Mora's goal rate as a trequartista puts him ahead of Ramos and Kolo Muani

Giallorossi.net has proposed Lille midfielder Ngal'ayel Mukau as a possible target for AS Roma, presenting him as a powerful, dynamic option who could offer some of the qualities of Manu Koné, the midfielder Gian Piero Gasperini already has at the club. The piece is part of its "Consigli per gli acquisti" (Transfer Advice) series, which this time widens the search beyond an offensive winger and a left-sided wing-back to a central midfielder who can win duels, recover possession and break lines with the ball at his feet. Mukau was born in Antwerp on 3 November 2004. He is 21, stands 1.86 metres tall and is a natural left-footed player. He mainly operates as a central midfielder or defensive midfielder but has the profile of a true box-to-box player. Lille signed him from KV Mechelen in the summer of 2024 for around €5 million. He has already gained experience in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, and he came to wider attention in Europe's top competition in November 2024, scoring a decisive brace in Lille's win at Bologna. The article identifies volume of play as his first quality. He covers a lot of ground, is aggressive in winning the ball back and has the build and athleticism to hold his own in midfield battles. He is not only a ball-winner, though: once he regains possession he tends to carry it forward and look immediately for a vertical pass. The author argues that this mix of physicality and the ability to advance with the ball is what makes him interesting for Roma. The comparison with Koné, however, needs careful handling. Mukau is currently less explosive and less effective in one-on-one situations than the Frenchman, who has a particular ability to resist pressure and escape challenges by carrying the ball. The Lille player is more direct, but he has height, intensity, a left foot and plenty of room to improve. The article stresses that Mukau is not a talent to be left waiting for years. He has already faced high-level European matches, and in the 2026-27 Champions League he has made three appearances so far, two of them as a starter. He still has much to improve in attacking output: goals and assists are not his natural currency, and he needs to be more decisive in the final thirty metres and speed up some decisions when pressed. Even so, at 21 the author believes he already has an athletic and tactical base on which Gasperini could work a great deal. Mukau's contract with Lille runs until June 2028. Transfermarkt currently values him at around €15 million, while other models put his value between €15 million and €19 million. Earlier in the year, in the face of interest from several Premier League clubs, valuations of at least €20 million had circulated in France. The article says a deal would not be an economic bargain, but it would not be out of scale for a Roma side aiming to consolidate its place in the Champions League. It also notes that Lille have historically been willing to develop and sell their talents when the right offer arrives. The author concludes that Mukau is not yet Manu Koné and it would be wrong to sell him as such, but the profile is appealing: 21 years old, 1.86 metres, left-footed, physical, intense, good at winning the ball back, vertical in possession and already experienced in the Champions League. Whether alongside Koné or as an alternative who keeps strength and dynamism in Roma's midfield, the article argues he is one of the profiles worth pursuing before his price rises further.

Former Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini has said Roma will fight until the final matchday for the Scudetto, describing the team as deserving of its position. Speaking to TuttoMercatoWeb, Sabatini said Roma are currently just behind Lazio and Inter in the title race. He argued that the club's form has been earned, and that the side are playing exciting football. Sabatini praised the team's determination and solidity, saying it is difficult to play against and even harder to beat. He said the club's path would be consistent with how it is playing at present. On the question of Paulo Dybala's fitness, Sabatini said the outcome would depend heavily on injuries across the squad, not on Dybala alone. He identified the most serious absence for Roma at present as that of Manu Koné, whom he described as a midfielder who alone determines the composure and completeness of a unit. Sabatini said that injuries are affecting many teams, with a worrying wave of muscular problems, and that this phenomenon will influence the final outcome of the league. He said: "La Roma lotterà fino alla fine per lo scudetto" in reference to the club's ambitions, adding: "Merita quello che ha e credo che il cammino sarà coerente con quello che sta facendo adesso e combatterà certamente fino all'ultima partita per lo scudetto." On Dybala and injuries he said: "Molto dipenderà dagli infortunati in generale, perché non c'è solo Dybala: l'assenza più grave per la Roma in questo momento è quella di Manu Kone. Un centrocampista che determina da solo la compostezza e la compiutezza di un reparto." He added: "Gli assenti stanno condizionando tantissime squadre: ci sono infortuni a valanga di tipo muscolare, una cosa preoccupante, ma per tutte le squadre. Un fenomeno che condizionerà gli esiti finale del campionato."

Former Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini has said Roma deserve to be among the title contenders and will fight for the Scudetto until the final match. Speaking to Tuttomercatoweb, Sabatini praised Gian Piero Gasperini's side, which remains in the race just behind Lazio and Inter, after their comeback against Cagliari. Sabatini said: "E lo è meritatamente, sta giocando un calcio entusiasmante, è una squadra molto determinata, solida, monolite. Difficile giocarci contro e difficile soprattutto batterla. Merita quello che ha e credo che il cammino sarà coerente con quello che sta facendo adesso e combatterà certamente fino all'ultima partita per lo scudetto." He described the team as exciting to watch, determined, solid and difficult to play against, and hard to beat. Asked how much Roma's chances depend on the fitness of Paulo Dybala, Sabatini said the availability of injured players in general would be decisive, not only Dybala. He singled out the absence of Manu Koné as the most serious loss for Roma at the moment, describing him as a midfielder who alone determines the composure and completeness of a unit. Sabatini also noted that injuries are affecting many teams, with a worrying wave of muscular problems, though he stressed that this applies to all clubs. Sabatini's comments highlight the balance Roma must find in the league run-in: a side praised for its quality and cohesion, but one that will need its key players back to keep pace at the top of Serie A.

