Radio voices debate Castro deal as Roma close in on Bologna forward; Cristofori hits out at referee in friendly

Liverpool have emerged as the latest heavyweight club to express interest in Roma midfielder Manu Koné, according to journalist David Ornstein of The Athletic. Koné remained at Roma after a summer window in which Atlético Madrid made an approach and Chelsea made contact on the final day of the transfer market, though the latter were only described as "informational contacts" by Roma's sporting director D'Amico. Ornstein stated: "I think there is interest from the Reds for Koné at Roma, and they will have other options too. He was very close to Chelsea before they turned to Camara, and we'll see what position Roma find themselves in during the winter window. He has been examined very carefully by Manchester United and I think Liverpool like him." Despite the external attention, Koné remains focused on Roma and is regarded as one of the fundamental elements of Gasperini's squad.

Mason Greenwood will face Roma for the first time since a failed transfer pursuit, now wearing the Fenerbahçe colours in their Champions League clash in Istanbul. The English forward was a priority target for Gian Piero Gasperini during the summer transfer window, and the Roma coach recently acknowledged his disappointment at failing to complete the deal. Greenwood will instead pose a significant threat in what is Roma's opening European fixture of the season. The transfer saga has captured attention in Turkey ahead of the match. Turkish outlet Fanatik stoked anticipation by using Greenwood's connection to Roma, with the publication stating: "Greenwood will destroy Roma. After having refused them, now he will show his value." For Roma, the task now is to move past what happened in the summer market. Greenwood was identified as a key attacking reinforcement for Gasperini's squad, but the operation fell through and the player opted to join Fenerbahçe instead.

Jeremie Leweling has found himself sidelined at Stuttgart after a dramatic summer transfer saga with Roma that ultimately collapsed. The German forward has appeared only in the closing stages of matches against Bayern Munich and Cologne, totalling just 48 minutes on the pitch. Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeneß prefers attacking midfielders Undav and El Khannouss behind striker Pejcinovic, with Vagnoman occupying the right flank, leaving little room for Leweling in the team's setup. The player's summer proved chaotic. Roma and Stuttgart agreed a €35 million transfer fee, with both clubs satisfied by the deal—Stuttgart especially pleased to receive the revenue. Leweling repeatedly changed his mind, however: he committed to Roma, then reversed course, then reconsidered again, with a plane waiting to fly him to Italy before another change of heart. The indecision infuriated both clubs. Had the move succeeded, Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini had planned to deploy Leweling in a dual role that would have guaranteed regular playing time. Instead, Roma continue without him and perform well, Leweling sits unused at Stuttgart and faces criticism from local supporters. The failed transfer has left both parties worse off.

Roma kick off their Champions League campaign against Fenerbahce in Istanbul, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini confirming a strong starting lineup. Gasperini has retained the core of Roma's winning run this season, with one change: Devyne Rensch starts at left-back in place of Emanuele Lulli. Paulo Dybala takes his regular place in attack, flanking Matías Soulé behind Donyell Malen in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Rodrigo Mora is unused among the substitutes, expected to come on in the second half if needed. Nahuel Molina's first-team debut from the start is postponed. Roma field: Svilar; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Rensch, Cristante, Koné, Wesley; Soulé, Dybala; Malen. Among the squad available from the bench are De Marzi, Gollini, Balerdi, Ghilardi, Koulierakis, Lulli, Molina, De Roon, Pisilli, Mora and Castro. Fenerbahce start with Ederson in goal and deploy Muriqi as their centre-forward, supported by Mason Greenwood and Ferdi Aktörkoglu in attacking midfield. The Turkish side's squad includes Raphaël Varane in their defensive ranks.

