Pruzzo: Roma far behind, current level concerning

Roma are monitoring Giorgi Kvernadze, Frosinone's Georgian winger, as a potential solution to their search for a left-sided attacker with a right foot. The 2003-born winger has scored 5 goals and provided 2 assists across Serie A and the Coppa Italia in recent matches observed by Roma scouts. Frosinone have valued Kvernadze at around €25 million and are unwilling to allow him to leave without a substantial offer. Napoli are also tracking his situation. Roma have made an excellent start to the season with 13 points from 15 available, level on points with Inter and Lazio at the top of the table. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has successfully integrated the summer additions — Balerdi, Molina, Mora, Koulierakis and De Roon — into his system. However, the club recognises that further reinforcements are needed, particularly in the wide attacking position, and has begun preparations for the January transfer window. According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport and confirmed by Il Tempo and Nicolò Schira, Kvernadze has caught the attention of Roma's recruitment staff. The club will face competition from Napoli as they pursue the Frosinone winger ahead of the winter market.

Roman radio stations hosted debate on Roma's transfer strategy, with commentary focused on a potential January move for a midfielder. Piero Torri, speaking on Manà Manà Sport, raised questions about the timing and readiness of Kvernadze as a target. "I don't know if Kvernadze is the right player for January," Torri said. "You have to understand if Gasperini wants a ready-made player, or if he's happy with a gamble. The player seems interesting, seems like a Gasperini type—but is he ready? I don't know what fee Frosinone will ask for now, I think €20–25 million. If you move quickly, the price can't rise much further. But you'll also need to see what Uefa tells Roma in mid-November, and where Roma sits in December." Lorenzo Pes, also on air, defended Roma's recent decision to allow a young midfielder to leave, citing the strength of the club's academy. "Every so often you have to make a choice on young players," Pes said on Tele Radio Stereo. "The coach probably felt protected at midfield by those he had. Romano wanted to play and would have been the fifth midfielder here. You could have loaned him out, but this opportunity came up and in the end you made that choice. When you have an academy as productive as this one, it's inevitable you lose sight of someone occasionally. Keeping control over all the young players becomes difficult." The discussion underscored the dual pressures Roma faces: balancing academy development against first-team needs, and timing potential moves to suit both sporting and financial circumstance.

Roma are already eyeing moves in the January transfer window, with sporting director Tony D'Amico closely tracking two promising Serie A prospects: Giorgi Kvernadze of Frosinone and Darryl Bakola of Sassuolo. No formal approaches or negotiations have been opened, but both players have entered the club's radar as potential additions within head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's system. Kvernadze, 23, is a left-winger from Georgia with a right foot, standing 188 centimetres tall and contracted to Frosinone until 2028. His season has already attracted major clubs' attention, with three Serie A goals, two Coppa Italia goals and two assists. He plays predominantly from the left flank but drifts infield, combining superior physical build for an offensive winger with acceleration, stamina and goal-attacking threat. Frosinone value him at close to €25 million—a steep asking price relative to his current market standing and one likely to fluctuate with his form across the season. Bakola, born in 2007, represents a longer-term investment. He arrived at Sassuolo from Olympique Marseille in February 2026 and operates as a right-sided midfielder with strong attacking ambitions. He can play as a box-to-box midfielder, playmaker or central midfielder, combining close ball control, vertical passing and ability to evade pressure through dribbling and direction changes. He has been likened to Roma midfielder Manu Koné structurally, though the French player remains notably more complete and developed. For now, Roma's interest amounts to observation only. January remains distant and no official contact has been made with Frosinone or Sassuolo.

Roma are closely tracking two breakthrough prospects as the club pursues a strategy of acquiring young talent to strengthen the squad's depth and potential. Following summer additions Rodrigo Mora and Santiago Castro, the Giallorossi have set their sights on Mathis Bakola, a French midfielder born in 2007 at Sassuolo, and Giorgi Kvernadze, a Georgian winger at Frosinone. The club intends to move early to secure Bakola ahead of the January window, though Juventus have also registered interest in the eighteen-year-old. Kvernadze, born in 2003, represents a concrete candidate for the January transfer window and possesses the characteristics of a left-sided winger with attacking thrust and quality that head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has long sought to complete the forward line. Roma must overcome competition from Napoli, who are also pursuing the Frosinone talent. The January window will likely determine whether either deal progresses further, with the left-winger position emerging as a priority for Gasperini to address the attacking setup.

