Parma–Roma VAR Review: Mancini Contact Decision Sparks Debate

Paulo Dybala has stoked Roma's anticipation for the 2026–27 season with a message on Instagram ahead of the home fixture against Fiorentina on Monday 24 August at 20:45. The Argentine forward posted images from the 2–0 derby win on 17 May, writing: "The last home match, with desire to begin the same way." That victory saw Dybala play a starring role before Roma sealed Champions League qualification days later at Verona. The Olimpico is expected to be at full capacity as the giallorossi prepare for their season opener. Dybala enters his fifth season at the club in sharp condition following a high-level pre-season. Wearing number 21, he will be central to Roma's ambitions under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini as the campaign begins. The forward's public enthusiasm reflects the mood in the dressing room, where desire to replicate last season's closing surge is running high.

Roma have announced that home supporters will be able to purchase tickets for the Distinti Nord-Ovest section—normally reserved for visiting fans—for Monday's Serie A opener against Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico, kickoff 20:45. The move comes after a travel ban was imposed on Fiorentina supporters from the city and province of Florence. Over 60,000 Roma fans are expected to create a sold-out atmosphere for the first match of the 2026-27 season under Gasperini's leadership. With the away section unavailable to Fiorentina's travelling support, Roma have taken the opportunity to maximize home attendance across the stadium. The club's decision to open an additional sector reflects the scale of demand for the fixture and their aim to ensure a fully yellow-and-red crowd for the campaign's first test.

AS Roma have opened ticket sales for the North-West Stand (Distinti Nord-Ovest) ahead of their Serie A season opener against Fiorentina on Monday 24 August, with a 20:45 kick-off at the Stadio Olimpico. The club has already sold more than 61,000 tickets and is aiming to reach 67,000 for a sold-out capacity. Fiorentina supporters based in Florence and the surrounding province have been banned from attending the away fixture. Roma are targeting a full house to mark the start of what manager Gian Piero Gasperini's side hope will be a campaign culminating in a return to the Champions League. The first match of the domestic campaign is scheduled to welcome a crowd befitting the occasion. With over 61,000 tickets sold, Roma's push for the full 67,000-capacity crowd reflects the appetite among supporters for a successful new season under Gasperini.

Rodrigo Mora impressed in his first training session and now has four days to convince Gasperini he deserves the starting role in Roma's match against Fiorentina on Monday. The Portuguese forward will compete with Matías Soulé for the trequartista position in a 3-4-1-2 formation that Roma trialled on 19 August. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are set to start as the two strikers, with Mora eyeing an opportunity to stake his claim in the role that suits him best. Soulé's availability for the match remains uncertain as AC Milan continues to press for his signature, alongside English club Sunderland. The competition for places elsewhere in the team appears settled: Molina is ready to make his debut, Wesley will start at left-back, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné will operate in midfield, and the defensive line in front of Mile Svilar will comprise Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso. Gasperini's early feedback on Mora has been positive, giving the forward genuine scope to earn a starting berth.

Rodrigo Mora has been assigned shirt number 86 at Roma, completing a historical milestone for the club. The Portuguese player, a class of 2007 talent, chose the number on 19 August, and it marks the first time the 86 has been worn since Roma introduced fixed squad numbers in the 1995–96 season. Mora wore the number at Porto and had worn the 10 in UEFA Youth League there; across Portugal's national youth levels he has worn 11, 24, 20, 17, 28, and 10 in Under-21, but returns to the 8 and 6 combination familiar from his time at Porto. The 86 was the final unassigned number in Roma's history of squad allocation, a gap that has persisted for three decades. Though some numbers have been selected but never worn in matches—such as the 84 given to Del Bello and Louakima in 2022–23 and the 79 assigned to Edoardo Morucci in European League action last January without deployment—the 86 remained untouched until Mora's arrival. The club's iconic numbers include the 10 retired for Francesco Totti since 28 May 2017, the 21 currently worn by Paulo Dybala, the 23 of Gianluca Mancini, the 22 of Mario Hermoso, the 5 of Falcao, the 6 of Aldair, the 16 of Daniele De Rossi, and the 9 of Roberto Pruzzo. Mora will now seek to make the 86 uniquely his own in Roma colours.

