Pruzzo on Greenwood: no queue forming for the winger

Alessandro Romano, a Roma academy graduate who departed for Cagliari a few weeks ago, has impressed his new club sufficiently to earn a call-up to the Italy national team at the behest of coach Mancini. Cagliari manager Pisacane highlighted Romano's development after his side's victory over Udinese, drawing a comparison to a former Roma midfielder. Pisacane told Sky: "Romano? I don't think he even knows how strong he is himself. He's a complete player—if I have to give an example, he's a player like Strootman but with more physical impact. Perhaps Strootman had a more educated left foot, but he's a player who understands the game, has sacrifice, has dedication, knows how to play football. He's a complete player. He needs to play a lot, even if he makes mistakes: he surprised me—compared to Palestra, who made two or three mistakes at Udinese, he seems a player much more mature than his age would suggest."

Leonardo Balerdi has explained his departure from Olympique Marseille after six years and his desire to play for Roma. Speaking to DAZN France, the defender reflected on his move to Serie A and what drew him to the Giallorossi. Bareldi said of leaving Marseille: "It was a difficult moment to leave the OM. But I take everything that came with it: the beautiful things and the bad things." He acknowledged the mixed reception from supporters but used that experience as motivation. "I didn't remember being booed in the last match — sometimes people loved me, sometimes they didn't. I took the love they gave me as energy. I felt it was time to go. Six years at a club is a lot. But six years at Olympique de Marseille is something few players do. It was time to discover another league. I wanted to prove my value, try to do something different. I was very happy to leave." Bareldi joined Roma this summer as part of the club's defensive reinforcements for the 2026-27 season.

Leonardo Balerdi's loan deal from Marseille contains a complex purchase structure tied directly to his match appearances. If the Argentine defender plays in at least 55% of Roma's fixtures across all competitions for a minimum of 45 minutes, the buyout becomes mandatory at €14 million. Should his appearance rate fall between 40 and 55%, the obligation drops to €11 million. Marseille has secured a protection clause requiring Roma to pay a minimum €9 million if Balerdi accumulates just 20% of minutes played in the second half of the season. Balerdi will earn €1.5 million annually under the loan agreement—a significantly reduced figure relative to his market value—with a salary increase guaranteed if Roma exercise the permanent transfer option from next season onwards.

Roma drew 2–2 with Inter at the Olimpico, leaving the club joint leaders of Serie A alongside Inter and Lazio after four wins and a draw from five matches. The giallorossi led 2–0 at half-time through a Manu Koné double — first a right-footed finish inside the box, then a left-footed effort under the crossbar from close range — after what the article describes as probably the best 45 minutes of Gasperini's tenure. Lautaro Martinez pulled one back early in the second half from a Gianluca Mancini error on the opposition midfield, and the intensity drained from Roma's display as Inter found their rhythm. Donyell Malen had a chance to make it 3–1 when he turned sharply in the box and shot, but Martinez blocked the effort with his face. Martinez then equalised with another clinical finish typical of a top-class striker. The performance carried a message beyond the final scoreline. Roma's first-half intensity, aggression and quality suggested the club can genuinely compete with the Serie A champions — something that would not have been obvious at the start of the season. The article notes that Roma today is markedly stronger, deeper and more self-aware than last season. When Gasperini has all players fit, the squad contains match-winners: Malen has demonstrated that in recent weeks, Koné delivered it tonight, and Paulo Dybala continues to do so through his play and creativity. Dybala was again Roma's attacking brain, with every pass often creating danger through assists, openings and through-balls that turn routine moves into dangerous situations. He was one of the evening's most influential players but continues to lack goals at crucial moments — he had a couple of chances where his left foot could have settled the match definitively. The article states that for a player of his talent, the absence of goals is now the only real blemish in an otherwise extraordinary period. Leonardo Balerdi was among the best performers but was forced off with cramp. During the second half, Mancini and Mario Hermoso also departed, forcing Roma to change the entire defensive unit — a wholesale revolution that consumed substitutions that might have been deployed elsewhere to restore freshness and unpredictability to midfield and attack. Gasperini says results and objectives will take time to evaluate properly. Yet Roma have already answered one question: they can play on level terms with sides that have lived at the top for years. Three weeks follow before the next cycle begins, with Como, managed by Fabregas, arriving next — a team that has also impressed in this opening stretch of the season alongside Roma and Inter.

