Parma-Roma away trip in doubt as ONMS suspends ruling

Former Roma defender Vincent Candela has said that a return of Francesco Totti to the club's management would make Roma even stronger, and that Gian Piero Gasperini can bring the Scudetto back to Trigoria. Speaking to La Repubblica, Candela said: "Ormai io e Francesco siamo anche compagni di penna. Spero di rivederlo presto nel club, che quest'anno lotterà per lo scudetto fino alla fine. Con Totti, sono sicuro che la Roma diventerebbe ancora più forte." Candela refused to accept that Roma should settle for second place. He praised Gasperini as a "special" coach and said he was convinced the manager could deliver the title, but he stressed that the race would go to the end against Inter, whom he described as a stronger and better-balanced side than Roma. Asked whether he would play for Roma again if he could, Candela said: "Giocare nella Roma di Gasperini sarebbe un sogno. Sono convinto che farei il titolare." On Roma's recurring problem of late collapses, especially in Europe, he said: "Come dice il tecnico, è importante allargare la rosa, ma è fisiologico perdere contro Real Madrid e Manchester United. La Roma non è ancora pronta per fronteggiare alla pari le grandi del calcio europeo." Finally, asked which player brings back his memories of playing, Candela pointed to Paulo Dybala: "Ogni volta che Dybala tocca il pallone mi batte il cuore e ringiovanisco. Paulo andrebbe proclamato patrimonio mondiale del calcio."

Gian Piero Gasperini has made clear that Roma need targeted signings in the next transfer window to keep pace in the title race, but the club's ownership has yet to give any explicit signal on backing him. The head coach wants at least one attacking winger and one midfielder to push for the top of the table in the second half of the season. Roma's ambition to fight for the title sits uneasily with the need to plan the January market well in advance. The squad has gaps in certain areas, namely wide players and midfield, and the January window is complex and does not allow for delays. Gasperini believes firmly in the team's potential but feels the need for timely support from the board. How much room the club has will depend on its financial dynamics and the limits imposed by Financial Fair Play rules. The case of Donyell Malen, whose move was blocked in January and later fell through after the change of coach to Emery, shows how difficult it is to add new players without shared and structured planning. Direct contact between Gasperini and Dan Friedkin has been limited so far. Day-to-day dealings have run mainly through CEO John Souloukou and sporting director Tony D'Amico. Roma have not stood still, having opened talks over several profiles, including Logkey, Leweling and Luiz Betabçur. However, the lack of formal guarantees on budgets risks causing friction. Gasperini has been clear that the club needs at least one attacking winger and one midfielder to aim high. The line has been drawn, and the owners' response in the coming weeks will be decisive in showing Roma's real ambitions for the second half of the season.

No transfer meeting has yet taken place between the ownership, sporting director Tony D'Amico and head coach Gasperini, and there is only a whisper that next week could be the right moment, with no confirmation. Il Corriere della Sera's Davide Stoppini reports that Gasperini has had no direct contact with Dan Friedkin since last April, during the chaos surrounding Ranieri, not even an exchange after the Champions League qualification. Contact with Ryan Friedkin since May has changed little. Corbin Friedkin, the youngest brother, was recently seen at the Olimpico for the match against Real Madrid. In late July the club appointed CEO John Galantic, who in practice acts as a filter but does not have wide operational authority. For all deals above 2 million euros, which is practically all of them, he needs the approval of the Friedkins. The article describes this as a paradox: the club has moved further away from Gasperini than last year, when a degree of relationship between the coach and Ryan Friedkin had formed, as seen last January. Doubts may understandably arise among those involved, and nobody knows exactly how to proceed. Roma's transfer department has not stood still and has opened talks on several fronts, but these are exploratory contacts. Logic suggests that if the ownership gave the go-ahead at the end of August for an investment, Leweling or Luiz Henrique, it will make the same decision for January. However, these remain assumptions, and even inside Trigoria only hypotheses are being discussed. January is not a straightforward month.