Repice defends Mora against 'flop' verdict: decision-makers are making a terrible mistake

Nahuel Molina has become one of Gasperini's most dangerous players in Roma's opening Serie A fixtures, proving to be a decisive summer acquisition for €13 million. The Argentine has demonstrated his impact through aggressive ball recovery in advanced positions—notably helping create Manu Koné's opening goal—and his consistent threat from distance. After five league matches, Molina ranks among Serie A's best for chances created (2.9 per 90 minutes, behind only Dybala and Wesley in giallorosso), ball recoveries (5.04 per 90), and possessions won in the opponent's third (0.78 per 90), according to Sofascore data. Roma have finally secured a right-sided threat matching Gasperini's tactical demands, addressing a weakness from last season when the club saw only sporadic contributions from a combination of Zeki Çelik and Kostas Tsimikas on that flank. Alongside other key acquisitions—Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala and Leonardo Balerdi—Molina is reshaping the team's profile. Some observers outside Rome had already suggested he represented a downgrade compared to Çelik, but offensive and defensive statistics offer no room for interpretation. Molina's record through early September demonstrates substantial improvement across all phases: key passes, dribbling, expected assists, ball recoveries and possessions won in the advanced third all favour the Argentine over his predecessor.

Gasperini has cancelled Roma's scheduled training session on 25 September, granting the squad four days of rest and resuming work on Tuesday 29 September around midday. The head coach had kept players at Trigoria under a demanding schedule in recent days but opted to give them a break ahead of the international break. When training resumes on the 29th, Gasperini will still be without Malen, Cristante and Wesley as they continue their recovery, with international players expected back later. The next fixture, Roma's match against Como, does not take place until 11 October, allowing time for the squad to reintegrate.

Radio commentators in Rome have offered contrasting assessments of Rodrigo Mora's early impact at the club, with debate centring on his game-time and development compared to fellow midfielder Matías Soulé. Chiara Ciotti argued on Radio Romanista that Soulé is preferred because he has established an understanding with Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, and that sharing space with Mora complicates the dynamic. Stefano Impallomeni called for patience with the Portuguese player, saying: "Mora has important qualities, but you have to be patient. I hope he can show us what he can do. I was very intrigued by him, especially with his tight play. He still needs to build himself up and consolidate himself. Away from goal I'm not sure if he can become like Papu Gómez." Davide Fidanza suggested Mora requires further development and positioning closer to goal. He drew a parallel with Niccolò Pisilli, whose growth over three years has been substantial, and noted a physical difference in that trajectory. Fidanza added: "Mora lives on instinct, he has important plays, but sporadic ones. Soulé is tactically more complete—he may make fewer technical touches but he communicates more fluidly with his teammates and is much more decisive during the match."

Radio commentators in Rome have offered contrasting assessments of Rodrigo Mora's early impact at the club, with debate centring on his game-time and development compared to fellow midfielder Matías Soulé. Chiara Ciotti argued on Radio Romanista that Soulé is preferred because he has established an understanding with Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, and that sharing space with Mora complicates the dynamic. Stefano Impallomeni called for patience with the Portuguese player, saying: "Mora has important qualities, but you have to be patient. I hope he can show us what he can do. I was very intrigued by him, especially with his tight play. He still needs to build himself up and consolidate himself. Away from goal I'm not sure if he can become like Papu Gómez." Davide Fidanza suggested Mora requires further development and positioning closer to goal. He drew a parallel with Niccolò Pisilli, whose growth over three years has been substantial, and noted a physical difference in that trajectory. Fidanza added: "Mora lives on instinct, he has important plays, but sporadic ones. Soulé is tactically more complete—he may make fewer technical touches but he communicates more fluidly with his teammates and is much more decisive during the match."

Rodrigo Mora has been singled out as one of the season's early disappointments following a substitute appearance, but broadcaster Francesco Repice has pushed back sharply against the assessment. The 19-year-old Portuguese midfielder was grouped among underperformers during a broadcast of Domenica Sportiva, a judgment Repice described as premature given Mora's contribution since arriving at Roma. Mora has already scored once and provided an assist across his early appearances, alongside several quality performances. His recent omission from the squad against Inter was tactical rather than a sign of decline: Gasperini was unable to make attacking changes because defenders had suffered injuries. Repice stressed that five matches into the season is far too small a sample to draw conclusions, particularly about a teenager signed as a long-term investment. Repice said on air: "You're making a mistake. If you put him among the flops you're making a terrible error. The zero minutes against Inter were because the defenders had got injured and Gasp couldn't make changes up front." He added: "Mora has already scored and is an absolute talent—putting him among the flops is wrong. We're at matchday five and I'd point out that Ramos was paid 70 million." Gasperini is integrating the midfielder gradually into the squad.

Roma have reached the top of Serie A alongside Inter and Lazio after the opening phase of the season, but attention has already turned to a gruelling month ahead combining league and Champions League fixtures with no respite until November. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has relied heavily on the established core of the squad in the early weeks, with the summer signings introduced gradually, rotating between starting roles and substitute appearances. The intensity of the coming period will require him to call on the full squad of twenty-two players. Among the summer arrivals, Leonardo Balerdi has made an immediate impact, supported by strong performances from Nahuel Molina, the former Atlético Madrid player who provided his first assist against Inter and impressed on the left flank against Torino despite arriving with delayed pre-season preparation due to World Cup commitments. Rodrigo Mora has shown promise in two starts against Fiorentina and Atalanta, though he has found reading the game more difficult as a substitute—though he did score from the bench at Lecce. Gasperini is focused on unlocking the Portuguese midfielder's potential as a player capable of making a difference through his quality. The squad refresh is completed by Koulierakis, Lorenzo Pellegrini and especially Marten de Roon, a signing Gasperini strongly advocated for to strengthen and provide balance to the midfield.