Mora praises Wesley, says he will reach the top of football

Roma are reportedly ready to exercise their option to buy Leonardo Balerdi from Marseille, with a fee of between 11 and 14 million euros depending on his number of appearances of at least 45 minutes this season. Balerdi was one of the standout figures in the 3-2 Champions League defeat at Manchester United at Old Trafford, playing very well for around 80 minutes before a costly error: he miscuffed a clearance, allowing Cunha to equalise and make it 2-2. Despite that moment, his overall impact at the club has been positive, and the Argentine is reportedly happy in the capital and the club is satisfied with his performances. Fabrizio Romano reported the story. The Italian press has also revealed that the 1999-born defender was sounded out by Inter in the summer, while Juventus had considered him on several occasions in recent years. The defeat in Manchester is quickly making way for preparations for Saturday's game against Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico, the eleventh round of Serie A. Roma will be looking to put the Old Trafford setback behind them and continue their strong start to the league season. The Lega Serie A has released the referee appointments for the fixture: Marco Di Bello of the Brindisi section will referee, with assistants Peretti and Scatragli and fourth official Abisso. Pezzuto will be at the VAR, with Guida as AVAR. Gazzetta Regionale reports that Roma continue to monitor Georgian talent Giorgi Kvernadze, whom the club have been tracking since last season. His contract, which runs until 2028, reportedly contains a 4 million euro release clause that can be activated next summer. A significant percentage would also go to his agent, the same agent who looks after the interests of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Il Tempo reports that Gasperini could have Manu Koné back at least on the bench against Sassuolo. Koné is very close to full recovery from the thigh muscle injury that kept him out for 20 days. Paulo Dybala has also resumed working on the pitch and could be available at the last minute to face the Emilia side.

Gian Piero Gasperini is facing a barrage of criticism after Roma squandered a two-goal lead and lost 3-2 at Manchester United in the Champions League, with the coach's decisions, substitutions and tactical handling of the second half all called into question. The defeat was Roma's second of the season, following their first loss in the Champions League, and it came after they had also thrown away a two-goal advantage against Inter and Real Madrid. Roma have scored six goals in those three matches yet have taken only one point from them, the draw against Chivu's Inter, while Mourinho's and Carrick's sides took three points each. The article also recalls the 3-1 lead against Juventus last season that became a 3-3 draw. The critique is seen as legitimate, though the article argues the debate needs to go deeper. Gasperini has already responded that the comebacks were different but share similar ingredients: Roma often conceded immediately after half-time rather than only after returning to the field with a lead. That happened at Manchester, unlike against Real Madrid at the Olimpico, where three goals were conceded at the death. The article argues the problem is mental rather than technical: when Roma concede, they seem to switch off from the match. Balerdi's misplaced pass at Old Trafford is cited as the latest confirmation. Roma have been unbeaten in Serie A for seven months. The article criticises the handling of the match itself. Two halves cannot be played at the same intensity, and the substitutions made were questioned, particularly with Rensch already off in the first half, which meant the team had to pay attention to the wing-back slots too. Individual errors were highlighted, along with changes that saw two of three central defenders replaced, which would have unbalanced the back line. The article notes that the player who stayed on as the least tired, and arguably the best of the night, was the one who went on to err on United's second and third goals. Gasperini admitted a drop-off after the break and a lack of clarity, but did not mention absences. The article argues that Svilar, Koné and Dybala's absences do affect results, and points out that a fourth goalkeeper played, with De Marzi the third choice, a player who was outside the squad list until a month ago. Gasperini described the penalty awarded to Manchester as a "rigorino" (a soft penalty) without criticising the silent VAR over Mancini's foul, or the VAR who was quick to flag Cristante's encroachment for the retaken penalty. He did not protest about Maguire escaping a red card, already booked earlier, for his foul on Castro. He also did not address Rosetti, who had assigned the same referee, Spaniard Gil Manzano, for the first two Champions League away trips, a referee already criticised after Istanbul. Gasperini admitted the lesson would help, saying: "in Europa il percorso da fare è ancora lungo" ("in Europe the road ahead is still long"). The article concludes that Roma are not yet competitive at these levels. The most significant criticism, the article argues, is inconsistent: Gasperini was faulted for leaving Mora in the dressing room at half-time, which the article calls the coach's main error in England. Only days ago, the Portuguese's signing had been considered the worst mistake of the last transfer window. The article describes Rodrigo Mora as low, useless and expensive, someone who would struggle to become a starter at Roma. Today he plays in place of Dybala, is decisive, and drops onto the flank when needed, as at Manchester. The article sums up the shift as out of role yet suddenly fundamental.

