Pellegrini and Roma Autistic visit Rebibbia prison for mental health day

AS Roma's new stadium project at Pietralata is moving closer to the operational phase, with construction now targeted to begin in 2027. The plan has progressed through administrative phases, and Sport Minister Andrea Abodi provided an update on the development. Abodi outlined the current status of the project: "We are very advanced. The decisive service conference has closed its process, the Pauc has been approved. Now we are moving toward the drafting of the final and executive project and then there will be a tender." The next steps involve completing the detailed project specifications before moving to the bidding stage for construction contracts.

The renovated Roma Club Testaccio opened its doors on 9 October following an extensive refurbishment, drawing hundreds of supporters across generations to celebrate the reopening of one of the most historically significant gathering points in the Roma fan community. The event in the Testaccio district was enhanced by the presence of three major figures from the 1983 Scudetto-winning team: Sebino Nela, Ubaldo Righetti and Odoacre Chierico. Their attendance reconnected the club's history, allowing those present to share anecdotes and memories tied to past triumphs and the passion for the giallorossi colours. Founded fifty-seven years ago, the association serves as a fundamental repository for memorabilia, photographs and testimonies of Rome's sporting tradition. Local politicians, entertainment figures and broadcasters from TeleRadioStereo also attended the celebration. The refurbished premises will now enable members and families from the neighbourhood to gather in a suitable space to watch Roma matches and pass on the values of fandom to younger generations.

The Friedkin Group has opened the door to selling its controlling stake in Everton while reinforcing its long-term investment in AS Roma, marking a strategic shift that places the Italian club at the centre of the Texan ownership's football portfolio. The group stated: "The Friedkin Group is evaluating new investment options for Everton Football Club, including the potential sale of a controlling stake." The move reflects no immediate urgency to divest but signals a willingness to explore offers from buyers deemed capable of "taking the club forward and consolidating the momentum that has been created" while continuing to support it in the interim. The valuation of Everton, according to Il Messaggero, could reach approximately £800 million including debt. Estimates of the group's initial outlay differ: Il Messaggero indicates around £400 million for the acquisition of 94.1% of shares from Farhad Moshiri, while Il Tempo quantifies total investment at approximately £600 million. An exit at that valuation would represent a favourable outcome economically. Crucially, the article identifies UEFA multi-ownership rules governing simultaneous European participation as a factor in the group's thinking—having two clubs from the same ownership in UEFA competitions requires strict compliance with regulations on multiple club ownership, though this is not identified as the sole driver of a potential sale. Roma presents the inverse picture. Since arriving in the capital, the Friedkin Group has committed over €1 billion in investments and tied a central component of its project to building a new stadium at Pietralata, an undertaking estimated to cost around €1.3 billion overall. Everton's 2024-25 accounts showed revenues of £196.7 million and losses reduced to £8.6 million. The group is also reportedly working on establishing a new NHL franchise in Texas in the Houston-Austin area for approximately $3.5 billion, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, further demonstrating its appetite for major sports portfolio expansion. The article emphasizes that any Everton sale proceeds would not automatically flow to Roma, as these represent separate holding-level assets and investments. The strategic signal, however, is unambiguous: while the Friedkin Group evaluates an exit from Everton after stabilizing the club, Roma remains in an active growth and construction phase, with the Pietralata stadium project serving as the ultimate test of Roma's centrality to the ownership's vision.

Mile Svilar's availability for Roma's Serie A fixture against Como on 11 October is uncertain after he sustained a finger injury during the match against Inter. The goalkeeper has not trained with the squad in recent days, and optimism has diminished as the match approaches. Pierluigi Gollini, who arrived in January 2025, stands ready to deputise. Since his arrival in the capital, Gollini has played only once — against Panathinaikos in the final matchday of last season's UEFA Europa League group phase. Gian Piero Gasperini will make his final decision at today's training session. Roma face tactical decisions elsewhere ahead of the 12:30 kickoff on matchday six. Behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, one of Rodrigo Mora, Matías Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini will operate in the attacking midfield role. Marten de Roon will replace the injured Bryan Cristante in the centre of midfield, partnering Manu Koné. Wesley lines up at left back, with a contest between Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli for the right flank. The back three consists of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. The squad departs for Como today.