Roma will operate with a skeleton crew at Trigoria during the twenty-day international break following the draw against Inter, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini having only seven first-team players available for training and preparation. The available squad members are goalkeepers Mile Svilar and Pierluigi Gollini, defenders Mario Hermoso, Nahuel Molina and Devyne Rensch, midfielder Marten de Roon, and forward Paulo Dybala. Dybala will take a leave of absence during the break to travel to Argentina and participate in Leo Messi's farewell international match. All other players will be away on international duty with their respective national teams. To maintain training intensity and match fitness, Gasperini will draw heavily on Roma's Primavera squad, though the youth sector has also lost several players to Italian national selections at Under 17 to Under 19 level, including Arena, Bonifazi, Giammattei and Guaglianone. The club has arranged a pair of friendly matches to keep the team sharp during the pause.

Roma drew 2–2 with Inter at the Olimpico on a night that kept them level with the Serie A leaders. Manu Koné scored twice in his first 45 minutes on the pitch—his first career double—but it was not enough to take all three points. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini said: "We played on equal terms." Koné's goals came from two midfield insertions. The first arrived after six minutes when Inter lost possession; Paulo Dybala crossed, Nahuel Molina returned it, and Koné finished first-time past Martinez. In the closing stages of the first half, Dybala played another pass, Gianluca Mancini touched it on, and Koné struck under the bar—initially ruled out before VAR confirmed it. The goals showcased the attacking run Gasperini has long asked Koné to add to his game of strength, pace, dribbling and spatial dominance. Inter have pursued Koné intensely over the past two transfer windows. In August 2025, their interest was concrete: they sought midfield power and dynamism and saw him as the ideal profile, tabling a significant proposal. Roma removed him from the market. Sommer and Thuram, former teammates of Koné in Germany, reportedly tried to persuade him to join them.

Roma host Inter at the Olimpico in a top-of-the-table clash, both sides arriving unbeaten after four matches and seeking to reach the first international break in first place. Gasperini has a full squad available with no absences. In defence, the established trio of Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso is confirmed, with no surprise inclusion for Balerdi. Molina and Wesley operate on the flanks, Koné and Cristante patrol midfield, and Soulé lines up in the attacking three behind Malen, with Dybala in support. Roma field a 3-4-2-1 formation: Svilar in goal, Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso at the back, Molina and Wesley as wing-backs, Cristante and Koné in central midfield, Soulé and Dybala in the attacking midfield positions, and Malen as the lead forward. On the bench are Gollini, De Marzi, Ghilardi, Rensch, Koulierakis, Lulli, Pisilli, Pellegrini, de Roon, Castro and Mora. Inter deploy a 3-5-2 with Martinez, Bisseck, Akanji and Bastoni in defence, Diouf, Barella, Zielinski, Jones and Dimarco in midfield, and Lautaro Martinez and Thuram in attack.

