Mora to make case for Fiorentina debut as Gasperini ponders attacking options

Paulo Dybala continues to be the focal point of Roma's identity despite being almost 33 years old and approaching his November birthday. The Argentine remains the club's technical compass at a time when players, coaches and executives have come and gone. Gasperini's role in keeping Dybala at Roma was pivotal; without the coach's intervention, the winger would likely have moved to MLS or Boca Juniors. Even as time passes since his headline arrival in 2022, Dybala is expected to draw the loudest roar from the 67,000 fans during Monday's lineup announcements before the Fiorentina match. The article raises a deeper question about Roma's tactical reliance on the Argentine. While his presence guarantees excitement, the concern is whether he has become the sole player capable of single-handedly changing a match. The underlying tension is simple: with Dybala, there is joy; without him, what happens? Matías Soulé attempted to fill that role last season before a groin injury sidelined him. Bryan Zaragoza, described as a player with crystalline talent, may attempt to assume this responsibility, though banking on him to establish himself in that role confidently represents optimism. The broader question facing Gasperini is whether Roma can function decisively in Dybala's absence or remain overly dependent on one player's brilliance.

Gian Piero Gasperini has resolved most selection questions ahead of Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday evening at the Olimpico, with the main decision point centring on the attacking midfield role behind Donyell Malen. Rodrigo Mora, described as a new acquisition, has made an immediate positive impression in early training at Trigoria. The Portuguese player arrives with an advantage in match fitness after Porto's season had started over a week earlier, and currently leads Matías Soulé for the chance to support Paulo Dybala from the start, though Soulé's market situation remains fluid. Better news comes from the flanks. Wesley has fully recovered from the ankle problem sustained before the Borussia Dortmund friendly and completed a full training session, clearing him to occupy the left wing regularly alongside Niccolò Pisilli. On the opposite flank, Nahuel Molina is poised for his Roma debut, eager to play after serving a seven-match ban with the Argentine national team.

Donyell Malen has set his sights on the Serie A capocannoniere award after a prolific run of 14 goals in 18 matches last season, averaging 0.85 goals per game and scoring the decisive goal at Verona that secured Champions League qualification. The Dutch forward is now targeting the crown held by reigning champion Lautaro Martinez. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is designing a tactical framework to sustain Malen's elite scoring rate from the opening fixture against Fiorentina. At that match, Malen will operate as the central striker with a three-man attacking support behind him led by Paulo Dybala, alongside either Rodrigo Mora or Matías Soulé, as the club awaits the full recovery of Lorenzo Pellegrini. Gasperini is also considering a 4-2-3-1 formation later in the season that would deploy Dybala, Mora and Castro simultaneously as attacking midfielders in support of Malen alone, creating what the coach sees as one of Serie A's most explosive attacking combinations.

Paulo Dybala continues to be the focal point of Roma's identity despite being almost 33 years old and approaching his November birthday. The Argentine remains the club's technical compass at a time when players, coaches and executives have come and gone. Gasperini's role in keeping Dybala at Roma was pivotal; without the coach's intervention, the winger would likely have moved to MLS or Boca Juniors. Even as time passes since his headline arrival in 2022, Dybala is expected to draw the loudest roar from the 67,000 fans during Monday's lineup announcements before the Fiorentina match. The article raises a deeper question about Roma's tactical reliance on the Argentine. While his presence guarantees excitement, the concern is whether he has become the sole player capable of single-handedly changing a match. The underlying tension is simple: with Dybala, there is joy; without him, what happens? Matías Soulé attempted to fill that role last season before a groin injury sidelined him. Bryan Zaragoza, described as a player with crystalline talent, may attempt to assume this responsibility, though banking on him to establish himself in that role confidently represents optimism. The broader question facing Gasperini is whether Roma can function decisively in Dybala's absence or remain overly dependent on one player's brilliance.

Gian Piero Gasperini has resolved most selection questions ahead of Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday evening at the Olimpico, with the main decision point centring on the attacking midfield role behind Donyell Malen. Rodrigo Mora, described as a new acquisition, has made an immediate positive impression in early training at Trigoria. The Portuguese player arrives with an advantage in match fitness after Porto's season had started over a week earlier, and currently leads Matías Soulé for the chance to support Paulo Dybala from the start, though Soulé's market situation remains fluid. Better news comes from the flanks. Wesley has fully recovered from the ankle problem sustained before the Borussia Dortmund friendly and completed a full training session, clearing him to occupy the left wing regularly alongside Niccolò Pisilli. On the opposite flank, Nahuel Molina is poised for his Roma debut, eager to play after serving a seven-match ban with the Argentine national team.

Donyell Malen has set his sights on the Serie A capocannoniere award after a prolific run of 14 goals in 18 matches last season, averaging 0.85 goals per game and scoring the decisive goal at Verona that secured Champions League qualification. The Dutch forward is now targeting the crown held by reigning champion Lautaro Martinez. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is designing a tactical framework to sustain Malen's elite scoring rate from the opening fixture against Fiorentina. At that match, Malen will operate as the central striker with a three-man attacking support behind him led by Paulo Dybala, alongside either Rodrigo Mora or Matías Soulé, as the club awaits the full recovery of Lorenzo Pellegrini. Gasperini is also considering a 4-2-3-1 formation later in the season that would deploy Dybala, Mora and Castro simultaneously as attacking midfielders in support of Malen alone, creating what the coach sees as one of Serie A's most explosive attacking combinations.

