Radio pundits split on Roma and Lazio scudetto race, with Milan and January market in focus

Wesley has become far more than a traditional attacking full-back for Roma, according to an in-depth assessment of the Brazilian's development under Gian Piero Gasperini. The 23-year-old has channelled his disappointment at missing the World Cup through injury into a sharper, more complete game, adding creativity, reading of the game and defensive awareness to the running that has always been his main asset. The article notes that Gasperini has been instilling a never-give-up mentality in his Roma side, capable of bouncing back after the Real Madrid defeat and reacting after the heavy beating in Manchester. Wesley embodies that approach. Early in the season some had questioned whether he was falling short of expectations, and his goals have not yet arrived compared with last season. The writer argues that stopping there would be a mistake, because Wesley now offers much more: he creates, defends with greater attention, beats his man and poses a constant threat to opposing defences. The statistics underline the change. Wesley has created 23 chances in Serie A, level with De Bruyne, and the article describes this as the figure that best captures his evolution. Last season he created 33 chances across the whole campaign. He also has 57 passes that break lines, 45 balls won back and 14 successful crosses. He now creates 2.81 chances per game, compared with 1.21 last season. Gasperini said before the trip to Manchester: "Sta facendo bene, è cresciuto" (He is doing well, he has grown). The article adds that Roma are enjoying Wesley, and Gasperini even more so. Carlo Ancelotti, who continues to select him for Brazil, has also noticed his progress. Last season, the article says, Wesley was more raw: he ran tirelessly, scored and had begun showing early signs of his talent, but his work was far from finished. Now he covers more defensively and, when attacking, drifts inside, breaks opposition lines and becomes an extra option for team-mates. The relationship with Mora is described as increasingly important. The two understand each other on the pitch. Wesley starts on the flank but does not stay tied to the line, moving into central areas between the lines and supporting attacks as an additional offensive presence. Mora can exploit these runs to find more space and freedom in the final third without having to guarantee width and depth himself. Wesley attacks, Mora creates, and Roma gain two extra options in the same area of the pitch. The article acknowledges that he is not, for obvious reasons, a De Bruyne, but says this version of Wesley fits Gasperini's Roma perfectly. The coach wanted him strongly and has no intention of giving him up. Off the pitch, the article says Wesley seems to have found his place at Trigoria: he enjoys himself, goes live on social media and always smiles. Gasperini sees him as the hidden gold this squad needed.

Radio pundits across Rome's airwaves have heaped praise on Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma, with several arguing the team is increasingly built in the coach's image as it piles up goals early in the 2026-27 season. Radio Bruno commentator Verdenelli wanted attention focused on Bryan Cristante, who he said has been outstanding since returning to the club, adding that he had been treated badly in Rome for saying so. "Sooner or later somebody will have to apologise to this lad, our captain," Verdenelli said. Pedrelli, also on Radio Bruno, described a "perfect Roma" collecting three important points and noted that the side has become only the fourth since 1961 to score more than 30 goals in the first 11 league matches of a season. He pointed out that Roma keep finding a different scorer each time despite the absences, working in harmony with the coach and driven on by their fans. Ferri, also on Radio Bruno, said the team has real awareness and can fight for the top places in the table until the end, adding he was sure two quality reinforcements would arrive in January. Carina, speaking on Radio Radio, said Roma and Lazio have finally made their mark again in Italian football, though he questioned how long it would last. He believes Roma are better equipped than Lazio, which has enthusiasm and plays well, and he called a Lazio Scudetto challenge too much. "Roma is increasingly 'Gasperinian': just look at the numbers, it had never scored this many goals in its history," he said. He argued the coach has turned mid-table fixtures into matches to be passed through, with the points already in the bag, and that Cagliari could have been a trickier test but Roma still scored four goals. Carina added that Gasperini says he changed nothing in the physical preparation, but he believes something was done during the three-week long break. He said Mora has grown beyond scoring, pointing to assists for Malen against Madrid and for Soulé in Manchester, but feels he has not yet found his definitive position on the pitch. Pruzzo, also on Radio Radio, said Inter have done their job so far and that it will be seen whether they keep it up over the holidays. He contrasted Lazio's clear identity, playing once a week, with Roma's double competitions, which he said make the team look as if it is taking strolls. He suggested Roma could find something more in the transfer market and recover Dybala, which he believes would make Inter struggle. He said Mora has a stamina level of 30 minutes, and that he is at his best in games against open defences, while in matches where he bounces off opponents he must be ready to be substituted. "The most in-form attacker at Roma is Mario," Pruzzo said. Orsi, on Radio Radio, said Roma can fight for the Scudetto as they are meeting expectations, and that Lazio look a convinced and empathetic side that can go all the way in the Champions League race. He said Roma played badly against Manchester in the second half, and the same against Madrid, adding the goals were not the goalkeeper's fault and were a team error. He said Roma lost nothing because Svilar was not in goal. Pes, speaking to Teleradiostereo, said there has never been a technical leadership with such clear ideas. He said Gasperini has never hidden his objective of shortening the time between building up and scoring. "Never have we heard such clear statements," Pes said, adding that Roma have the best attack and second-best defence in their second year under the coach. He said the team has lost twice badly but always responded, and that despite injuries Roma have a strong identity. He said Svilar will be confirmed at Parma, has some doubts over Dybala but does not expect him to be unavailable, and was surprised by the impact of Balerdi, whom he had expected to be a good signing but not to make such a big impact.

