Pisilli proves set-piece specialist for Roma and Italy

Leonardo Balerdi has made an immediate impact at Roma following his arrival, impressing in substitute appearances against Atalanta and Fenerbahce. A backstory from Argentina reveals that Boca Juniors, through manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena, had attempted to sign the defender around twenty days ago. The Boca manager contacted Balerdi personally, a conversation facilitated by a shared agent, and proposed a one-year loan deal. Balerdi, however, had already secured his move to Roma and rejected the offer outright. According to reports from Argentine media TyC Sports, his response was unequivocal: "This opportunity I'm not letting slip away."

Roma have reached maximum capacity in season-ticket sales for the 2026-27 campaign, securing their place among Italy's top clubs for supporter engagement. According to Transfermarkt data, the Giallorossi sit at the 40,000-seat ceiling alongside Inter, the two clubs leading the Serie A and Serie B subscription rankings. Roma are among ten Italian sides to have already achieved sold-out status this season; others in Serie A to reach that mark are Napoli, Como, Fiorentina, Venezia and Atalanta. Milan, Genoa and Lecce round out the highest positions, with Lecce continuing to record exceptional numbers for the consistency and loyalty of their supporters.

Roma travel to Turin on Monday at 18:30 for a Serie A fixture at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino following a 1–1 Champions League draw. Manu Koné's availability is in doubt after the midfielder reported knee discomfort in the match against Fenerbahce and will be monitored day by day. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will address the press on Sunday ahead of the match. At the World Legends Padel Tour, Francesco Totti and Luca Toni offered contrasting assessments of Roma's season. Totti praised the squad's early momentum and the partnership between Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, describing it as one of the strongest available. He stressed that direct comparisons to Roma's 2001 championship-winning team are reductive, and that winning requires consistency and a deep squad. He confirmed his presence at the stadium and joked about a dinner with Gasperini. Toni praised the team's defensive stability, Dybala's form, and the impact of the new centre-forward, whom he judged well-suited to Gasperini's style of play. He cautioned that the real test will come with fixtures every three days and against Inter, whom he named the strongest squad for depth. Toni nevertheless called Roma credible contenders for the Scudetto, citing enthusiasm, balance, and continuity as their strengths. Of Malen, he said: "He is a striker I really like." Meanwhile, the Roma ultras organisations UTR and AIRC have renewed their protest against a ban on away travel for Roma supporters based in Rome and the surrounding province, describing the measure as unjust and automatically applied without connection to genuine public order concerns. Roma and the organised supporter groups have both expressed opposition to the travel ban for the Turin match, with the supporters' statement criticising the policy as discriminatory and noting it has drawn criticism from UEFA. The club has stated its disagreement with the restriction.

Manu Koné has been cleared of injury following his substitution in the Fenerbahce match, avoiding the need for medical scans. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini had flagged a physical issue during his post-match press conference, but tests showed nothing serious. Koné is unlikely to start against Torino, opening the door for Niccolò Pisilli to feature in midfield. Leonardo Balerdi is in contention for the defence after impressing when introduced yesterday. The Argentine defender rejected a move to Boca Juniors over the summer after Roma's approach convinced him to stay. In attack, Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro will rotate, as Gasperini continues to manage the forward line. Balerdi posted a lengthy farewell to Olympique Marseille on social media this evening.

Roma travel to the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on Monday 14 September at 18:30 for their fourth Serie A match of the season against Ignazio Abate's Torino, coming off the back of a 1–1 draw against Fenerbahce in the Champions League. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is weighing rotation options after the European fixture. Mile Svilar will start in goal. In defence, Leonardo Balerdi is favoured over Daniele Ghilardi following strong performances from the bench, with Emanuele Lulli set to earn a new start at right-back in place of Devyne Rensch. Manu Koné's fitness is being assessed after he left the Fenerbahce match with a knee issue; Niccolò Pisilli stands ready if the midfielder cannot play. Rodrigo Mora may return to the attacking midfield, replacing Matías Soulé alongside Paulo Dybala, while Donyell Malen is the favoured choice in attack over Santiago Castro. Roma arrive in strong form domestically. In their most recent league outing, they came from behind to beat Atalanta at the Olimpico, with goals from Mario Hermoso and Soulé. Torino beat Fiorentina 2–1 away in their last fixture, scoring through Mandragora and Che Adams, and will deploy a 3–4–2–1 formation with Perri in goal and Simeone as their lone striker. Roma's head-to-head record stands at 82 victories, 48 draws and 59 defeats from 189 meetings. The teams last met in the 2025–26 season, when Roma won 2–0 at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino through goals by Malen and Dybala. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN via app and website, and on Sky Sport with streaming available on NOW for Sky subscribers. Official team sheets will be confirmed approximately one hour before kickoff.

