Pruzzo: Roma must offload players to raise Champions League standard

Roma's radio pundits have delivered their verdicts on the club's title credentials and recent form, with particular focus on goalkeeper Mile Svilar's importance, Leonardo Balerdi's unexpected impact, and concerns over player availability. Nando Orsi told Radio Radio Mattino that Roma were constructed this season to compete for the Serie A title, though he noted few say so openly for superstitious reasons. "The Inter have calculative deficiencies that need to be fixed," he said. "Roma is strong and capable; it just needs to manage its forces. Those who say otherwise do so out of superstition. Roma has a strong squad—Saturday's match confirmed they are among the strongest. Juventus, Milan and Napoli don't seem like teams that can compete: they are too inconsistent. Roma and Inter instead are more ready at a technical and squad level." Orsi added that despite Inter's perceived weakness, Roma remain genuine contenders. Lorenzo Pes highlighted Svilar as a decisive factor for Roma's defence. "Compared to several competitors, including Inter and Como, Roma can boast an element that gives security to the defence and to those watching," he said. "A goalkeeper who brings points is additional help. If Roma's squad can increase goals, it will become interesting, because so far most goals have come from Malen, Soulé and Pisilli." On the squad's recuperation, Simone Valdarchi noted that Lorenzo Pellegrini, despite fully recovering from injury, must still regain match rhythm through work at Trigoria in the coming weeks. Roberto Pruzzo called Leonardo Balerdi a positive surprise: "He is reactive, very practical and does not take unnecessary risks. On the defensive phase he is numerically sound and is added value." Mario Mattioli described Balerdi as an experienced player who made 200 appearances in the French league and is demonstrating his worth in Italy. Both Valdarchi and Piero Torri flagged concerns over the potential absence of Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina for Argentina's farewell tribute to Lionel Messi, with fixtures against Como imminent. Torri stated: "The fact that Roma doesn't view the possible departure of Dybala and Molina for Argentina's party favourably seems right to me. Facing two long trips hours before Como–Roma cannot be well regarded."

Roma's early-season form has sparked debate among Rome radio commentators about the club's ability to challenge for the Serie A title. Leonardo Balerdi, the defender who arrived this summer, has made an immediate impact that surprised analysts, though questions remain about the decision to bench Evan N'Dicka and the inconsistency of established players. Mattioli told Radio Radio that Balerdi "is a player of experience, he has played 200 matches in the French league. I'm pleased he came to Italy and is showing what he is worth." Pruzzo added: "I did not expect Balerdi's impact, it is a positive surprise. He is reactive, very practical and does not take risks when there is no need to. On the defensive phase he is numerically sound, he is an added value." Orsi struck a bullish tone about Roma's prospects, saying the squad was built to compete for the title this year and that Roma, alongside Inter, are more ready technically and in terms of squad depth than Juventus, Milan and Napoli, which he described as "too inconsistent." Carina offered a more measured assessment, praising Balerdi's impact but cautioning that benching N'Dicka—"the strongest in one-on-one marking in Serie A"—required courage. He criticised Gianluca Mancini's defending, saying "on the goal conceded by Roma there is his fingerprint," and suggested that with five matches played, it is premature to draw firm conclusions about title contenders, noting that Juventus and Milan remain close in points despite negative talk. Pes on Teleradiostereo highlighted Mile Svilar as a decisive advantage over rivals including Inter and Como, describing him as "a goalkeeper who brings points" and an element that provides security. Pes added that if Roma can increase their goalscoring output beyond the players currently delivering—Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé and Niccolò Pisilli—the team will become genuinely interesting.

Antonio Carlos Zago, who won the Scudetto with Roma in 2001, believes the current side can mount a title challenge against Inter. Speaking after watching Roma's match on Saturday, Zago told Daniele Aloisi at Il Messaggero: "I saw the match on Saturday, Roma played well in the first half but when you lose concentration against a team like Inter you end up paying for it." Zago acknowledged the gap between his 2001 squad and the current team but remains optimistic about their prospects. "That Roma was a very strong team — the 11 starters and the bench were all internationals. It's difficult to compare this squad with that one, Serie A was Europe's best league then. But the Giallorossi can dream of the Scudetto. Inter is the only rival. Roma has a great defensive unit. The attack is strong too — they can compete until the end," he said. The former player, now managing The Strongest in Bolivia, praised Wesley, Roma's defender, calling him one of the strongest full-backs in the world and noting that Real Madrid and Manchester City had wanted him. "There's little to say about him," Zago added. "He may be scoring less but that doesn't mean he's struggling." On Gasperini's appointment as head coach, Zago offered strong backing: "If he's not the best of the last ten years he's certainly in the top three. In Serie A he's the best. The team must follow him and can aim for great results."