Roma returned to the Champions League for the first time in seven years on 10 September 2026, drawing 1-1 with Fenerbahçe in Istanbul in the opening match of the league phase. Bryan Cristante gave Roma the lead in the 38th minute with a long-range strike into the corner, but Fenerbahçe equalised in the 48th minute through Brown, who capitalised on a defensive error to beat Mile Svilar one-on-one. The draw ended a run of three consecutive Serie A victories for Gian Piero Gasperini's side ahead of their European return. Gasperini fielded Devyne Rensch at right-back on his first start in the competition, with Matías Soulé starting in the attacking midfield ahead of Rodrigo Mora alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Roma controlled possession throughout the first half, forcing Fenerbahçe goalkeeper Ederson into saves from Dybala in the 20th minute and Malen in the 42nd, while Gianluca Mancini squandered a clear chance at the back post in the 33rd minute. Mason Greenwood posed the primary threat for the hosts on the counter-attack, and his influence continued into the second half until Fenerbahçe made changes in the 70th minute, introducing Romelu Lukaku and Ferdi Kahveci for Vedat Muriqi and Serdar Aktürkoğlu. Roma were awarded a penalty in the 69th minute which was then converted as a free-kick from the edge of the area, though Paulo Dybala's subsequent pass to Malen saw his effort blocked by the Fenerbahçe defence. Cristante received a yellow card in the 85th minute, as did Fenerbahçe's Yüksek for a hard challenge on Dybala in the 84th. Gian Piero Gasperini made three substitutions in the 74th minute, withdrawing Rensch, Mancini and Soulé to introduce Leonardo Balerdi, Nahuel Molina and Rodrigo Mora. The referee was Jesús Gil Manzano of Spain, with César Soto Grado operating as VAR. The draw left Roma's opening European campaign balanced at the first hurdle. Fenerbahçe named İsmail Kartal as their manager, while Roma's squad included Giorgio De Marzi, Pierluigi Gollini, Niccolò Pisilli and Santiago Castro among those available from the bench.

Vincent Candela has given Roma an upbeat assessment of their return to the Champions League, insisting the club's fixture list against Europe's elite represents a reward rather than a burden. Speaking on the day Roma began their League Phase campaign, the former defender praised the draw that will take the team to Paris, Manchester and Madrid, saying: "I prefer to face the big clubs: because I know where I'm going and I know how to prepare myself. Going to Manchester or Paris is beautiful, it's real Champions League." Candela added that he considers the draw "perfect" and that Roma have "been kissed by fortune" after finishing third in Serie A last season. Roma's first fixture is a trip to Turkey to face Fenerbahce, a match Candela does not underestimate. "In Turkey it's never a walk in the park, but you have to play as you have in the first three league matches and above all we must not get injured," he said. "The atmosphere will be heated, but it's all very fascinating. I believe we are on the right path. You could see it too with the comeback against Atalanta: this Roma never dies." Candela stressed that strong early results in the League Phase will be crucial to approaching later matches with greater serenity, and noted that Sporting, AEK and Lille could be decisive in determining Roma's European fate. However, the away trip to Manchester United concerns him more than the visits to Real Madrid or Paris. "The English reality goes at another speed," he explained. On the players, Candela reserved particular praise for Paulo Dybala, describing him as a treasure of football. "Yes. He is one of the few who has so much experience at these levels. At a technical level he is an asset of football. He still delivers things you barely see anymore, things in the style of Totti, Zidane, Ronaldo. He is in excellent physical condition after a year of work with Gasperini." Donyell Malen also earned strong backing: "He has rare qualities. He can do damage to Fenerbahce and I would not be surprised if he put difficulties in the defences of PSG or Real Madrid. Plus this year there is also Castro, so physically he can be managed better in such a long season." Candela also spoke about head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's connection to the club, noting that the manager has already built strong belonging despite his recent arrival. "He has won the Europa League and done the Champions with Atalanta, so he knows these stages. But above all he already has a strong sense of belonging with Roma. You don't need 15 or 20 years: if you are loyal, honest and put passion in, you prove it right away and people feel it and see it. Sometimes I go to watch training at Trigoria, he thinks about football from morning to evening and then wanted to know the symbols like me and Totti, going to dinner with us. It's not obvious. It's beautiful and he deserves everything he is receiving from the fans."

