Pellegrini renewal agreement stalls as Friedkin approval still awaited

Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing to rotate his squad heavily ahead of matches against Torino and Inter, with Koné, Dybala, Malen and Mancini among those likely to be rested. Castro, Mora, Soulé, Pisilli and De Roon are expected to see more action as Roma look to preserve their key players and test the depth of the squad while addressing defensive issues that have emerged in recent fixtures. Salah-Eddine's departure to Panathinaikos is confirmed. The left-back moves on a loan deal with a right of redemption and underwent medical tests in Athens today to complete the transfer. Separately, defender Oosterwolde has reopened the possibility of joining Roma. An achilles tendon operation had scuppered a move earlier this summer, but Oosterwolde met with Roma officials in Istanbul and signalled his willingness to return. "I hope to come back to Roma in the coming months," he said. The club remains interested with D'Amico continuing to monitor developments. Gasperini values Oosterwolde's versatility, and his recovery from surgery will be key to determining whether Roma can revive the deal as early as January. Carina told Radio Radio: "I've read plenty of criticism of Roma. In 30 years doing this job I'd never known a situation where I couldn't speak to my colleague—there was an absurd broadcast an hour and a half before the match and 30 minutes after. Given where it was played, Roma put in a more than decent performance: they dominated the first half. From the stadium, I had the sense that Roma wouldn't lose it, and could even have won it." Pruzzo added: "I saw a good Roma. What I keep thinking is that I have many doubts about whether the squad is qualitatively as strong as people say: I don't have that perception. In the first half they played like last season, but in the second, when you need to change, there isn't the same level. I think Castro is Roma's best option off the bench. Then Molina comes on and does the same thing as Rensch, and Mora yesterday did nothing."

Anass Salah-Eddine has left AS Roma to join Greek club Panathinaikos on loan with a purchase option worth €7 million plus €1 million in add-ons. The deal was confirmed on 12 September 2026, with the left back undergoing medical examinations in Athens the same day. The 25-year-old Moroccan defender has fallen out of favour under Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and sought a move to secure regular playing time. Roma and Panathinaikos had been in advanced talks over the transfer, with the loan structure agreed as a conditional obligation to buy. The move also saw backing from Azzedine Ounahi, Salah-Eddine's Morocco teammate, while Olympiacos had also pursued the player. Transfer specialist Gianluca Di Marzio and Sky Sport reported that discussions between the two clubs reached an advanced stage before the deal was finalised. Fabrizio Romano confirmed the agreement with a verbal accord struck and medical arrangements locked in place. The buy clause structure was finalised at €7m plus €1m add-ons, with the option to make the transfer permanent at the conclusion of the loan spell. Salah-Eddine's departure marks his exit from Roma's squad after being deemed surplus to requirements by Gasperini's technical project. The player moves to the Super League Greece seeking greater opportunities for competitive action.

Salah-Eddine is leaving Roma to join Greek club Panathinaikos on a loan deal with a right of redemption. The full-back underwent medical tests in Athens and signed his contract today. He had rejected approaches from Olympiacos in August and turned down West Ham's offer in the closing days of the transfer window. Head coach Gasperini confirmed last week that Salah-Eddine had been offered several moves he declined and plays no part in Roma's plans. The decision to part ways came despite Wesley not arriving as a replacement from the transfer market. Gasperini said: "Salah-Eddine has had quite a few opportunities that he refused. As far as Roma is concerned, I have already made my choices and he does not feature in Roma's plans."

Roma travel to Turin on Monday to face Torino, with encouraging news from the medical department. Manu Koné, who left the Istanbul match with knee discomfort, did not require scans and will be managed day by day; his inclusion in the squad for Monday is very likely, though he is expected to start on the bench. With Torino followed by an Inter fixture just five days later, Gasperini is preparing to rotate more heavily across the squad. Wesley, not yet fully recovered from ankle problems, could give way to Rensch or Molina, who is seeking his first start. The defence faces changes too: Mancini is struggling for form and faces competition from Balerdi, who has impressed in recent outings, and Ghilardi. Up front, Santiago Castro is pushing for a starting role, but a rotation with Malen appears more likely at present. Cristante is the only guaranteed starter in midfield, with Pisilli or De Roon potential partners alongside him. There is also positive news on the horizon: Lorenzo Pellegrini could return to the squad list, giving the coach more tactical options.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is nearing his first-team return after 157 days out. The Roma midfielder has resumed full training with the squad following a lengthy recovery from a muscle injury and subsequent cleaning procedure on the scar tissue of his right thigh hamstring tendon. He is drawing close to his first squad selection of the season, with Gasperini now deciding when to formally bring him back into contention. The Corriere dello Sport suggests Pellegrini could be available as early as Monday's match against Torino, potentially earning his first minutes of the campaign. La Repubblica takes a more cautious view, targeting Roma–Inter on 19 September as the realistic return fixture. Gasperini pushed for Pellegrini's retention despite the injury, confident in his technical qualities and his standing within the dressing room. His reintegration will necessarily be gradual after such a long absence, but he will provide additional depth in a phase of the season when matches and squad rotation are set to increase. Much will depend on how Pellegrini responds in training over the coming days. His recovery unfolded without rushing the process over the summer break.

Roma travel to Torino on Monday in pursuit of a fourth consecutive league victory, with Manu Koné expected to be available despite a knee complaint that bothered him during the midweek Champions League match at Fenerbahçe. The midfielder requested a change during that fixture, citing pain in the knee—a problem he has carried since summer—but the discomfort vanished after his return to the capital, making further medical tests unnecessary. Gasperini will use today's training session to assess Koné's readiness and also to determine whether Lorenzo Pellegrini can be included in the squad. With the Inter match looming as Roma's next big test, Gasperini faces decisions across the back line and midfield. Leonardo Balerdi, on loan from Marseille, has impressed in brief outings against Atalanta and Fenerbahçe, consistently seeking to win the ball early—a hallmark of Gasperini's tactical approach. Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso form the spine of Roma's defence, though Mancini appeared short of breath during the Istanbul match and was substituted in the second half. Devyne Rensch's surprise return in the Champions League has left Emanuele Lulli and Nahuel Molina competing for the right-back position. In midfield, with Koné below his best, Niccolò Pisilli is pushing for a more prominent role, one he will find over the course of the season.