Pellegrini cleared to face Fenerbahçe, set for Torino return

Roma have reduced their wage bill significantly in the past year, cutting costs by 14.8 million euros while maintaining squad strength and returning to the Champions League after seven years. The club now sits fifth in Serie A's payroll rankings at 92.7 million euros for the 2026-27 season, behind Inter (145.82 million), Juventus (145.52 million), Napoli (109.72 million) and Milan (103.14 million). The reduction comes as Roma have made an impressive start to the campaign, accumulating nine points from their opening fixtures. Director of Sport D'Amico outlined the strategy at a press conference, saying: "We knew our objectives, and we partly succeeded. We lowered the wage bill by 15 per cent, almost 20 million euros compared to last year." The figures published by Calcio e Finanza broadly confirm his statement. The wage bill fell from 107.5 million euros in the 2025-26 season to 92.7 million this season—a reduction of 13.8 per cent. This represents significant cost control, though it remains 5.5 per cent higher than two years ago, when Roma spent 87.9 million euros. D'Amico achieved the cuts while strengthening the squad and retaining key players, a notable outcome given Roma's ongoing financial constraints. The cost-containment effort appears to be on track, with the reduced wage burden proving compatible with sporting performance as the club prepares for Champions League football.

Manu Koné has remained at Roma despite Chelsea's interest in him as a potential replacement for Enzo Fernandez. Although no formal offer materialised, Roma chose not to open negotiations for the midfielder in order to avoid complicating Gasperini's plans. Now in his third year at the club, Koné is established as a cornerstone of both Roma and the French national team, with improving his goal contribution identified as his main area for development. The Italian football federation's prosecuting office has opened an inquiry into the heated verbal confrontation that erupted in the coach parking area following Saturday night's Roma-Atalanta match. Prosecutor Chiné intends to clarify the circumstances of the altercation and may summon the two officials involved to gather their respective accounts of what happened. Journalist Tonino Cagnucci has criticised the restrictions placed on Roma fans travelling to Turin, highlighting what he calls a paradox in residence-based limitations. "They are closing off away trips because clearly they do not know how to manage them," he wrote, describing the policy as a form of "minority report" applied to football. He added: "They are doing exactly what they say they are fighting against: it is they who are applying territorial discrimination."

Matías Soulé is set to play a starring role in Roma's return to the Champions League as the club travel to face Fenerbahce. The Argentine forward's comeback comes on the back of a decisive display in the previous league fixture against Atalanta, marking his readiness to shine on the European stage four years after his debut in the competition with Juventus. Soulé's resurgence is the product of work undertaken with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and Roma's restructured medical staff. The 2003-born forward arrived back this summer hampered by a troublesome groin injury and behind in his pre-season preparation, but worked hard during the training camp to regain peak condition. A transfer market saga saw Roma value him at €40 million in the face of interest from several Premier League clubs, while Gasperini considered the profile of Mason Greenwood for the right flank during early talks. Without official offers at that price and given Soulé's considerable commitment, he has been fully reinstated, with Gasperini certifying his complete physical and athletic recovery. In Istanbul, Roma will encounter both former Lazio striker Vedat Muriqi and Greenwood as opponents. For Soulé, the match represents the confirmation of a redemption arc that sees him restored to the heart of the capital club's tactical project, working in full harmony with teammate Paulo Dybala to deliver quality, unpredictability and high-level attacking solutions.

Roma trained at Trigoria on 7 September with full focus on their Champions League debut on Thursday in Istanbul, under the watch of CEO John Galantic and sporting director Tony D'Amico, ahead of a possible visit from the Friedkin ownership. No residual effects from the intense Atalanta match meant the entire squad was available to Gasperini, who allowed himself a smile when Santiago Castro performed penalty press-ups during a training session. Lorenzo Pellegrini, who recently signed a contract renewal, has fully recovered from a right thigh rectus femoris injury and has been training with the group for a week, putting him in contention for the Fenerbahçe encounter. However, his debut in the competition will likely come on the following Monday at Turin.

Lorenzo Pellegrini has recovered from recent injury and returned to full training with Roma's squad, a significant boost for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini as the club prepares for its European campaign. The midfielder had been sidelined by problems that disrupted the previous weeks but is now working normally with his teammates at Trigoria, the club confirmed via social media with a training video captioned "Towards Istanbul". The recovery is timely as Roma enters the critical phase of the season where squad rotation and energy management become increasingly important. Pellegrini's availability gives Gasperini more options in midfield at a moment when the team will need to balance domestic and continental commitments. This comes after Roma secured a third consecutive league victory, maintaining momentum before the European campaign begins.

Roma began preparations for their Champions League campaign with a training session on Thursday ahead of their debut in Europe's elite competition against Fenerbahce in Istanbul on Thursday. Lorenzo Pellegrini trained with the group and is targeting a recall to the squad. The club's focus extends beyond the pitch: director D'Amico has identified a need for a left-sided forward, and Roma are considering Jadon Sancho, currently a free agent. New contact has been made with the English player, with the idea of a pay-per-appearance contract arrangement.