Pisilli injury not serious: no calf tear confirmed

Paulo Dybala is close to returning to Gian Piero Gasperini's squad, with Roma's attacker reportedly in contention for Tuesday evening's Serie A clash against Cagliari, according to Sky Sport. Dybala was left out of the squad for the Champions League match against Slovan Bratislava because of a small muscle injury, a fact confirmed by Gasperini himself. The latest indications suggest he could recover in time for the next league fixture, although his presence is not yet official and will depend on evaluations from the medical and technical staff in the coming days. A possible return would give Gasperini an important offensive option, though the Argentine's minutes will need to be managed with caution. On the other side of the club's news, Roma are reportedly in the final stages of agreeing a new contract with young winger Lulli. Sky Sport reports the deal should extend his stay at the club until 2031, reflecting the club's intention to build around the player in the seasons ahead. A few aspects remain to be finalised before the agreement is formalised, and it has not yet been announced officially. Both stories fit into Roma's wider work to strengthen the squad available to Gasperini: Dybala brings quality and experience to the attack, while the Lulli deal would ensure continuity in the development of a player the club clearly values.

Gianluca Piacentini of Rete Sport insisted Roma paid 25 million euros for Mora, not 50 million, in the latest instalment of the Roman radio roundup. He said: "Roma paid 25 million for Mora, then if this year he scores 100 goals and is worth 200 million, Roma have the option of paying 25 million to remove that clause on a future resale. But they did not buy 50% of the player, they bought 100% of the player. If they sell him, they must give 50% of what they receive, which Roma can remove by paying another 25 million. Since you have been insinuating for days that he is rubbish but you do not have the courage to say it, you say he was paid 50 million, but it is not true! If Roma take Mora to the end of his contract, they will have paid 25 million. It is very clear." Rossi, also on Rete Sport, reopened the debate over Pellegrini, saying that some people had doubted Roma's decision to renew Dybala and Pellegrini this summer, citing a history of injuries. He said Dybala has not reached half of his appearances and that Pellegrini had reached his 100th injury. Pellegrini has now re-injured the musculotendinous junction of the flexor, and will take another three months out. Rossi added that the injury was not fixed and that the club paid five million gross for the player, money he said Roma could have spent better. On Tele Radio Stereo, Alessio Nardo asked whether this is Pellegrini's last season with Roma, adding that the speculation should be hedged because "with Pellegrini you never know". He also questioned whether Gasperini chose to speak at his press conference today to avoid questions about possible errors in the transfer market and about underestimating certain aspects. Nardo described a city that remains bitter even after a third-place finish and seven wins in ten matches, saying Mora had become "the new Zaragoza" and had been "destroyed" over the last 48 hours. Lorenzo Pes disagreed, arguing that Gasperini skipped the press conference simply because of a run of closely spaced matches. Valentina Catoni argued that the real problem was not renewing Pellegrini but failing to sign another forward, saying Gasperini had asked for at least one more player up front. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said Roma are playing the season with only 20 outfield players, two of whom, Dybala and Pellegrini, have had a hard few years. He said the club's wage bill problem is the card Roma will play in front of UEFA, and claimed Pellegrini has played only 150 minutes in total. Torri also said he would have signed El Shaarawy at the end of the window, since he could play as a wide attacker or in midfield. Paola Cosenza voiced concern about Cristante, who is returning from a collateral ligament problem, fearing he may force his recovery. Marco Valerio Corsi said he expected Gasperini to protect Mora in the match at Napoli if he delivered another lacklustre performance, and that he doubted Wesley could play as a forward. Roberto Pruzzo said Soulé is growing and that Roma should build around him, and that he sees Santiago Castro as the alternative, adding that Mora looks too far behind the level required for the stage he is being asked to perform on. He said: "We must hope Malen doesn't even have a cold, otherwise it gets tough." Mario Mattioli argued that Pellegrini had only returned from injury two matches earlier and that the club had already lived through a similar situation. Nando Orsi criticised the constant talk of signings and of how Gasperini's training compares with that of previous years. The discussion is set to continue on the same programme, with pundits calling for Roma to reach January in contention for the top places before the club reassesses its options.

