Mora's Turn: Gasperini Waiting for Portuguese Star to Shine at Como

Wesley has attracted the attention of Manchester United, with the English club considering the Roma defender as part of their future recruitment plans. According to the British website Theatreofred.com, the Brazilian left-back has impressed Michael Sansoni, Manchester United's director of data. Sansoni joined the club in 2025 after spending 11 years with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team, where he worked as a Senior Performance Engineer and contributed to eight championship-winning seasons with Lewis Hamilton. The approach marks a return of Premier League interest in Wesley following Roma's rejection of a Chelsea offer last summer. The 24-year-old joined Roma from Flamengo in July 2025 on a five-year contract, initially on a deal worth €25 million plus €5 million in add-ons. Manchester United's renewed pursuit suggests the Brazilian has made a strong impression in his first season in Serie A, though Roma are unlikely to consider selling one of their key defensive reinforcements from the previous transfer window.

Roma closed the summer transfer window with one significant regret: the absence of a left-sided attacking winger. Despite extensive negotiations until the final days, sporting director Tony D'Amico has already signalled that the club will return to the market in January to provide Gasperini with the reinforcement needed to complete the squad. Several targets who fell through over the summer are now in very different circumstances, potentially reopening old pursuit lines. Jamie Gittens, Trigoria's preferred option for the position, has struggled to find playing time in the Premier League under Xabi Alonso, appearing for only 52 minutes in the League Cup and suffering an ankle injury with the Under 21s. Jamie Leweling, who rejected Roma at the last moment, is also struggling: he has failed to become a regular starter in the Bundesliga and has lost his call-up to the German national team under new manager Jürgen Klopp. Brazilian options Luiz Henrique and Endrick are also in flux. Luiz Henrique remained at Zenit after bureaucratic complications derailed his Roma transfer, though he plays regularly and has fallen out of favour with the Brazil national team. Endrick is enduring a difficult start at Real Madrid under José Mourinho, with only four minutes on the pitch. Brazil's national team coach Carlo Ancelotti has reminded young players of the importance of continuous playing time. A loan move could become relevant again on 14 October, when Roma face Real Madrid at Stadio Olimpico in the Champions League.

Roma's training camp at Trigoria resumes today following a rest period authorised by Gasperini. The squad will prepare for the Como fixture with most players available, though those on international duty will not yet return. Evan N'Dicka is the first to rejoin, with Sunday's return to Rome marking the start of a phased reintegration. Wesley, Bryan Cristante and Donyell Malen are improving and will resume group training in the coming days, clearing them for the 11 October away trip. A final decision on Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina's availability will be made today, following Argentina's fixtures.

Rodrigo Mora, signed in the summer for €25 million with a further €25 million option to remove Porto's 50 per cent sell-on clause, is ready to establish himself as a regular starter in Gian Piero Gasperini's system. The Portuguese playmaker's season has been mixed: two starts in the opening three matches yielded a goal at Lecce, but he has since spent three consecutive games on the bench against Fenerbahce, Torino and Inter. Gasperini rates him highly as an exceptional talent but demands consistency and immediate responses. Mora's technical quality is evident in the numbers. He leads Roma's squad with an 80 per cent dribbling success rate, ahead of Donyell Malen at 67 per cent. His attributes fit perfectly into the 3-4-1-2 system, which suits Roma's approach against the four-man defences that dominate Serie A. The next opponent, Como managed by Cesc Fàbregas, will be a direct test of that setup. The crowded schedule ahead amplifies Mora's opportunity: between October and November, Roma will play nine matches in twenty-eight days against Como, Real Madrid, Napoli and Manchester United. With minimal margin for error in the title race and European competition, the young forward's moment has arrived. Mora is currently with Portugal Under-21, from whom he will return to Trigoria on 7 October after playing against Gibraltar and the Czech Republic. His absence from international travel across continents gives Roma easier fitness management than Matías Soulé faces. Lorenzo Pellegrini's five-month layoff and uncertain readiness to start also increase the likelihood of Mora appearing from the first minute alongside Malen and Paulo Dybala.

