Radio pundits back Roma to beat Torino; Mattioli urges Gasperini to play Castro soon

Walter Sabatini, the former Roma executive now working as a consultant for Pro Patria, has reflected on his career at the club in an interview with Corriere della Sera. On his time in the game, Sabatini said: "At Roma. It's my life, don't make me say anything else because I've developed a complex about being a boring man." Sabatini also addressed the current state of Italian football and Roma's standing. Discussing which club has the strongest squad values at present, he observed: "There is great euphoria in the Roma environment. A spiritual cohesion that makes everyone feel unbeatable. But in terms of squad quality and depth of choices, Inter are a step above everyone else." Sabatini commented on the prospect of working alongside Gasperini, the current Roma head coach, though he did not elaborate on the specifics of that assessment beyond the headline suggestion that collaboration between them would have led to friction.

Walter Sabatini, the legendary former Roma sporting director, has returned to football as a consultant at Pro Patria, the club where he finished his playing career 43 years ago. In an interview with Corriere della Sera, the 71-year-old reflected on his decision to re-enter the game and his enduring connection to Roma, where he recruited champions including Nainggolan, Dzeko, Pastore, Ilicic and Kolarov. Asked where he left his heart, Sabatini answered without hesitation: "Roma. It is my life, do not make me say anything else because I have developed a complex about being a boring man." On the prospect of working under Roma's current coach Gian Piero Gasperini, however, he was candid: "No. I have great admiration for his work as a coach but I would have come into collision course." Despite his age and health challenges, Sabatini said he feels the enthusiasm of his early days in the game. "Inside I feel the excitement of when I started working for Triestina and I was 39 years old," he said. "I would like to return to that phase of my life and create my own football laboratory." He acknowledged struggling at Pro Patria, where his dynamic ideas are not accommodated: "I need agility and speed. I am not hiding that I am finding myself uncomfortable and I do not want to waste my last years. I have entered the third, perhaps the fourth age." On evaluating talent, Sabatini insisted on trusting his eye rather than data analytics. "When I see a player I must feel something immediately at the first meeting. He must strike me like lightning. The only metric of evaluation I conceive is the eye, sensitivity, passion." Asked which player now moves him, he singled out Paulo Dybala: "A residual champion of our championship. In the Nineties we had Ronaldo, Platini, Rummenigge. Now of that lineage of phenomena, there is only Paulo in Serie A." He praised Como's Champions League debut display, saying the team displayed "a high level match proposing entertaining football and exalting its individuals." On the balance of power in Serie A, Sabatini noted that while "there is great euphoria in the Roma environment. A spiritual cohesion that makes everyone feel unbeatable," Inter stood above all others: "For the quality of the squad and depth of choices, Inter is a step above everyone." Sabatini expressed regret about his brief spell at Inter, saying he had been "a meteor—the inhabitants of the Earth did not even see me pass." He attributed the Nerazzurri's current strength to Chivu's pragmatism. Of himself, he reflected: "I am bulimic of life. A pity that my skeletal system does not assist my will. Every now and then I think back to my career and say to myself 'but you were an acrobat, not a sporting director'."

Roma face Torino today with the chance to build momentum ahead of their Champions League fixture against Inter, according to analysis from several Italian radio commentators. Simone Valdarchi told Radio Manà Manà that Torino can create difficulties for Roma, and warned that the team must maintain focus rather than rebuild after the recent draw against Fenerbahçe. He stressed that today's match carries significant weight: "Roma-Inter will take on a different importance if you arrive at full points after four matches. The Torino match is a fundamental challenge if you want to enter the Champions League." Calendar distractions aside, Valdarchi believes players must concentrate solely on the Torino fixture. Gabriele Conflitti echoed the view that today represents an awkward assignment. "Dybala must not be treated as a display piece—he should play," Conflitti said on Radio Manà Manà. "Today is a tricky match. Torino have put us in difficulty many times down there. Abate coaches them well, especially physically." Piero Torri added: "I hope Castro scores, but the important thing is that you win against Torino today. Because if you take the victory home you go against Inter at full points: that's important." The commentators underlined that a win in Turin would leave Roma positioned ideally for the Inter encounter.

David Di Michele has predicted a battle at Torino tonight, describing the fixture between Roma and the Torino side as historically contested and full of intensity. The former footballer was speaking exclusively ahead of the match. Di Michele praised Gasperini's work and emphasised the strength of the squad's collective awareness. He reflected on the modern evolution of full-back play, noting that inverted positions have become standard practice in contemporary football. "Once you played only on your own flank," he said, "but now football has changed. Even when I was playing, various coaches were experimenting with the inverted foot, and I benefited greatly from it because you have more solutions. Certainly with Gasperini I would have found myself well given what my characteristics were." Addressing Gasperini's view that a squad now comprises 20 players of equal quality rather than a division between starters and substitutes, Di Michele acknowledged the shift while noting that first-choice players remain defined when chasing major objectives. "Certainly football has changed, today you need your entire squad—that's clear," he explained. "But if we analyse it, it's obvious that when you come to play for important objectives, the starters are well defined and you change less. Over the course of an entire season it's clear you need everyone, but every team has its own reliability and its own balance with a certain formation. If you remove Dybala you don't have a substitute with the same qualities, for example."

