Pisilli on Totti and De Rossi comparison and his brief spell as captain

Ryan Friedkin may travel to Rome in the coming days for a transfer summit with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, but his arrival is still uncertain, according to Il Corriere dello Sport. His brother Corbin could instead be the one to arrive at Trigoria. The last time Ryan Friedkin and Gasperini met was at Hensol, in Wales, during the club's training camp, where the pair spent a few days together before going their separate ways. The January transfer window is approaching, and Gasperini continues to ask for a constant presence from the club's ownership, with Galantic alone not being enough. Gasperini expects two signings in attack. Endrick, Gittens and Leweling are on the list, and Betis forward Rodrigo Riquelme has also resurfaced as an option to strengthen the attacking unit. The Spaniard was previously sought by Ghisolfi in 2024, and he could now come back into consideration to bolster the forward line.

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini is waiting for a signal from the club's owners on how much they are willing to invest in the January transfer window, with no answer yet received. A market meeting could take place in the coming days at Trigoria involving Gasperini, sporting director Tony D'Amico and a representative of the American ownership. It is still unclear who will attend: Ryan Friedkin or his younger brother Corbin, who is increasingly involved in club matters. A possible presence of Dan Friedkin is not currently reported. The meeting is intended to clarify January strategy, because the problem goes beyond the names of possible signings. According to Corriere della Sera, Gasperini and D'Amico do not yet know the economic margins available or the budget the ownership intends to allocate to reinforcements, which makes it difficult to turn the soundings already made into real negotiations. Roma have shown they can compete at the top of Serie A, and Gasperini believes the squad can be competitive but is numerically too thin to sustain every commitment of the season. The paradox highlighted by Corriere della Sera is that Gasperini, who wanted to bring the Friedkins closer to daily life at Roma, now finds the ownership more distant than last season. Since the arrival of new chief executive John Galantic, who has become the main link with the United States, direct contacts between the coach and the American family have reportedly gradually thinned out. After the win over Sassuolo, Gasperini was asked about the chances of improving the squad in January and replied: "Non lo so, io ora penso al campionato. Sono preoccupato di recuperare i nostri giocatori, dato che è evidente che non siamo molto coperti in attacco. A gennaio si farà quel che sarà possibile, per ora non ne abbiamo parlato." In English: "I don't know, I'm focused on the league for now. I'm worried about getting our players back, because it's clear we're not very well covered in attack. In January we'll do what is possible, we haven't discussed it yet." The coach has made his requests known: at least two reinforcements, a quick attacking winger capable of taking on opponents, and a midfield winger to widen rotation on the flanks. D'Amico, meanwhile, has followed several profiles, opened exploratory contacts and identified possible opportunities, particularly in attack, but without the Friedkins' green light the next step is difficult. Financially, Roma must continue to respect the settlement agreement with UEFA, and loans with obligation to buy remain the preferred solutions to contain immediate outlays. Before choosing the formula for any deal, D'Amico needs to know which resources he can actually count on, and this is one of the clarifications expected from the next meeting. Gasperini senses the chance of a special season, with the team having found solidity, identity and consistency of results. He believes a couple of targeted additions could make the difference in the title race, and he wants to avoid regretting, a few months from now, what was not done in the winter market. The ball now rests with the ownership: the possible Trigoria summit must turn ambition into a concrete plan, setting budget, priorities and timing of intervention.

Former Roma defender Vincent Candela has said that a return of Francesco Totti to the club's management would make Roma even stronger, and that Gian Piero Gasperini can bring the Scudetto back to Trigoria. Speaking to La Repubblica, Candela said: "Ormai io e Francesco siamo anche compagni di penna. Spero di rivederlo presto nel club, che quest'anno lotterà per lo scudetto fino alla fine. Con Totti, sono sicuro che la Roma diventerebbe ancora più forte." Candela refused to accept that Roma should settle for second place. He praised Gasperini as a "special" coach and said he was convinced the manager could deliver the title, but he stressed that the race would go to the end against Inter, whom he described as a stronger and better-balanced side than Roma. Asked whether he would play for Roma again if he could, Candela said: "Giocare nella Roma di Gasperini sarebbe un sogno. Sono convinto che farei il titolare." On Roma's recurring problem of late collapses, especially in Europe, he said: "Come dice il tecnico, è importante allargare la rosa, ma è fisiologico perdere contro Real Madrid e Manchester United. La Roma non è ancora pronta per fronteggiare alla pari le grandi del calcio europeo." Finally, asked which player brings back his memories of playing, Candela pointed to Paulo Dybala: "Ogni volta che Dybala tocca il pallone mi batte il cuore e ringiovanisco. Paulo andrebbe proclamato patrimonio mondiale del calcio."

