Roma Agree Deal to Sign Molina from Atlético Madrid

Alessandro Romano, a Roma academy graduate who departed for Cagliari a few weeks ago, has impressed his new club sufficiently to earn a call-up to the Italy national team at the behest of coach Mancini. Cagliari manager Pisacane highlighted Romano's development after his side's victory over Udinese, drawing a comparison to a former Roma midfielder. Pisacane told Sky: "Romano? I don't think he even knows how strong he is himself. He's a complete player—if I have to give an example, he's a player like Strootman but with more physical impact. Perhaps Strootman had a more educated left foot, but he's a player who understands the game, has sacrifice, has dedication, knows how to play football. He's a complete player. He needs to play a lot, even if he makes mistakes: he surprised me—compared to Palestra, who made two or three mistakes at Udinese, he seems a player much more mature than his age would suggest."

Leonardo Balerdi has explained his departure from Olympique Marseille after six years and his desire to play for Roma. Speaking to DAZN France, the defender reflected on his move to Serie A and what drew him to the Giallorossi. Bareldi said of leaving Marseille: "It was a difficult moment to leave the OM. But I take everything that came with it: the beautiful things and the bad things." He acknowledged the mixed reception from supporters but used that experience as motivation. "I didn't remember being booed in the last match — sometimes people loved me, sometimes they didn't. I took the love they gave me as energy. I felt it was time to go. Six years at a club is a lot. But six years at Olympique de Marseille is something few players do. It was time to discover another league. I wanted to prove my value, try to do something different. I was very happy to leave." Bareldi joined Roma this summer as part of the club's defensive reinforcements for the 2026-27 season.

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.

Roma close the opening phase of the 2026-27 season unbeaten after their 2-2 draw with Inter, maintaining four wins and two draws across the opening block of fixtures. Manu Koné scored twice in that Inter match and heads the player ratings across Italian media with an average of 7.9, rewarded for his dominant display. Bryan Cristante and Paulo Dybala both averaged 6.7, Nahuel Molina 6.6 and Leonardo Balerdi 6.5, while Gianluca Mancini registered the lowest average at 5.3 after an error that led to Lautaro Martinez's opening goal; among substitutes, Daniele Ghilardi struggled with 5.5. The international break presents a significant challenge to Gasperini's plans. Roma will have only seven players available during the roughly 20-day break: Mile Svilar, Pierluigi Gollini, Mario Hermoso, Molina, Devyne Rensch, Marten de Roon and Dybala. Even Dybala will leave for several days to attend Lionel Messi's farewell international match. With numbers so thin at the training ground, Roma will have to draw on Primavera players and schedule a couple of friendly matches. Training resumes on Monday afternoon after most of the squad departs to join their respective national teams over the weekend. Roma were 2-0 ahead at half-time against Inter before conceding twice in the second half to settle for the draw.

Roma drew 2–2 with Inter at the Olimpico, maintaining joint top place in Serie A alongside the Nerazzurri and delivering significant proof points in the 2026–27 campaign. Manu Koné scored twice in the opening forty-five minutes—his first career brace—to become the match's dominant figure. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini said afterwards: "We played it on equal terms." Koné's performance carried particular weight given Inter's sustained pursuit of him over two recent transfer windows. In August 2025, Inter lodged a concrete offer to Roma for the midfielder, with Sommer and Thuram—former teammates from Germany—attempting to persuade him to move. Roma rejected those proposals and removed him from the market entirely. On the pitch against the Nerazzurri, Koné demonstrated the finishing ability his manager had long sought him to add to his existing qualities of pressing, dribbling and physical power. His opening goal came after six minutes: Inter lost possession, Paulo Dybala crossed, Nahuel Molina nodded it down, and Koné struck first time past the goalkeeper. In first-half injury time the pattern repeated—Dybala played a set-piece, Gianluca Mancini touched it on, and Koné inserted himself to fire low under the bar, initially ruled out before the VAR review stood the goal.

