Roma accelerate on Molina as Read deal stalls; further effort required

Leonardo Balerdi's loan deal from Marseille contains a complex purchase structure tied directly to his match appearances. If the Argentine defender plays in at least 55% of Roma's fixtures across all competitions for a minimum of 45 minutes, the buyout becomes mandatory at €14 million. Should his appearance rate fall between 40 and 55%, the obligation drops to €11 million. Marseille has secured a protection clause requiring Roma to pay a minimum €9 million if Balerdi accumulates just 20% of minutes played in the second half of the season. Balerdi will earn €1.5 million annually under the loan agreement—a significantly reduced figure relative to his market value—with a salary increase guaranteed if Roma exercise the permanent transfer option from next season onwards.

Inter have tracked several Roma players across multiple transfer windows, with some coming closer to a move than others. Mile Svilar was a target in summer 2025 before he renewed his contract with Roma, while contacts were made with Gianluca Mancini's representatives in early July when his deal was set to expire in 2027. Nahuel Molina was examined as a possible replacement for Dumfries, and in spring Inter president Marotta considered Lorenzo Pellegrini as an option. The most serious pursuit came in summer 2025 when director Ausilio agreed a deal with Roma's then sporting director Massara for Manu Koné on 15 August—reportedly worth 40 million euros plus bonuses—but Roma's ownership halted the transfer following supporter unrest. Paulo Dybala represents perhaps the most intriguing near-miss. In June 2022, fresh from leaving Juventus, his agent secured an agreement with Inter for a contract worth 6 million euros. The move collapsed when Inter owner Zhang hesitated, head coach Simone Inzaghi harboured doubts about the fit, and the club could not offload Alexis Correa elsewhere. Inter ultimately pivoted to bringing Romelu Lukaku back on loan instead. The article, published by Federico Masini in Tuttosport, frames these overlapping negotiations as a series of alternate paths in the transfer market. It traces how each of these Roma players—Svilar, Mancini, Pellegrini, Molina, Koné and Dybala—has at different times occupied Inter's thinking, whether as established targets or passing considerations.

Ahead of the big match between Roma and Inter, the transfer market reveals a thread connecting the two clubs over recent years: failed negotiations, hidden probes and shared targets that have intertwined their strategies from goalkeeper to attack. Inter considered Mile Svilar before his 2025 renewal, and came close to signing Mario Hermoso in 2024 before Oaktree's green-line policy on free transfers halted the move. The Nerazzurri also evaluated Evan N'Dicka and Gianluca Mancini, though the latter never wavered in his commitment to Roma despite Inter's interest. The clubs also conducted scouting missions for Nahuel Molina and Lorenzo Pellegrini on the flanks and in midfield. The biggest near-miss involved Manu Koné: in summer 2025, Inter reached an agreement worth 40 million euros, but Roma's ownership blocked the deal after a strong reaction from the supporters. The greatest regret for Inter remains Paulo Dybala, who came very close to joining the Nerazzurri in 2022. Zhang began to waver, Inzaghi was not entirely convinced, and Inter ultimately chose to pursue Lukaku's return on loan instead. That decision effectively cleared the path for Dybala's historic move to Roma.

Roma will host Inter at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday 19 September at 18:00, with gates opening at 15:30. The club advises supporters to arrive at least 90 minutes before kickoff. Tickets and season passes are valid only in digital format; screenshots will not grant access. Services for disabled supporters, the Quiet Room and the secondary ticketing reporting form remain active. The match will be Roma's 81st sold-out fixture of the Friedkin era, with approximately 68,000 spectators and 3,500 Inter supporters in the visiting section. The Curva Sud is preparing a new choreography, and media accreditation has reached over 400. Ryan Friedkin is expected at the stadium, preceded in the capital by Ed Shipley. Roma have several tactical decisions to finalize: Leonardo Balerdi could challenge both Mario Hermoso and Evan N'Dicka for a defensive place, while Emanuele Lulli leads Nahuel Molina on the left flank. Manu Koné returns as a starter in midfield; Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are fixed in attack, with Matías Soulé and Niccolò Pisilli competing for the remaining forward spot. Former Roma player Giuseppe Giannini previewed the fixture, saying: "Inter are still ahead, but this Roma can compete." On Gasperini's tenure, Giannini stated: "Gasperini and Roma: the right pairing." He cautioned on the title race: "It is too soon, but a victory would be an important signal. Arriving at the international break with a perfect record would be uplifting."