AS Roma have decided against releasing Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina for Lionel Messi's farewell Argentina match on 6 October, despite the striker and defender being among the 2022 World Cup winners Messi has requested for the special fixture against Benin. Three Roma players—Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro—are already officially called up by Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni and will attend the event. Roma's caution stems from the timing and physical toll of the trip. The club faces a demanding fixture schedule immediately after Messi's game, beginning with a crucial away match at Como on 11 October that opens a stretch of nine fixtures in 27 days—a critical block of the season in which coach Gian Piero Gasperini intends to rely on Dybala at full fitness. The striker has made an impressive start to the campaign. The participation would require both Dybala and Molina to undertake two long transatlantic flights around the Serie A matchday, bringing inevitable consequences from jet lag, recovery times and tactical preparation. Although evaluations are officially ongoing, Roma's position is clear: players not included in Scaloni's official squad list will remain at the club's Trigoria training base to prepare for the resumption of Serie A.

Paulo Dybala is at the centre of a selection standoff as Argentina prepare for Lionel Messi's final international appearance on 6 October against Benin. Roma have signalled they do not want Dybala and fellow World Cup 2022 winner Nahuel Molina to travel for the match, despite calls from coach Scaloni to include them alongside the three Roma players already convoked — Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro. The club's reluctance stems from the fixture congestion that follows. Roma return to action on 11 October for an away trip to Como, only five days after Messi's farewell and the start of a demanding run of nine matches in 27 days. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini wants to deploy Dybala at full capacity during this critical period, and the dual intercontinental journeys would impose recovery, jet lag and preparation penalties ahead of the Lake Como fixture. The evaluation is ongoing, but Roma's position is clear: Argentine players not selected by Scaloni could genuinely remain at Trigoria.

Rodrigo Mora has opened up on his first months at Roma since arriving from Porto in the summer, reflecting on the move to Italian football, his impact at the Olimpico and his relationship with Paulo Dybala. Speaking to Canal 11, the Portuguese midfielder discussed the significance of his new environment and his ambitions with the club. Mora left Porto after 10 years with the club, a move he described as difficult but necessary. "Gli addii non sono mai facili," he said. "È stato difficile. È stato un lungo periodo, era casa mia. Sarà sempre casa mia. Tutti i cicli si chiudono, possono riaprirsi più tardi. Me ne vado con il cuore pieno, sono stato un campione con il mio club. Me ne vado da campione e continuerò a essere un altro tifoso del Porto, ora tifando dall'Italia." He added: "Sapevo di aver bisogno di una nuova sfida nella mia vita. Sono grato per tutti questi anni, ma era quello che volevo, una nuova sfida in un campionato competitivo come quello italiano." Mora has already marked his Roma debut with a goal and made his Champions League appearance for the club, calling it an important step. He expressed particular admiration for Dybala, saying: "È uno che ammiravo da bambino, ora poter giocare e allenarmi con lui… vedere le cose che fa, che pochi fanno… È una persona umile e mi ha aiutato molto in questo inizio alla Roma. Mi piace come giocatore e come persona. Sono grato di poter giocare al suo fianco." Mora's immediate priority is scoring at the Olimpico. "Voglio ancora segnare allo Stadio Olimpico," he stated. "È speciale e non vedo l'ora di segnare allo Stadio Olimpico. L'atmosfera allo Stadio Olimpico è qualcosa di davvero speciale e bellissimo e ti fa venire voglia di giocare e segnare per la Roma." Looking ahead, Mora said: "Ora voglio fare una buona stagione alla Roma. Ho fatto il mio debutto in Champions League, è stato un passo importante. Spero di vincere titoli alla Roma e di giocare il miglior calcio possibile. Siamo in una buona fase, ma è un campionato molto competitivo. Siamo sulla strada giusta." He has been called up twice by Portugal but suffered injuries during both convocations.