Orsi: Roma's summer window not short of players; Pruzzo: Dybala at his best is the real signing

Roma's radio stations have given their verdicts on Saturday's victory over Atalanta, with commentators split between praising the performance and assessing the squad's depth ahead of the Champions League debut on Thursday. Piero Torri of Radio Manà Manà said: "For now Roma are on full points alongside Inter, and these are certainly positive responses. From now until December it will all be a question of injuries: if Roma are not hit by injuries, their squad is sufficient. In any case, Pisilli and Rensch remained on the bench on Saturday, then Pellegrini will return. Without excessive problems, then, the squad is sufficient; in January you can possibly fine-tune something at a quantitative level. In any case, you have 21 players, and good ones too: if you put them on the pitch you don't have a collapse in quality." Torri added that when a team functions well, a player rated 6 can look like an 8. Francesco Balzani highlighted Balerdi's impact as a substitute, calling it "decisive" and praising the victory as "a win in the Mourinho style with Gasperini's football." Antonio Felici stressed that the win over Atalanta showed Roma can succeed even when facing difficulty in the 90 minutes, representing "the victory of self-awareness." Simone Valdarchi echoed the praise for Gasperini's tactical substitutions, saying Balerdi in particular "changed the inertia of the match" and allowed Roma to escape the difficulties created by Krstović and return to dominating play. Nando Orsi noted Roma have scored 10 goals so far and represent "a complete team where everyone can score," calling them underperformers on 9 points in the league table. Lorenzo Pes said Gasperini's next step is convincing Dybala he can score again, noting the striker will want to feature in Thursday's Champions League debut.

Roma commentators have praised the team's attacking display and tactical discipline following a win over Atalanta, with radio panelists highlighting Matías Soulé's performance and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's growing imprint on the squad. Mirabella told Radio Romanista that Soulé was the standout performer, noting his immediate impact despite uncertainty over his future. "Today Matías Soulé felt at home," he said. Frequelli credited Mario Hermoso as the best player on the pitch, citing both his contribution to Roma's equaliser and his resilience after contributing to Atalanta's goal. Bighi echoed the praise for Soulé's growth and drew attention to Gasperini's tactical approach: "The manager is working very well. The squad has won not just through passion but through the work Gasperini is doing." Carina told Radio Radio that Roma has finally become "Gasperiniana"—reflecting the same style viewers saw in Gasperini's Atalanta teams. He noted an unusual tactical choice in the match, saying Gasperini won the game by removing two defenders: "If he hadn't taken off N'Dicka and Mancini, Roma would have suffered the second goal, because both struggle against Kristovic and go into difficulty. With Ghilardi and Balerdi, Roma regains the centre." He identified Rodrigo Mora as a player capable of beating defenders one-on-one but requiring development, while flagging the underlying financial burden: "The problem Roma carries with it is the cost: 50 million." Orsi credited Roma's fitness and tactical organisation, noting they have scored 10 goals across their first three matches this season. "Roma merits more than the 9 points in the league table," he said. Pruzzo expressed reservations about Mora, stating: "In a half he doesn't touch ten passes, though on a couple of occasions he did well. If he doesn't improve in level, I have the impression that something else is needed." Di Giovambattista highlighted Paulo Dybala's contribution of four assists in three games and praised the crowd's role in Roma's comeback. Pes told TeleradioStereo that Gasperini's next step must be restoring Dybala's goal-scoring form, adding: "Roma have conviction and hunger. Winning in Istanbul allows you to start a good path. It's a tough stadium to face, but Roma feel they can win the match."

Fabio Capello believes AS Roma, under Gian Piero Gasperini, are the strongest threat to Inter's Serie A title this season. Speaking to Gasport, the former Roma coach highlighted the squad's continuation of last season's approach, citing the arrival of Rodrigo Mora as a player who has already integrated seamlessly into the team's system. Capello stated: "Because it has continued on the same path as last season and is maintaining the same attitude with an important game base and quality: in addition it has fielded a new player, Mora, who has already inserted himself perfectly into the team's mechanics. I had said it twenty days ago: the anti-Inter is actually Roma." Capello identifies Roma's one-on-one pressing across the pitch and their attacking play as the primary weapons against Inter. He emphasized the quality of Roma's attacking options: "When you have 4-5 quality players present in the penalty area who know how to dialogue in tight spaces, sooner or later something happens. And against Atalanta the winning goal eventually arrived." He credited Gasperini's decision to field two starting-quality players per position as crucial, noting that Saturday's substitutions at the Olimpico produced visible results. Gasperini has instilled a mentality of sacrifice in the squad and built the team from last season alongside director of sport Massara, according to Capello, who said: "Players follow him because he is a credible coach." Capello highlighted the standout eagerness of Roma's substitutes, stating: "They all play with the same desire to win because they understood they are competitive. I did not see a single Roma player who came into the field with the attitude of someone offended at being a substitute during the match." He praised the rotational quality available to Gasperini, particularly Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé and Mora, describing them as "players of quality who integrate well." When asked whether parallels exist with his own title-winning Roma team, Capello drew a comparison: "Many; in the first year at Roma we understood we were strong, then we completed the squad with Batistuta." He concluded that managing successfully in Rome requires emotional equilibrium and composure, qualities he suggested he and Gasperini both possess.