Roma's loanees across Italy and Europe made an impact on the weekend. Artem Dovbyk was the standout performer, coming off the bench in the 66th minute for Bologna against Sassuolo and scoring the equaliser in the 91st minute to secure a 2–2 draw and the Rossoblu's first point of the season. The Ukrainian striker's decisive finish came in an Emilia derby on loan with a right of redemption clause. Elsewhere, young goalkeeper Radoslaw Zelezny put in a strong performance for Perugia in their 2–1 victory over Pineto, playing all 90 minutes as the side's first-choice keeper. The 2006-born Zelezny was blameless for the goal conceded and made several crucial saves, including a high-quality intervention in the first half and a decisive stop in the second. He is on loan at the Umbrian club with an option and counter-option attached. Midfield prospect Alessandro Romano again started for Cagliari in Serie A, remaining on the pitch for the full 90 minutes as the Sardinians won 1–0 away at Lecce thanks to a Daniel Maldini goal in the 29th minute. Romano's loan includes an obligation to buy if certain sporting conditions are met. Neil El Aynaoui made an immediate first-team debut for RB Leipzig, starting in the away fixture against Werder Brema and playing until the 75th minute. However, Leipzig suffered a 3–1 defeat. The Moroccan midfielder's move is on loan with a right of redemption. Filippo Reale, a 2006-born defender, played the full 90 minutes for Carrarese on the flank in their 1–0 home loss to Empoli, conceding in the 74th minute; he is on loan with an option and counter-option in Roma's favour. Luigi Cherubini started in attack for Benevento in the first half at Ascoli before being substituted at the interval; Benevento were reduced to ten men in the 41st minute by Prisco's red card and lost 1–0 to a Brunori penalty in the closing stages. Cherubini's loan includes a right of option and obligation to buy. Mattia Mannini received his first call-up after joining Benevento on loan but remained unused from the bench in the same Ascoli defeat. Angeliño was an unused substitute as Deportivo La Coruña won 3–2 away at Villarreal in La Liga. Robinio Vaz was included in a Premier League squad for the first time after a late-market transfer to Hull City but did not feature in a 0–0 draw with Aston Villa. Jan Ziółkowski was unavailable for Monza's away trip to Parma—which ended 1–1—due to a plantar fascia problem requiring monitoring. Marash Kumbulla likewise missed Rayo Vallecano's 3–2 victory over Racing Santander as he continues to deal with a knee issue.

Roma's supporters delivered a vital performance in the final half-hour against Atalanta, providing what the article describes as a 'cardiac massage to the hope' of a team that deserved better. Gian Piero Gasperini's side produced an assured display under constant, relentless pressure, with Manu Koné orchestrating the midfield and Bryan Cristante directing operations. The team's quality merited victory even before the goals arrived. Matías Soulé scored a deserved goal that crowned a summer of redemption for a player who had battled through earlier difficulties. Gasperini's endorsement of the winger's progress underlined his return to form. Santiago Castro made an immediate impact, showing hunger and clarity in his play, though finishing proved elusive. Artem Dovbyk scored Bologna's goal, salvaging their display after a complex sequence of play. Donyell Malen's performance was erratic; the article suggests he had uneven moments throughout the match. The week's verdicts also included criticism of Luca Percassi's conduct as 'undignified and deplorable, regardless of context', and sharp judgement of the decision to sack Grosso, with the editorial noting that ending a manager's tenure and forcing another coach to restart from zero serves only to worsen matters. Juventus's match against Milan drew unflattering comparison to a sleeping aid, relieved only briefly by Cissè and Gatti.

Roma return to the Champions League for the first time in seven years when they travel to Istanbul to face Fenerbahce on Thursday evening. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will deploy a squad combining several players making their maiden appearance in the competition's main draw alongside seasoned European campaigners. Gianluca Mancini and Manu Koné will make their Champions League debuts, as will younger squad members including Pisilli, Lulli, Mora and Ghilardi. Gasperini can call on considerable experience to balance the newcomers. Paulo Dybala and Marten de Roon have accumulated nearly one hundred appearances between them at the highest level. Nahuel Molina and Mario Hermoso both bring over sixty European appearances from their time at Atlético Madrid, while Donyell Malen, Leonardo Balerdi and Artem Dovbyk add further continental pedigree. Dybala will lead the attack and is targeting a European goal; his last came in the Europa League final in Budapest against Seville. Roma will be supported by approximately 2,300 fans in the away section at the Turkish stadium. The domestic competition faces a ticketing restriction for the upcoming Serie A fixture against Torino: the CASMS has banned ticket sales to residents of Rome province due to potential clashes with Parma supporters travelling to Como, permitting purchases only to AS Roma Card holders from other Italian regions.