Santiago Castro has praised the atmosphere at Roma ahead of tomorrow's match against Inter, saying the coach creates an environment where every player feels valued. Speaking to DAZN hours before kick-off, the 21-year-old Argentine highlighted the quality of his teammates and Gasperini's man-management approach. "With him you never feel like a reserve or a starter," Castro said. "You always have to be ready, always at your best, both in training and in matches. That's really important and I think it makes all the players feel good." Castro, who joined Roma from Bologna, drew a contrast between the two clubs' squads. "When you arrive at a team like Roma you find players in front of you like Dybala, Malen, Pellegrini, Soulé and now Rodrigo Mora has also arrived. We have many high-level players," he explained. "At Bologna I found many quality players too, like Bernardeschi, Orsolini, Rowe, Zirkzee and Ndoye. I'm happy because I can take something from every teammate and always learn." He singled out Dybala and Malen for special praise, describing them as players who impress fans every week but reveal far more in daily training. "Paulo has a left foot that few people have. I think he's one of the best left-footed players in Italy's history, even at world level," Castro said. "From Donyell you have to take that meanness to go and score goals, the cunning, the movements he has and then the shot, which is crazy." Gasperini's tactical demands on Castro focus on positioning and team play. "The main thing the manager asks me is to always keep my body facing the goal, not to always play with my back to goal because that way I'm not dangerous," Castro explained. "He asks me to always be in the match, to attack, to play for the team. For him it's important to score goals, but also to give an assist, because that's something that helps the team and gives a great hand to everyone." Castro also reflected on his debut at the Olimpico against Atalanta, calling it "a moment of great pride" and crediting the fans for their support during the match. On Inter's challenge, Castro acknowledged the quality of both squads. "It will always be difficult to face teams with this type of players, because they also, like us, have world-class players and big names," he said. "It will be a beautiful match to watch from outside: a hot stadium, two teams that arrive well, with the same points, many goals scored and few conceded. It will definitely be nice to see." Roma and Inter sit level on points after four matches. Castro also praised Lautaro Martinez as "a very strong player" and captain of one of Italy's biggest teams.

Santiago Castro has given his first substantial interview since joining Roma, speaking to DAZN about his early weeks at the club, his relationship with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, and the quality of his fellow attackers. The 21-year-old Argentine striker, who arrived this summer from Bologna, reflected on the step up in class and the challenge of competing with established forwards in the Giallorossi squad. Castro highlighted the calibre of his new teammates, naming Paulo Dybala, Donyell Malen, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora as examples of the standard he now faces daily. He said: "Sì, certo. Quando arrivi in una squadra come la Roma ti trovi davanti giocatori come Dybala, Malen, Pellegrini, Soulé e adesso è arrivato anche Rodrigo Mora." On training alongside Dybala and Malen, he remarked: "Paulo e Donyell sono giocatori che impressionano i tifosi ogni settimana e noi che li vediamo ogni giorno. Noi che ci alleniamo con loro vediamo cose che sembrano appartenere a un altro sport." He praised Dybala's left foot as among the finest in Italy and the world, and commended Malen's aggression, movement and shooting ability. Gasperini's management style has impressed Castro, who said the coach emphasizes constant readiness over any hierarchy of starting players. "Con lui non ti senti mai una riserva o un titolare: devi sempre essere pronto, sempre al massimo, sia in allenamento sia in partita," Castro explained. The striker also recalled his debut at the Olimpico against Atalanta as a proud moment at age 21, noting the warmth of the crowd as a powerful motivator. He expressed respect for Inter's Lautaro Martinez ahead of the upcoming fixture, describing him as "un grandissimo giocatore, molto forte" and noting his consistency in Serie A and leadership of one of Italy's biggest clubs. Castro also touched on the group atmosphere at Roma, mentioning the presence of several Argentine players and praising the cohesion with staff and international teammates alike. On wearing the number 9 shirt, he said: "È bello pensare a tutti i giocatori che hanno avuto la numero 9 nella Roma. Sono stati tanti e hanno fatto tantissime cose importanti, come Balbo e altri grandi attaccanti. Io spero solamente di riuscire a fare anche solo una piccola parte di quello che hanno fatto loro."