Manu Koné scored twice but it was not enough for Roma to beat Inter, according to ratings published by five Italian newspapers. Koné earned an 8 from Corriere dello Sport, Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo, with 8 also from Il Messaggero's match assessment, and 7.5 from La Repubblica. He shared best-in-field honours with Bryan Cristante in most outlets' evaluations. The Argentinian defenders Leonardo Balerdi and Nahuel Molina also impressed, as did Paulo Dybala, who received ratings of 7 from Corriere dello Sport and Corriere della Sera, and 6.5 from Il Messaggero and La Repubblica. Gianluca Mancini's defensive error proved decisive, allowing Lautaro to open the scoring for Inter. Mancini was universally marked down across the newspapers, receiving a 5 from Corriere dello Sport and Corriere della Sera, 5.5 from Il Messaggero and La Repubblica, and 5.5 from Il Tempo. He was substituted at the 60-minute mark. Evan N'Dicka replaced him and earned ratings between 5.5 and 6.5. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini received marks of 7, 6.5, 6.5, 6 and 6.5 respectively. Other defenders and midfielders drew mixed assessments. Mile Svilar in goal was rated 6.5 to 7.5, while Mario Hermoso, who also departed early (81 minutes), received 5 to 6. Matías Soulé and Donyell Malen both earned 6 to 6.5 marks. Wesley and Molina's departures at the 60-minute mark saw them replaced by Devyne Rensch and other squad rotation options across the newspapers' 3-4-2-1 formation analysis.

Roma have strengthened their squad depth considerably this summer, moving beyond a reliance on a fixed starting eleven. Leonardo Balerdi has replaced Jan Ziółkowski as a key defender, Nahuel Molina has taken over from Zeki Çelik, and Marten de Roon has arrived to displace concerns about midfield depth. The arrivals of Emanuele Lulli and Konstantinos Koulierakis add further options across the back line. Gasperini, who last season was forced to deploy makeshift solutions—using Baldanzi as a centre-forward and reluctantly fielding Kostas Tsimikas and Zaragoza—now has genuine alternatives. In the match against Torino, Roma demonstrated they possess not eleven starters but at least sixteen capable players. Balerdi showed himself to be a commanding defender and leader in brief outings against Atalanta and Fenerbahce, confirming his qualities across all dimensions of play. De Roon's entrance in yesterday's fixture at Torino displayed the right attitude and the unconditional backing of Gasperini, who brought him to the club; his experience and assurance offset any reservations some may hold. Molina's addition means Roma can rotate their full-back options without sacrifice. Marten Lulli's emergence has made the remaining transfer market gap feel less troubling. Santiago Castro has yet to score but showed his capabilities against Atalanta and a goal will come; Gasperini is pleased with his on-field conduct. The club still awaits a final piece—possibly Rodrigo Mora—but the summer business by director D'Amico and Gasperini has been purposeful, securing functional players with the correct character rather than marquee names.

Zeki Çelik's departure this summer has proven beneficial for Roma, with the Turkish defender struggling at his new club while the Giallorossi have found capable alternatives. Çelik, who had agreed a renewal with Roma before changing his mind to join another side, has posted uninspiring numbers in his opening matches. Against Milan yesterday he recorded zero successful crosses, matching the same figure across his previous two outings against Parma and Frosinone. Social media criticism has already mounted, with fans questioning the absence of a 'Çelik cam'—a reference to a video DAZN produced weeks earlier following his first friendly appearance. His exit has cleared the path for Emanuele Lulli, who has become integral to Gasperini's setup. Initially withdrawn from the transfer market, Lulli started in all three of Roma's opening matches and has impressed the coaching staff considerably. Equally significant is the emergence of Nahuel Molina, the Argentine fullback who is continuing to build his fitness following Argentina's run to the World Cup final. Against Atalanta, Molina made a decisive 36-minute appearance, creating multiple dangerous situations and setting up a header from Santiago Castro that struck the crossbar. He recorded 100 per cent of tackles won and 90 per cent pass accuracy. Roma's first Champions League fixture arrives Thursday against Feyenoord, with Molina and Lulli in direct competition for the fullback berth. Molina's experience in high-pressure stadiums should serve him well as Roma prepare for what the article describes as an extremely hostile environment.