Roma drew 1–1 away at Fenerbahce in their Champions League league-phase opener on 8 September, a result that showed the team's character despite clear deficiencies. Bryan Cristante's opening-half strike — described as a billiard-shot effort — silenced the home crowd, but Brown equalised early in the second half as Fenerbahce's higher tempo began to dominate. The performance was far from Roma's best, yet the visitors held firm under pressure and salvaged a point from a hostile environment, leaving with the conviction that they possess genuine quality to work with. The match exposed both strength and weakness. Roma controlled the first half with personality and grit, dictating the rhythm and finding the breakthrough through Cristante. The second-half collapse was swift and collective — Gianluca Mancini was caught napping in the opening moments of the resumption — and Fenerbahce pressed hard thereafter, forcing Roma's rearguard into a defensive grind. Mile Svilar made a crucial save from Muriqi and was also prodigious in stopping Brown's attempt, yet could do nothing about the equaliser itself. Evan N'Dicka's performance was standout, standing firm against Muriqi and later against other threats, refusing to be intimidated and disrupting the home side's attacking plans. Mario Hermoso similarly managed the task of containing Greenwood, forcing the English winger to switch flanks repeatedly. Other defenders sent mixed signals. Devyne Rensch provided solid cover but fell asleep during a key moment that nearly made it 2–1 to the hosts; he was replaced on 73 minutes by Molina. Mancini's first-half work was solid, given the fluid defensive shape Roma adopted, but his lapse at the start of the second half cost dearly. Bryan Cristante earned praise as the match's most diligent performer, working countless balls and converting his chance with precision; he later earned a booking for a careless turnover in midfield. Manu Koné performed without obvious error in a physically demanding contest and was substituted on 52 minutes, reportedly for tactical reasons rather than injury. Wesley, however, drew a five-rating, fading badly after a strong previous season and losing the ball dangerously to Svilar at one point. Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala both battled heavy marking, with Dybala nearly earning a clear penalty at one stage. Donyell Malen made the key pass for Cristante's goal but found few other openings. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini stuck to his philosophy: "Do not abandon our nature," he insisted, and Roma obeyed, showing maturity and refusing to collapse despite conceding. His substitutions from the bench, however, did not yield the same cutting edge they produce for his Atalanta side.

Roma drew 1-1 with Fenerbahçe in Istanbul in the opening fixture of the Champions League League Phase. Bryan Cristante's long-range effort put Roma ahead, but Brown equalised for the hosts in the second half, and Roma could not capitalise on their advantage despite periods of dominance. The performance was mixed across the squad. Paulo Dybala was named the standout performer, orchestrating Roma's attacking play and creating chances, though he was unable to convert his clear opportunities—one with his right foot saved by Ederson, another with his left foot that went wide. Manu Koné was rated highly for his work in midfield, breaking up play and distributing the ball with quality to teammates. Mile Svilar made several saves in goal, including denying Muriqi in the second half. Devyne Rensch was described as crucial in the closing stages, while Leonardo Balerdi impressed after coming on as a substitute from the 74th minute with aggressive, assertive play. Wesley received the lowest rating of the evening (5/10), criticised for being unclean in his final pass, appearing distracted for Brown's goal, and too lightweight when facing Mason Greenwood. Gianluca Mancini struggled through a difficult match and was substituted at 74 minutes. Evan N'Dicka had a physical battle with Dusan Muriqi but handled the winger's limited technical ability better than he dealt with Romelu Lukaku's threat. Mario Hermoso found difficulty against Greenwood but ventured forward effectively. Matías Soulé worked hard across the entire attacking front but lacked the decisive moment, while Donyell Malen played wide in search of space, his movement creating the opening from which Cristante scored. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini received a rating of 6/10. The assessment noted that the point away from home on a difficult pitch was valuable, but Roma failed to build on their lead and risked defeat in the second half, with the tactical substitutions not landing as effectively as hoped.

Roma drew 1–1 at Fenerbahce in their opening Champions League fixture on 8 September, with Bryan Cristante scoring his first goal in the competition to cancel out Brown's equaliser. Cristante's performance earned a rating of 7/10, praised for his composure in tight spaces and his ability to read dangerous moments. His finish—described as him taking time to pick out the corner perfectly and silence the Saraçoglu Stadium—came after the hosts had set up defensively, leaving few openings for either side to exploit. Mile Svilar made a crucial save to prevent defeat, while Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen showed flashes of quality but could not find a breakthrough. Evan N'Dicka (7/10) contained Muriqi effectively in the first half with superior pace and anticipation, though Fenerbahce raised the intensity after half-time and created greater danger, including chances for Lukaku. Gianluca Mancini (5.5/10) struggled with his positioning on the opening goal, lacking clarity in his exit, while Mario Hermoso (6.5/10) worked hard to contain Mason Greenwood's early pace. Manu Koné (6.5/10) displayed personality in a Champions League performance, though his replacement Niccolò Pisilli (5.5/10) made his Champions League debut with some nervous energy. Wesley (5/10) had a difficult evening on the right, finding little space to operate and creating few chances when he did reach the byline. He mislaid an opportunity in the first half and fell asleep during the build-up to Brown's goal. Dybala (6.5/10) managed limited space but showed maturity in his play-making, while Malen (6/10) created the opening for Cristante's goal with an assist described as a moment of quality, though he did not test Ederson in the second half. Leonardo Balerdi (6.5/10) entered late and immediately brought aggression to Roma's defence.