Porto reconsiders terms: Mora deal stalls as André Villas-Boas demands changes

Santiago Castro is searching for his breakthrough at Roma after a subdued start to the 2026-27 season. The Argentina forward, signed this summer from Bologna for €36 million plus 10 per cent of any future resale, has managed just 105 minutes in Serie A and none in cup competition, with zero goals to his name. Donyell Malen, his rival for the forward position, has already scored six times in five league matches and has started every game in both Serie A and the Champions League. Castro knew when he agreed to join Roma that he would compete for a starting place against an elite talent. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has shown no interest in discussing a pecking order, but Malen has consistently been handed the opening lineup slot. Fortune has not favoured Castro either: he struck the woodwork twice in the match against Atalanta. His limited playing time has made it difficult to build momentum, though Gasperini and the club expect his opportunities to increase when the international break ends. Francesco Totti, the Roma legend, has publicly backed Castro and revealed a behind-the-scenes connection to the signing. In his book *Oltre*, Totti recounted a dinner meeting with Gasperini in March and explained his recommendation: "I suggested to him an attacker who was Santiago Castro, a winger and a midfielder, all foreigners. He thought for a moment, then said: 'The winger costs a lot, I hadn't thought about the midfielder and he wouldn't be bad, I really like the attacker. I think we see football the same way, as you did then.' I said: 'It's not about taste, boss. I based it on the philosophy of your teams, especially how you got Atalanta to play for so many years.'"

Roma are weighing a move for Frosinone attacker Giorgi Kvernadze, who has scored three goals already this season and caught the attention of bigger clubs. The Georgia international is valued at over €20 million after joining Frosinone for around €1 million, and is believed to fit Gian Piero Gasperini's system. Roma conducted exploratory research on the player and see him as both a capable acquisition and one offering room for growth. The club pursued several attacking signings in the summer but none materialised. Kvernadze is expected to be a target again in the summer window, as Roma look to strengthen their attacking options. Beyond his ability on the pitch, the player is viewed as a sustainable target with development potential. Hull City have also enquired about Kvernadze, and Roma are hoping his value does not escalate further. The club is evaluating the possibility of executing a favourable January move for the forward.

Roma's Serie A fixture at Bologna on 4 December could be played without Roma supporters in attendance. The match clashes with a Virtus Bologna basketball fixture against Partizan Belgrade in the EuroLeague on the same evening, and authorities are concerned about public order given the rivalry between the two clubs' fanbases. Officials are considering a ban on Roma fans traveling to the Stadio Dall'Ara. In the transfer market, Roma are preparing concrete moves for the January window. Giorgi Kvernadze, a Georgian winger, fits the club's criteria for young signings and has emerged as a potential target. Roma's management would be willing to move toward the €25 million asking price set by Frosinone to accelerate negotiations, though Hull City and Borussia Dortmund have also registered interest in the player. Manu Koné continued his strong form with France in a 1–0 Nations League victory over Turkey, deployed as a central midfielder in a 4-3-3 formation—a different role from his usual position. Zinedine Zidane praised the Roma midfielder after the match, saying: "Manu is not used to playing in that position, I wanted to see this side of him and he was very good in terms of balance." Two analysts also discussed Roma midfielder Nico Pisilli, with one noting his five appearances have included good performances but a normal pattern of variation, while the other highlighted errors in his latest outing despite generally strong displays.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is spending Roma's four-day break in Tuscany with his family before returning to action. The midfielder, sidelined by an injury sustained in the final stages of last season that prevented him from taking part in summer preparation, was pictured at the seafood restaurant La Dogana by Enoteca La Torre in Capalbio alongside chef Ricardo Takamitsu. Roma return to work on Tuesday with their sights set on the Como fixture at the Sinigaglia. Pellegrini's comeback carries significance for Gian Piero Gasperini's squad. If the 7 appears against Como, he will reach 350 Roma appearances, moving to within one of Tommasi's tally, currently 12th in the all-time list. With nine matches in 27 days ahead, Gasperini intends to call on Pellegrini in a role that has been shared between Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora this season.

Antonio Carlos Zago, a defender from Roma's Serie A championship-winning squad, shared a special anecdote about Francesco Totti on a day dedicated to marking 50 years of the club legend. Zago revealed the close bond that remains between them, saying: "I wish Francesco all the happiness in the world, he is a wonderful guy and the relationship between us has stayed very strong." Zago recalled his early days at Roma, when he and Totti were initially roomed together during a retreat. The former defender recounted: "I remember very well that when I arrived at Roma they initially put me with Francesco in a retreat room." Zago went on to describe a memorable incident from that first night, hinting at a prank Totti played that gave him quite a shock.

Rodrigo Mora produced an eye-catching performance for Portugal U21, laying on a decisive assist and displaying moments of outstanding quality as the team's number ten, though Portugal still lost 2–1 to Bulgaria. Mora was man of the match for his side in the fixture, deployed as a central attacking midfielder behind striker Varela in a 4-2-3-1 formation that appeared to suit his strengths. The performance is welcome news for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who has backed Mora since the midfielder's arrival at Roma. His central attacking midfield role — his most natural position — brings out his vision of play and ability in the final pass. However, a tactical puzzle remains: while Mora's qualities are beyond question, his best position is a 4-2-3-1 setup that Gasperini employs only sporadically as a match-in-progress tactical change. Finding tactical common ground will be the crucial step in coming weeks. With the restart of the league campaign and a packed fixture list spanning Serie A and European competition, Mora will have plenty of opportunities to stake a claim for a significant role in the squad.