Pellegrini and Gattuso honoured at Colalucci Prize ceremony

Gian Piero Gasperini has outlined Roma's long-term strategy in an interview, stating that the club's blueprint targets a Serie A title within three years but remains open to accelerating that timeline. "Our plan was to get there in three years. We wouldn't mind bringing it forward," Gasperini said. "But we are aware that the road is long. In football there are no straight paths or clear routes. There will be ups and downs. If we manage them well, who knows…" The interview took place at an event marking the launch of Gasperini's Freisa 3-4-3 wine, named after the tactical formation that has defined his managerial philosophy. When asked about the comparison between the wine's modest status—it is not considered at the level of Barolo or Barbaresco—and Atalanta's rise, Gasperini reflected on his attachment to building something great gradually from a lower starting point. "It's an excellent grape, but it's not a big one, not considered at the level of Barolo or Barbaresco. My grandfather and my father bottled Freisa from demijohns. I have an emotional bond with Freisa. And I love the idea of building something great, step by step, starting from a rung perhaps below." Gasperini also addressed his departure from Atalanta after nine years, where he secured consistent Champions League qualification and won the Europa League. He acknowledged that leaving came when he "realised it was humanly impossible to do more." On his emotional farewell press conference last season ahead of Roma's fixture against Atalanta, he disclosed his deep connection to Bergamo: "Bergamo was the longest and most intense stage of my existence as a wanderer of football. I have no regrets, but I feel a profound nostalgia for a community where I had integrated perfectly. Unsurprisingly, I often go back. I miss everything about Bergamo." He revealed he has not sold his house in Bergamo, leaving open the possibility of a future return.

Lorenzo Pellegrini has declared himself ready to return as Roma prepare to resume their campaign, speaking at a prize ceremony in Rome on the eve of the international break's end. The captain said he has recovered well from injury over the past two weeks and expressed full availability to Gian Piero Gasperini for selection, though he acknowledged that the coach will make the final decision on whether to start him in Sunday's match against Como at the Sinigaglia. Pellegrini was named in the squad before the break but had not yet reached full fitness. Pellegrini struck an optimistic tone about Roma's early-season form and invited the fanbase to maintain enthusiasm. However, he counselled patience on questions about title ambitions and any anti-Inter challenge, emphasising that the season is still in its early phase and concrete objectives should only be discussed from March onwards. He singled out the squad's internal harmony and cohesion as Roma's greatest strength, saying he and the club's senior players work daily to preserve and enhance that atmosphere.

Mario Hermoso, Bryan Cristante and Donyell Malen were chosen as the faces for Roma and Adidas's new clothing collection inspired by the 1990s. The three players posed for photographs and videos during a promotional shoot, which included playful moments shared on the club's social media channels. Hermoso was handed a disposable camera in authentic '90s style to take shots during the session. He called out to Malen with "Bobby, my bro" to invite him to pose for the camera.

Gianluca Mancini faces a crucial opportunity to revive his campaign in the coming matches, with the midfielder's armband at Como likely to fall to either Lorenzo Pellegrini or Mancini himself in the absence of Bryan Cristante. The defender has endured a subdued start to 2026-27, standing out for the wrong reasons in Roma's defeats to Fenerbahçe and Inter, where he was caught out for goals by Lautaro Martínez. A poor showing for the Italian national team has compounded his struggles. Mancini remains a trusted lieutenant of head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, but the statistics underline his difficult period. His defensive output lags behind teammates: he averages 1.2 tackles per match compared to Mario Hermoso's 2.6 and Evan N'Dicka's 3.3. He is similarly behind in interceptions and challenges. A performance at Torino offered a rare positive, but as Daniele Aloisi writes in Il Messaggero, football can be cruel in how it magnifies the errors of defenders. However, the sport offers swift chances at redemption, and few fixtures carry greater weight than the double challenge against Como and Real Madrid ahead.

Roma resume their title push four days before Sunday's Serie A fixture at Como. Gian Piero Gasperini entered the decisive phase of preparation with the squad finally coming together after a three-week international break. The Argentine trio of Matías Soulé, Santiago Castro and Leonardo Balerdi were expected back at Trigoria today following their commitments with the national team and Argentina's final match with Messi. Rodrigo Mora and Manu Koné had already returned yesterday after international duty. Encouragingly, Wesley and Donyell Malen have progressively increased their workload in recent sessions, training partially with the group, and from today could be fully integrated. Both are set to be available for Sunday's 12.30 kickoff at Sinigaglia, where Roma will defend their shared first-place position with Inter and Lazio. Bryan Cristante remains the only confirmed absence through injury. Marten de Roon is the leading candidate to replace him in midfield alongside Koné, with Wesley on the left and Nahuel Molina on the right. The left-wing spot remains unresolved, with a straight battle between Soulé and Mora, though Lorenzo Pellegrini is poised to challenge both. Pellegrini spoke about his readiness: "I feel good, the break has helped." The midfielder's availability underlines Roma's growing depth as they bid to sustain their challenge at the top of the table.

Roma return from international duty with most players available for Sunday's trip to Como, the first of two fixtures that will test Gasperini's squad before Real Madrid arrive at the Olimpico four days later. Manu Koné and Rodrigo Mora returned yesterday, while Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro rejoin today after their commitments with Argentina's national team. Bryan Cristante remains sidelined by a knee ligament problem, opening the door for Marten de Roon to make his Roma debut from the start alongside Koné in midfield. The selection puzzle centres on the third attacking option alongside Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala. Lorenzo Pellegrini, fully recovered after a long absence, is favoured by some outlets after training throughout the break at Trigoria. Others back Soulé despite his late return from Argentina, while Rodrigo Mora retains a genuine chance after being the most used Roma player during the international window, clocking 225 minutes and scoring an overhead kick for Portugal Under 21. Gasperini has three very different solutions competing for one shirt, with Real Madrid's proximity potentially influencing Sunday's starting lineup. Malen and Wesley have both cleared their respective injury problems and are expected to feature against Como without concern. The Brazilian should return as a starter on the flank, though a contest remains between Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli for the opposite side. In defence, Evan N'Dicka appears to have a slight edge over Balerdi, having resumed regular training at Trigoria while Balerdi only returns today. Malen has scored six goals in the first five matches and carries a significant objective into the resumption: approaching the 36-goal records of Higuain and Immobile. He scored 20 Serie A goals in 2026 alone—more than any other player—and had found the net at the Sinigaglia last season before Como's comeback. Dybala has seized the break to work without interruption, transforming physically and delivering greater consistency: 497 minutes played, four assists and three goals created so far, though his own goal drought stretches back to 18 January. The technical duel between Dybala and Como's Nico Paz will be one of the match's most compelling threads. Gasperini and Como manager Cesc Fabregas represent opposite generations and contrasting approaches to attacking football. Fabregas seeks to control rhythm and possession; Gasperini favours intensity, pressure and direct play. They have nearly thirty years between them, stand respectively as Serie A's youngest and oldest managers, and have won two matches each in four previous meetings. Their recent encounters have produced friction—Gasperini objected to Fabregas's use of the goalkeeper in Como's build-up, while Fabregas criticised Gasperini's failure to greet him after one fixture. Sunday's fixture, arriving at only the sixth matchday, already carries weight in gauging both teams' ambitions.