Rodrigo Mora landed at Ciampino yesterday to a reception of nearly 500 supporters as Roma completed the Portuguese attacking talent's signing. The 19-year-old expressed his gratitude in an official interview: "I want to thank Roma and Porto. I'm very happy to be here, and I thank the fans for the support they showed me at the airport. I'm very pleased and hope to have a great season here." José Mourinho endorsed the move, calling Mora "one of the greatest talents in Portuguese football. Technically very strong, a creative player who unbalances matches. I think Roma fans will love him." Meanwhile, Roma remain in talks over striker Malick Fofana from Lyon. An agreement in principle is in place for €35 million plus bonuses, but the deal is conditional on Lyon's European preliminary round results and awaits approval from the Friedkin Group ownership, who are reluctant to commit such a sum without significant departures or cheaper payment structures, mindful of financial fair play constraints. Defender Gianluca Mancini discussed the challenge ahead under Gian Piero Gasperini in an interview with Sky Sport. On competing in the Champions League for the first time, he said: "Yes, we pursued it for some years. Last season we secured it and we can't wait to take part in this beautiful competition." He added on Gasperini's training intensity: "I think all preparations are tough because you come from a holiday period and when you restart in the heat the first sessions are tough everywhere, what the manager and his staff do is put us in the right conditions to face the season in the best way possible. We as a group follow exactly what he tells us to do." Manu Koné is expected to remain at Roma after Manchester United withdrew from the race for the French midfielder.

Stadio Olimpico will register its first sell-out of the season for Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini working through final selection decisions ahead of the fixture. Paulo Dybala, who impressed in pre-season, will lead the attack alongside Matías Soulé, while Donyell Malen holds a slight advantage over another forward option, though rotation is possible given his current form. Mario Hermoso is favoured to partner Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka in defence, with Nahuel Molina operating on the flank. Wesley is being monitored for a minor ankle sprain; should he be unavailable, Devyne Rensch is ready, with Lulli available as cover. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné are expected to anchor midfield, while Niccolò Pisilli, recently back from a muscular injury, is likely to start on the bench. Mora, who arrived at Ciampino yesterday, will meet Gasperini today but is unlikely to start. The Olimpico atmosphere is already building with 63,000 spectators expected, though the police authority has yet to rule on whether the away section can reopen following incidents in January.

Roma are pursuing three high-profile signings to complete Gian Piero Gasperini's squad, with Rodrigo Mora's arrival imminent. The Portuguese attacking midfielder's transfer from his current club is set at €25 million on a permanent basis, with Roma retaining a 50% sell-on clause that can be cancelled for an additional €25 million within a year. Mora, a 2007-born talent, is expected to arrive in Italy between 18 and 20 August and will earn a rising salary reaching approximately €2.2 million per year. Mendes's agency orchestrated the deal and recently also offered Rafael Leão to Roma, a proposal rejected as outside the club's financial parameters. With Mora secured, Roma have virtually closed negotiations for Malick Fofana on terms of €35 million plus bonuses from Olympique Lyonnais. Initial concerns over Fofana's fitness have been cleared, and Roma are pressing to complete the deal this week despite Lyon's wish to keep him until 26 August for a Champions League playoff return leg against Fenerbahçe. The final piece of Gasperini's rebuilding puzzle is a left-sided full-back to rotate with Wesley, Molina, Rensch and young prospect Lulli. Roma are tracking Cacciamani and Udogie, though Tottenham are unwilling to loan Udogie, while Torino are blocking a sale of their young talent. Roma resume training at Trigoria ahead of Monday's Serie A opener at home against Fiorentina, when Niccolò Pisilli will rejoin the group.

Roma's summer transfer work is far from over, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini signalling his appetite for further additions beyond the arrivals of Castro, Koulierakis and Molina. While the Mora move may defer heavier spending to next summer, the club retains capacity to pursue further signings aligned with Gasperini's tactical requirements, notably Malick Fofana of Olympique Lyonnais. The 21-year-old Belgian attacker remains an active target, with Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca having cleared his departure and the club engaged in talks with Roma. Fofana is valued at 35–40 million euros overall, with his existing salary of approximately 2 million euros fitting Roma's parameters. Gasperini currently has two—and occasionally three—options for most positions, but a significant shortage exists at left-back, where Wesley stands alone. Though Devyne Rensch could theoretically deputise, that scenario is presently ruled out, prompting continued pursuit of alternatives from Tottenham (Udogie), Inter (Luis Henrique) and Torino (Cacciamani). The squad's forward depth across Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé, combined with Donyell Malen and Robinio Vaz—currently viewed as a late-game option pending development—means the Mora signing does not close the conversation on attacking reinforcements.