Roma's radio stations have given their verdicts on Saturday's victory over Atalanta, with commentators split between praising the performance and assessing the squad's depth ahead of the Champions League debut on Thursday. Piero Torri of Radio Manà Manà said: "For now Roma are on full points alongside Inter, and these are certainly positive responses. From now until December it will all be a question of injuries: if Roma are not hit by injuries, their squad is sufficient. In any case, Pisilli and Rensch remained on the bench on Saturday, then Pellegrini will return. Without excessive problems, then, the squad is sufficient; in January you can possibly fine-tune something at a quantitative level. In any case, you have 21 players, and good ones too: if you put them on the pitch you don't have a collapse in quality." Torri added that when a team functions well, a player rated 6 can look like an 8. Francesco Balzani highlighted Balerdi's impact as a substitute, calling it "decisive" and praising the victory as "a win in the Mourinho style with Gasperini's football." Antonio Felici stressed that the win over Atalanta showed Roma can succeed even when facing difficulty in the 90 minutes, representing "the victory of self-awareness." Simone Valdarchi echoed the praise for Gasperini's tactical substitutions, saying Balerdi in particular "changed the inertia of the match" and allowed Roma to escape the difficulties created by Krstović and return to dominating play. Nando Orsi noted Roma have scored 10 goals so far and represent "a complete team where everyone can score," calling them underperformers on 9 points in the league table. Lorenzo Pes said Gasperini's next step is convincing Dybala he can score again, noting the striker will want to feature in Thursday's Champions League debut.

Roma's remarkable late comeback against Atalanta has impressed pundit Lele Adani, who analysed the performance on La Domenica Sportiva. Mario Hermoso equalised in the 89th minute before Roma scored again within three minutes, with Adani highlighting the intensity of the attack: Matías Soulé, Paulo Dybala and Santiago Castro all shot during that spell, firing once every 40 seconds in September heat at the Stadio Olimpico with the thermometer at 35 degrees. Adani drew parallels to Gasperini's Atalanta sides, describing Roma's display as an act of faith rather than conventional football. He was struck by Roma's persistence in creating chances even when the match appeared lost and the crowd's overwhelming support. The club completed 39 shots across the entire fixture, which Adani called epic football shaped by the team's determination to attack in the final minutes.

Roma claimed a dramatic late victory against Atalanta on Saturday, with goals from Mario Hermoso and Matías Soulé securing the win in the final moments despite playing in 35-degree heat at the third matchday of the season. Lele Adani praised head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's influence on the performance during La domenica sportiva, drawing comparisons to the Atalanta teams Gasperini previously managed. Adani highlighted Roma's attacking intensity in the decisive phase. "The Roma drew level in the 89th minute with Hermoso, then scored three minutes later," Adani said. "In those minutes they shot four times, so once every 40 seconds. They shot from Soulé, Dybala, Castro, and then Matías scored. Atalanta's Gasperini used to do this because his matches are acts of faith—it wasn't a football match but a piece of history, and then the Olimpico drowns you out. Roma had 39 shots; it was an epic match."

