Ndicka: Regaining form, but third place will be hard to defend

Tony D'Amico, Roma's sporting director, spoke to DAZN minutes before kickoff against Fiorentina on 24 August. Speaking for the first time in his role, D'Amico said: "It is the first time I am speaking as Roma's sporting director and I am doing so in this stadium. The emotion is considerable." He took up the position on 20 June during an active transfer window and credited head coach Gian Piero Gasperini with easing his integration. The pair had worked together at Atalanta. "With the manager we have lived important years at Atalanta, so he has helped me greatly in my settling in, because I took office on 20 June, right in the middle of the transfer market. His knowledge of football has made things easier for me," D'Amico said. D'Amico acknowledged Fiorentina as a dangerous opponent. "They are certainly a squad with great enthusiasm. They have done excellent business in the market, with major investments. It will be a complicated match; we hope to do our best," he said. On Roma's own market activity with a week remaining, he was cautious about significant departures. "We are certainly vigilant in the market. There is still a week to go. The settlement agreement is known to all. We have constraints we must respect which sometimes force us to change our targets. We will certainly need opportunities to broaden the squad and have a competitive team. As far as departures are concerned, I think it is difficult to imagine one a week from the end of the market," D'Amico explained. When asked about left-wing targets, specifically whether Fofana and Gittens were current options, D'Amico did not address them by name. He reiterated Roma's need to find opportunities within the financial framework set by the settlement agreement that governs the club's spending capacity.

Tony D'Amico spoke publicly as Roma's director for the first time on 24 August, moments before the match against Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico. D'Amico, who took office on 20 June during the transfer window, described the emotional weight of returning to the stadium as a Roma official after his time as an opponent. He highlighted his prior relationship with head coach Gasperini, saying: "With the manager we lived three fantastic years, full of emotions and important results at Atalanta. He helped me greatly in getting settled. The knowledge of his method and his idea of football made things easier for me." On the club's transfer strategy, D'Amico acknowledged the constraints imposed by Roma's UEFA Financial Fair Play settlement agreement. "We have parameters to respect that sometimes make us change objectives and review strategies," he said. He confirmed Roma remain active in the market with one week remaining in the window, but ruled out significant departures: "It's complicated to imagine sales a week before the market closes." D'Amico also indicated openness to further signings if opportunities arise, particularly to strengthen the squad for the league campaign and Champions League competition. When asked about specific targets such as a left winger to suit Gasperini's preferences, and whether players like Gittens and Fofana were current options, D'Amico did not name individuals. Instead, he reiterated: "We are alert on the market. If there are opportunities between now and the end, we will need to broaden the squad for the competitions we face. We will evaluate between now and the end of the market." He emphasised that Fiorentina had made strong signings and conducted quality business, describing them as "a team with great enthusiasm" and predicting a difficult match ahead.

Evan N'Dicka spoke ahead of Roma's opening Serie A fixture against Fiorentina on 24 August, expressing confidence in his physical condition and ambition for the campaign. "Now I feel very good. I feel I'm finding my level," the defender said. Asked whether Roma can improve on last season's third-place finish, N'Dicka acknowledged the difficulty but remained hopeful. "It will be hard but if we can do more we will do more. It would be nice to have a great match today and then we'll see," he said. The 25-year-old also discussed his offensive contributions, having scored five goals in the previous season. "I hope so. If the ball arrives well I go with all my strength and I hope to score many goals," he said when asked whether supporters would see him maintain that attacking output.

Evan N'Dicka spoke ahead of Roma's opening Serie A fixture against Fiorentina on 24 August, expressing confidence in his physical condition and ambition for the campaign. "Now I feel very good. I feel I'm finding my level," the defender said. Asked whether Roma can improve on last season's third-place finish, N'Dicka acknowledged the difficulty but remained hopeful. "It will be hard but if we can do more we will do more. It would be nice to have a great match today and then we'll see," he said. The 25-year-old also discussed his offensive contributions, having scored five goals in the previous season. "I hope so. If the ball arrives well I go with all my strength and I hope to score many goals," he said when asked whether supporters would see him maintain that attacking output.

Roma take on Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico at 20:45 in the opening fixture of the Serie A season. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has named a 22-man squad for the match, with all new signings included in the selection. The squad omits Lorenzo Pellegrini and Devyne Rensch. In goal, Gasperini has selected Mile Svilar, Giorgio De Marzi, and Pierluigi Gollini. The defence includes Konstantinos Koulierakis, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Jan Ziółkowski, Wesley, Lulli, and Daniele Ghilardi. Midfield options are Bryan Cristante, Neil El Aynaoui, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli, and Rodrigo Mora. Attacking players named are Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé, Paulo Dybala, and Robinio Vaz.

Roma have announced their squad for tonight's match against Fiorentina. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has called up 23 players across all positions. Defenders named are Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Ziolkowski, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi. The midfield contingent comprises Cristante, El Aynaoui, Koné, Pisilli and Mora, while the forward line includes Castro, Malen, Soulé, Dybala and Vaz.