Roma and Inter: years of near-misses in the transfer market, from Mancini to Dybala

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.

Leonardo Balerdi arrived at Roma from Marseille on a paid loan this summer, with a complex redemption structure tied to his playing time rather than a simple buyout clause. The Argentine defender joined on a €1 million loan deal, but the permanent transfer hinges on tiered costs: Roma can purchase him for €14 million at the end of the season, though conditions attached to his usage will determine whether that option becomes mandatory and at what price. The mechanism works on appearance thresholds across all competitions. If Balerdi plays at least 45 minutes in 55 per cent of Roma's matches, the €14 million redemption becomes automatic. Should his involvement fall between 40 and 55 per cent of fixtures, the obligation still triggers but at a reduced figure of €11 million. A third safeguard protects Marseille: if Balerdi features in fewer than 40 per cent of matches in the first half of the season, he need only appear in 20 per cent of games in the second half to activate a €9 million compulsory purchase. This structure ties the final cost directly to his actual playing time and prevents Roma from artificially limiting his appearances late in the campaign to secure better financial terms. Bareldi has made an immediate impression under Gasperini, earning regular rotation in the defence and convincing the head coach within his opening weeks. The deal itself was initiated a year earlier but completed only in the final hours of the summer transfer window. If his form continues, the redemption clause may evolve quickly from contractual mechanism to a natural consequence of his performances.

Leonardo Balerdi joined Roma on a loan deal from Marseille in the final hours of the summer transfer window, completing a negotiation that had been in motion for a year. Roma paid €1 million for the loan and hold the right to make the Argentine defender's move permanent for €14 million at the end of the season, but several clauses could convert that option into an obligation. The central trigger is appearance-based: if Balerdi plays at least 55 per cent of Roma's matches across all competitions, with a minimum of 45 minutes per game, the €14 million redemption becomes mandatory. A sliding scale applies if his involvement falls between 40 and 55 per cent of fixtures, lowering the obligation to €11 million. A third safeguard protects Marseille against attempts to artificially reduce Balerdi's playing time: should he feature in at least 20 per cent of matches in the second half of the season, an obligation to buy at €9 million automatically triggers. The structure reflects Gasperini's first season in charge and the club's confidence in the 1999-born centre-back, while protecting both parties. Balerdi's minutes and involvement across the 2026–27 campaign will now determine Roma's financial commitment to the deal, with multiple threshold points built in to ensure clarity on his future at the Olimpico.

Leonardo Balerdi has opened up on his early weeks at Roma, revealing that he made the transfer non-negotiable after years at Marseille. In an interview with Il Tempo, the Argentine defender said he felt settled already: "I feel as if I've been here for at least three months. I've been welcomed brilliantly by everyone." He was adamant about his destination, telling the club: "There were other teams but at that point I said that if I didn't come here I would have stayed at Marseille." Balerdi described his Roma shirt as destiny. He explained: "When I had Strootman as a teammate I asked him to get me a Roma shirt, which I still keep at home. It was meant to be that I would wear it one day." He has also quickly built connections with his new teammates, singling out Manu Koné as particularly impressive. "Koné is an animal," he said. "I really like him a lot. The same with Malen—he was scoring lots of goals as soon as he arrived and he keeps doing it. Svilar as well. Maybe these three, apart from Dybala, have impressed me especially." On his style of play, Balerdi said he prefers a central defensive role: "By my characteristics I can play better as a centre-back. I like playing in open field as we saw in Turin. At Marseille it was the same; I'm used to it." He acknowledged areas for development: "I still need to understand the defence's movements better. I want to grow mentally too. I'm not setting any limits." He is also thriving under Gasperini's coaching methods. "I get on well with his instructions. I feel that physically I improve day by day. His way of training is an advantage for me because in matches I feel strong." Looking ahead, Balerdi framed the Inter fixture as pivotal: "We must win without looking at who we have in front of us. A match that can give us the decisive click for the rest of the season." He concluded with his personal aims: "I want to do everything to stay here for a long time. Both in the national team and at Roma I want to win a trophy."

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.

