Roma's radio stations have weighed in on team selection ahead of the Atalanta fixture, with opinion divided on whether Paulo Dybala should start given a strengthened squad and a congested fixture schedule. Roberto Pruzzo declared on Radio Radio: "Dybala in the field with Atalanta? Absolutely not, I wouldn't even think about it. The squad has been expanded and gives you more guarantees and this can already be an opportunity. There are too many matches close together, you can skip one, and you can evaluate what has been done on the market." Nando Orsi added on the same station that Dybala cannot sustain three matches a week.
Francesco Balzani noted that Dybala has no serious injury, only minor residual effects from previous matches, with no cause for alarm. He reflected on the summer transfer window, stating that had Roma signed Greenwood and Summerville, he would have backed them as title favourites over Inter; with one of the two, they would have started level; as matters stand, Roma are Inter's "first outsider" for the Scudetto. Ugo Trani outlined tactical alternatives if Dybala does not start: Gasperini can deploy Mora behind Soulé and Malen for an attacking approach, or insert Koné and Pisilli in midfield with Cristante pushed up behind two forwards if a more cautious setup is preferred.
Trani also highlighted Santiago Castro's value as a squad member, bringing "garra, desire and intensity," qualities that make a difference especially when coming off the bench. He suggested Roma also need a left-sided forward and a Wesley replacement, plus a midfielder with different characteristics—he cited a profile similar to Parma's Keita as an example. Lorenzo Pes reported that Gasperini has likely already reviewed a short list of available free agents, naming Guerreiro, Zinchenko (though injured in February and uncertain of fitness), Diatta and Zaha among the possibilities being discussed. Piero Torri favoured Emanuele Lulli over Nahuel Molina for the upcoming match, crediting Lulli's performances in training, though he expected Molina to start when Roma play in Istanbul.
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Roma's radio stations are united in viewing the Giallorossi as favourites against Atalanta, with analysts crediting Roma's superior physical condition and attacking depth. Roberto Pruzzo highlighted Roma's strong form on the pitch, while Nando Orsi pointed to Atalanta's difficulty creating scoring chances, including struggles in Conference League preliminaries. However, a significant debate has emerged over team selection, particularly whether Paulo Dybala should start given Roma's expanded squad and congested fixture schedule. Pruzzo stated bluntly that Dybala should not play tomorrow, and Orsi agreed that the Argentine cannot sustain three matches per week. Francesco Balzani reported that Dybala has no serious injury, only minor residual effects, though Mario Mattioli warned that pressing a muscular issue into action risks escalation into something serious.
The broader strategic discussion centres on Roma's summer transfer approach and squad rotation. Nando Orsi argued that keeping Manu Koné represented a significant financial sacrifice, with Chelsea reportedly making contact in the final window hours before Gasperini's opposition persuaded the club to retain him. Roberto Pruzzo rated the transfer window six out of ten, emphasizing that rotation across the wider group now becomes possible. If Dybala does not start, Ugo Trani outlined tactical alternatives: either Mora behind Soulé and Malen in an attacking setup, or Koné and Pisilli in midfield with Cristante pushed forward in a more cautious configuration. Radio coverage also highlighted available free agents under consideration, with names including Guerreiro, Zinchenko (whose recovery from a February cruciate ligament injury remains unclear), Diatta, Zaha, and Anderson Talisca, whom Alessio Nardo noted has recorded frightening numbers—44 goals in 73 matches for Fenerbahce.
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Testo Originale / Source Text
“Quello delle radio romane è un fenomeno che non ha eguali nel resto d'Italia. Una pluralità di stazioni che fungono da piattaforma, una schiera di giornalisti, ex calciatori e opinionisti ad animare lo spettacolo. Ecco le opinioni dei protagonisti delle emittenti radiofoniche: Ugo Trani…”
Read the full article in Italian at Forza Roma.