Former striker Abel Balbo has praised Roma's early-season form under Gian Piero Gasperini, saying the team is entertaining to watch and delivering results. Balbo singled out Donyell Malen for particular praise: "He is very strong, scores like the great strikers and is functional to Gasperini's style of play." He also commended Paulo Dybala: "He is magic and fantasy; with him on the pitch the team runs better." On Roma's league position, Balbo assessed that while Inter remain superior, Roma are now the only side capable of competing for the title. Matías Soulé has earned a callup to Argentina's squad following a strong start to the 2026–27 season. The winger has scored 2 goals and provided 1 assist across his first 6 matches. Soulé will join teammates Santiago Castro and Leonardo Balerdi in the Argentina setup for forthcoming friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin. The fixture against Benin on 6 October will be Lionel Messi's final appearance for the Argentina national team. Soulé marked the moment on social media: "Enjoying these moments."

Marten De Roon has played 361 matches under Gian Piero Gasperini — more than any other player in the world — and the midfielder's integration at Roma will be defined not by tactical learning but by physical fitness. De Roon arrived at Trigoria without having played minutes in the early part of the season under his previous manager, prompting Gasperini to use him cautiously. The international break, however, offers a chance to rebuild his athletic condition to match the high-intensity football Gasperini demands, with his role in the squad rotation set to increase substantially from October onward. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the plan is to alternate De Roon primarily with Bryan Cristante, forming a midfield pairing with either Manu Koné or Niccolò Pisilli. Rather than a rigid hierarchy, Gasperini will deploy flexible combinations that allow tactical adjustment and energy management without sacrificing balance. At 35, De Roon represents an investment in the present, not the future — unlike younger squad members such as Mora, Castro, or Koulierakis. He brings experience, reading of the game, personality, and an almost automatic understanding of what Gasperini demands on the pitch. For a coach seeking to "play in twenty" — using a deep squad across many matches — having such a player provides a shortcut. De Roon does not need to learn the system; he simply needs to regain his legs to execute it. He has already built a strong relationship with his Dutch compatriot Donyell Malen, and his prior knowledge of Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante has made his entry into the dressing room feel natural. By observation, he appears to have been at Roma far longer than a few weeks. The fixture list after the break is designed to accelerate his integration. Between Serie A and Champions League, Roma face a congested schedule that will make it impossible to demand everything constantly from Cristante, Koné, and other midfielders. In Europe, De Roon's extensive international experience under Gasperini — understanding rhythm, moment management, and composure in high-stakes matches — will prove invaluable. From October onward, he could finally become the certainty Roma needs.

Roma are monitoring Giorgi Kvernadze, Frosinone's Georgian winger, as a potential solution to their search for a left-sided attacker with a right foot. The 2003-born winger has scored 5 goals and provided 2 assists across Serie A and the Coppa Italia in recent matches observed by Roma scouts. Frosinone have valued Kvernadze at around €25 million and are unwilling to allow him to leave without a substantial offer. Napoli are also tracking his situation. Roma have made an excellent start to the season with 13 points from 15 available, level on points with Inter and Lazio at the top of the table. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has successfully integrated the summer additions — Balerdi, Molina, Mora, Koulierakis and De Roon — into his system. However, the club recognises that further reinforcements are needed, particularly in the wide attacking position, and has begun preparations for the January transfer window. According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport and confirmed by Il Tempo and Nicolò Schira, Kvernadze has caught the attention of Roma's recruitment staff. The club will face competition from Napoli as they pursue the Frosinone winger ahead of the winter market.

Roma have reached the top of Serie A alongside Inter and Lazio after the opening phase of the season, but attention has already turned to a gruelling month ahead combining league and Champions League fixtures with no respite until November. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has relied heavily on the established core of the squad in the early weeks, with the summer signings introduced gradually, rotating between starting roles and substitute appearances. The intensity of the coming period will require him to call on the full squad of twenty-two players. Among the summer arrivals, Leonardo Balerdi has made an immediate impact, supported by strong performances from Nahuel Molina, the former Atlético Madrid player who provided his first assist against Inter and impressed on the left flank against Torino despite arriving with delayed pre-season preparation due to World Cup commitments. Rodrigo Mora has shown promise in two starts against Fiorentina and Atalanta, though he has found reading the game more difficult as a substitute—though he did score from the bench at Lecce. Gasperini is focused on unlocking the Portuguese midfielder's potential as a player capable of making a difference through his quality. The squad refresh is completed by Koulierakis, Lorenzo Pellegrini and especially Marten de Roon, a signing Gasperini strongly advocated for to strengthen and provide balance to the midfield.

