Repice defends Rodrigo Mora against early flop criticism

Roma are pursuing Frosinone left winger Giorgio Kvernadze as they continue their search for a solution on the wing following unsuccessful attempts at other targets. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Georgian possesses the attributes Gian Piero Gasperini seeks: he is right-footed, glides past opponents with ease, and has good touch in the box. Frosinone will demand around €25M to negotiate, a price reflective of Kvernadze's explosive start to the season. Including Coppa Italia, he has notched five goals and two assists already, compared to five of each in the entire previous Serie B campaign. Frosinone acquired him from Kolkheti Poti in 2024. Roma are also monitoring Sassuolo's 18-year-old box-to-box midfielder Darryl Bakola, alongside Juventus. His profile reportedly resembles that of Manu Koné, who remains a perennial sale candidate to generate substantial 'plusvalenza' profit. Sassuolo paid Olympique Marseille €10M for Bakola last year, and he has accumulated 12 appearances with each of his clubs so far, providing 4 total assists. The article notes that several Frosinone players have impressed early in the season and may attract top-tier suitors if they sustain their form.

Roma have turned their attention to Giorgi Kvernadze, Frosinone's attacking talent, as they pursue a long-standing search for a left-winger. The 2003-born player has made an impressive start to the season with 5 goals and 2 assists across Serie A and the Coppa Italia. Gian Piero Gasperini has been seeking a left-sided winger for two years, and Kvernadze's profile appears to match what the coach wants: a right-footed left-winger capable of driving at defenders, making runs in behind, and offering physicality and pace in the final third. Frosinone acquired Kvernadze for €300,000 but are now targeting a substantial profit of at least €25 million from his sale. The geographical proximity—Frosinone lies roughly 90 kilometres from Rome—adds practical appeal to the pursuit. Napoli are also monitoring the player's availability.

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.

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.

Francesco Repice has defended Rodrigo Mora against criticism from Rai Sport's Domenica Sportiva programme, which grouped the Portuguese teenager among this season's underperformers alongside Kolo Muani. Mora, 19, has scored once and provided an assist with some promising displays, but drew scrutiny after an unconvincing appearance against Torino and limited minutes with Inter. Repice, the veteran commentator for Tutto il calcio minuto per minuto, argued that judgements levelled at such an early stage are premature. He said: "You are wrong. If you put him among the flops you are making a terrible mistake. His zero minutes with Inter are down to the fact that defenders got injured and Gasp couldn't make changes at the back. Mora has already scored and is an absolute talent—putting him among the flops is wrong. We are at matchday five and I point out that Ramos cost 70 million." Repice's intervention highlights the pressure young squad members face in their opening weeks, particularly when injuries to established players restrict their opportunities.

Roma are closely tracking two breakthrough prospects as the club pursues a strategy of acquiring young talent to strengthen the squad's depth and potential. Following summer additions Rodrigo Mora and Santiago Castro, the Giallorossi have set their sights on Mathis Bakola, a French midfielder born in 2007 at Sassuolo, and Giorgi Kvernadze, a Georgian winger at Frosinone. The club intends to move early to secure Bakola ahead of the January window, though Juventus have also registered interest in the eighteen-year-old. Kvernadze, born in 2003, represents a concrete candidate for the January transfer window and possesses the characteristics of a left-sided winger with attacking thrust and quality that head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has long sought to complete the forward line. Roma must overcome competition from Napoli, who are also pursuing the Frosinone talent. The January window will likely determine whether either deal progresses further, with the left-winger position emerging as a priority for Gasperini to address the attacking setup.