Pisilli and Lulli: Gasperini's academy gold at Roma

Roma are already preparing for the January transfer window, with sporting director Tony D'Amico studying a deal to bring Real Madrid forward Endrick to the club. The summer transfer window has just closed, but Roma believe the squad assembled in recent weeks can still be strengthened, particularly in attack. D'Amico is exploring a loan arrangement that would include a purchase option for Roma and a counter-option for Real Madrid—a complex formula designed to give both clubs a stake in the player's future while allowing Roma to move beyond a straightforward temporary deal. Endrick is facing limited opportunities at Madrid due to competition in the attacking department, and the prospect of regular playing time in Rome could help facilitate the move. For head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, he would represent another quality option for an attack the manager believes can still be improved. The fact that D'Amico is already studying the mechanics and conditions shows Roma's intent to arrive at January fully prepared and complete what was not possible in the final days of summer. Endrick is no longer merely a name circulating in transfer gossip; it is a target Roma intends to pursue with considerable advance preparation.

Marten de Roon continues to command respect from his former Atalanta teammates despite fan anger at the club, which surfaced during a defeat to Cagliari on 12 September. The midfielder, now a Roma player for the past two weeks, was praised by Lazar Samardzic in the aftermath of that match. Speaking to DAZN after the game, Samardzic said: "Marten is Atalanta for us, he spent ten years here and achieved tremendous results. For us he is a legend, we wish him the best because he is an incredible person who helped so many of the boys who arrived. For us he is number one, he will always be our captain." De Roon's departure to Roma represents a significant moment for Atalanta, where he had become a cornerstone of the squad. The affection shown by current players underscores the influence he wielded during his decade at the club, even as supporters expressed their frustration with recent performances. Atalanta manager Maurizio Sarri also spoke to DAZN following the 2–1 loss to Cagliari at the New Balance Arena. He referenced Roma's 2–1 victory over Atalanta at the Olimpico in the previous round, saying: "I was worried after Bologna, in part after Roma, not certainly after the match with Cagliari. I am very disappointed by the result, but I saw a bit of light at the end of the tunnel."

Roma's transfer activity is not yet complete. Director D'Amico is already planning for January, with Endrick, the Brazilian forward at Real Madrid, emerging as a priority target. The 2006-born striker has found little playing time this season due to the fierce competition for places in Madrid's attack, and Roma see him as an ideal solution for Gasperini's requirements. Gasperini has repeatedly emphasised that the squad needs reinforcement, particularly an left-footed winger on the right flank—a position Roma failed to fill during the summer window despite the coach's request for more than a year. Endrick fits the profile of an attacking player who could provide what the Roma boss demands. D'Amico is working on a loan deal with an optional purchase clause and a counter-purchase option in Real Madrid's favour. The structure mirrors Endrick's move to Lyon in January of last year, which was arranged as a paid loan with performance-related bonuses tied to his appearances.

Niccolò Pisilli is set to start for Roma against Torino on 13 September, filling the midfield slot alongside Bryan Cristante after Manu Koné suffered a slight knee injury during the Champions League visit to Fenerbahçe. The class of 2004 midfielder will make his first Serie A start of the season after three substitute appearances, stepping in as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini manages the squad across a packed fixture schedule. Gasperini opted to deploy Pisilli over Marten de Roon in Turkey, a signal of the hierarchy in midfield. Koné is likely to be rested to avoid compounding the injury ahead of the Inter fixture. Gasperini trusts Pisilli and values his offensive contribution and application without the ball, according to reports in Il Tempo. The coach is expected to make other changes across the defence and attack but will not drastically overhaul the team despite the rapid fixture congestion. Elsewhere, Leonardo Balerdi is pressing for minutes after two decent cameos in earlier games. Devyne Rensch struggled in Istanbul, leaving the right-back position uncertain, with Nahuel Molina still without a league start this season and Emanuele Lulli dealing with flu that prevented him training on 12 September, though he hopes to travel with the squad. Donyell Malen holds a clear advantage over Santiago Castro in attack. The choice among Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora remains fluid; Gasperini has difficulty leaving any of them out and may ask for an effort from one until the international break.