Francesco Totti has spoken again about AS Roma, saying the club can dream of the Scudetto. The Roma legend made the comments on the Shasha Sport television programme in Kuwait, where he was also honoured. In the interview he covered the current team under Gian Piero Gasperini, a possible return to Trigoria, the Scudetto, his retirement from football, the fans and several figures from his career. Asked what Roma still means to him, Totti said: "For me Roma is everything, above all the Roma as a club, as well as the city. It has given me a huge amount and I have given a lot to it. That is why, as you know, I always say that certain things are done in two, not alone." On whether he would like to work for Roma again, he said: "Perhaps you would have to ask other people to understand the reasons, but I do not complain, I do not hold grudges and I do not want to create any kind of problem. Absolutely. At this moment it is normal and right that things go this way. They are doing well, everything works, the club is healthy, the city is great and the team is very strong." He added that players with his experience can still offer something from outside a club: "Figures like us, who were protagonists for thirty years in football, can give something extra even from outside the club, because we know this environment and we know how football works. That is certain." Totti described Trigoria as his home: "I lived there for longer than I lived in my own house. I grew up there and stayed for over thirty-five years. I arrived when I was twelve. For me going to Trigoria was like coming home. I never imagined that one day the moment would come to leave. But football is beautiful also for this reason: there are things that end." Recalling his last match against Genoa in 2017, he said it was "a historic, special day, beautiful to live but also painful, because it marked the end of a career, the end of a dream." He described the lap of honour: "I went around the stadium and saw all the people, from the youngest to the oldest: everyone was crying. I kept walking around the pitch and it seemed that lap would never end, so many were the emotions." On 2004, when he was close to Real Madrid, Totti admitted: "At that moment, in fact, I did have some doubts. But in the end, as I have always said, the love for Roma, for the city and for the club, which I carry in my heart, pushed me to decide to stay. I felt it was right, that the best choice was to remain with that team." He named Mazzone as the coach who helped him most to mature, saying he "taught me many things about football and above all knew how to manage me when I was still very young." Of Zeman and Luis Enrique, he said of the latter: "At the time he was young and at the start of his career. Today we see how strong and important a coach he has become for football." On being Roman and a Roma fan, Totti said: "It changes everything, absolutely everything. It is very difficult to live in an environment where everyone always expects 100% from you, demands something more than from other players and looks at you with different eyes." He said he felt responsibility as captain and number ten: "I was lucky because I was captain and wore the number ten shirt, so I had responsibilities. I would say they were at least three times greater." On the Roma supporters he said: "What the Roma public gives you cannot be given by any other fanbase." Turning to the present, Totti said Roma must be better prepared in the Champions League: "You have to be more prepared, have a superior physical condition and an even better equipped squad. You have to be ready because you face opponents who are often stronger than you, always competitive and used to playing at European level." In Serie A he said: "I think Roma have great chances of achieving very positive results. I think they have the potential to do something important." Asked what is missing to become genuine Scudetto contenders, he said: "Probably one or two additions would be needed to strengthen the squad and make it a real contender for the Scudetto, a team capable of dreaming of the title." He added: "The club is working very well, the coach is a great technician and the team, in my opinion, is strong. But with three or four players of high level you could really make the difference." On Malen, he said: "If he keeps going like this, it is good for both him and Roma itself." Totti also spoke about the national team, describing it as "a real revolution" with "a new coach, a new president and some new players", and said Italy's main aim is "to return to competing with the great teams of world football and to arrive at the next World Cup as protagonists." He also commented on Juventus, saying Spalletti "has practically never had all the players he would have wanted to field from the first minute", which makes it hard to work with players who are not at full fitness. Of Salah, he said Roma "was the starting point for Salah, before his transfer to Liverpool", after two good seasons in the Italian capital.