Gian Piero Gasperini has resolved most selection questions ahead of Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday evening at the Olimpico, with the main decision point centring on the attacking midfield role behind Donyell Malen. Rodrigo Mora, described as a new acquisition, has made an immediate positive impression in early training at Trigoria. The Portuguese player arrives with an advantage in match fitness after Porto's season had started over a week earlier, and currently leads Matías Soulé for the chance to support Paulo Dybala from the start, though Soulé's market situation remains fluid. Better news comes from the flanks. Wesley has fully recovered from the ankle problem sustained before the Borussia Dortmund friendly and completed a full training session, clearing him to occupy the left wing regularly alongside Niccolò Pisilli. On the opposite flank, Nahuel Molina is poised for his Roma debut, eager to play after serving a seven-match ban with the Argentine national team.

Fabio Capello has identified Donyell Malen as the driving force behind Roma's third-place finish last season, saying Gasperini will need to work quickly to prepare the squad for their Serie A restart. Roma host Fiorentina at the Olimpico in two days, while Inter begin the campaign today against Monza. Capello told La Gazzetta dello Sport that Roma's pre-season friendlies have not gone smoothly, but the test matches show where improvements are needed. Fiorentina, who have invested heavily in the transfer market this summer and changed their manager, will arrive in strong form after a difficult previous season and will want to avoid another year of struggle. Roma are back in the Champions League for the first time in seven years. Capello acknowledged Gasperini's work but stressed the importance of Malen, saying: "Gasperini communique has done, and I think will continue to do, a fine job but if he arrived third he must thank Malen. Very valid and dangerous. It is no accident that it was from him that Roma's market activity restarted." The winger's performances appear to have reset expectations for the club's summer recruitment.

Donyell Malen has set his sights on the Serie A capocannoniere award after a prolific run of 14 goals in 18 matches last season, averaging 0.85 goals per game and scoring the decisive goal at Verona that secured Champions League qualification. The Dutch forward is now targeting the crown held by reigning champion Lautaro Martinez. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is designing a tactical framework to sustain Malen's elite scoring rate from the opening fixture against Fiorentina. At that match, Malen will operate as the central striker with a three-man attacking support behind him led by Paulo Dybala, alongside either Rodrigo Mora or Matías Soulé, as the club awaits the full recovery of Lorenzo Pellegrini. Gasperini is also considering a 4-2-3-1 formation later in the season that would deploy Dybala, Mora and Castro simultaneously as attacking midfielders in support of Malen alone, creating what the coach sees as one of Serie A's most explosive attacking combinations.

Gian Piero Gasperini has resolved most selection questions ahead of Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday evening at the Olimpico, with the main decision point centring on the attacking midfield role behind Donyell Malen. Rodrigo Mora, described as a new acquisition, has made an immediate positive impression in early training at Trigoria. The Portuguese player arrives with an advantage in match fitness after Porto's season had started over a week earlier, and currently leads Matías Soulé for the chance to support Paulo Dybala from the start, though Soulé's market situation remains fluid. Better news comes from the flanks. Wesley has fully recovered from the ankle problem sustained before the Borussia Dortmund friendly and completed a full training session, clearing him to occupy the left wing regularly alongside Niccolò Pisilli. On the opposite flank, Nahuel Molina is poised for his Roma debut, eager to play after serving a seven-match ban with the Argentine national team.

Roma's opening fixture of the 2026–27 season against Fiorentina on 24 August at 20:45 will mark the competitive debuts of several new arrivals, including Mora, Molina, Castro and Koulierakis. The club has a recent tradition of fielding multiple debutants in the season's first match since the Friedkin Group took control. The pattern is well established. In 2021–22, José Mourinho's first season, Roma faced Fiorentina in Round 1 and started four debutants: Rui Patricio, Viña and Abraham from the kick-off, with Shomurodov introduced from the bench. The following year, Dybala, Matic and Wijnaldum debuted against Salernitana, while the 2023–24 campaign saw Aouar, Kristensen, Paredes and Renato Sanches make their first appearances in the same fixture. In 2024–25, under Daniele De Rossi, Artem Dovbyk, Matías Soulé and Enzo Le Fée began their Roma careers at Cagliari. Last season marked Gian Piero Gasperini's debut as head coach, when Evan Ferguson and Wesley also featured for the first time against Bologna. The club now awaits further additions from the current transfer window, with hopes that this summer's new signings will produce memorable debuts of their own in the coming days.

Roma director Tony D'Amico is pursuing two signings for the left flank to provide head coach Gian Piero Gasperini with options in each position. Following the recent Rodrigo Mora deal, the club is seeking a deputy for Wesley and a left winger. Luis Henrique of Inter remains a candidate for the backup role, while for the attacking flank Roma will explore a fresh approach to Malick Fofana of Olympique Lyonnais after 26 August, once the Belgian has played Lyon's Champions League qualifying return leg against Fenerbahce. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens of Chelsea is also under consideration as a last-minute loan option in the final days of the window before month's end. Roma's ability to complete both signings depends heavily on outgoing transfers. The club has largely exhausted its allocated budget for this window and will need to sell at least one squad player with market value to free up funds and create space. The next few days are therefore crucial in determining whether the final two additions can be secured before the transfer deadline.