When young talent should stay: Raimondo, Romano and Vavassori show the risks of loaning out academy prospects

Alessandro Romano, a Roma academy product sold to Cagliari this summer, is attracting significant attention after an impressive start to the season. Cagliari manager Fabio Pisacane has drawn a striking parallel with Kevin Strootman following the club's victory over Udinese, saying of the 20-year-old midfielder: "I think he doesn't even know how strong he is. He's a complete player — if I'm to make a comparison, he's a player like Strootman, with even greater physical impact." Pisacane added: "Perhaps Strootman had a more educated left foot, but Romano has game understanding, sacrifice, dedication, knows how to play football. He's a complete player. He needs to play a lot, even if he makes mistakes." The comparison resonates sharply in Rome because Strootman, before a serious knee injury derailed his trajectory, was one of the most accomplished and well-rounded midfielders to play for Roma in recent years. Romano has found at Cagliari what he would have struggled to obtain immediately at Roma under Gasperini: regular playing time, confidence, and the freedom to learn through mistakes. The academy prospect has progressed rapidly enough to earn his first senior national team call-up. The tension is that Romano did not leave on a simple loan: Cagliari acquired him with an obligation to buy for approximately €6 million upon the completion of unspecified sporting conditions. If those conditions are met, he will be contracted to Cagliari until 2032. Roma's problem is both tactical and structural. Romano was regarded as one of the most promising prospects from the Giallorossi youth academy and had already sampled Serie A football under Gasperini. At only twenty, he is now demonstrating the ability to handle a significant role in the top flight, combining technical quality with a tactical maturity that impressed Pisacane: "He seems like a player much older than his age." The club does need revenue from its academy, and not every young player can find immediate space in a side chasing Champions League qualification and the Serie A summit. Yet when a Trigoria-developed player begins to establish himself elsewhere within months of departure, questions become unavoidable — especially when his daily coach invokes the name of Strootman.

Roma's wing positions are now secure. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini no longer faces the tactical problem that troubled him last season: the absence of a quick, technical player on the opposite flank from Wesley. Last year, with Wesley as one of Serie A's strongest defenders on one side, Gasperini had to adapt by repositioning Zeki Çelik elsewhere. That constraint has lifted. Emanuele Lulli, young and rapid, is already providing assurances and proves ready for this campaign. But Roma have also landed another signing that drew less attention yet showed its value yesterday: Nahuel Molina. The Argentine is rising in fitness; the residual effects of the World Cup are passing. In the match against Inter, he was perfect. He contained Diouf, supported the attack, and was decisive in the final third with an assist for Manu Koné's first-half goal. Molina's skillset is there; consistency is the next step. He does not yet have 90 minutes in his legs, but the flanks now have valid masters. Wesley leads them, followed by the former Udinese player and Lulli. Gasperini can rely on all three without losing quality. The improvement from last season is enormous. The Piedmont-born coach plays through the flanks, favouring attacking football with pushing players who can contribute in front of goal. Now he has them on both sides. Molina is a top-level player. Lulli will be. The flanks have an owner on each side, and Gasperini can only be pleased.

Manu Koné scored twice against Inter on 20 September 2026, silencing a long-standing criticism that he lacked a cutting edge in the final third. The French midfielder's double, which sent the Stadio Olimpico into raptures and left Inter's defence in disarray, came as a direct result of a tactical adjustment by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The system—Cristante positioned deep to handle defensive cover while Koné pushed higher—gave the midfielder the freedom to attack continuously and arrive near the opposition area with regularity. By shifting Bryan Cristante into a shadow role on Inter's most advanced players, Gasperini effectively added an attacker to Roma's shape without extra personnel. Cristante's assignment was to track whoever led Inter's charge, whether Jones or Lautaro; his effort freed Koné from defensive duties and allowed the midfielder to climb into dangerous positions. The tactical masterstroke worked precisely as designed. Roma discovered numerical superiority in central areas where Inter least expected it, and Koné was central to that dominance throughout the opening period. His two finishes were clinical insertions into the box, completed with the precision of a player operating without defensive shackles. The plan gradually unravelled after Lautaro's introduction and Koné's departure, dimming the magic that had seized the match early on. Yet the concept—and more importantly, the two goals scored by the French midfielder—remained, proof that Gasperini's study of the opposition and willingness to reshape his midfield balance had yielded tangible dividends at a crucial juncture.