Thirteen Roma players have been called up by their national teams for the November international break, a sign of the squad's growing standing at the highest level, according to Il Messaggero's Daniele Aloisi. Trigoria will be almost empty in the early part of the week, with the gates reopening on Wednesday, leaving Gian Piero Gasperini to prepare for the resumption with a heavily reduced group. Gasperini had already made clear his view of the break, calling the upcoming international fixtures "amichevoli o poco più" (friendlies or little more) after the match against Sassuolo. Argentina, the runners-up at the World Cup, begin a new cycle without Lionel Messi and have recalled Matías Soulé, Leonardo Balerdi and Santiago Castro for friendlies against Uruguay and Costa Rica. Wesley faces a much longer trip, travelling to Singapore with Brazil for games against the hosts and Japan. Italy boss Roberto Mancini has opted for youth for the Nations League matches against France and Belgium. Niccolò Pisilli and Daniele Ghilardi will join up at Coverciano, while Bryan Cristante remains at Trigoria. Donyell Malen has also been called up and will meet Xavi, the new Netherlands coach, for the first time. Rodrigo Mora returns to the senior national team a year after his last call-up, which coincided with the campaign that ended in victory in the Nations League.

Francesco Totti has said Roma could challenge for the Serie A title with a couple of high-level additions. In a lengthy interview given from Kuwait, the former Roma captain said he believes the club has great chances of achieving very positive results. Totti's view on the Champions League was more cautious. He believes the squad needs to be even more competitive to succeed in Europe's elite competition, and that the club must be better prepared for that level. Totti also spoke positively about Donyell Malen, one of the forwards in the Giallorossi attack. He said: "If he keeps going like this, it is good for both him and Roma itself." Asked about a possible return to the club, Totti said: "For me Roma is everything, above all Roma as a club, as well as the city. It has given me so much, and I have given a lot to it. That is why, as you know, I always say that certain things are done in two, not alone."

Thirteen Roma players have been called up for international duty, leaving Trigoria largely empty during the break, and Gian Piero Gasperini will have to work with the few who remain in Rome. The Italian report notes that the club's form has made it a reservoir for national teams. Midfielder Manu Koné, who has just recovered, was not called up by France, a fortunate outcome for Gasperini. The first players back will be Ghilardi and Pisilli, who finish their commitments with the match against Belgium on 15 November and are expected at Trigoria the following day, giving them five days to prepare for the game against Parma. Malen returns on 17 November, while Gasperini will be reunited with Lulli and Koulierakis on 18 November. Players who travelled overseas will take longer: Balerdi, Soulé and Castro are due back in Rome by 19 November, just two days before the trip to Emilia. Mora, Wesley and Ndicka are also expected close to the match. The report suggests Gasperini may only have his full squad available on the eve of the clash at the Tardini. The timings make management difficult for Gasperini, who risks having the whole group together only the day before the fixture at the Tardini. The schedule leaves a short window for tactical preparation with the full squad.

Mario Hermoso has become one of the most surprising symbols of Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical revolution at Roma, having turned from a pure defender into a complete player who combines marking solidity with a striker's instinct. He is now an established starter, has earned the coach's full trust, and the club has moved to work on a renewal that would tie him to the giallorossi for the long term. According to Il Corriere dello Sport, his development is one of the masterpieces of Gasperini's work. Before a decisive meeting in July 2025, Hermoso's future looked uncertain. Since then his approach to the role has changed completely: aggressive and alert when defending, he becomes an extra attacker as soon as he crosses the halfway line. The numbers back this up. He has scored seven goals under Gasperini, three of them so far this season, including the strike that unlocked the match against Sassuolo. That output places him among the best goalscoring defenders in Europe, directly behind names such as van Dijk and Querfeld, and far surpasses what he produced in his years at Atletico Madrid. His impact is considerable, in some ways comparable to what Kolasinac had at Gasperini's Atalanta, but enhanced by superior technical quality and a more pronounced goal sense. In his thirteen starts he has, alongside his tackles and interceptions, made 120 entries into the opposition box and produced close to a thousand touches, a level of involvement no other Roma player matches. Gasperini described him as "cold as a number nine". Il Corriere dello Sport reports that such a high level of performance made it inevitable to address his contract. Now that the deadline tied to the Champions League clause has passed, Roma and the player are reportedly very close to an agreement running until 2029, with an option for 2030. Hermoso would also have accepted a reduction in his salary, following the example of senior players such as Mancini, Cristante, Dybala and Pellegrini. The gesture is a strong signal of both parties' desire to continue together.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is pushing for reinforcements in the January transfer window, with a meeting between the club and the coach expected in the coming days to set the strategy. The November international break arrives at the right moment for Roma, who are enjoying an exciting start to the season, sitting third in Serie A and unbeaten in the league. Gasperini has now been in charge for 521 days, and the club and its management know that making the final leap in quality will require making the most of the January market. According to Il Tempo, Roma have not lost in Serie A for 18 matches, boast the league's best attack with 31 goals, and have the second-best defence. Gasperini sees the fruits of his work and the growth of a group that functions perfectly. He is aware, however, that there are still details to improve, such as finishing and handling decisive moments, if Roma are to close the gap on Lazio and Inter. That is why the winter window, which opens early on 28 December, is a key step. The top priority is clear: Roma need a fast winger capable of providing depth and unpredictability. Gasperini considers that profile fundamental, partly because players such as Dybala and Pellegrini do not offer constant physical guarantees. In other areas, Roma feel covered. The attack is working thanks to Soulé and Mora, and on the flanks the emergence of Lulli has reduced the urgency to act. Defence and midfield also offer good certainties.