Filippo Biafora of Radio Manà Manà said the renewal of Marco Lulli's contract is done, with the defender set to sign a deal running until 2031 with a rising salary. Biafora said he had no confirmation on the operation involving Lorenzo Pellegrini, who for the moment will be out for a couple of months. Regardless of that situation, he said, Gasperini has strongly asked for investment in January. Francesco Balzani of Tele Radio Stereo said he expected Mora not to start. He said Cristante was awaited for a decision the previous day, and that Cristante had said he could start, with the club to assess how his minutes are managed because he cannot play the whole match. Balzani recalled that Gasperini played Cristante as a high forward against Allegri's Milan last year and could repeat it. He expects Cristante to start and Mora to come on if Roma need more technical quality, adding that Gasperini does not consider pairing the two strikers. Balzani said that starting Mora would upset the balance against a strong side in Naples, and that other moves would be forced. Mario Mattioli of Radio Radio said: "The injury to Pellegrini, but it is not that now every injury means going back to the market. What happens when you get the starters back? They should have foreseen that Gasperini's training was not what Roma were used to. Roma now train with a capital 'A', before it was not like this, but the fault certainly does not lie with the market." Roberto Pruzzo, also of Radio Radio, said: "We need to understand what role Castro can play, who at this moment can be the alternative. Mora seems too far behind to me. We must hope Malen does not catch a cold, otherwise it becomes tough. Above all in managing matches: we must make sure we reach January still there, and then sign players on the market." Lorenzo Pes of TeleradioStereo said that in June a discussion had opened about the length of Pellegrini's contract, especially on how such fragile players can lead to a different squad make-up. Dybala, Pellegrini and Koné often stop, and with the first two you have to reckon. He said Roma travel to Napoli with 17 outfield players, which is very few. Pes said Gasperini wanted to keep this squad, believing it would improve this season, and had strongly wanted to keep Dybala and Pellegrini.

Former Roma midfielder Matteo Brighi has said Gian Piero Gasperini's side are title contenders, describing them as the most consistent team in the league so far and the one playing the best football. Brighi, who played 140 matches for Roma and scored 13 goals, spent his career at the club from the summer of 2007 after three years on loan at Chievo. He became a dependable midfield presence under Luciano Spalletti, competing for a starting place alongside De Rossi, Pizarro and Perrotta, and went on to win the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana in his first season. In 2008-09 he scored three decisive Champions League goals, including a brace against Cluj, which earned him a recall to the senior Italy squad. Under Claudio Ranieri in 2009-10 he was a quiet but irreplaceable pillar as Roma came close to a historic Scudetto against the Inter side of the Triplete. On the current season, Brighi said: "So far it has been the most consistent team and the one that plays the best football. Inter are strong but have had some ups and downs in matches, whereas Gasp's side haven't, at least in the league. Injuries and condition will be decisive, and they will certainly be a nuisance until the end. I am sure of it." Asked about the midfield, where Koné and Cristante are missing or doubtful from the start, he said: "Koné and Cristante are two pillars of Gasperini's game, but the other pairing has shown it has done very well. The secret of this team is cohesion, everyone knows what they have to do. De Roon knows Gasp well and Pisilli is growing enormously." Brighi also addressed Gasperini's use of Mancini in midfield: "Gasperini tried it, but that was with the game already decided against Slovan. It's fine to try different things, but we are talking about an emergency situation. It's fine for the coach to experiment given the situation." On Niccolò Pisilli, whom he coached in the Under-21s over the past two seasons, he said: "I know Niccolò well. He is a modern midfielder who can do everything. He is proving useful in every zone. I hope he gets closer to Perrotta than to me (laughs), also in terms of his path with the national team. He is a guarantee and Gasperini is counting on him a lot." On the squad, he added: "I'm very sorry for Pellegrini. Unfortunately, with so many matches a wide squad is needed. Gasperini knows how to manage both plenty and difficult moments. The decision rests only with the coach. If he thinks other players are needed, then returning to the market is the right thing to do."