Leonardo Balerdi was dominant for 80 minutes of Roma's Champions League clash at Manchester United before a single error at Old Trafford turned the match. The Argentine defender, chosen by Gian Piero Gasperini ahead of Ndicka in central defence after winning that selection battle, was in monumental form and would have been a strong contender for player of the match had the game ended 15 minutes earlier, at the 80th minute, before the referee Gil Manzano blew his final whistle. Until the 83rd minute he had produced impeccable reading of the game, hard tackling and a clean, impressive touch on the ball. Then came a lapse in technique and concentration that handed Cunha the ball for United's 2-2 equaliser, paving the way for the home side to go ahead, as they surged on the back of their enthusiasm against a Roma side that looked tired and deflated. The mistake weighs heavily on the final result. It also revived memories of Balerdi's time at Marseille, where he was often criticised for exactly these costly lapses, born of overconfidence or a momentary drop in concentration. This time, the error proved decisive. The article argues it would be unfair to erase what Balerdi did over 80 minutes. He arrives on the back of excellent performances and has a strong understanding with Gasperini's way of playing. SofaScore statistics underline his display: 12 defensive contributions, 3 tackles, 2 of them won, 5 recoveries and 5 interceptions, 4 clearances, 50% of ground duels won and 60% of aerial duels won. His passing accuracy was 94% in his own half and 75% in the opposition half. Gasperini values his garra, his fierce aggression in duels and a leadership personality that never backs down. The lesson from Old Trafford, the article concludes, is that the quality of a great defender is there, but making the next step requires eliminating the blackouts that risk spoiling an excellent performance.

Roma's problems after half-time are showing up in the numbers: 83% of their goals conceded this season have come in the second half. In their 14 official matches they have conceded three goals in first halves against 15 in second halves, while scoring 19 goals in each half. The issue is defensive resilience rather than attacking output. Roma have now lost a lead again after the comeback against Real Madrid. At Old Trafford they dominated the first half before fading after the restart. Mora's withdrawal at half-time and the introduction of Lulli for Rensch have both drawn debate, and the squad has few quality alternatives. Gasperini is under scrutiny, and an editorial asks why this Roma is not yet ready for the Champions League. On the transfer front, Balerdi's place is secure despite his error on United's equaliser. According to Fabrizio Romano, the club is satisfied with the Argentine and intends to buy him outright from Marseille. The fee is reported at between 11 and 14 million euros, depending on his seasonal appearances. Inter and Juventus showed interest in the defender this summer. Spanish referee Gil Manzano received heavy ratings: 4 from Gazzetta and Corriere dello Sport and 3 from Romanista. The penalty awarded for the Mancini-Cunha contact was criticised, as was the failure to send off Maguire for a second yellow card. The retake of the penalty for Cristante's early entry into the box was judged correct. Roma supporters have also made serious accusations against English police after the tensions at Old Trafford. Some fans describe long waits, aggressive treatment and medical emergencies on entry and exit, and one fan was reportedly immobilised by officers before receiving medical assistance. On Radio Roma, Ferrazza suggested focusing on the league, Corsi criticised some of Gasperini's assessments, and Torri blamed the officiating. In the transfer market, Roma's clear priority is to strengthen the attack, with Endrick at the top of the list. In midfield, Issa Doumbia of Sporting Lisbon and Gabriel Sara of Galatasaray are also attracting interest. Roma's next fixture is the Rome derby's rival-free home test against Sassuolo, a match in the eleventh round at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday 7 November at 20:45. Marco Di Bello will referee, assisted by Peretti and Scatragli, with Pezzuto at VAR and Guida as AVAR.

