Roma accelerate after sporting director exemption granted; Greenwood top target

José Mourinho has made clear he has no intention of letting Endrick leave Real Madrid, directly warning rival clubs including Roma that they will have to contend with him to sign the Brazilian forward. Endrick was a long-standing Roma target last summer under Gasperini, and came close to joining the club in August before Mourinho intervened and persuaded him to stay at Madrid, where he has since received minimal playing time. At a press conference on 13 October ahead of Roma's match against Real Madrid, Mourinho was asked directly about Endrick's future and responded bluntly: "I club interessati dovranno lottare con me per ingaggiarlo. Lo adoro, ha un potenziale di altissimo livello ed è molto importante per noi. Non ha bisogno di essere ceduto in prestito, farà grandi cose e avrà un grande successo qui. Giocherà presto." Roma continue to monitor the 21-year-old, who impressed during a six-month spell at Lyon in France, where he scored 8 goals in limited appearances. Milan and Aston Villa are also credited with interest. Roma's sporting director Tony D'Amico is meanwhile evaluating other concrete options to strengthen the club's attack in January.

Roma have begun planning reinforcements for the January transfer window and have set their sights on Daniel Banjaqui, a 2008-born right-back at Benfica considered one of Europe's most promising young talents in his position. The interest comes as the club looks ahead to both immediate needs and longer-term recruitment options. Banjaqui has already attracted attention from several clubs, including Juventus, according to German transfer outlet Transfersfeed. The move would form part of Roma's broader strategy to strengthen the squad in the coming window, with ambitious signings under consideration beyond their existing targets.

Roma have identified Daniel Banjaqui, a 18-year-old right-back at Benfica, as a potential transfer target, according to German outlet Transfersfeed. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini stated ahead of Roma's match against Real Madrid: "Now the January market does not interest me", with reference to forward Endrick, who is expected to remain at the Spanish club. Roma's move for Banjaqui comes as the club considers alternative objectives across different positions. Juventus are also monitoring the teenager among several European sides tracking him. Banjaqui remains contracted to Benfica until 2031 with a release clause set at €45 million, though a transfer could potentially be negotiated for around €35 million. Roma have undertaken only preliminary information-gathering through intermediaries at this stage, with no concrete negotiations underway. The club are also watching developments in Portugal across two fronts: alongside Banjaqui at Benfica, Roma are tracking Porto right-winger William Gomes, a 20-year-old left-footed player. Gomes carries a substantial release clause of €80 million in his current Porto contract, which expires in 2031. The clause is expected to rise to €100 million following an imminent contract renewal with the Portuguese club. Neither pursuit represents an active negotiation at present.

Roma face Real Madrid at the Olimpico today in the second matchday of the Champions League League Phase, with Gian Piero Gasperini's side taking on José Mourinho's visitors. The match will be officiated by French referee Letexier. Champions League football returns to Rome after a season away, bringing with it the kind of high-stakes European nights that define a club's ambitions. For Roma's supporters, this encounter carries a particular weight—Mourinho, the manager who led the club to the 2010–11 season, is no longer their friend in football terms, yet he remains a figure bound to the club's recent history. Gasperini has named an attacking three-man forward line of Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé to lead the team's challenge against the Spanish champions.

Roma welcome Real Madrid to the Stadio Olimpico this evening in the second matchday of the UEFA Champions League League Phase, with Gian Piero Gasperini's side seeking to bounce back from their opening 1–1 draw at Fenerbahçe. Real Madrid arrive having beaten Inter 2–1 at the Bernabéu. The fixture carries added narrative weight: José Mourinho, who managed Roma from 2009 to 2011 and again during the 2024–25 season, now sits in the visiting dugout. Gasperini has confirmed his starting eleven ahead of kickoff at 20:00 local time. Pierluigi Gollini starts in goal in place of the injured Mile Svilar. Devyne Rensch was competing with Nahuel Molina for a place in the right-back position; Gasperini selected Molina, with Rensch named among the substitutes. The midfield pairs Manu Koné and Marten de Roon, while Matías Soulé returns to the starting lineup alongside Paulo Dybala behind Donyell Malen. The back line comprises Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, with Wesley at left-back. Real Madrid deploy a 4–2–3–1 formation with Thibaut Courtois in goal, a back four of Mathijs de Ligt, Antonio Rüdiger and others, and their attacking weapons centred on Kylian Mbappé, Eduardo Camavinga and Vinícius Júnior. The match is officiated by François Letexier of France. Roma's full squad for the fixture includes Lorenzo Pellegrini, Niccolò Pisilli, Rodrigo Mora and Santiago Castro among those available from the bench.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad for Roma's Champions League league-phase match against Real Madrid, kick-off 21:00 this evening. Konstantinos Koulierakis returns to the travelling party, while Devis Vásquez is included among the goalkeepers. The squad list features 24 players across all four positions. In defence, Gasperini has selected Devyne Rensch, Koulierakis, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi. Midfield options comprise Lorenzo Pellegrini, Marten de Roon, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli and Rodrigo Mora. The forward line includes Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala.