Emanuele Lulli has signed a new contract with Roma running until 2031, tying the young full-back to the club after he was close to leaving last summer. Lulli, born in Palestrina and a lifelong Roma fan, was reportedly on the verge of joining Avellino when head coach Gian Piero Gasperini took him to pre-season training, watched him closely and halted the move. "Rimane qui" ("He stays here"), Gasperini told sporting director D'Amico. Lulli has made a strong start in Serie A, starting five of the first seven league matches and scoring his first goal against Genoa, in front of Daniele De Rossi. The deal matters for the club's future. Lulli's contract was due to expire in June 2027, which made an extension a priority on D'Amico's agenda. The new agreement runs to 2031 and starts on a base salary of 300,000 euros, rising over the years to around one million euros per season. The renewal was backed by everyone at the club, especially the player himself, who never considered leaving. Lazio also showed interest in him, but Lulli's goal was always to play for the team he has supported since childhood. Lulli's story also reflects Roma's tradition of homegrown Romans in the squad. He starred at Tor Tre Teste, where he played alongside the son of Marco Albergati, who worked for years with Bruno Conti, and Marazico was decisive in bringing him to Trigoria. Against Slovan, Niccolò Pisilli scored while wearing the captain's armband, and Lulli now looks like the club's next future captain. Lulli could start again at Napoli tomorrow, having given way to Nahuel Molina in the Champions League, and he is ready to reclaim the right flank in the league, with the race for the spot open.

Roma have tied down Emanuele Lulli to a new long-term contract running until 30 June 2031, with his salary set to rise over the coming years. The 2007-born defender, one of the standouts of the early 2026-27 season, has agreed fresh terms after several weeks of talks between the club and his entourage. The negotiations began before the young player's breakthrough. Roma had decided some time ago to protect his future, particularly in light of interest from several foreign clubs. Contacts with his camp reached the decisive stage in recent weeks, and the agreement was reached in the last few hours. Lulli earned the renewal on the pitch. Gian Piero Gasperini kept him in the first team after appreciating his athletic qualities, application and ability to contribute in both phases of play. His goal against Genoa, his first in Serie A, was simply the most visible sign of a rise that quickly brought him into Roma's rotation. The new deal confirms the club's intention to back players who have come through the youth system at Trigoria and to avoid the risk of losing one of the most promising talents to emerge from the academy. Following Pisilli, Roma have added another important piece for the future: Lulli is set to remain at the club for a long time.

