matías Soulé—these valuations are expected to grow further if on-field performance remains strong.

Rodrigo Mora has spoken of his ambition to win silverware with Roma and deliver goals at the Stadio Olimpico following his summer arrival from Porto. The 2007-born playmaker, who scored against Lecce in his second match for the club, gave the interview to Canal 11 whilst with Portugal's U21 squad during qualification for the next European Championship. Mora reflected on the magnitude of his transfer after 19 years in Porto, where he spent 10 playing for the club's first team. "It was a different change. I lived 19 years in Porto and 10 I played for Porto. It is a different culture. But I am happy with the change. It will be a positive change," he said. He emphasized his desire to perform at the Olimpico: "I like to score very much. Scoring for Roma was beautiful, but I still want to score at the Stadio Olimpico. It is special and I cannot wait to score at the Stadio Olimpico. The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico is something truly special and beautiful and it makes you want to play and score for Roma." Mora praised Paulo Dybala as a crucial influence in his early weeks at the club. "He is someone I admired as a child, now being able to play and train with him...seeing the things he does, that few do...He is a humble person and has helped me a lot in this start at Roma. I like him as a player and as a person. I am grateful to be able to play at his side." On leaving Porto, Mora said: "Goodbyes are never easy. It was difficult. It was a long period, it was my home. It will always be my home. All cycles close, they can reopen later. I leave with my heart full, I was a champion with my club. I leave as a champion and will continue to be another fan of Porto, now cheering from Italy. I wish them good luck. I know things are going well, I hope they continue like that and that the second title arrives." Mora added that he wanted to perform well this season and win titles with Roma, having made his Champions League debut. "Now I want to have a good season at Roma. I made my Champions League debut, it was an important step. I hope to win titles at Roma and to play the best football possible," he said.

Roma have made a strong start to the 2026-27 season with 13 points from five matches, matching Inter and Lazio at the top of Serie A but ahead on goal difference. A second-half goal by Lautaro in a direct clash with Inter prevented a perfect record, but the squad's overall level remains high. The arrival of summer players has been central to the club's early form. Nahuel Molina is still building fitness but establishing himself in the team, while Rodrigo Mora has made an immediate impact with a goal already on his account. Leonardo Balerdi has already won over the supporters and claimed a starting berth, and Konstantinos Koulierakis, Marten de Roon and Santiago Castro are all expected to become important resources as the fixture list intensifies through October and November, though some have yet to feature heavily. The squad recruitment was balanced by significant outgoings managed by director Tony D'Amico, which allowed Roma to fund their incomings. With the first international break now reached, a review of Roma's players still on loan across Europe becomes timely. Neil El Aynaoui and other loan-out players carry combined recall obligations of €95 million, making their performances and development over the coming months a matter of considerable financial consequence for the club.

AS Roma have decided against releasing Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina for Lionel Messi's farewell Argentina match on 6 October, despite the striker and defender being among the 2022 World Cup winners Messi has requested for the special fixture against Benin. Three Roma players—Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro—are already officially called up by Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni and will attend the event. Roma's caution stems from the timing and physical toll of the trip. The club faces a demanding fixture schedule immediately after Messi's game, beginning with a crucial away match at Como on 11 October that opens a stretch of nine fixtures in 27 days—a critical block of the season in which coach Gian Piero Gasperini intends to rely on Dybala at full fitness. The striker has made an impressive start to the campaign. The participation would require both Dybala and Molina to undertake two long transatlantic flights around the Serie A matchday, bringing inevitable consequences from jet lag, recovery times and tactical preparation. Although evaluations are officially ongoing, Roma's position is clear: players not included in Scaloni's official squad list will remain at the club's Trigoria training base to prepare for the resumption of Serie A.

Rodrigo Mora has spoken of his ambition to win silverware with Roma and deliver goals at the Stadio Olimpico following his summer arrival from Porto. The 2007-born playmaker, who scored against Lecce in his second match for the club, gave the interview to Canal 11 whilst with Portugal's U21 squad during qualification for the next European Championship. Mora reflected on the magnitude of his transfer after 19 years in Porto, where he spent 10 playing for the club's first team. "It was a different change. I lived 19 years in Porto and 10 I played for Porto. It is a different culture. But I am happy with the change. It will be a positive change," he said. He emphasized his desire to perform at the Olimpico: "I like to score very much. Scoring for Roma was beautiful, but I still want to score at the Stadio Olimpico. It is special and I cannot wait to score at the Stadio Olimpico. The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico is something truly special and beautiful and it makes you want to play and score for Roma." Mora praised Paulo Dybala as a crucial influence in his early weeks at the club. "He is someone I admired as a child, now being able to play and train with him...seeing the things he does, that few do...He is a humble person and has helped me a lot in this start at Roma. I like him as a player and as a person. I am grateful to be able to play at his side." On leaving Porto, Mora said: "Goodbyes are never easy. It was difficult. It was a long period, it was my home. It will always be my home. All cycles close, they can reopen later. I leave with my heart full, I was a champion with my club. I leave as a champion and will continue to be another fan of Porto, now cheering from Italy. I wish them good luck. I know things are going well, I hope they continue like that and that the second title arrives." Mora added that he wanted to perform well this season and win titles with Roma, having made his Champions League debut. "Now I want to have a good season at Roma. I made my Champions League debut, it was an important step. I hope to win titles at Roma and to play the best football possible," he said.

Paulo Dybala is at the centre of a selection standoff as Argentina prepare for Lionel Messi's final international appearance on 6 October against Benin. Roma have signalled they do not want Dybala and fellow World Cup 2022 winner Nahuel Molina to travel for the match, despite calls from coach Scaloni to include them alongside the three Roma players already convoked — Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro. The club's reluctance stems from the fixture congestion that follows. Roma return to action on 11 October for an away trip to Como, only five days after Messi's farewell and the start of a demanding run of nine matches in 27 days. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini wants to deploy Dybala at full capacity during this critical period, and the dual intercontinental journeys would impose recovery, jet lag and preparation penalties ahead of the Lake Como fixture. The evaluation is ongoing, but Roma's position is clear: Argentine players not selected by Scaloni could genuinely remain at Trigoria.