Gian Piero Gasperini held his pre-match press conference ahead of Roma's Serie A fixture against Atalanta on matchday three, addressing injury updates and his feelings about the club. Paulo Dybala's tests have shown nothing concerning, though he will train on the day of the press conference to build confidence before three matches this week. On free-agent recruitment, Gasperini expressed doubt: "I believe it is difficult, I do not know what the possibilities might be, but I would not count on it much." He closed the door firmly on reintegrating Salah-Eddine, stating the player "has had several opportunities that he has refused. As far as Roma goes, I have already made choices and he is not in Roma's plans." Evan N'Dicka's injury status has improved substantially, with Gasperini saying "N'Dicka much better, I believe he is in the match. Today we will try him out." Lorenzo Pellegrini is progressing gradually and may return "perhaps with Inter or after the break," indicating a timeline beyond the immediate fixtures. Donyell Malen continues to impress, though Gasperini suggested working on his repertoire. The coach praised Rodrigo Mora's development after two consecutive appearances: "He is young but has already shown his talent against Fiorentina and Lecce. He has ample room for growth in the physical aspect, resistance and fitness. We are dealing with a boy of absolute value." Gasperini defended his decision not to name hierarchies in midfield despite the departure of Neil El Aynaoui and the arrival of Marten de Roon. "Pisilli is very far advanced: he has taken on maturity, awareness, he has grown, he is strong," Gasperini said. "I have four players there, I do not make hierarchies. De Roon, Balerdi and the latest arrivals must reach their best condition; they will play spells and we will see them at full-time probably after the break. Pisilli, Koné and Cristante are solid. We play in 16 and there are many matches. Do not make distinctions between those who start at the beginning and those who come in because in the end you will see that the playing time will be similar for everyone." On squad depth and tactical flexibility, he confirmed Santiago Castro and Mora can operate as forwards and that multiple tactical interpretations are possible. When asked about his time at Roma changing him, Gasperini reflected: "Certainly this experience has enriched me. I arrived in a different environment after nine years of great satisfaction and great integration with the city and the environment. It was not an easy choice, but I am happy to have made it because the conditions no longer existed. Great gratitude and great respect though for Atalanta. To feel alive again, the Roma piazza has been the maximum: it motivates you, stimulates you and we needed to improve the squad, so there was the challenge of needing to improve on what had been done up to that point." On Matías Soulé, he confirmed the player's pubalgia is behind him and he has recovered to excellent condition.

Gian Piero Gasperini held his pre-match press conference on the eve of Roma's fixture against Atalanta, confirming that Paulo Dybala and Evan N'Dicka will be assessed in training to determine their readiness for the match. Gasperini said Dybala "has nothing particular wrong with him, but today he will try: it is important that he feels safe and confident. There will be three matches in one week and he must be sure he can play. These are very important matches, to be played at their best." On N'Dicka, he stated: "N'Dicka is better, tomorrow I think he will be in the squad: today we will try him and Dybala." Gasperini was asked whether Roma would turn to free agents given the absence of an incoming winger, but he dismissed the prospect. "It is difficult to draw on free agents, I don't know what opportunities there could be. I wouldn't count on it much," he said. He also confirmed that Salah-Eddine had received "three or four offers that he refused; technical choices were made and he is not part of Roma's plans." On Lorenzo Pellegrini's availability, Gasperini said the midfielder "has started to do something with the group, but I don't know if he will return with Inter or after the break" in terms of playing time. He praised the squad's maturity and described the upcoming spell—which includes matches against Atalanta, Inter, Como and Napoli, plus Champions League football from Thursday in Turkey—as "a test of strength, of value." Gasperini discussed the midfield rotation that has seen Neil El Aynaoui make way for Marten de Roon, emphasizing that Niccolò Pisilli, Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante form a solid core without hierarchy. "De Roon, like Balerdi and Molina, the very latest arrivals, needs to be in top condition. They will play spells and we will probably see them at full time after the break," he explained. He also addressed Rodrigo Mora's potential, saying the young midfielder has "shown his talent in the first two" matches and possesses "broad room for growth on the physical front, endurance and stamina. But he is of absolute value, it is hard to deny." Gasperini expressed his affection for the squad's environment and unity: "Here there is pleasure in coming. You feel good when you train. When you are in an environment without friction, without antipathies and with pleasure in being together, it is beautiful. It is beautiful to see the pleasure with which we train." On Matías Soulé, Gasperini confirmed the attacker is fully recovered from a pubalgia injury. "For Soulé, pubalgia is a distant memory. He is well, he has played excellent matches." He acknowledged Atalanta's quality under their new management and recent additions, noting that the club "has taken Kessié, Rowe, who fit into a high-level squad. It has a Champions-level squad, with important changes and very reliable players." Roma face Atalanta tomorrow before Champions League action in Turkey and a subsequent match against Torino on Monday.