Roma are preparing for their match against Torino on 14 September with several changes across midfield, defence and attack as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini manages the squad's physical demands. Manu Koné will miss the opening in favour of Niccolò Pisilli, who is set to make his first league start of the 2026-27 season after the French midfielder completed a separate training session on 12 September as a precautionary measure. Lorenzo Pellegrini is available again after his absence and will be included in the squad. The defensive line will see Leonardo Balerdi come into contention to replace Gianluca Mancini, who has appeared below his best in recent outings, with Ghilardi also in the frame. Emanuele Lulli is expected to return to the starting XI on the right flank. In attack, Gasperini plans a managed rotation between Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé to control the demands on his forward resources as Roma push forward in their league campaign.

Niccolò Pisilli and Emanuele Lulli embody Roma's academy excellence — both young, Roman-born romanisti developed through the club's youth system. Pisilli, born in 2004, has amassed 81 appearances in a Roma shirt and will make his 82nd against Torino tomorrow, starting in midfield alongside Bryan Cristante for the first time this season. Lulli, 19 and born in 2007, was rested during Roma's Champions League fixture at Fenerbahce to protect him, and will face Torino with Cacciamani — another Roma summer target of identical age — opposing him. The pair represent the calibre of talent being developed within the club. Marten de Roon, among the recent arrivals, is gradually being integrated into the squad rotation, while Nahuel Molina — not yet at full condition — is expected to feature more regularly in the starting eleven after the international break. The Stadio Olimpico will host the clash against Atalanta, where national team coach Mancini was present to observe Roma's players. On the transfer front, Salah-Eddine has left Roma to join Panathinaikos on loan with a purchase option set at 7 million euros plus 1 million in add-ons, completing the final operation of the summer window.

Niccolò Pisilli is set to start for Roma against Torino on 13 September, filling the midfield slot alongside Bryan Cristante after Manu Koné suffered a slight knee injury during the Champions League visit to Fenerbahçe. The class of 2004 midfielder will make his first Serie A start of the season after three substitute appearances, stepping in as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini manages the squad across a packed fixture schedule. Gasperini opted to deploy Pisilli over Marten de Roon in Turkey, a signal of the hierarchy in midfield. Koné is likely to be rested to avoid compounding the injury ahead of the Inter fixture. Gasperini trusts Pisilli and values his offensive contribution and application without the ball, according to reports in Il Tempo. The coach is expected to make other changes across the defence and attack but will not drastically overhaul the team despite the rapid fixture congestion. Elsewhere, Leonardo Balerdi is pressing for minutes after two decent cameos in earlier games. Devyne Rensch struggled in Istanbul, leaving the right-back position uncertain, with Nahuel Molina still without a league start this season and Emanuele Lulli dealing with flu that prevented him training on 12 September, though he hopes to travel with the squad. Donyell Malen holds a clear advantage over Santiago Castro in attack. The choice among Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora remains fluid; Gasperini has difficulty leaving any of them out and may ask for an effort from one until the international break.

Niccolò Pisilli and Emanuele Lulli embody Roma's academy excellence — both young, Roman-born romanisti developed through the club's youth system. Pisilli, born in 2004, has amassed 81 appearances in a Roma shirt and will make his 82nd against Torino tomorrow, starting in midfield alongside Bryan Cristante for the first time this season. Lulli, 19 and born in 2007, was rested during Roma's Champions League fixture at Fenerbahce to protect him, and will face Torino with Cacciamani — another Roma summer target of identical age — opposing him. The pair represent the calibre of talent being developed within the club. Marten de Roon, among the recent arrivals, is gradually being integrated into the squad rotation, while Nahuel Molina — not yet at full condition — is expected to feature more regularly in the starting eleven after the international break. The Stadio Olimpico will host the clash against Atalanta, where national team coach Mancini was present to observe Roma's players. On the transfer front, Salah-Eddine has left Roma to join Panathinaikos on loan with a purchase option set at 7 million euros plus 1 million in add-ons, completing the final operation of the summer window.

