Mourinho closes door on Endrick and opens hope for Roma

Milan and Juventus have reportedly placed Daniele Ghilardi on their radar, according to Tuttomercatoweb. The Roma defender has attracted interest from both clubs despite playing only a few minutes in recent matches. Ghilardi has been decisive in recent games, helping Roma pick up important points in the league table. His performances have drawn the attention of several clubs, with Milan and Juventus among those monitoring him. Milan are reportedly in search of a central defender ahead of the January transfer window. The report comes from Tuttomercatoweb, which named Milan and Juventus as the clubs that have looked at the Roma player.

Roma have made contact with Real Madrid over a possible move for Endrick, according to Retesport. The day after the Champions League match between Roma and Real Madrid on Thursday 15 October, Gian Piero Gasperini met Real Madrid's management in a direct meeting, accompanied by Roma's transfer staff. No intermediaries were involved. The club and the coach are determined to push for the 2006-born forward. The deal is not straightforward. Mourinho has said he does not want Endrick to leave Madrid. Even so, Roma are ready to move quickly should any opening appear. Gasperini reportedly believes Endrick could play in any attacking position, and his qualities are appreciated by the coach. Roma lost 3-4 to Real Madrid after conceding late goals, and a large part of that turnaround is linked to Endrick's introduction, as he changed the match and scored a goal. The article suggests he may not be the only one to visit the Stadio Olimpico, and that his next move could be in Roma's yellow and red.

Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi is attracting attention from Serie A's big clubs, with AC Milan and Juventus reportedly monitoring his situation ahead of the reopening of the January transfer window. According to Tuttomercatoweb, Milan are the more serious suitors and are considering a possible approach during the winter session. Milan are looking for a central defender and see Ghilardi as one of the alternatives to Sporting's Gonçalo Inácio. Juventus also rate the former Verona player, but for now they do not reportedly see strengthening the defence as an immediate priority. No official offers or negotiations with Roma have been registered. The situation is an interesting one given that Ghilardi is finally earning the trust of Gian Piero Gasperini. He had already made an impression against Slovan Bratislava, and on Tuesday evening against Cagliari he needed only a few minutes to produce a superb assist for Rodrigo Mora's 3-2 goal. A possible sale in January therefore looks far from certain, as Roma need to broaden their rotation options, not reduce them. Gasperini recognised the progress of the 2003-born defender after the Cagliari match, saying: "He has grown a lot compared to last year and will find more and more space." That praise underlines how central Ghilardi has become to the coach's plans in defence. For Roma, the interest from Milan and Juventus is a sign of the player's rising value, but the club's priority is keeping a squad with enough depth for a demanding season.

Vincenzo Italiano, now coach of Besiktas, has praised Santiago Castro's chipped goal against Genoa, calling it a moment of true class. Italiano coached Castro for two years at Bologna and has always believed in his potential. Speaking to Sky Calcio Unplugged, the former Bologna boss said Castro has that kind of quality in his locker. He recalled that during training at Bologna, the Argentine regularly came up with moves of that sort, the kind of play expected from an attacker who has often found the net at important moments inside the box. Castro's Genoa goal is a reminder of that ability, and it has drawn attention to a forward who now plays for Roma. Italiano's full verdict: "Santi has those kinds of moves in him. In training, in those two years at Bologna, he came up with plays of the kind only an Argentinian player would, a player who has often managed to score important goals inside the area. He scored a really great goal, a move that was truly worthy of a champion."

Gian Piero Gasperini has released his squad list for Udinese vs Roma, a Serie A matchday 10 fixture taking place tomorrow at 18:00. Paulo Dybala is ruled out of the trip. The squad is made up of ten defenders: Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi. The midfield options are Cristante, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Mora. The attacking group includes Castro, Malen, Soulé and Camara. Di Nunzio and Camara both feature in the travelling party, with Dybala the only notable absence from the list. The matchday 10 trip to Udine comes as Roma look to keep pace in the Serie A table.

Roma travel to Udine for Saturday's Serie A tenth-round fixture against Udinese, which kicks off at 18:00 at the Bluenergy Stadium on 31 October. Gian Piero Gasperini has named a 22-man squad for the trip to Friuli. Paulo Dybala remains absent, as the coach had announced recently, while the young players Di Nunzio and Camara make the journey to Udine. The defensive options are Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi. In midfield, Cristante, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Mora are included. The attacking group consists of Castro, Malen, Soulé and Camara. The full squad list is set for the visit to the Friuli club, with Gasperini having the 22 players available for the match.