Gian Piero Gasperini held a pre-match press conference on 10 October ahead of Roma's fixture at Como on 12 October at 12:30, confirming that goalkeeper Mile Svilar will miss approximately one month after suffering a stress fracture to his foot during a training session. Svilar sustained the injury a week ago following a push during the session; the fracture is not displaced but requires around a month of recovery, with medical staff evaluating whether to insert a screw—a procedure that would extend his absence. Pierluigi Gollini will take his place in goal. Gasperini described the injury as "a bad blow", but noted that in long seasons such setbacks can occur. He added: "He will be back after the break. It is a difficult situation, but in lengthy campaigns you can face unexpected problems of this type. Gollini will play and he will have the opportunity to become the important goalkeeper he has been." Konstantinos Koulierakis is also unavailable, having sustained a contusion while on international duty, though Gasperini expects him to return on Monday. Bryan Cristante was noted as the only player to underperform during a full-squad training session on 9 October. Lorenzo Pellegrini, who benefited from recovery time during the international break, is ready to start. Gasperini defended Gollini's credentials despite limited recent playing time: "I was the only one to use him with continuity at Atalanta. He is an excellent reserve goalkeeper and now has the chance to play many matches. When he was at Atalanta he also became Italy's third-choice keeper. He has always trained well and is a valuable player. He deserves everyone's confidence—we are certainly not talking about a goalkeeper with no career experience." Gasperini discussed Roma's tactical outlook and the challenge ahead. "The Inter side, in the judgment of almost everyone, appears to be one step above the others," he said. "We played a very good match against Inter—from my perspective, an extremely positive one—and we must build on that performance. Como, like us, Juventus, Milan, Napoli, Atalanta and perhaps other surprises, form part of that group of teams competing for the best positions behind Inter, hoping that occasionally they might stumble." He confirmed that Wesley has performed excellently in the early season, notably against Inter, and outlined his rotation strategy: "Given that we must play nine matches in twenty-seven days, I believe there will be real opportunity to rotate all the players." On defending set-piece situations after the interval, Gasperini suggested the issue stemmed more from individual episodes than a systemic defensive problem. He also addressed Roma's passionate fanbase, stating: "I do not have to win anyone over—it is the opposite. The people, with the enormous passion they have for this team, infect me and the players. The situation is reversed. Playing surrounded by this passion and enthusiasm, with a stadium always so full, I believe is something extremely favourable and positive, which the squad and players feel in a particular way." Gasperini emphasised the importance of squad depth given the fixture congestion. He will have 18 outfield players plus Gollini available, with 16 starting in matches. "I hope that message gets through," he said. "Today I do not know who will play against Real Madrid, against Genoa, against Slovan, or in all the matches we face until Sassuolo. I simply hope we do not suffer further injuries like Svilar's." On Roma's ownership, he noted: "For a team to become great, as I understand it, I believe it is important also to have an ownership close by. I came here after speaking with Dan and Ryan, and that was precisely what convinced me that important work could be done. I hope there is still the same idea and vision."

Roma travel to Como on Saturday 10 October 2026 in a fixture that carries multiple subplots. The match will pit Wesley, Roma's Brazilian defender, against Como's Yan Couto, another Brazilian fullback operating as an attacking outlet. Both remain without a goal this season but have featured for Brazil's senior squad—Couto with 4 appearances and Wesley with 8. The encounter at the Sinigaglia will serve as a meaningful indicator ahead of Carlo Ancelotti's future selections for the national team. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini stands on the brink of a significant milestone: victory would deliver his 300th win in Serie A, a threshold previously crossed only by Trapattoni, Allegri, Spalletti and Rocco—all of whom won the Scudetto. Roma's record against Como in the last ten Serie A meetings offers encouragement: they have never drawn, winning seven times and losing three. The midfield and attacking line remain in flux, with Matías Soulé, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Rodrigo Mora competing for the attacking midfield role; Soulé has returned from international duty but remains in contention for the starting lineup. Paulo Dybala and Como's Nico Paz will showcase an Argentine dimension to the match. Dybala arrives with 4 assists but without a goal in the season so far, while Paz has scored once and supplied one assist. Forward Donyell Malen and Como's Christos Douvikas share a formative Dutch connection: Malen developed through PSV's academy and became the club's second-youngest player in history to score at least 10 goals in three consecutive seasons by age 22. Douvikas established himself at Utrecht with 32 goals in 77 matches before winning the Eredivisie's top-scorer award in 2022–23 with 19 goals.