Roma players out on loan delivered mixed results across a busy weekend of football, with Alessandro Romano continuing to impress in Serie A while others made their debuts for their temporary clubs. Romano played all 90 minutes as Cagliari defeated Atalanta 2–1 at Bergamo, and created a chance for Mendy early in the second half that was ruled out for marginal offside. The 20-year-old also fired from distance in the 15th minute, forcing a corner from Carnesecchi. Under coach Pisacane, Romano has become an established starter and is at Cagliari on a loan with an obligation to buy should certain sporting conditions be met. Neil El Aynaoui experienced a contrasting week at RB Leipzig. The Moroccan midfielder played the full match in the Bundesliga club's 4–1 Champions League defeat away at Como on Thursday, then returned to the starting XI in Bundesliga action on Sunday, playing 74 minutes in a 5–0 victory over Hamburg without scoring or assisting. He remains on loan with a right of redemption. Robinio Vaz made his Premier League debut for Hull City, entering at the 82nd minute in place of McBurnie during an away fixture at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea. Hull secured a 2–2 draw, and Vaz, born in 2007, now has his first minutes in English football under his belt. He too is on loan with a right of redemption. Other Roma loanees had quieter weekends. Mattia Mannini made his Benevento debut off the bench, replacing Siatounis in the 74th minute of a 3–1 win against Hellas Verona—his first appearance after being unused at Ascoli. Filippo Reale played 90 minutes at left centre-back in Carrarese's 1–0 home defeat to Catanzaro, the goal coming from Iemmello in the 83rd minute. Radoslaw Zelezny started in goal for Perugia away at Ravenna but saw his side lose 3–0 after being reduced to ten men when Kabashi was sent off late in the first half. He had kept a clean sheet in a win against Pineto the previous week. Luigi Cherubini sat unused on Benevento's bench in their 3–1 success, a reversal of his playing status from Ascoli. Angeliño made a second consecutive unused substitute appearance for Deportivo La Coruña in a 1–1 draw at Getafe. Marash Kumbulla returned to the squad list for Rayo Vallecano but did not play in a 4–1 defeat at Real Madrid's Bernabeu. Jan Ziolkowski remained unavailable with a foot problem that had already kept him out the week prior; Monza lost 3–2 to Lecce without him. Artem Dovbyk was held out of Bologna's trip to Napoli after sustaining a minor groin issue in the 91st minute of a prior victory; Bologna lost 1–0 at the Maradona, with manager Tedesco calling the precaution sensible rather than a serious injury. Anass Salah-Eddine is nearing a loan move to Panathinaikos; Roma has agreed terms and the winger has arrived in Athens for medicals, though an official announcement had not yet been published at the time of writing.

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.

Bryan Cristante will not join Italy's national team camp after sustaining a lower back problem in Roma's Serie A match against Inter. The Italian Football Federation confirmed his withdrawal and called up Samuele Ricci of Como as his replacement. Roma identified the issue as lumbalgia, keeping the midfielder sidelined from international duty. Cristante's absence leaves two Roma players in the squad: Gianluca Mancini and Daniele Ghilardi, both of whom remain available for selection. The Italian national team will gather this evening at the Coverciano Technical Centre to begin preparations for the opening four matches of the UEFA Nations League group phase, with the first training session scheduled for tomorrow. The full Italia squad sees goalkeepers Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Massimo Pessina (Bologna) and Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus); a 11-player defence line including the two Roma representatives; midfielders Nicolò Barella (Inter), Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP), Nicolò Fagioli (Fiorentina), Davide Frattesi (Lazio), Rolando Mandragora (Torino), Ricci, Alessandro Romano (Cagliari) and Sandro Tonali (Tottenham); and ten forwards led by Nicolò Zaniolo (Udinese), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta) and Moise Kean (Como).