Roma drew 2–2 with Inter at the Olimpico, leaving the club joint leaders of Serie A alongside Inter and Lazio after four wins and a draw from five matches. The giallorossi led 2–0 at half-time through a Manu Koné double — first a right-footed finish inside the box, then a left-footed effort under the crossbar from close range — after what the article describes as probably the best 45 minutes of Gasperini's tenure. Lautaro Martinez pulled one back early in the second half from a Gianluca Mancini error on the opposition midfield, and the intensity drained from Roma's display as Inter found their rhythm. Donyell Malen had a chance to make it 3–1 when he turned sharply in the box and shot, but Martinez blocked the effort with his face. Martinez then equalised with another clinical finish typical of a top-class striker. The performance carried a message beyond the final scoreline. Roma's first-half intensity, aggression and quality suggested the club can genuinely compete with the Serie A champions — something that would not have been obvious at the start of the season. The article notes that Roma today is markedly stronger, deeper and more self-aware than last season. When Gasperini has all players fit, the squad contains match-winners: Malen has demonstrated that in recent weeks, Koné delivered it tonight, and Paulo Dybala continues to do so through his play and creativity. Dybala was again Roma's attacking brain, with every pass often creating danger through assists, openings and through-balls that turn routine moves into dangerous situations. He was one of the evening's most influential players but continues to lack goals at crucial moments — he had a couple of chances where his left foot could have settled the match definitively. The article states that for a player of his talent, the absence of goals is now the only real blemish in an otherwise extraordinary period. Leonardo Balerdi was among the best performers but was forced off with cramp. During the second half, Mancini and Mario Hermoso also departed, forcing Roma to change the entire defensive unit — a wholesale revolution that consumed substitutions that might have been deployed elsewhere to restore freshness and unpredictability to midfield and attack. Gasperini says results and objectives will take time to evaluate properly. Yet Roma have already answered one question: they can play on level terms with sides that have lived at the top for years. Three weeks follow before the next cycle begins, with Como, managed by Fabregas, arriving next — a team that has also impressed in this opening stretch of the season alongside Roma and Inter.

Gian Piero Gasperini delivered a nuanced assessment of Roma's performance against Inter the day after their direct clash, balancing disappointment at squandered opportunities against satisfaction at competing evenly with the defending champions. "There is some regret, and it is right that there should be," Gasperini said, "but the satisfaction at having played on equal terms with Inter is greater." The turning point came early in the second half when Lautaro Martinez scored after just one minute. Gasperini was critical of Roma's reaction: "The goal conceded at the start of the second half, after barely a minute, created anxiety and made us take a step back. We conceded it in a way that was a bit too superficial, even presumptuous. But we were always in the match, never giving up on playing. It's a shame, because we also had the chance to make it 3-1 with Malen." He also recalled a light moment with the Inter striker after the final whistle, saying: "I embraced him and told him to stop—he always scores against me. But he is a truly great champion." Gasperini praised Leonardo Balerdi's display before cramps forced the defender off: "Until that moment he played a tremendous match, full of recoveries, anticipation and physical battles with Thuram. Unfortunately he cramped up and couldn't move anymore; his substitution meant we lost that extra physical freshness." He was less satisfied with Manu Koné's showing, which he described as natural given the circumstances: "He was clearly tired; at this moment he doesn't yet have the stamina for ninety minutes. He remains a fundamental player for us, but his sharpness is not yet the same as the first half of last season." Despite the draw extending Gasperini's winless run against Inter since November 2018, Roma achieved an unprecedented milestone: for the first time in the club's history, they have scored at least two goals in ten consecutive Serie A matches. With a demanding fixture schedule ahead after the international break, Gasperini stressed the need for rotation: "The calendar will be terrible and we will need to rotate. We must be good at developing the whole squad and have the courage to throw in the new players from the start—we will play with twenty men."

Roma and Inter drew 2-2 at the Olimpico in a match that saw the visitors mount a third consecutive two-goal comeback. The Giallorossi dominated the first half and took a commanding lead through a brace from Manu Koné, but Inter responded decisively after the restart. Lautaro Martínez reduced the deficit early in the second half and then struck again with a volley past Mile Svilar to earn Inter a point, despite a Svilar touch on the shot. Inter's captain showed the difference in the final stages, and the match also featured a fine save from Inter's goalkeeper on Donyell Malen and a near-miss from Thuram in the closing minutes. Gasperini's side demonstrated they can compete with the defending champions and maintain a strong position in the title race, though there was evident frustration at conceding a two-goal advantage. For Inter, the result marked their third consecutive rematch from two goals down this season—this time without a win. The draw leaves both sides with evidence of their quality, though Roma will reflect on a performance that showed dominance in the first period before a notable second-half collapse.