Roma head into a demanding stretch of fixtures with Gasperini now ready to rely heavily on the summer recruits who have gradually been introduced to the squad. The club closed the first part of the campaign level on points with Inter and Lazio at the top of the table, but a punishing run awaits: between Serie A and Champions League, there will be no respite until November. With only one week in four featuring a European fixture so far, Gasperini has largely favoured the established players while carefully integrating the new arrivals, deploying them either from the start or off the bench. Several summer signings have already made an impact. Balerdi has made a strong early impression, while Molina began well despite arriving physically behind schedule after playing in the World Cup final. He provided his first assist against Inter and showed promising effectiveness when fielded on the left at Turin. Rodrigo Mora presents a mixed picture: the Portuguese midfielder impressed in two starting performances against Fiorentina and Atalanta but struggled when introduced as a substitute, failing to read the rhythm of matches. Paradoxically, he scored when coming off the bench at Lecce. Gasperini intends to gradually unlock the full potential of the talent he strongly pursued. Konstantinos Koulierakis and Marten de Roon will also prove invaluable—the latter was Gasperini's move to shore up the midfield. Lorenzo Pellegrini completes the picture as the squad faces its most testing period of the season.

Roma are monitoring Giorgi Kvernadze, Frosinone's Georgian winger, as a potential solution to their search for a left-sided attacker with a right foot. The 2003-born winger has scored 5 goals and provided 2 assists across Serie A and the Coppa Italia in recent matches observed by Roma scouts. Frosinone have valued Kvernadze at around €25 million and are unwilling to allow him to leave without a substantial offer. Napoli are also tracking his situation. Roma have made an excellent start to the season with 13 points from 15 available, level on points with Inter and Lazio at the top of the table. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has successfully integrated the summer additions — Balerdi, Molina, Mora, Koulierakis and De Roon — into his system. However, the club recognises that further reinforcements are needed, particularly in the wide attacking position, and has begun preparations for the January transfer window. According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport and confirmed by Il Tempo and Nicolò Schira, Kvernadze has caught the attention of Roma's recruitment staff. The club will face competition from Napoli as they pursue the Frosinone winger ahead of the winter market.

Nahuel Molina has become one of Gasperini's most dangerous players in Roma's opening Serie A fixtures, proving to be a decisive summer acquisition for €13 million. The Argentine has demonstrated his impact through aggressive ball recovery in advanced positions—notably helping create Manu Koné's opening goal—and his consistent threat from distance. After five league matches, Molina ranks among Serie A's best for chances created (2.9 per 90 minutes, behind only Dybala and Wesley in giallorosso), ball recoveries (5.04 per 90), and possessions won in the opponent's third (0.78 per 90), according to Sofascore data. Roma have finally secured a right-sided threat matching Gasperini's tactical demands, addressing a weakness from last season when the club saw only sporadic contributions from a combination of Zeki Çelik and Kostas Tsimikas on that flank. Alongside other key acquisitions—Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala and Leonardo Balerdi—Molina is reshaping the team's profile. Some observers outside Rome had already suggested he represented a downgrade compared to Çelik, but offensive and defensive statistics offer no room for interpretation. Molina's record through early September demonstrates substantial improvement across all phases: key passes, dribbling, expected assists, ball recoveries and possessions won in the advanced third all favour the Argentine over his predecessor.

Roma have reached the top of Serie A alongside Inter and Lazio after the opening phase of the season, but attention has already turned to a gruelling month ahead combining league and Champions League fixtures with no respite until November. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has relied heavily on the established core of the squad in the early weeks, with the summer signings introduced gradually, rotating between starting roles and substitute appearances. The intensity of the coming period will require him to call on the full squad of twenty-two players. Among the summer arrivals, Leonardo Balerdi has made an immediate impact, supported by strong performances from Nahuel Molina, the former Atlético Madrid player who provided his first assist against Inter and impressed on the left flank against Torino despite arriving with delayed pre-season preparation due to World Cup commitments. Rodrigo Mora has shown promise in two starts against Fiorentina and Atalanta, though he has found reading the game more difficult as a substitute—though he did score from the bench at Lecce. Gasperini is focused on unlocking the Portuguese midfielder's potential as a player capable of making a difference through his quality. The squad refresh is completed by Koulierakis, Lorenzo Pellegrini and especially Marten de Roon, a signing Gasperini strongly advocated for to strengthen and provide balance to the midfield.