Robinio Vaz's injury scare has eased, with the Roma loanee back in training after tests ruled out significant damage, while Neil El Aynaoui endured a bruising week in Europe and Bundesliga. Vaz, on loan at Hull City, came on in the 68th minute of their Premier League trip to Fulham, a 1-0 defeat decided by a goal from Iwobi. In stoppage time, at the 94th minute, he was hit hard by Ryan Sessegnon in the Achilles area. Sessegnon was sent off with a straight red card, and Vaz had to leave the pitch accompanied by medical staff. Initial impressions were worrying, but the subsequent checks were far more reassuring: the MRI scan showed no significant injury and Vaz returned to training on Tuesday 20 October. He recorded no goals or assists in the minutes he played against Fulham. Whether he will be available for the next game against Brentford remains to be confirmed. El Aynaoui, on loan at RB Leipzig, played three matches in a few days with mixed results. Leipzig beat PSV Eindhoven 1-0 in the Champions League thanks to a goal from Gruda, and El Aynaoui started and played the full 90 minutes. The Moroccan midfielder then started the Bundesliga trip to Bayern Munich, who thrashed Leipzig 6-1. He stayed on the pitch from start to finish but could not turn the game, which Bayern dominated. On 21 October Leipzig suffered another European defeat, losing 4-1 at the Bernabéu to Real Madrid. El Aynaoui again started alongside Seiwald but was replaced in the 63rd minute by Rocco Reitz, with Leipzig already two goals down. He recorded no goals or assists across the three matches, but he logged significant minutes that confirm his place in Demichelis's rotation. The heavy defeats to Bayern and Real Madrid left the team with a very negative overall record. Anass Salah-Eddine, on loan at Panathinaikos, is showing encouraging signs as the Moroccan wing-back fights for a place in the Greek side. He was not in the squad for the 2-1 win over Borac Banja Luka in the first matchday of the Conference League League Phase on 15 October. Three days later he started and played all 90 minutes of a comprehensive 5-1 league win over Asteras Tripolis. In the 47th minute he surged down the left flank and delivered a precise ball to Taborda, whose header was cleared off the line by Papakanellos. It was a good move that could have brought an assist but did not appear on the scoresheet. Salah-Eddine recorded no goal, official assist or card, but gave positive indications of his ability to support the attack. Panathinaikos return to Conference League action today against Kairat Almaty. Filippo Reale continues his good form at Carrarese, where he is increasingly picked by Guido Pagliuca. The centre-back, born in 2006, started and played the full 90 minutes in Carrarese's 2-1 home win over Modena, with goals from Abiuso and Rubino before Belotti replied for the visitors. He helped protect the lead in the closing stages as part of the back three. The most unusual moment came in the 96th minute, when Reale embarked on a long run from his own half, covered the entire left flank and shot into the box, only to send his diagonal effort wide. Carrarese have now won consecutive matches. Radoslaw Zelezny was also impressive for Perugia, starting in their 5-1 win at Campobasso. He played the entire game and conceded only Stoppa's equaliser in the 35th minute, before Perugia pulled clear in the second half. He was not held responsible for the goal, and SportPerugia gave him a 6 for his precise handling and his lack of blame. Marco Litti came off the bench for Lecco in their 5-0 win over Pro Vercelli, replacing Manetti in the 59th minute, when Manetti had scored the goal that made it 3-0. Litti took up position on the flank and helped manage the lead over the final half hour. He recorded no goal, assist or booking. Mohamed Seck, meanwhile, remains in a difficult spell with Foggia, who lost 3-1 at Giugliano in the Monday 19 October fixture. Seck was named in the back three by Gaetano Auteri and played the full game. Ravasio gave Foggia the lead in the 16th minute, but Baldé and De Rosa turned the match around before the break, and Esposito added the final goal after the restart. Seck was booked in the 21st minute. Foggia have conceded six goals in their last two league games. Luigi Cherubini, on loan at Benevento, was on the bench for their 2-2 home draw with Vicenza, having scored against Cesena. He came on for Lamesta in the 65th minute, with Benevento ahead 2-0 through Siatounis and Kouan. In the second half Benevento gradually lost control and were pegged back by goals from Corazza and Caferri.

Robinio Vaz has failed to take off since his move to Rome, and his spell at Hull City has started badly too. Roma invested 25 million to bring the Frenchman to the capital, but he has not justified the outlay. His attempts to fit into Gian Piero Gasperini's system proved more difficult than expected, with little playing time, plenty of time on the bench and a single goal, against Lecce. That was not enough to convince Gasperini, who did not change his mind even during the summer training camp, and so the club opted to send him out on loan. Hull City were meant to be the chance to restart his career. Instead, the story is repeating itself. In England Vaz is also finding minutes hard to come by: he started only once in the cup, followed by cameo appearances and spells on the bench. To make matters worse, he was injured against Fulham, leaving the pitch limping. It is not a good omen. It is a blow for Hull, who must now do without the Frenchman. No recovery timeframe has yet been set. Hull hold a buy-option fixed at 30 million, but confirming it is far from guaranteed. If his performances stay at this level, it will be hard to see the English club deciding to keep backing him. Roma are watching and waiting. The 25 million invested by Massara is still in search of an answer.