Rome's mayor Roberto Gualtieri has confirmed that AS Roma's new stadium at Pietralata will be ready by the end of 2029, with the foundation stone to be laid in spring 2027 — the club's centenary year. Following approval from the Conferenza dei Servizi, Gualtieri outlined the project timeline in an interview with Repubblica. The construction phase is expected to last approximately two and a half years, with the possibility that the stadium could be operational for the start of the 2029–30 season if the schedule holds. Gualtieri emphasized the rigorous planning behind the project, which differs significantly from the failed Tor di Valle scheme. "Our administration, together with Roma, has worked rigorously for four years," he said. "This work now bears fruit and realizes the dream of Viola and Sensi: a stadium owned by the society." Unlike the previous attempt, the new development focuses exclusively on the stadium, parks, and the regeneration of Pietralata without additional building beyond that scope. Gualtieri acknowledged the project's complexity, noting that "enthusiasm is not enough," referencing lessons learned from earlier setbacks. The 2027 centenary holds special significance for both the club and the city. "An important milestone for the society, the fans, and the city," Gualtieri said. "The town hall will play its part." He confirmed that laying the foundation stone during the centenary year remains certain, though he declined to preview the full commemorative programme. Before construction begins, the project verification must be completed and the tender process launched.

Rodrigo Mora has made a mixed start to the 2026-27 season but is set for a significant role as Roma prepare for a run of matches that will test Gian Piero Gasperini's faith in the Portuguese playmaker. Mora started against Fiorentina and Atalanta and scored in his second appearance at Lecce, but has since been benched in three consecutive matches—against Fenerbahce, Torino and Inter. Gasperini has backed his qualities without reservation, calling him "an extraordinary talent", though the coach also corrected him after the Torino fixture. The value of his addition is evident in his goal and play-making, and Mora now awaits two international fixtures—against Gibraltar on 30 September and the Czech Republic on 6 October—before becoming available again on 7 October, just four days before Serie A resumes. Roma spent much of the summer seeking a conventional winger before pivoting to Mora as a trequartista and investing €25 million, with a further €25 million available to eliminate a 50% sell-on clause owed to Porto. Under previous manager Farioli last season, Mora lost confidence and saw limited playing time in his natural role. Under Gasperini the situation has already shifted. The coach requires his creativity because the 3-4-1-2 formation—Gasperini's preferred setup against four-man defences—will be the season's dominant shape. Eleven of Roma's nineteen Serie A opponents defend in that structure, including Como, the next opponent. Mora is competing for a starting place alongside Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala. Lorenzo Pellegrini is also pushing for minutes after six months without an official match.

Roma's training camp at Trigoria resumes today following a rest period authorised by Gasperini. The squad will prepare for the Como fixture with most players available, though those on international duty will not yet return. Evan N'Dicka is the first to rejoin, with Sunday's return to Rome marking the start of a phased reintegration. Wesley, Bryan Cristante and Donyell Malen are improving and will resume group training in the coming days, clearing them for the 11 October away trip. A final decision on Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina's availability will be made today, following Argentina's fixtures.

Rodrigo Mora, signed in the summer for €25 million with a further €25 million option to remove Porto's 50 per cent sell-on clause, is ready to establish himself as a regular starter in Gian Piero Gasperini's system. The Portuguese playmaker's season has been mixed: two starts in the opening three matches yielded a goal at Lecce, but he has since spent three consecutive games on the bench against Fenerbahce, Torino and Inter. Gasperini rates him highly as an exceptional talent but demands consistency and immediate responses. Mora's technical quality is evident in the numbers. He leads Roma's squad with an 80 per cent dribbling success rate, ahead of Donyell Malen at 67 per cent. His attributes fit perfectly into the 3-4-1-2 system, which suits Roma's approach against the four-man defences that dominate Serie A. The next opponent, Como managed by Cesc Fàbregas, will be a direct test of that setup. The crowded schedule ahead amplifies Mora's opportunity: between October and November, Roma will play nine matches in twenty-eight days against Como, Real Madrid, Napoli and Manchester United. With minimal margin for error in the title race and European competition, the young forward's moment has arrived. Mora is currently with Portugal Under-21, from whom he will return to Trigoria on 7 October after playing against Gibraltar and the Czech Republic. His absence from international travel across continents gives Roma easier fitness management than Matías Soulé faces. Lorenzo Pellegrini's five-month layoff and uncertain readiness to start also increase the likelihood of Mora appearing from the first minute alongside Malen and Paulo Dybala.