Roma are flying this season, and Gian Piero Gasperini has been central to building a unity across the club that extends from the pitch to the boardroom. The coach has overseen a start to the campaign that may rival even the magical 2000–01 season. After comfortable victories over Fiorentina and Lecce, Roma faced a severe test against Atalanta on Saturday and managed not only to win but to overturn the flow of the match—playing what the commentary describes as "winning in the Mourinho way while playing Gasperini football." The side showed genuine compactness in that contest, particularly during difficult moments when they could have faltered; instead, the entire Roma family—players, management, staff and supporters—rallied together. Gasperini has also brought D'Amico onto the coaching staff to ensure everyone speaks the same language, an approach likened to a well-coordinated naval fleet where no one rows against the current. The appointment of the right people and the absence of internal division have created an environment where squad, leadership and fanbase all pull in the same direction. On the pitch, Roma deployed what appeared to be 13 players rather than 11 against Atalanta, a testament to the collective spirit that has taken root. The article contrasts Roma's current harmony with the pattern of internal factions that has plagued the club in the past, noting that some external commentators have already prepared critiques—whether about Zeki Çelik's non-renewal, spending on Rodrigo Mora or Santiago Castro, or other decisions—but results are rendering those arguments moot. The article frames Roma's trajectory as one where polemica (internal dispute) is being actively rejected in favour of unified purpose, suggesting the club is moving in a markedly different direction from its historical tendency toward division.

Konstantinos Koulierakis has been called up by Greece coach Ivan Jovanovic for the start of the national team's Nations League A campaign, following his appearance against Inter yesterday when he came on in the second half. The Roma defender will feature in four upcoming matches against Serbia, Germany (twice) and the Netherlands as Greece enters a significant test of their progress. With Wesley reportedly unavailable due to a muscle complaint and unable to answer Brazil's call, Koulierakis will start for Roma in the coming period. The former Wolfsburg player is now a regular starter for the Giallorossi, making the Nations League fixtures an important opportunity to demonstrate his form at international level.

Wesley will miss Brazil's upcoming fixtures after sustaining a right thigh muscle strain in recent days. The Brazilian Football Federation confirmed his exclusion from Carlo Ancelotti's squad, with Monaco's Vanderson called up as his replacement. The Roma defender will remain in Rome during the international break, where the club's medical staff can monitor his condition and assess his recovery. The coming days will clarify the severity of the strain and the timeline for full recovery. This marks Wesley's second muscle injury with Brazil in recent months. He previously suffered a left thigh strain in June that forced him to leave the squad during the World Cup. This time the problem affects his right thigh instead. He will stay with Roma's medical team rather than join the Seleçao at their training camp.

Wesley has been excluded from Brazil's squad for the upcoming international break after suffering a right thigh strain. The Confederação Brasileira de Futebol announced the decision on the night of 19 September, omitting the Roma full-back from Carlo Ancelotti's list and naming Monaco's Vanderson as his replacement. Roma confirmed the nature of the injury in a statement: a thigh strain that, while not serious, requires Wesley to remain at Trigoria for recovery rather than travel with the national team for friendlies against Australia and India. Wesley played all 90 minutes of Roma's 2–2 draw against Inter at the Olimpico on 19 September, before the injury was diagnosed. The absence marks another setback in his international career; he previously missed the World Cup through injury. The timing offers Roma's medical staff a chance to manage his rehabilitation directly during the international window rather than waiting for his return from national team duties. The CBF's initial statement described Wesley only as "injured" without specifying the problem, leaving Roma to clarify the details themselves. Ancelotti had originally included Wesley in his squad list before the injury forced his withdrawal.