Roma welcome Real Madrid to the Stadio Olimpico this evening in the second matchday of the UEFA Champions League League Phase, with Gian Piero Gasperini's side seeking to bounce back from their opening 1–1 draw at Fenerbahçe. Real Madrid arrive having beaten Inter 2–1 at the Bernabéu. The fixture carries added narrative weight: José Mourinho, who managed Roma from 2009 to 2011 and again during the 2024–25 season, now sits in the visiting dugout. Gasperini has confirmed his starting eleven ahead of kickoff at 20:00 local time. Pierluigi Gollini starts in goal in place of the injured Mile Svilar. Devyne Rensch was competing with Nahuel Molina for a place in the right-back position; Gasperini selected Molina, with Rensch named among the substitutes. The midfield pairs Manu Koné and Marten de Roon, while Matías Soulé returns to the starting lineup alongside Paulo Dybala behind Donyell Malen. The back line comprises Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, with Wesley at left-back. Real Madrid deploy a 4–2–3–1 formation with Thibaut Courtois in goal, a back four of Mathijs de Ligt, Antonio Rüdiger and others, and their attacking weapons centred on Kylian Mbappé, Eduardo Camavinga and Vinícius Júnior. The match is officiated by François Letexier of France. Roma's full squad for the fixture includes Lorenzo Pellegrini, Niccolò Pisilli, Rodrigo Mora and Santiago Castro among those available from the bench.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad for Roma's Champions League league-phase match against Real Madrid, kick-off 21:00 this evening. Konstantinos Koulierakis returns to the travelling party, while Devis Vásquez is included among the goalkeepers. The squad list features 24 players across all four positions. In defence, Gasperini has selected Devyne Rensch, Koulierakis, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi. Midfield options comprise Lorenzo Pellegrini, Marten de Roon, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli and Rodrigo Mora. The forward line includes Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad for Roma's Champions League League Phase match against Real Madrid this evening at the Olimpico, with 23 players available. Mile Svilar is unavailable due to a fractured finger, leaving Pierluigi Gollini, Giorgio De Marzi and Devis Vásquez as the goalkeepers in contention. Konstantinos Koulierakis has returned to full training in recent days and is regularly available for selection. Bryan Cristante, however, remains unavailable. The squad spans all four outfield positions, with defenders including Devyne Rensch, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Wesley, Emanuele Lulli and Daniele Ghilardi; midfielders Lorenzo Pellegrini, Marten de Roon, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli and Rodrigo Mora; and forwards Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala.

Roma's full-backs have become a cornerstone of Gian Piero Gasperini's push to the top of Serie A, a marked shift from last season when they proved problematic. Wesley and Nahuel Molina are now among the club's key strengths, and both will start when Roma resume the league campaign against Como, where they will face manager Fabregas. The turnaround reflects Gasperini's tactical evolution since arriving at the club: in his first season, Wesley was the only defender fully convincing on the flanks, while Zeki Çelik had to make do elsewhere. Now the picture is entirely different. Gasperini has uncovered Emanuele Lulli in the course of the season, and Molina has gradually built his fitness, delivering quality and assists to Roma's attacking phase. For the Como fixture, Gasperini plans to deploy Molina on the right and Wesley on the left. The selection reflects not just Roma's attacking ambitions but also Gasperini's defensive strategy: by using two attacking full-backs, he aims to stretch Como's wide players—Baturina on one flank and Diao on the other—and occupy them throughout the match. Wesley, the more naturally offensive of the pair, will be tasked with driving forward and supporting the build-up play. Molina is likely to carry greater defensive responsibility, balancing his own contributions with the need to contain Como's threats on the wing.

Gian Piero Gasperini will deploy Nahuel Molina and Wesley as twin wingers in Roma's visit to Como, harnessing simultaneous attacking thrust down both flanks to counter Cesc Fabregas's side. With Molina fully recovered and Wesley in continued form, Roma will field two genuine wide operators capable of delivering width, high pressing and chances for the attacking midfielders. The tactical choice targets Como's possession-based play built around Baturina and Diao's unpredictability; Molina and Wesley are instructed to close down Como's wide references and attacking midfielders immediately, forcing them away from build-up play into long balls. In possession, the overlapping runs of Molina and Wesley will create lateral chains with Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé, opening space for crosses and inside passes. Last season Roma's right wing relied solely on Wesley alongside the converted Zeki Çelik, but the club now possesses one of Serie A's strongest selections of wide midfielders. Gasperini's side has already created thirteen goalscoring actions from wide midfielders this season—second in the league behind Inter's fourteen. Wesley leads with seven goal contributions, followed by Molina on four and eighteen-year-old Emanuele Lulli, an academy product promoted to the first team, who has added two decisive contributions and demonstrates the depth of alternatives available on the flanks. A key feature of Gasperini's system is the tactical flexibility of both players. Wesley and Molina can interchange wings during matches without loss of effectiveness, alternating deep play and crosses with cuts inside on their stronger foot to link with the attacking midfielders. This constant switching prevents opposing defences from finding fixed reference points and allows Roma to vary attacking approaches throughout the game.

Zeki Çelik produced a costly error in Turkey's match against Italy in Bursa, clearing a corner kick directly to Alessandro Bastoni, who opened the scoring for the Azzurri. Italy dominated the fixture in a redemptive performance after losing to Belgium on Friday. Çelik's mistake was immediately seized upon by social media users, with Roma supporters among those criticising the defender's display. One Roma fan wrote: "La spazza Celik" (Çelik the sweeper), while others joked about whether a 'Çelik-cam' video would emerge—a reference to footage released by DAZN following Çelik's first friendly for Juventus. The Turkish international has endured a difficult start to his spell in Serie A, facing criticism not only from Roma fans but also from his country's supporters.