Mile Svilar has given an extensive interview to Corriere della Sera in which he explores the psychological demands of goalkeeping beyond reflexes and instinct, revealing how he manages the mental challenge of long periods without action in Roma's dominant possession play. Svilar describes his approach to mental preparation: "My real enemy is thought. It's harder than making saves. Because it's simpler to always be under pressure with interventions—there's no time to think, you use instinct. But in a dominant team like Roma, where we play most of the match on the other side of the pitch, I spend a lot of time alone with myself. And I have to think. And I think negatively, a goalkeeper must do that, must imagine the worst-case scenario." To manage this, he works with a mental coach on match days: "On the day of the game I do a session with my mental coach, we do visualisation, breathing." Svilar praised head coach Gian Piero Gasperini for the freedom he grants in his choices with the ball at his feet, and highlighted his strength in timing for low exits. He named Donyell Malen as his toughest opponent in training: "He always scores even in training." Among Serie A goalkeepers, he cited Mike Maignan and Marco Carnesecchi as players he most respects. Regarding the upcoming fixture against Inter, he said: "We can't wait to play to measure ourselves against the strongest team in the championship." Svilar emphatically closed down speculation about Juventus: "I never even had a conversation about this. I'm not someone who signs a renewal and then denies the choice the year after." He concluded with reflections on Daniele De Rossi, the former manager: "He changed my life. Perhaps I wouldn't be at Roma without him today."

Roma train today ahead of Saturday's match against Inter, with the squad staying overnight at Trigoria to maintain focus on the fixture. Gian Piero Gasperini has all players available, including Mario Hermoso, who has recovered from a minor ankle injury and will start. The Spanish defender will line up alongside Evan N'Dicka and Gianluca Mancini in defence, though Leonardo Balerdi remains a consideration. Gasperini's main tactical uncertainty centres on Roma's full-back positions. Wesley will feature, but the coach has not yet settled on which flank to deploy him. The Brazilian has been tested on the right in recent training sessions—a clear attempt to counter the threat posed by Inter's Dimarco. If Wesley is positioned on the right, Nahuel Molina will occupy the left flank, with Emanuele Lulli omitted from that scenario. Alternatively, Gasperini could use the young full-back on the right, a position where he has featured in all league matches this season and has outperformed Molina in recent fitness tests. Gasperini has the final hours to decide on his approach, knowing the stakes are high for what promises to be a decisive encounter. The coach is aware that victory will require a flawless performance from his side.

Gian Piero Gasperini has almost his full squad available for Roma's clash with Inter, with Mario Hermoso back in training after an ankle contusion that forced him to miss Wednesday's session. The Spanish defender is now set to reclaim his place in the back line, though the team's defensive shape remains fluid with three significant selection dilemmas still unresolved. The primary doubt centres on the centre of defence, where Evan N'Dicka holds a slight edge over Leonardo Balerdi following the Argentine's strong performance in Turin. Balerdi's pace in covering and recovery could prove valuable against Inter's attackers in what Roma expect to be an open contest. With Gianluca Mancini likely on the right side of a back three, Hermoso completing the unit, and Mile Svilar in goal, the most probable defensive line is Mancini–N'Dicka–Hermoso, though Balerdi remains a serious challenger to the Ivorian until the final decision. On the right flank, Emanuele Lulli currently leads Nahuel Molina, with the choice complicated by the need to contain Dimarco, one of Inter's primary creative forces. Wesley should retain the left-back role. Midfield offers fewer surprises: Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné remain the leading candidates to start. The real tactical intrigue lies in the attacking third. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are untouchable; the third attacking role remains open. Matías Soulé is pressing for inclusion, Rodrigo Mora remains an alternative, but Niccolò Pisilli warrants particular attention. Deploying the midfielder in a more advanced position would allow Roma to shift defensively, recreating a three-man midfield line and matching Inter's numerical strength in that area—a solution with significant tactical weight against a team that has troubled Gasperini for years through rotations between fullbacks, wing-backs and centre-backs. Gasperini has termed the match a "bank of prova" (test). Three genuine doubts persist: N'Dicka versus Balerdi, Lulli versus Molina, and Soulé versus Pisilli versus Mora. Roma have not beaten Inter at the Olimpico in ten years, and the tactical detail could prove decisive.