Bryan Cristante will not join Italy's national team camp after being ruled out by lower back pain. The Roma midfielder has been withdrawn from coach Roberto Mancini's squad, with Como's Samuele Ricci called up as his replacement and expected to link up with the group in the coming days. Cristante will remain available to AS Roma during the international break, though his condition must be assessed by the club's medical staff. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will monitor his recovery closely given the midfielder's importance to Roma's squad rotation in the early stages of the season.

Bryan Cristante has been ruled out of Italy's upcoming international fixtures after sustaining a muscle fatigue injury in Roma's match against Inter on 19 September. The Italy national team has called up Samuele Ricci of Como as his replacement. The national federation confirmed in a statement: "Following the league match against Inter played yesterday, Roma's midfielder Bryan Cristante is unavailable due to a physical problem and will be unable to respond to the call-up. The Ct Roberto Mancini has consequently arranged the call-up of Como midfielder Samuele Ricci, who will join the group in the coming hours." Cristante joins Wesley among Roma players sidelined during the international break. The midfielder will remain in Rome during the break and undergo instrumental examinations in the coming hours to assess the extent of the injury.

Roma have earned 7.5 points in their opening five matches of the 2026-27 season, establishing themselves as serious contenders. Victories over Fiorentina and Atalanta—sides representing the upper-middle tier of Serie A—plus wins against Lecce and Torino, combined with a competitive draw against Inter, paint an encouraging picture despite some regrets about how the Inter result unfolded. Mile Svilar continues as Serie A's strongest goalkeeper, providing constant assurance without being called upon for spectacular saves. Gianluca Mancini has suffered minor technical injuries against Atalanta and Inter but remains too valuable for his leadership and interpretation of the coach's attacking defensive phase, particularly evident in his display during the Torino victory. Evan N'Dicka maintains a regular standard, though he now faces genuine competition for his place. Mario Hermoso has emerged as perhaps Gasperini's most indispensable centre-back, despite occasional lapses; defenders in this system are calculated risk-takers. Leonardo Balerdi has made an instant impression with a handful of interventions, earning fans' affection with his spirit of a great South American defender and securing his status as a regular starter. Konstantinos Koulierakis is gradually introducing himself to the pitch, while Daniele Ghilardi continues his development curve. Emanuele Lulli offers freshness on the flanks, a year after failing to be a regular starter in the Primavera. Wesley, returning from injury and a difficult pre-season, has struggled to regain match sharpness after missing nearly a year; he will return to his previous standards. Bryan Cristante stands as a monument to consistency, never missing a match despite the rotation around him. Manu Koné produced a display in the first half against Inter worthy of his quality, reaching peaks never achieved before, though he lacks Cristante's reliability. Niccolò Pisilli missed much of pre-season and it shows, yet his timing in transitions remains sharp, with two goals from part-time playing. Marten de Roon has seen limited action—unsurprising given Gasperini's habit of recalling him at the last moment when tactical changes demand it. Paulo Dybala lacks goals and the signature shots that made him special, though his assists and unrecognizable fitness levels mean Gasperini receives no questions about his rest requirements. Matías Soulé, who appeared destined for departure and began on the bench, decided the clash with Atalanta and now competes as a more regular starter. Rodrigo Mora started explosively with quality, as the coach highlighted, and will reward patience. Donyell Malen has scored six goals in six matches, giving Roma a one-goal advantage on average; alongside Lautaro, he represents the tournament's finest striker. Santiago Castro, small like Malen, brings unrelenting intensity when introduced and lives for goals—once he finds that breakthrough, added serenity will carry him far.