Roma travel to Torino on 14 September seeking three points to reclaim top spot in Serie A after their Champions League fixture against Fenerbahce in Istanbul. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing several squad changes before the international break, with the midfield set for significant rotation. Manu Koné will rest despite no structural damage to his knee; he underwent differentiated training on 12 September as a precaution ahead of the coming fixtures. Niccolò Pisilli is primed to start alongside Bryan Cristante in the league match, earning Gasperini's complete confidence for his qualities in pressing and defensive work. Rotation is being assessed across other areas without dismantling the team's core shape. In defence, Leonardo Balerdi is pushing the regular three, though the established back line remains favoured. On the right flank, a battle between Devyne Rensch (fatigued after Champions League action) and Nahuel Molina is underway, with Emanuele Lulli returning from recent flu symptoms. Upfront against Torino's three-at-the-back system, Donyell Malen holds a substantial advantage over Santiago Castro for the centre-forward role. Paulo Dybala, who left the field with cramps in Istanbul, is being managed carefully; the coaching staff will decide whether to start him or deploy a rotation with Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora, using the international break to allow the Argentine to fully recover his fitness.

Marten de Roon continues to command respect from his former Atalanta teammates despite fan anger at the club, which surfaced during a defeat to Cagliari on 12 September. The midfielder, now a Roma player for the past two weeks, was praised by Lazar Samardzic in the aftermath of that match. Speaking to DAZN after the game, Samardzic said: "Marten is Atalanta for us, he spent ten years here and achieved tremendous results. For us he is a legend, we wish him the best because he is an incredible person who helped so many of the boys who arrived. For us he is number one, he will always be our captain." De Roon's departure to Roma represents a significant moment for Atalanta, where he had become a cornerstone of the squad. The affection shown by current players underscores the influence he wielded during his decade at the club, even as supporters expressed their frustration with recent performances. Atalanta manager Maurizio Sarri also spoke to DAZN following the 2–1 loss to Cagliari at the New Balance Arena. He referenced Roma's 2–1 victory over Atalanta at the Olimpico in the previous round, saying: "I was worried after Bologna, in part after Roma, not certainly after the match with Cagliari. I am very disappointed by the result, but I saw a bit of light at the end of the tunnel."

Marten de Roon became a Roma player on 30 August, but Atalanta supporters have not yet accepted his departure after 11 years at the club. During Atalanta's match against Cagliari on 12 September, home fans displayed a banner directed at their former captain: "You chose to pass into our history but not to belong to it... Goodbye little flag." The message echoed criticism shown during Atalanta's match against Bologna on 1 September, when supporters displayed another banner reading: "Thank you for these 11 years, it would have been nice to say goodbye in Nerazzurro. One thing is certain, another flag is lost." De Roon's switch to Roma followed his relationship with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, the opportunity to play Champions League football, and his diminished role under Atalanta manager Sarri. Nevertheless, Bergamo's supporters have struggled to accept the Dutch midfielder's choice to join the capital club.

Niccolò Pisilli is set to start for Roma against Torino on 13 September, filling the midfield slot alongside Bryan Cristante after Manu Koné suffered a slight knee injury during the Champions League visit to Fenerbahçe. The class of 2004 midfielder will make his first Serie A start of the season after three substitute appearances, stepping in as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini manages the squad across a packed fixture schedule. Gasperini opted to deploy Pisilli over Marten de Roon in Turkey, a signal of the hierarchy in midfield. Koné is likely to be rested to avoid compounding the injury ahead of the Inter fixture. Gasperini trusts Pisilli and values his offensive contribution and application without the ball, according to reports in Il Tempo. The coach is expected to make other changes across the defence and attack but will not drastically overhaul the team despite the rapid fixture congestion. Elsewhere, Leonardo Balerdi is pressing for minutes after two decent cameos in earlier games. Devyne Rensch struggled in Istanbul, leaving the right-back position uncertain, with Nahuel Molina still without a league start this season and Emanuele Lulli dealing with flu that prevented him training on 12 September, though he hopes to travel with the squad. Donyell Malen holds a clear advantage over Santiago Castro in attack. The choice among Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora remains fluid; Gasperini has difficulty leaving any of them out and may ask for an effort from one until the international break.