Mario Hermoso trained with the squad on 17 September after missing a session on 16 September with an ankle contusion, and will be available for the upcoming fixture. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini must decide between Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi for the centre of defence, with N'Dicka appearing favoured, though Balerdi's defensive recovery pace offers an alternative consideration. Emanuele Lulli and Nahuel Molina are also competing for the right-back position, tasked with containing opposition wide attacks. Gasperini may deploy Matías Soulé in attack or alternatively use Niccolò Pisilli as a number 10, a choice that would allow him to field three midfielders and maintain numerical balance in defensive phases.

Roma train today ahead of Saturday's match against Inter, with the squad staying overnight at Trigoria to maintain focus on the fixture. Gian Piero Gasperini has all players available, including Mario Hermoso, who has recovered from a minor ankle injury and will start. The Spanish defender will line up alongside Evan N'Dicka and Gianluca Mancini in defence, though Leonardo Balerdi remains a consideration. Gasperini's main tactical uncertainty centres on Roma's full-back positions. Wesley will feature, but the coach has not yet settled on which flank to deploy him. The Brazilian has been tested on the right in recent training sessions—a clear attempt to counter the threat posed by Inter's Dimarco. If Wesley is positioned on the right, Nahuel Molina will occupy the left flank, with Emanuele Lulli omitted from that scenario. Alternatively, Gasperini could use the young full-back on the right, a position where he has featured in all league matches this season and has outperformed Molina in recent fitness tests. Gasperini has the final hours to decide on his approach, knowing the stakes are high for what promises to be a decisive encounter. The coach is aware that victory will require a flawless performance from his side.

Gian Piero Gasperini has almost his full squad available for Roma's clash with Inter, with Mario Hermoso back in training after an ankle contusion that forced him to miss Wednesday's session. The Spanish defender is now set to reclaim his place in the back line, though the team's defensive shape remains fluid with three significant selection dilemmas still unresolved. The primary doubt centres on the centre of defence, where Evan N'Dicka holds a slight edge over Leonardo Balerdi following the Argentine's strong performance in Turin. Balerdi's pace in covering and recovery could prove valuable against Inter's attackers in what Roma expect to be an open contest. With Gianluca Mancini likely on the right side of a back three, Hermoso completing the unit, and Mile Svilar in goal, the most probable defensive line is Mancini–N'Dicka–Hermoso, though Balerdi remains a serious challenger to the Ivorian until the final decision. On the right flank, Emanuele Lulli currently leads Nahuel Molina, with the choice complicated by the need to contain Dimarco, one of Inter's primary creative forces. Wesley should retain the left-back role. Midfield offers fewer surprises: Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné remain the leading candidates to start. The real tactical intrigue lies in the attacking third. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are untouchable; the third attacking role remains open. Matías Soulé is pressing for inclusion, Rodrigo Mora remains an alternative, but Niccolò Pisilli warrants particular attention. Deploying the midfielder in a more advanced position would allow Roma to shift defensively, recreating a three-man midfield line and matching Inter's numerical strength in that area—a solution with significant tactical weight against a team that has troubled Gasperini for years through rotations between fullbacks, wing-backs and centre-backs. Gasperini has termed the match a "bank of prova" (test). Three genuine doubts persist: N'Dicka versus Balerdi, Lulli versus Molina, and Soulé versus Pisilli versus Mora. Roma have not beaten Inter at the Olimpico in ten years, and the tactical detail could prove decisive.

Mario Hermoso trained with the squad on 17 September after missing a session on 16 September with an ankle contusion, and will be available for the upcoming fixture. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini must decide between Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi for the centre of defence, with N'Dicka appearing favoured, though Balerdi's defensive recovery pace offers an alternative consideration. Emanuele Lulli and Nahuel Molina are also competing for the right-back position, tasked with containing opposition wide attacks. Gasperini may deploy Matías Soulé in attack or alternatively use Niccolò Pisilli as a number 10, a choice that would allow him to field three midfielders and maintain numerical balance in defensive phases.