Roma's loan contingent produced mixed results across European and domestic competitions this week, with midfielder Luigi Cherubini and midfielder Neil El Aynaoui delivering attacking contributions while others awaited their chance. Cherubini, on loan at Benevento with a right of option and obligation to buy, scored in the 93rd minute of Benevento's 2–0 win over Cesena. Introduced from the bench in the 79th minute, the 2004-born winger capitalized on a defensive error by Ilic, rounded the goalkeeper and finished to seal victory. He was booked in the 81st minute and initially had a goal ruled out for offside before his late winner. The performance earned him a rating of 7 from BeneventoNews24 and PianetaSerieB as Benevento secured a third consecutive victory. El Aynaoui, a midfielder on loan at RB Lipsia with a right of rescission, provided the assist for Banzuzi's opening goal after just one minute in a 6–0 Bundesliga demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt. Deployed in the starting lineup by Demichelis, El Aynaoui contributed to a dominant first half that saw Lipsia lead 4–0 at the interval, including a hat-trick from Nkunku. He was booked in the 27th minute and substituted in the 58th when the scoreline already stood at 5–0. Elsewhere, defender Filippo Reale (Carrarese, on loan with option and counter-option) played the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 away win over Padova, maintaining a clean sheet. Young defender Mohamed Seck (Foggia, on loan) completed all 90 minutes in a 3–1 home defeat to Potenza and received a rating of 5, criticized for poor positioning during the opposition's counter-attacks. Forward Artem Dovbyk (Bologna, on loan with right of rescission) returned to the squad after a muscular injury to his flexors but remained unused on the bench in Bologna's 2–1 away win at Lecce. Forward Robinio Vaz (Hull City) was named in the squad for a 2–2 Premier League draw against Everton but played no part, remaining on the bench for the full 90 minutes.

Former Roma midfielder Matteo Brighi has said Gian Piero Gasperini's side are title contenders, describing them as the most consistent team in the league so far and the one playing the best football. Brighi, who played 140 matches for Roma and scored 13 goals, spent his career at the club from the summer of 2007 after three years on loan at Chievo. He became a dependable midfield presence under Luciano Spalletti, competing for a starting place alongside De Rossi, Pizarro and Perrotta, and went on to win the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana in his first season. In 2008-09 he scored three decisive Champions League goals, including a brace against Cluj, which earned him a recall to the senior Italy squad. Under Claudio Ranieri in 2009-10 he was a quiet but irreplaceable pillar as Roma came close to a historic Scudetto against the Inter side of the Triplete. On the current season, Brighi said: "So far it has been the most consistent team and the one that plays the best football. Inter are strong but have had some ups and downs in matches, whereas Gasp's side haven't, at least in the league. Injuries and condition will be decisive, and they will certainly be a nuisance until the end. I am sure of it." Asked about the midfield, where Koné and Cristante are missing or doubtful from the start, he said: "Koné and Cristante are two pillars of Gasperini's game, but the other pairing has shown it has done very well. The secret of this team is cohesion, everyone knows what they have to do. De Roon knows Gasp well and Pisilli is growing enormously." Brighi also addressed Gasperini's use of Mancini in midfield: "Gasperini tried it, but that was with the game already decided against Slovan. It's fine to try different things, but we are talking about an emergency situation. It's fine for the coach to experiment given the situation." On Niccolò Pisilli, whom he coached in the Under-21s over the past two seasons, he said: "I know Niccolò well. He is a modern midfielder who can do everything. He is proving useful in every zone. I hope he gets closer to Perrotta than to me (laughs), also in terms of his path with the national team. He is a guarantee and Gasperini is counting on him a lot." On the squad, he added: "I'm very sorry for Pellegrini. Unfortunately, with so many matches a wide squad is needed. Gasperini knows how to manage both plenty and difficult moments. The decision rests only with the coach. If he thinks other players are needed, then returning to the market is the right thing to do."

