Panathinaikos renew effort to sign Salah-Eddine as Greek window closes

Leonardo Balerdi rejected a loan offer from Boca Juniors to secure a move to Roma during this summer's transfer window. Boca manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena had personally contacted the Argentine defender, who grew up in the Buenos Aires club's youth academy and made his senior debut there in late 2018, intending to strengthen the backline. However, Roma's proposal proved decisive. According to TyC Sports journalist Julio Pavoni, Arruabarrena's call came roughly twenty days ago and was facilitated by a shared agent between the two clubs. Boca had tabled a one-year loan arrangement, but Balerdi was already weighing a more significant opportunity. The defender's response was unambiguous: "I'm not letting this chance slip away." His decision to prioritise Roma underscores the appeal of a move to the Italian club over a return to his formative football home.

Wesley's performances for Roma have attracted attention from outside Italy. Scouts from Arsenal and Atlético Madrid were reportedly in Istanbul on 10 September to observe the Brazilian defender closely during Fenerbahçe's match against Roma. Both Premier League and La Liga clubs are now monitoring Wesley's development with interest, and could attempt to sign him in the January transfer window. Roma, however, have no intention of letting him leave easily. The club's valuation is substantial: any potential sale would require an offer of at least €55–60 million.

Scouts from Arsenal and Atlético Madrid were reportedly at a stadium in Istanbul on 10 September to watch Wesley's performance, according to Turkish media outlets. The Brazilian defender has entered the radar of both the Premier League and La Liga, though the match itself was not a convincing display. Turkish sources suggest both clubs could make an attempt to sign Wesley in January. Roma's asking price is understood to be no lower than €60 million, reflecting the club's recent rejection of an offer from Chelsea.

Roma's radio stations weighed in on the club's Champions League campaign launch and squad decisions ahead of Thursday's fixture in Istanbul. Roberto Pruzzo told Radio Radio he saw no red flags in the project: "The sensation around Roma is absolutely positive, there seems to be only one path and they are following it. Everyone is behind the manager, and that feels like the most positive signal. There are technical qualities that let the coach make changes when necessary without negative impact. Right now I don't see any downsides. Until the break I expect Roma to physically surprise opponents—I think they've done targeted planning to go 200 kilometres per hour until the break." Staff changes dominated discussion of squad depth. Ilario Di Giovambattista reported that Nahuel Molina would play against Fenerbahce, while Lorenzo Pellegrini's first call-up would come at Torino. Paolo Marcacci anticipated "surgical changes" for Istanbul, potentially including Santiago Castro for Donyell Malen up front. Paolo Cosenza and Piero Torri both attacked the travel ban on Roma province residents, with Torri calling it "totally unconstitutional" and urging the club to take an official stand. "Why can't I go to Torino to watch Roma? What have I done wrong?" Torri asked. "If there is individual responsibility, the state must guarantee me freedom." Alessio Nardo questioned Gasperini's handling of Salah-Eddine, who has rejected all offers with only the Mexican market remaining open. "He's turned everything down and now he's just going to graze at Trigoria with no real ambition until January," Nardo said. "When Salah-Eddine isn't considered and is out of the project, and when Guerreiro—who played for Bayern Munich last season—is immediately discarded, it makes me think the left-back position is a priority for Gasperini. But he doesn't seem to have chased it aggressively on the market. Salah-Eddine played in a World Cup and African Cup of Nations. If Kostas Tsimikas was there last season, maybe he deserved a chance. Clearly Gasperini really hates him." Lorenzo Pes added that Gasperini had made no current reassessment: "He's stuck with the view he had a year ago. Salah-Eddine doesn't have the characteristics Gasperini wants in his wing-backs." Roma's opening Champions League fixture comes Thursday at 18:45 in Istanbul against Fenerbahce. David Rossi noted the absence of Aurélien Guendouzi and flagged environmental difficulty alongside technical challenge. Nando Orsi backed the title ambition, calling the league Roma's "indubitable objective" while viewing Napoli as in a particular moment and Inter focused on Champions League victory.

Gian Piero Gasperini has committed firmly to Roma ahead of the match against Atalanta, saying he is emotionally invested in the club despite transfer speculation. At his pre-match press conference, the head coach rejected suggestions that Roma would pursue free agents to fill gaps at left-back, specifically addressing rumours of interest in Zinchenko and Guerreiro. "I'm in love with this Roma, this is an environment where you enjoy coming to," Gasperini said. "Regardless of results, ours is a very healthy environment." On the transfer market: "I believe it's difficult to draw from the free-agent market. I don't know what the possibilities might be, but I wouldn't count on it much." Gasperini also confirmed that Salah-Eddine has no future at the club after rejecting multiple opportunities. "He's had quite a few chances and turned them down. I've already made my choices and he doesn't fit into our plans," the coach explained. On his personal freedom, he added: "I feel free to socialise with whoever I want." Sarri, managing the visiting Atalanta side, praised Roma during the conference and will be without two players for the match at the Olimpico.

Paulo Dybala has completed a full training session at Trigoria after recovering from a muscle problem sustained earlier in the week, clearing the way for Roma's Champions League campaign to begin. The forward had been managing reduced workloads in recent days but has now overcome the issue and rejoined the squad for the complete session under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Roma's long-awaited return to the Champions League League Phase will begin on Thursday 10 September at 18:45 with a fixture away to Fenerbahce at Stadio Sukru Saracoglu in Istanbul. The club has announced all operational details for supporters planning to travel to Turkey for the match. When asked about squad depth and potential recruitment, Gasperini offered a firm assessment of Roma's options. "Dybala hasn't got anything serious but he needs to feel comfortable playing," Gasperini said on Sky Sport. "As for free agents — it's difficult, I don't know what opportunities there might be, I don't think about it much, I wouldn't rely on it too heavily." Regarding player Salah-Eddine, Gasperini added: "He's had several opportunities that he refused. As far as Roma is concerned, I made some choices; he didn't fit in and doesn't fit into Roma's plans." Former Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini praised Gasperini's work with the squad in comments on Amore Giallorosso. Singling out Donyell Malen as the driving force, Sabatini said: "Every team that wants to win needs a hero, a leader, and Roma has one — Malen is a sensational player who drags the team along and frightens opponents. Roma had Totti, Juventus had Platini, Milan in my day had Rivera, Liedholm's Roma had Falcao." He also credited Gasperini with restoring Malen to his most effective position. "Malen came from a difficult spell, even at Aston Villa he seemed sidelined, playing out wide. Gasperini was very good at giving him back his role, bringing him closer to goal, and today his performance is truly supernatural." Meanwhile, the article also reports that the proposed new stadium at Pietralata has gained momentum in September, with 15 favourable opinions received so far out of 50 entities required to approve the project through the Services Conference process.