Manu Koné's early second-half substitution yesterday sparked concern over his fitness, but a medical check-up this morning has allayed fears. The midfielder had requested to come off due to knee discomfort, prompting head coach Gasperini to admit that while the staff had not been greatly alarmed, the injury needed monitoring. Koné underwent a control examination this morning that revealed no significant problems, meaning an instrumental scan was not necessary. He will be assessed day by day to determine whether he can recover in time for the Torino fixture, though his availability for that match remains in doubt. If he is unavailable, Niccolò Pisilli stands ready to deputise, having encountered some difficulties against Fenerbahçe yesterday.

Roma returned from their Champions League visit to Fenerbahce with a draw and an encouraging first-half display, though the second half brought frustration. Bryan Cristante opened the scoring, and the team showed positive signs as they began their campaign with a playoff objective in mind. The standout moment came when Leonardo Balerdi entered the pitch in the 74th minute as a substitute for Gianluca Mancini, immediately catching supporters' attention with a composed defensive performance that sparked a wave of praise across social media. Fans seized on Balerdi's brief appearance to call for him to start matches regularly, with many suggesting he should displace either Mancini or Evan N'Dicka in the defensive lineup. The Argentine defender's composure against opposition attackers—notably withstanding challenges from physically demanding forwards—left Roma supporters convinced of his quality after limited exposure. His performance prompted widespread social media reaction comparing him favourably to the club's established defenders and arguing he warrants an immediate promotion to the starting eleven. Fan comments flooded platforms with phrases including: "He must be the starter, a WALL!", "I believe Balerdi is steel reinforced with titanium, how strong he is... Lukaku bounced off his legs, 2 metres by 100 kilos", "Balerdi must always play", and "Why is Balerdi on the bench? A phenomenon." Others added: "Why did Marseille fans thank us for taking Balerdi?! How that excites me." More pointed criticism followed: "Mancini every so often gets distracted, Balerdi I see as much superior", "For me Balerdi is stronger than two out of three defensive players, he comes on and the opposition attack is nullified", and "It's not conceivable that Balerdi is Mancini's backup now."

Roma's opening Champions League match in Istanbul provided a revealing examination of individual readiness at the competition's highest level, exposing both natural fit and shortcomings that Serie A sometimes masks. Manu Koné emerged as the clearest success story. Until a knee injury forced his substitution at the 52nd minute, he appeared to raise his game as the match intensified, showing pressure, physical duels, ball protection and the ability to break the first press. Donyell Malen proved similarly suited to matches where chances are limited and the capacity to attack space becomes decisive. Mile Svilar's performance raised only the question of how far he can progress in the competition. Paulo Dybala demonstrated that while understanding how to play at this level has never been his problem, availability remains the constraint. When his physical condition allows, the Champions League remains his natural habitat: he takes possession facing forward, makes precise decisions, and creates space where others see none. Gianluca Mancini's European credentials are not in doubt, but Istanbul confirmed he appears less sharp and reactive than his usual standard. His replacement by Leonardo Balerdi sharpened the contrast; the Argentine entered immediately into the match's intensity, bringing aggression and intensity. Nahuel Molina passed a significant test, showing he can handle the demands placed on full-backs across both phases. Wesley posed a tactical question: at left-back with his weaker foot, Fenerbahçe systematically closed his inside corridor, forcing him onto the byline with his left foot and making him more predictable. Rodrigo Mora, frequently called upon by Gian Piero Gasperini, revealed that the Champions League is also a physical examination. Pressed, challenged and confined to tight spaces, he could not impose himself as he knows he can. Matías Soulé discovered that talent must be paired with better decision-making as margins shrink. Dybala, Koné, Malen and Svilar appear ready for this dimension; Balerdi entered with force and Molina withstood the impact. Mancini must rediscover his sharpness, Wesley needs a tactical solution, and Mora requires the physical tools to express his talent at this level.

Leonardo Balerdi has made a strong impression in limited appearances for Roma, playing 43 minutes across matches against Atalanta and Fenerbahce. The Argentine defender is now poised to start against Torino, potentially giving Gianluca Mancini a rest after the latter appeared below par in recent fixtures. Balerdi's statistics are striking: he completed all 31 of his pass attempts for a perfect 100% accuracy rate, enabling clean distribution from the back. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini praised him after the Atalanta match, and supporters on social media have already called for him to be handed the starting role. Breaking into Roma's back line is no simple task. Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso formed the second-best defence in Serie A last season, making competition for places intense. Balerdi was born on 26 January 1999 in Villa Mercedes, a town just over 30 kilometres from Córdoba, and holds Italian citizenship alongside his Argentine passport. He has arrived in Rome alongside his partner, model Giulia Ciancio, who was born in Milan but grew up between Venice and Sicily. Ciancio's striking appearance—particularly her eyes, which blend shades of blue and emerald green and have become her signature feature in various advertising campaigns—has already drawn attention from her social media followers. Following Balerdi's debut against Atalanta, she posted on Instagram: "Seeing you happy, you have no idea the joy it gives me. With you anywhere in the world, I am proud of you."