Roma face Torino in Serie A on 14 September at 18:30, four days after their Champions League return, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini managing squad rotation following the trip to Istanbul. The starting XI appears largely settled, though midfield and the right flank remain open questions. Svilar will start in goal, with the familiar trio of Mancini, Ndicka and Hermoso in defence; Ghilardi is the alternative. Wesley is expected to hold the left-back spot, while the right side is contested between Lulli and Rensch, with Lulli marginally favoured, though Gasperini indicated in his press conference that his condition would need to be assessed before the match. The main shift could come in midfield. Manu Koné picked up a knee problem against Fenerbahçe, opening the door for Nicolò Pisilli to partner Bryan Cristante; Koné has attempted recovery and remains an option. Dybala and Donyell Malen are set pieces in attack, with Matías Soulé the likely choice to complete the forward line, while Rodrigo Mora stands ready either from the start or as an in-match solution. The probable Roma formation is 3-4-2-1: Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Lulli, Cristante, Pisilli, Wesley; Soulé, Dybala; Malen.

Roma travel to Turin on 14 September with their full squad available and Lorenzo Pellegrini in the matchday group for the first time this season after a lengthy absence. The squad selection remains fluid ahead of the fixture: the defence is expected to feature Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, but uncertainty persists across the flanks, midfield and attack. Emanuele Lulli, Devyne Rensch and Nahuel Molina are competing for a starting place on the right, while Niccolò Pisilli and Manu Koné are in contention alongside Bryan Cristante in the middle. Up front, Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora are head-to-head for selection, though Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are guaranteed starting positions. Roma carry an open run of eight consecutive Serie A victories into the match—five secured in the closing stages of last season and three in the opening rounds of the current campaign. Gian Piero Gasperini's side will pursue a ninth straight win to reclaim the league lead. The head coach faces a contrasting duel with opposing manager Ignazio Abate: Gasperini has 640 Serie A matches on his bench, placing him fifth in the all-time standings and closing in on Nils Liedholm's tally of 644. Abate, by contrast, is appearing in only his fourth Serie A match in charge. Roma Primavera, meanwhile, play at home today: at 15:00 they face Como at the Agostino Di Bartolomei ground in Trigoria, with coverage on Sportitalia. The youth side aim to remain unbeaten in the fourth matchday following a comeback victory in the Youth League against Fenerbahce. A starting confirmation is expected for Paratici with Morucci in attack, while Cama is highlighted among young players to watch closely.

Emanuele Lulli will face Alessio Cacciamani on the same flank when Roma visit Torino this evening, a meeting that reflects two contrasting paths taken by Italy's youth systems. Roma pursued Cacciamani throughout the summer as a prospect to support Gasperini, but Torino resisted and manager Ignazio Abate chose to give the teenager playing time instead of selling him. Roma eventually discovered Lulli as an alternative. Lulli's emergence this season cannot be attributed solely to Cacciamani's departure, yet the two stories intertwine meaningfully. The space Roma might have created for a purchased young talent—potentially by moving Wesley to the right—became fertile ground for a player developed at Trigoria. Gasperini first prevented Lulli from joining Avellino on loan in the summer, then granted him the opportunity to prove himself in the Roma first team. Lulli has become one of the pleasant surprises of the season's opening weeks. The narrative extends beyond the match itself. Youth academies produce talent, but talent without opportunity remains only a promise. Cacciamani is emerging because Torino had the courage to retain him and Abate the conviction to play him. Lulli is achieving the same because Gasperini, partly through circumstances created by the transfer market, kept him at the club and gave him his chance to compete. Not every Primavera player will become Serie A material, and every young talent should not be kept out of fear of future regret. Yet before looking elsewhere for what is missing, it is sometimes worth examining what lies within. Tonight Cacciamani and Lulli will face each other. While not a headline-grabbing duel, it could tell one of the match's most important stories: young players can emerge only when someone has the courage to let them play.

Roma face Torino in Serie A on 14 September at 18:30, four days after their Champions League return, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini managing squad rotation following the trip to Istanbul. The starting XI appears largely settled, though midfield and the right flank remain open questions. Svilar will start in goal, with the familiar trio of Mancini, Ndicka and Hermoso in defence; Ghilardi is the alternative. Wesley is expected to hold the left-back spot, while the right side is contested between Lulli and Rensch, with Lulli marginally favoured, though Gasperini indicated in his press conference that his condition would need to be assessed before the match. The main shift could come in midfield. Manu Koné picked up a knee problem against Fenerbahçe, opening the door for Nicolò Pisilli to partner Bryan Cristante; Koné has attempted recovery and remains an option. Dybala and Donyell Malen are set pieces in attack, with Matías Soulé the likely choice to complete the forward line, while Rodrigo Mora stands ready either from the start or as an in-match solution. The probable Roma formation is 3-4-2-1: Svilar; Mancini, Ndicka, Hermoso; Lulli, Cristante, Pisilli, Wesley; Soulé, Dybala; Malen.