Rodrigo Mora scored a decisive header for Roma yesterday, and it marked his first goal celebration at the Stadio Olimpico. The Portuguese midfielder has been labelled a flop by some observers, but the goal offered a clear answer to those doubts. The Italian report suggests the player simply needed more time to settle in. Mora's first moment of real joy in front of the home fans was a welcome sight for the club. The header came at a point when his place in the squad was being openly questioned.

Daniele Ghilardi changed the game against Cagliari within nine minutes of coming on for a below-par Gianluca Mancini, providing a perfect cross that Mora headed home for Roma. It was his second assist in only 248 minutes played, following the one for Mario Hermoso against Slovan Bratislava the previous Tuesday. Ghilardi had been impeccable against Napoli and Slovan Bratislava, both as a starter and as a substitute. His contribution has gone beyond defensive solidity: at the Maradona he was in the box alongside Leonardo Balerdi for the 3-3 equaliser, and last night he reached a nearly unreachable ball to deliver the cross for Mora's header. Averaged per 90 minutes, he leads Serie A and the Champions League among centre-backs for successful dribbles (2.28 and 2 respectively) and ranks in the top three for assists, big chances created and recoveries in the opposition half. This is exactly what Gian Piero Gasperini asks of his wing-backs: attack and defence, aggression and technical quality. Many benches and months of training preceded this level, which Gasperini had expected from him. At Verona he showed his versatility, playing in virtually every role, but at Roma he has grown considerably technically. He is clean in his passing, dangerous when he moves forward, and his composure allowed him to play like a veteran on his Champions League debut. The article suggests he is also keen to prove he is more than a mere backup. Mancini's physical decline and dip in form in recent matches present the coaching staff with difficult questions, and the answer, alongside Balerdi, could be to promote Ghilardi on a permanent basis. Gasperini's Roma is very young: two players born in 2007 and one born in 2004 scored yesterday. The article argues the side can only improve with time and is finally on the right path after years of drifting.

Roman radio pundits were largely focused on Roma after the win over Cagliari, with the debate centring on Mancini's performance, Mora's goal and the fitness of Paulo Dybala. David Rossi of Rete Sport said: “Maybe it was the worst match Mancini has played since he’s been here at Roma. Honestly, after that first half I didn’t think he could come back out, and yet he did.” He added: “In a normal world, you had to take Mancini off after 20 minutes. He wasn’t presentable.” Gianluca Piacentini said Mora's goal had silenced his serial critics, and praised Gasperini for stressing that the points Roma have taken this season, the same number as last season, carry greater weight because they came against Como, Inter, Napoli and Atalanta. Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo defended Mancini against the whistles he received, saying: “Mancini plays as a striker on Gasperini’s orders. You can’t go back and forth at two hundred an hour; you lose something along the way.” On the Roma-Cagliari match, Corsi described it as a lacklustre game, adding that the young players had turned it around. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport praised Gollini, who made three important saves, and said he was playing with a concentration he had never shown before, having been given a great opportunity by Svilar’s misfortune. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio said: “Mora? If Gasperini had another substitute, he’d have taken him off after a quarter of an hour. That was my impression.” He also said he was pleased that Pisilli and Lulli had partly sorted out the match, and said: “If you have to compare yourself to the Roma market, my friend… I had backed Castro, but if Mina has you in his pocket for 80 minutes, you need changing.” He added that Molina struggles to play in Italian football, and that De Roon was static in midfield. Nando Orsi of Radio Radio said: “I thought Roma never would lose this one.” Mario Mattioli of Radio Radio said Roma had suffered before taking full points. Daniele Lo Monaco of Radio Romanista said Roma are unbeaten with six wins and three draws, and argued that Lazio’s eight wins from nine carry a different weight. He said: “I don’t see the Leicester effect in any way. If Lazio finish in the top three, I’ll become a priest.” Mario Corsi said Lazio do not have a team fit for the top places, and Torri noted that Lazio have taken 25 points from 27, with fixtures against Roma, Napoli, Inter, Como, Atalanta, Fiorentina and Torino still to come. The focus then turned to the coming fixtures. Alessio Nardo said the Dybala situation was thorny: he had seemed set to return against Cagliari, but now risked missing the next three matches. He said: “I expect a very, very difficult match against Udinese, and it will take a great Roma to win it.” Lorenzo Pes said Dybala had returned to training on Sunday but would miss Saturday’s game against Udinese, adding: “I think he doesn’t want to miss Manchester-Roma at Old Trafford.” Checco Oddo Casano said the doubt for Saturday against Udinese would be between Mora and De Roon, and said the club’s hopes in attack now depend on Soulé.