Paulo Dybala has been a constant presence in Roma's opening matches of the 2026-27 season, playing in all six fixtures and largely in full, but is yet to find the net. His last goal came on 18 January when he formed a partnership with Donyell Malen at Torino. His drought at the Stadio Olimpico stretches even longer—his last home strike was on 23 October 2025, a penalty in the Europa League against Viktoria Plzen. In Serie A, Dybala has not scored since a 5-0 win over Parma nearly two years ago, when Claudio Ranieri was in charge. Despite the goal drought, Dybala has been central to Roma's attacking play. He has provided four assists in the opening matches and has formed what the analysis describes as one of Europe's top attacking partnerships with Malen. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has restored Dybala to the form of a genuine footballer after earlier struggles, and the focus now is restoring the Argentina international's confidence in front of goal. His creative output and overall influence have been significant enough to mark him as Roma's standout player, capable of shifting matches through his quality. Today, a decision was expected on whether Dybala and Nahuel Molina would travel for Argentina's final match with Messi, an invitation that reportedly met with resistance at Roma's Trigoria training ground from the outset.

This week's ratings roundup celebrates the Roma fanbase's enduring bond with Francesco Totti as the club legend approaches his fiftieth birthday. Totti has not simply reached that milestone—his supporters have kept it in play through their unwavering affection, refusing to let the moment pass him by. The city's new stadium project earns the highest architectural praise, described as epochal rather than merely historic, with the piece invoking Dino Viola's pioneering vision as vindication of the long-held dream. Ángel Di María features prominently for his infinite quality and timeless left foot, embodying the passion of his Rosario Central roots. The Argentine's influence proved decisive in a tightly contested Argentina Supercoppa final against Estudiantes, where he took command when the match had turned adversarial. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini's management of squad movements—particularly the potential departures of Nahuel Molina and Paulo Dybala—draws recognition for his paternal firmness. Rather than imposing vetoes, Gasperini demanded maximum intensity in training sessions before players left and upon their return, a form of accountability the Roma players have earned through their pitch performances. The week's wider observations span Italian football's structural challenges. Gigi Cagni's commentary on Italian players and their attitudes, the absence of genuine phenomena alongside widespread affected arrogance, and the loss of academy talent such as Kayode receive critical attention. Germany's national team management under Klopp faces the paradox of overseeing one of the technically weakest squads since the postwar era, while incidents of booing national anthems—both Turkey's conduct towards Italy and Italy's towards Belgium—highlight how incivility transcends borders. A separate note addresses the defacement of Franco Baresi's image, an act of vandalism that damaged a legend's standing while tarnishing only the perpetrator's own reputation.

Radio commentators on Roman sports radio have hailed the approval of AS Roma's stadium project as a major turning point for the club. Carina told Radio Radio: "Yesterday was a watershed day. Now we will have to wait for the executive version of the project. After that the works will begin: and there is always a question mark there, because every time you dig you can find an artefact, a Roman villa, and so on. In any case it is a great victory for Roma. Now we wait and see how long it takes: the idea is to try to fit into the schedule of the Euros. Today Roma returns to training, there should also come a decision on Dybala and Molina. It seems strange to me that Messi is retiring: if the two wanted to leave, it does not seem to me that Gasperini would oppose it. Maybe they are not pushing that hard, but let's see what they decide." Pruzzo added: "We will be in line if we manage to be part of it. It seems to me that there are difficulties everywhere in Italy for stadiums. In any case it is a huge step forward: we will see how long it takes and whether the timescales become biblical or not." Orsi told Radio Radio: "Let's hope this city becomes a bit more European, instead of being strangled by bureaucracy. I hope the Roma stadium, with the green light, moves forward, and I hope the same for the Lazio stadium. With two stadiums of their own Rome would become better."

Roma's training camp at Trigoria resumes today following a rest period authorised by Gasperini. The squad will prepare for the Como fixture with most players available, though those on international duty will not yet return. Evan N'Dicka is the first to rejoin, with Sunday's return to Rome marking the start of a phased reintegration. Wesley, Bryan Cristante and Donyell Malen are improving and will resume group training in the coming days, clearing them for the 11 October away trip. A final decision on Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina's availability will be made today, following Argentina's fixtures.