Gian Piero Gasperini is facing a barrage of criticism after Roma squandered a two-goal lead and lost 3-2 at Manchester United in the Champions League, with the coach's decisions, substitutions and tactical handling of the second half all called into question. The defeat was Roma's second of the season, following their first loss in the Champions League, and it came after they had also thrown away a two-goal advantage against Inter and Real Madrid. Roma have scored six goals in those three matches yet have taken only one point from them, the draw against Chivu's Inter, while Mourinho's and Carrick's sides took three points each. The article also recalls the 3-1 lead against Juventus last season that became a 3-3 draw. The critique is seen as legitimate, though the article argues the debate needs to go deeper. Gasperini has already responded that the comebacks were different but share similar ingredients: Roma often conceded immediately after half-time rather than only after returning to the field with a lead. That happened at Manchester, unlike against Real Madrid at the Olimpico, where three goals were conceded at the death. The article argues the problem is mental rather than technical: when Roma concede, they seem to switch off from the match. Balerdi's misplaced pass at Old Trafford is cited as the latest confirmation. Roma have been unbeaten in Serie A for seven months. The article criticises the handling of the match itself. Two halves cannot be played at the same intensity, and the substitutions made were questioned, particularly with Rensch already off in the first half, which meant the team had to pay attention to the wing-back slots too. Individual errors were highlighted, along with changes that saw two of three central defenders replaced, which would have unbalanced the back line. The article notes that the player who stayed on as the least tired, and arguably the best of the night, was the one who went on to err on United's second and third goals. Gasperini admitted a drop-off after the break and a lack of clarity, but did not mention absences. The article argues that Svilar, Koné and Dybala's absences do affect results, and points out that a fourth goalkeeper played, with De Marzi the third choice, a player who was outside the squad list until a month ago. Gasperini described the penalty awarded to Manchester as a "rigorino" (a soft penalty) without criticising the silent VAR over Mancini's foul, or the VAR who was quick to flag Cristante's encroachment for the retaken penalty. He did not protest about Maguire escaping a red card, already booked earlier, for his foul on Castro. He also did not address Rosetti, who had assigned the same referee, Spaniard Gil Manzano, for the first two Champions League away trips, a referee already criticised after Istanbul. Gasperini admitted the lesson would help, saying: "in Europa il percorso da fare è ancora lungo" ("in Europe the road ahead is still long"). The article concludes that Roma are not yet competitive at these levels. The most significant criticism, the article argues, is inconsistent: Gasperini was faulted for leaving Mora in the dressing room at half-time, which the article calls the coach's main error in England. Only days ago, the Portuguese's signing had been considered the worst mistake of the last transfer window. The article describes Rodrigo Mora as low, useless and expensive, someone who would struggle to become a starter at Roma. Today he plays in place of Dybala, is decisive, and drops onto the flank when needed, as at Manchester. The article sums up the shift as out of role yet suddenly fundamental.

Matías Soulé was Roma's standout figure in a first half at Old Trafford that ended well for the Giallorossi, before a collective drop-off after the restart. The Argentine wearing number 18 scored the opening goal with a well-timed run onto a pass from Mora, and his shot won a handball from Heaven, leading to the penalty converted by Malen. He needed just 17 minutes to dominate the match. The display confirmed his importance to Gian Piero Gasperini's project. The article notes that Soulé was among the players linked by radiomercato with a possible exit just a few months ago, after a second half of last season affected and slowed by a troublesome groin problem (pubalgia). He has since regained his continuity. Soulé, the former Juventus and Frosinone player, is at his best when he starts wide on the right and cuts inside. In the first half he also tried a Del Piero-style effort with his left foot, curling a shot towards the far post that narrowly missed the crossbar and sent the Roma fans in the Old Trafford stands into a murmur. After the interval, with Manchester United pushing forward and Roma pinned back, Soulé tried to win the ball and run at the defence alone. His efforts were admirable but fruitless, as the team was too deep and tired to support him, leaving him isolated. Gasperini had praised him after the 3-3 draw at Napoli, ahead of the Roma-Cagliari match. He said: "The performance the other evening was extraordinary, but he has always played at a high level in the previous games too. He can play not only on the right but also on the left and as a full-back. The other evening he also played as a trequartista, found the goal and did important things. He is gaining maturity, confidence and security in his game. He loses many fewer balls than in the past, but there are still aspects where he can improve. We are convinced he has further room to grow and, above all, he is a young man who works very well every day to improve himself." The article concludes that the English night left a bitter taste because of how the match ended, but Soulé's performance shows that Roma have found a player they can rely on.