Roma travel to Turin on 14 September with their full squad available and Lorenzo Pellegrini in the matchday group for the first time this season after a lengthy absence. The squad selection remains fluid ahead of the fixture: the defence is expected to feature Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, but uncertainty persists across the flanks, midfield and attack. Emanuele Lulli, Devyne Rensch and Nahuel Molina are competing for a starting place on the right, while Niccolò Pisilli and Manu Koné are in contention alongside Bryan Cristante in the middle. Up front, Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora are head-to-head for selection, though Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are guaranteed starting positions. Roma carry an open run of eight consecutive Serie A victories into the match—five secured in the closing stages of last season and three in the opening rounds of the current campaign. Gian Piero Gasperini's side will pursue a ninth straight win to reclaim the league lead. The head coach faces a contrasting duel with opposing manager Ignazio Abate: Gasperini has 640 Serie A matches on his bench, placing him fifth in the all-time standings and closing in on Nils Liedholm's tally of 644. Abate, by contrast, is appearing in only his fourth Serie A match in charge. Roma Primavera, meanwhile, play at home today: at 15:00 they face Como at the Agostino Di Bartolomei ground in Trigoria, with coverage on Sportitalia. The youth side aim to remain unbeaten in the fourth matchday following a comeback victory in the Youth League against Fenerbahce. A starting confirmation is expected for Paratici with Morucci in attack, while Cama is highlighted among young players to watch closely.

Alessio Cacciamani will face Roma and Gian Piero Gasperini on tomorrow evening when Torino visit, just days after signing a contract renewal with the Serie A club. The 19-year-old, who attracted Roma's interest during the summer, has committed to Torino until 30 June 2031 with an improved salary package. Gasperini had identified Cacciamani as a left-sided talent to develop and integrate into the first team, envisioning a role in both Serie A and European competition, potentially alternating with Wesley or Molina. The renewal strengthens Torino's negotiating position economically, though Roma retain the financial means to pursue another attempt for the young forward—possibly in January or more likely in the summer of 2027. Other Italian clubs and English sides are also monitoring his progress. Cacciamani's early season form has been encouraging. He has started all five of Torino's fixtures across Serie A and Coppa Italia, recording one assist in the league. The prospect of facing the club that pursued him intensely offers him motivation to demonstrate his readiness for the highest level. Roma continue to observe from the sidelines, aware that Torino may be forced to sell next summer if a significant offer arrives, particularly if the club decides to redirect spending toward an attacking player in the January window. The article notes that Gasperini and Roma's scout D'Amico are watching his development closely. Torino hope Cacciamani will immediately prove capable of performing at an elite level, thereby justifying their confidence in him and potentially deterring some interest. However, the competitive landscape around him is expanding. Beyond Roma's continued interest, other major Italian clubs and several Premier League sides are tracking the teenager. The club faces a delicate balance: rewarding his potential with renewed terms while managing the likelihood that a well-resourced suitor may tempt him away within two transfer windows.

Roma travel to Turin on 14 September with their full squad available and Lorenzo Pellegrini in the matchday group for the first time this season after a lengthy absence. The squad selection remains fluid ahead of the fixture: the defence is expected to feature Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, but uncertainty persists across the flanks, midfield and attack. Emanuele Lulli, Devyne Rensch and Nahuel Molina are competing for a starting place on the right, while Niccolò Pisilli and Manu Koné are in contention alongside Bryan Cristante in the middle. Up front, Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora are head-to-head for selection, though Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are guaranteed starting positions. Roma carry an open run of eight consecutive Serie A victories into the match—five secured in the closing stages of last season and three in the opening rounds of the current campaign. Gian Piero Gasperini's side will pursue a ninth straight win to reclaim the league lead. The head coach faces a contrasting duel with opposing manager Ignazio Abate: Gasperini has 640 Serie A matches on his bench, placing him fifth in the all-time standings and closing in on Nils Liedholm's tally of 644. Abate, by contrast, is appearing in only his fourth Serie A match in charge. Roma Primavera, meanwhile, play at home today: at 15:00 they face Como at the Agostino Di Bartolomei ground in Trigoria, with coverage on Sportitalia. The youth side aim to remain unbeaten in the fourth matchday following a comeback victory in the Youth League against Fenerbahce. A starting confirmation is expected for Paratici with Morucci in attack, while Cama is highlighted among young players to watch closely.

Roma face Torino in the late afternoon on 14 September with a full squad available. Gian Piero Gasperini has recalled Lorenzo Pellegrini to the squad for the first time this season after an extended absence, though the manager will need to handle his reintegration gradually. All media outlets agree on the back three protecting Svilar: Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso remain unchanged. The key debate centres on the right-back position. Lulli is favoured by three of the five newspapers surveyed—Corriere della Sera, Il Tempo and Il Messaggero—all of which lineup him alongside Cristante, Pisilli, Wesley in midfield and Soulé, Dybala, Malen in attack. Corriere dello Sport instead selects Devyne Rensch, while Il Romanista opts for Nahuel Molina, who would line up with Manu Koné in place of Pisilli and Rodrigo Mora ahead of Soulé.