Roma host Inter at the Olimpico at 18:00 on 19 September, with both sides unbeaten after four matches. The fixture carries symbolic weight far beyond its moment in the season: it represents Roma's first genuine examination under Gian Piero Gasperini, a chance to close the gap on the team that has been Italian football's benchmark in recent years. Victory would send Roma to the international break as outright leaders and extend their Serie A winning run to ten consecutive matches spanning the end of last season. Gasperini has identified Inter as the league's standard, and the newspapers converge on the view that this match will reveal how far Roma's progress under his management has genuinely advanced. The statistics are striking. Inter and Roma possess the two strongest attacks in Serie A, with 13 and 12 goals respectively, and both rank among the best for shots and chances created in the opponent's box. Yet one figure divides them sharply: Roma have conceded only one goal, while Inter have already let in six. The most significant theme in the coverage centres on what Gasperini has built—a team that attacks with intensity and pressing aggression while surrendering almost nothing at the back. Roma push their defensive line high, press man-to-man and attempt to win the ball far from their own goal, yet continue to give away precious little. This defensive stability alongside attacking ambition marks perhaps the most notable evolution of Gasperini's second season in the capital. Dybala and Malen will draw all attention in attack. The Argentine is enjoying one of his finest periods physically and creatively, while the Dutch forward has become the principal offensive outlet around whom much of Roma's production revolves. Malen has scored six goals this season and has reached twenty in Serie A since his arrival in January. For him, tonight offers a further step forward: his goals have transformed Roma, but he still lacks the signature moment in a won major head-to-head. This serves as his maturity test as much as it does for the whole squad. Gasperini faces a severe curse: ten consecutive defeats in recent meetings with Inter. Roma carry their own taboo—they have not beaten Inter at home since 2016. This context has prompted Gasperini to weigh tactical adjustments until the last moment. The Dybala-Malen pair remains untouchable, but the third attacking slot remains contested between Soulé and Pisilli. Including the midfielder would allow Roma numerical balance in midfield without the ball and could address the specific problems Inter's system has posed Gasperini over the years. Questions linger over the flanks too, with Lulli and Molina competing for one berth, and a potential shift of Wesley to the right with the Argentine moved across also under consideration. N'Dicka returns at the back, while Balerdi continues to press the established starters after his strong showing in Turin. Hermoso is fit and Koné will rejoin Cristante in midfield. The Olimpico is sold out and ready to transform a September fixture into something resembling spring. Gasperini, however, remains measured on title talk—he sets objectives after twenty matches, not four. Roma have earned the right to play as protagonists; they do not need to prove they are already stronger than Inter, only to understand how strong they have become.

Roma face Inter at the Stadio Olimpico this evening at 18:00 in a title-decider that comes before the international break spanning late September and October. Victory would allow Roma to seize or maintain sole leadership for three weeks. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has his full squad available for the first time this season, though final team selection remains to be confirmed. The major Italian newspapers have published eight different predicted lineups reflecting uncertainty over key decisions. Most forecasts favour a 3-4-2-1 shape, but alternatives include 3-4-1-2. The core defence across most predictions features Svilar in goal and Mancini at centre-back, with varying combinations of N'Dicka, Hermoso and Balerdi as partners. Wesley, Lulli and Molina appear as full-back options, while Cristante and Koné are favoured in midfield. Dybala is widely expected to feature in an attacking role, with Soulé, Pisilli and Malen competing for supporting spots alongside him. Gazzetta dello Sport predicts 3-4-2-1 with Balerdi and Hermoso in defence and Dybala and Soulé behind Malen. Corriere dello Sport suggests 3-4-1-2 with N'Dicka and Hermoso with Dybala and Malen paired in attack. Il Messaggero and Il Tempo both propose N'Dicka and Balerdi with either Soulé or Pisilli as creators. Leggo and La Repubblica offer variations with Molina and Hermoso respectively. Tuttosport's 3-4-2-1 sees Pisilli and Dybala in the two behind Malen.