Roma lost 3-2 at Manchester United's Old Trafford in a group-stage match. Rodrigo Mora was one of the Giallorossi's standout players, producing an excellent first half and providing an assist for Soulé before being replaced by Pisilli at the start of the second half. After the final whistle, Mora spoke to TNT Sports Brasil about his relationship with Wesley in the dressing room. He was asked whether he and his team-mate talk often, language considered, and what he thinks of Wesley as a player. Mora said the two of them share a common interest in Brazil and Brazilian football, which they both follow closely, and that the shared language helps them a great deal. Mora said: "Yes, I think today Wesley played another great match. He is a great player and he will reach the highest levels of football. We talk mostly about Brazil and Brazilian football, which we both follow. The language, of course, helps us a lot. He has given me a great hand in this welcome to Roma and I am really grateful to him for that."

Rodrigo Mora has spoken warmly about team-mate Wesley after Roma's defeat at Manchester United, where Mora was among the Giallorossi's best players in the first half. Mora said: "Today he played another great match. He is a great player and he will reach the highest levels of football." The Portuguese midfielder also described their relationship: "We talk mostly about Brazil and Brazilian football. The language helps us a lot. He gave me a big hand when I joined Roma and I am really grateful to him." Mora's comments were reported by TNT Sports. Manchester United celebrated the win on social media with a post recalling their previous meetings with Roma, from a 7-1 result through to the comeback of last night. The caption, "Absolute cinema", referred to a contest in which Roma, under Gasperini, had dominated the first half and gone two goals ahead before the Red Devils turned the game around. Newspaper ratings favoured Soulé, who earned a 7.00 as Roma's best player thanks to a very strong first half that included a goal and a penalty won. Mora followed on 6.75, while Cristante and Wesley received generally positive marks of 6.25. At the bottom of the ratings, Balerdi scored 4.42, penalised for the error that started United's comeback. Pisilli (4.83) and Lulli (5.08) also struggled, while Vasquez and Ghilardi, both on 5.50, remained below the pass mark. Rensch left the Manchester United match early with a muscle problem in his right adductor and was replaced by Lulli. The Dutchman will undergo further assessments in the coming hours by the Roma medical staff to establish the extent of the problem. Rensch is a serious doubt for the Saturday fixture against Sassuolo.

Referee Jesús Gil Manzano has been heavily criticised by Italy's main sports dailies for his handling of Roma's 3-2 defeat to Manchester United, with the penalty awarded to the English side and the non-sending-off of Harry Maguire the most contested decisions. La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport both gave the Spanish referee a 4 out of 10, while Il Romanista went as low as 3. The decisive moment came in the 55th minute, when Cunha went down in the box after very light contact from Mancini. Gil Manzano pointed to the spot as Roma protested. La Gazzetta called the penalty very generous, while Corriere dello Sport described it as a "rigorino" (a soft penalty). Il Romanista was even harsher, arguing that the United forward exaggerated his fall considerably. Vasquez initially saved Bruno Fernandes's effort, but the penalty was ordered retaken because Cristante had entered the area early and intervened on the rebound. That decision was correct under the rules. Fernandes scored at the second attempt, reopening the match and sparking the English comeback. The criticism of the officiating does not end there. In the closing stages Harry Maguire was booked for a slap on Castro, but shortly afterwards he committed another foul on the Argentine forward which, according to the three newspapers' slow-motion reviews, should have earned a second yellow card. Gil Manzano let play continue, sparing the English defender a dismissal. La Gazzetta also flagged a possible penalty for United for a late challenge by Wesley in the second half. There was no doubt, however, about the first-half penalty awarded to Roma for a handball by Heaven on Soulé's shot. The referee's performance weighed heavily on the match, although it does not erase Roma's responsibility for their collapse in the second half. The penalty gave confidence to a United side in serious difficulty, while Gasperini's team were unable to regain control of the game.