Roma produced a commanding first-half display against Serie A champions Inter at the Olimpico but surrendered a two-goal advantage to draw as the visitors restored parity in the second half. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini set up in a 3-4-2-1 formation against Inter's 5-3-2, and Roma's defensive structure and individual duels gave them an early edge. Manu Koné scored twice, profiting from defensive lapses by Inter's Barella, to give Roma a commanding position at the interval. Roma's attacking play was orchestrated through a mid-to-mid-high defensive block designed to limit Inter's ability to exploit depth—a concern from their first meeting last season. The left-side chain of Nahuel Molina, Matías Soulé and Mario Hermoso combined effectively in rotations and interplay to create attacking opportunities and penetrations. Leonardo Balerdi proved decisive in covering Roma's depth defensively, sliding across to manage Inter's two main attacking threats while Gianluca Mancini and Hermoso remained engaged in Roma's forward play. Paulo Dybala, who lacked a goal, stood out defensively with three crucial covering runs and diagonal defensive interventions that exemplified Gasperini's tactical instruction. Mile Svilar made a significant early save from Yacine Diouf's run. Inter emerged with renewed intensity after the interval, immediately narrowing the gap when Lautaro Martínez found space unmarked in the box. Roma's concentration wavered fatally: Mancini lost possession carelessly on the offensive third, triggering a transition that ended with Lautaro free in the area with minimal marking. Though Roma had five defenders in a compact shape and only two Inter players were in the box, the individual mistakes proved costly. Chivu's substitutions—introducing Carlos Augusto and Luis Enrique—made Inter's left-side play more fluid and forced Wesley into heavier defensive duties. Roma's outfield players—Koné, Molina, Balerdi and Mancini—visibly tired, leading Gasperini to replace them with Niccolò Pisilli, Evan N'Dicka, Devyne Rensch and Daniele Ghilardi. Lautaro went unmarked a second time in the box, gifting Inter a drawn result that left Roma with regret over the squandered advantage. The analysis underscores Roma's quality and capacity to compete at the highest level, yet reveals the consistency demanded to sustain title challenges. The current top three league leaders and an emerging Lazio surprise package suggest the Serie A title race will require at least 90 points to prevail.

Manu Koné scored twice in the first half as Roma drew 2-2 with Inter at the Olimpico, a result that keeps both teams level at the top of Serie A on 13 points. Koné's performance in the opening 45 minutes was the dominant feature of a thrilling encounter: he recovered possession relentlessly, drove dangerous counterattacks and positioned himself perfectly to exploit vertical spaces. His two goals came from Paulo Dybala's creativity down the right, with Nahuel Molina's header setting up Koné's first-half brace. The opening goal arrived after 6 minutes—a perfectly-timed first-touch volley that Martinez could not stop. The second came at the 37-minute mark, a precise finish after Gianluca Mancini's soft touch. A lengthy VAR check from Lissone confirmed the goal's validity before the Olimpico erupted. With this performance, Koné entered Roma's history books as only the fifth player ever to score a first-half brace in a Serie A match against Inter at home, joining an exclusive group: Roberto Pruzzo (1980), Ciccio Graziani (1986), Abel Balbo (1995) and Francesco Totti (2013). The display demonstrated Koné's emergence as a complete midfielder—dominant in both defensive interception and lethal in the final third. Inter reorganised under Chivu in the second half and Lautaro Martinez's brace pulled the match level, handing the visitors another comeback. Koné's removal at the 60th minute—replaced by Niccolò Pisilli after an hour played at unsustainable intensity—coincided with Roma's loss of grip on the encounter. The draw extends Roma's drought in home fixtures against Inter, which now stretches back to 2016. Before the international break, the message is clear: Roma are genuine Serie A title contenders, and they have discovered in Koné a dominant force capable of controlling midfield while also proving decisive in front of goal.