Evan N'Dicka has overcome the inflammation that sidelined him against Lecce and returned to partial group training at Trigoria, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini monitoring his recovery ahead of the Roma-Atalanta fixture. The defender will continue his rehabilitation in the coming days, with the next sessions decisive in determining whether he can be included in the squad for the Olimpico clash. The Lega Serie A has confirmed fixtures from matchday 6 to 12, with Roma's standout fixture a visit to Napoli on Saturday 24 October at 18:00 at the Maradona, alongside a midweek tie against Cagliari. Though the summer transfer window has closed, Roma continue to monitor free agents, with sporting director Tony D'Amico targeting an offensive left-winger with different profile characteristics from those already in the squad. Wilfried Zaha, the Ivorian currently without a club, represents a potential zero-cost opportunity and has been reexamined by Roma after being linked to the club in 2023. Legend Roberto Pruzzo told Radio Radio Mattino: "I think Dybala is Roma's best signing; last year you never had him at this level. We'll see further down the line when the team starts playing three times a week what the real value of this market is. I also think the squad has improved, but in the first two line-ups of the year when the team played brilliantly there are the same players as last year. El Aynaoui I criticised from the day he arrived; I think in midfield there is a need for changes beyond de Roon to give Cristante and Koné a rest." Piero Torri observed that D'Amico appeared slightly worried at the start of his press conference before becoming more assured.

Atalanta sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli confirmed that Marten de Roon requested a move to Roma during the transfer window that has just closed. Speaking at a press conference to present Frank Kessié, Giuntoli said: "When a player asks to leave, you have to listen to him. He asked us to go to Roma and we threw ourselves at Kessié." De Roon joined Roma's squad this summer after spending the previous season with Atalanta. Giuntoli explained Atalanta's approach to the midfielder's departure: "We're sorry, but we have to turn the page and move forward. Kessié is a player with personality who can help us in this new Atalanta." The signing of Kessié was presented as the club's solution to replacing the departing midfielder.

A confrontation between Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi and Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico at the Olimpico on Saturday evening has escalated into a formal dispute. According to reports published today by Il Romanista, Corriere dello Sport and la Repubblica, Percassi followed D'Amico as both clubs were leaving the stadium, pursuing him towards the Monte Mario car park. The Atalanta executive directed heavy language at D'Amico, with Corriere dello Sport reporting insults that questioned both professional and personal qualities. D'Amico did not respond in kind and attempted to leave, but Percassi continued the verbal assault all the way to the car park, reportedly accompanied by his wife. The confrontation escalated to the point where stadium stewards and security had to intervene to prevent further escalation. The clash reflects deteriorated relations dating back months. D'Amico spent four seasons at Atalanta before joining Roma, but his departure was far less cordial than officially presented. He had pushed to move to Roma while Atalanta had already identified Cristiano Giuntoli for the sporting director role; D'Amico remained blocked for weeks before his release, hampering Roma's early transfer work. The tension has only deepened given overlapping personnel moves: head coach Gian Piero Gasperini departed Atalanta for Roma, followed by D'Amico, and now midfielder Marten de Roon has joined Roma. Corriere dello Sport reports a significant detail: Gasperini himself telephoned Percassi directly to facilitate de Roon's transfer to Roma—a notable contact given Gasperini had experienced disagreements with the Atalanta executive, though maintained a relationship with his father Antonio. Roma has called Percassi's conduct "unacceptable," while Atalanta has firmly rejected the Roma version of events. The matter now passes to the Federal Prosecutor's office. Prosecutor Giuseppe Chiné will evaluate available evidence and interview those directly involved and witnesses, including the intervening stewards. The case has moved beyond internal stadium corridors into formal sporting justice proceedings.

Roma have a numerically shorter squad than last season yet paradoxically possess far more possibilities, a pattern evident across the opening three matches and most starkly demonstrated by the victory against Atalanta. Ten players departed from the squad that closed last season while six arrived: Koulierakis, Balerdi, Mora, Castro, Molina and De Roon. The club has contracted in size but fundamentally shifted the quality of its alternatives. Against Atalanta, Castro struck twice against the woodwork, Soulé provided an assist and the decisive goal, Balerdi made an immediate impact on his debut, while Ghilardi and Molina helped reshape the team during its most difficult moments. This underlines a crucial difference from a year ago. Head coach Gasperini anticipated the pattern before the match, stating: "Starters and substitutes no longer matter; you play with 16 players." With the Champions League approaching, this depth becomes potentially decisive—rotations will be inevitable and Roma must sustain their level even with changed personnel. The squad remains tight and will probably require reinforcement in January, but one fact is already clear: Roma have narrowed numerically but expanded in quality.