Gianluca Piacentini of Rete Sport insisted Roma paid 25 million euros for Mora, not 50 million, in the latest instalment of the Roman radio roundup. He said: "Roma paid 25 million for Mora, then if this year he scores 100 goals and is worth 200 million, Roma have the option of paying 25 million to remove that clause on a future resale. But they did not buy 50% of the player, they bought 100% of the player. If they sell him, they must give 50% of what they receive, which Roma can remove by paying another 25 million. Since you have been insinuating for days that he is rubbish but you do not have the courage to say it, you say he was paid 50 million, but it is not true! If Roma take Mora to the end of his contract, they will have paid 25 million. It is very clear." Rossi, also on Rete Sport, reopened the debate over Pellegrini, saying that some people had doubted Roma's decision to renew Dybala and Pellegrini this summer, citing a history of injuries. He said Dybala has not reached half of his appearances and that Pellegrini had reached his 100th injury. Pellegrini has now re-injured the musculotendinous junction of the flexor, and will take another three months out. Rossi added that the injury was not fixed and that the club paid five million gross for the player, money he said Roma could have spent better. On Tele Radio Stereo, Alessio Nardo asked whether this is Pellegrini's last season with Roma, adding that the speculation should be hedged because "with Pellegrini you never know". He also questioned whether Gasperini chose to speak at his press conference today to avoid questions about possible errors in the transfer market and about underestimating certain aspects. Nardo described a city that remains bitter even after a third-place finish and seven wins in ten matches, saying Mora had become "the new Zaragoza" and had been "destroyed" over the last 48 hours. Lorenzo Pes disagreed, arguing that Gasperini skipped the press conference simply because of a run of closely spaced matches. Valentina Catoni argued that the real problem was not renewing Pellegrini but failing to sign another forward, saying Gasperini had asked for at least one more player up front. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said Roma are playing the season with only 20 outfield players, two of whom, Dybala and Pellegrini, have had a hard few years. He said the club's wage bill problem is the card Roma will play in front of UEFA, and claimed Pellegrini has played only 150 minutes in total. Torri also said he would have signed El Shaarawy at the end of the window, since he could play as a wide attacker or in midfield. Paola Cosenza voiced concern about Cristante, who is returning from a collateral ligament problem, fearing he may force his recovery. Marco Valerio Corsi said he expected Gasperini to protect Mora in the match at Napoli if he delivered another lacklustre performance, and that he doubted Wesley could play as a forward. Roberto Pruzzo said Soulé is growing and that Roma should build around him, and that he sees Santiago Castro as the alternative, adding that Mora looks too far behind the level required for the stage he is being asked to perform on. He said: "We must hope Malen doesn't even have a cold, otherwise it gets tough." Mario Mattioli argued that Pellegrini had only returned from injury two matches earlier and that the club had already lived through a similar situation. Nando Orsi criticised the constant talk of signings and of how Gasperini's training compares with that of previous years. The discussion is set to continue on the same programme, with pundits calling for Roma to reach January in contention for the top places before the club reassesses its options.

Filippo Biafora of Radio Manà Manà said the renewal of Marco Lulli's contract is done, with the defender set to sign a deal running until 2031 with a rising salary. Biafora said he had no confirmation on the operation involving Lorenzo Pellegrini, who for the moment will be out for a couple of months. Regardless of that situation, he said, Gasperini has strongly asked for investment in January. Francesco Balzani of Tele Radio Stereo said he expected Mora not to start. He said Cristante was awaited for a decision the previous day, and that Cristante had said he could start, with the club to assess how his minutes are managed because he cannot play the whole match. Balzani recalled that Gasperini played Cristante as a high forward against Allegri's Milan last year and could repeat it. He expects Cristante to start and Mora to come on if Roma need more technical quality, adding that Gasperini does not consider pairing the two strikers. Balzani said that starting Mora would upset the balance against a strong side in Naples, and that other moves would be forced. Mario Mattioli of Radio Radio said: "The injury to Pellegrini, but it is not that now every injury means going back to the market. What happens when you get the starters back? They should have foreseen that Gasperini's training was not what Roma were used to. Roma now train with a capital 'A', before it was not like this, but the fault certainly does not lie with the market." Roberto Pruzzo, also of Radio Radio, said: "We need to understand what role Castro can play, who at this moment can be the alternative. Mora seems too far behind to me. We must hope Malen does not catch a cold, otherwise it becomes tough. Above all in managing matches: we must make sure we reach January still there, and then sign players on the market." Lorenzo Pes of TeleradioStereo said that in June a discussion had opened about the length of Pellegrini's contract, especially on how such fragile players can lead to a different squad make-up. Dybala, Pellegrini and Koné often stop, and with the first two you have to reckon. He said Roma travel to Napoli with 17 outfield players, which is very few. Pes said Gasperini wanted to keep this squad, believing it would improve this season, and had strongly wanted to keep Dybala and Pellegrini.