Former Roma player Stefano Desideri, speaking exclusively to Retesport, has backed Gian Piero Gasperini's side and said the gap to Inter is closing. He said he was proud to have worn the Roma shirt and described the current team as strong, with players focused and committed on the pitch. "Roma of Gasperini? A strong side, a joy to watch on the pitch. All the players are focused and on it, it's really a beautiful Roma." He added that he is enjoying watching the team after years of matches that were less enjoyable. Desideri drew comparisons with his own Roma side, which surprised opponents with a zonal press using one fewer forward and one extra midfielder, removing the markers of their opponents. He said the players then were willing to step forward, much as Gasperini's players are doing now. On the gap with Inter, he said something is always missing and that a few more players would help, but the club must find players capable of absorbing Gasperini's work, which he said is producing exceptional things. "We must keep trusting the coach," he said. He added: "I'm not afraid of anyone, I'm confident in this Roma. Lazio are the biggest surprise, Inter are a battleship but have levelled off a little, while the giallorossi have improved, so the gap is closing." On Lorenzo Pellegrini's fellow midfielder Niccolò Pisilli, Desideri said: "Good player, a complete midfielder who is good in the tackle and gets forward. He just needs to play as much as possible. A serious lad from Rome, I am proud of him." On European competition, he said the team lacks experience, with many players having little of it. He said that against Real Madrid the side played excellently with personality for 84 minutes, but then experience was lacking. "Managing the result is not part of this team's DNA." On Donyell Malen, Desideri compared him to Voller, describing him as a driving force for the team with different characteristics. "He has an execution speed that leaves defenders stranded, a fundamental quality. We have discovered a strong player." On Rodrigo Mora, he said: "A talent, he struggled at first. In recent outings we have seen him chasing opponents, he is entering the coach's mentality and it is perfect for him."

Former Roma defender Vincent Candela has written a letter to Il Messaggero backing Gian Piero Gasperini's message that the club must not be satisfied, and argues the side can still push for the title. Candela, a Serie A champion with Roma in 2001, says the team has every reason to believe it can compete until the end of the season, even though Inter have the strongest squad on paper and may win the league. Candela praised the way Roma play, writing: "Watching them play is a spectacle: they score, they entertain, and they show an intensity and quality that is not common, especially in Serie A." He credited Gasperini directly: "The credit goes to Gian Piero: his work is a guarantee." He also highlighted the coach's relationship with the city, saying he had approached it quietly and had already built a strong sense of belonging. Candela went through the squad in detail. He said the attack is firing on all cylinders, that Soulé has returned to making the difference, and that Cristante, de Roon and Koné are a guarantee in midfield. He added that Lulli and Pisilli bring freshness, and that the defence offers many guarantees. He also pointed to the start to the season with Malen as something that can make a difference. Candela concluded: "If you have clear ideas and give a couple of the pieces this squad is missing, you can enjoy yourselves even more. I am certain the club will do it."

Former Roma player Vincent Candela has written in a letter published by Il Messaggero that Roma should believe they can contend for the Serie A title until the end of the season, backing Gian Piero Gasperini's approach that the club should not settle for less. Candela wrote that Inter may win the league given they have the strongest squad, but that Roma have all the qualities to fight for it to the final day. Candela praised the way Roma play, saying watching them is a spectacle: they score, entertain and show an intensity and quality that is not common, especially in Serie A. He credited Gasperini for the team's progress, describing his work as a guarantee. He also praised the coach's relationship with the city, saying he approached it humbly and has already built a strong sense of belonging. Candela highlighted several players. He said the attack is firing on all cylinders, that Soulé has returned to making the difference, and that Cristante, de Roon and Koné in midfield are a guarantee. He added that Lulli and Pisilli bring freshness, and that the defence offers many guarantees. Starting the year with Malen, he said, can make the difference. He concluded that if the club keeps its ideas clear and adds a couple of pieces the squad is missing, the team can enjoy itself even more. He said: "I am certain the club will do it."