Roma are set to welcome back key players after the international break, with Mile Svilar and Paulo Dybala both close to returning from injury, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. The break arrives at a convenient moment for the club, which has come through a difficult run of closely spaced matches and numerous injuries. In 27 days Roma played nine games with a limited number of players available, but the injury list is finally emptying and Gian Piero Gasperini will regain fundamental pieces for the second half of the season. The Roman side has managed to cope thanks to the depth of the squad and the early return of Manu Koné against Sassuolo. Svilar's influence is shown clearly by the numbers: with him in goal, Roma had conceded just four goals in six matches, a very low average that inevitably changed during his absence. Dybala's return, meanwhile, will bring back the special quality seen in the first part of the season, even as Roma appreciate the growth of Matías Soulé. Gasperini can also count on Gianluca Mancini and Devyne Rensch, both ready to return to availability, ahead of the trip to Parma on 21 November. Lorenzo Pellegrini will not return until January. Despite that, the overall picture is very positive, with Roma recovering all their players and preparing to become even more competitive.

Paulo Dybala is reportedly attracting strong interest from two MLS clubs, Inter Miami and New York City, according to Piero Torri of Romasport.eu. The international break is expected to give Roma the chance to recover the Argentine, who has been sidelined by injury for almost a month. Dybala signed a one-year contract renewal over the summer, but this could be his final season in yellow and red given his age, his recurring physical problems and the club's wish to make the squad younger still. Inter Miami, where Lionel Messi plays and whom Dybala won the 2022 World Cup alongside, are said to have already begun initial contacts with the player's entourage, with club founder and co-owner David Beckham leading the approach. New York City, owned by the group that also runs Manchester City, have also made an approach, and talks with both sides are ongoing. The MLS season starts in March, so a move could theoretically happen in the January window. However, Roma and Gasperini are reportedly unwilling to let such an important player go midway through the season, making that scenario very difficult.

Paulo Dybala could be heading to the United States, with two Major League Soccer clubs reportedly preparing to assess a move for the Roma forward for next season. Inter Miami, led by David Beckham, are said to have moved first, while New York City are also reportedly interested. According to journalist Piero Torri, Beckham has already begun initial contact with Dybala and his entourage to test his willingness to transfer to Florida. The destination could appeal to the Roma striker, partly because of his link with Lionel Messi, his teammate in the Argentina side that won the 2022 World Cup. Inter Miami are not the only suitor. New York City are reportedly weighing up an offer to bring the 'Joya' to the United States. Según the reports, contacts have been ongoing for several weeks and have intensified recently. For now, however, no agreement has been reached and the player has not made a decision. Contract status is central to the interest. Dybala is tied to Roma until 30 June 2027, following a renewal made official last summer. Without a further extension, the Argentine could leave on a free transfer at the end of the season, a prospect that is particularly attractive to American clubs. For the moment, Dybala's priority remains returning to action with Roma. He is recovering from a calf muscle injury sustained against Real Madrid and aims to be available to Gasperini after the international break, for the away trip to Parma. The American interest is therefore a scenario to follow, with Dybala's contract situation likely to become decisive in the summer. Inter Miami and New York City are monitoring the situation.

Paulo Dybala may be nearing the end of his time at Roma, and this time his departure could be permanent. According to Radio Manà Manà, the club has already made clear to the Argentine that the conditions to extend his contract further are not in place. The renewal he signed last summer could therefore be his last at the club, prompting the Joya to look at new options, with Major League Soccer among them. MLS has long followed the number 21 with interest. David Beckham, a familiar face in Italian football and now co-owner of Inter Miami, is reportedly the first to have made contact with Dybala and his entourage. The Florida club, where Messi also plays, dreams of adding another Argentine champion to its squad. Miami could hold particular appeal for Dybala: he already owns a home there, has never hidden his desire to move to the United States, and has reportedly previously said he would consider an offer from the club. The competition is not lacking, however. New York City, part of the Manchester City group of clubs, has also reportedly set its sights on the Argentine, and according to the rumours it is the New York club showing the greatest interest. Contacts with the entourage have been ongoing for several weeks and have intensified recently, a period that coincided with Dybala's latest muscular setback.