Roma celebrates return to Champions League

Referee Davide Massa was won over by Roma's 2–2 draw with Inter on Saturday at the Olimpico. As the match ended, Massa complimented both teams' players and coaching staff during the customary post-match greetings, a moment captured by DAZN's broadcast camera. Speaking to the managers of Roma and Inter, Massa called the contest a "spectacular match", expressing his appreciation for the intensity and quality of football on display across the ninety minutes. He also praised the players from both sides, highlighting an intense and emotionally charged encounter. The result leaves Roma with a point in their league campaign as they prepare to return from the international break.

Roma and Inter played out an intense and entertaining match, with post-match exchanges between the two sides captured on camera. Gasperini stopped Lautaro Martinez to compliment him, with DAZN's microphones picking up the Roma coach saying: "Vaff... you always score!" as the two embraced and smiled. Malen also had a word with Martinez in jest, referencing a save by the Inter goalkeeper that could have altered the match's outcome. After greeting Akanji, his former teammate from their time at Borussia Dortmund, the Roma forward turned his attention to Martinez, who laughed along as they revisited the moment. The relaxed atmosphere between the two squads underscored the competitive nature of the encounter, with both sides expected to challenge for the top of the table in the season ahead.

Roma and Inter produced one of the finest matches of the season, with both sides playing open, attacking football and matching each other blow for blow throughout. The standard of play was high enough to impress referee Davide Massa, who spoke to the two coaches at the final whistle. Exhausted after the match, Massa said to Gasperini and Chivu: "A spectacle you put on. A spectacle, well done. Thank you." He repeated his praise to the players who came to greet him after the final whistle: "Well done, good lads." The exchange reflects a broader shift in the atmosphere between referees, coaches and players at the start of this season, characterised by fewer interruptions to play, greater continuity in the game, and consequently more compelling football.

Roma head into the three-week international break in first place after four victories in five matches this season. Head coach Gasperini's side showed solidity against Inter and produced a solid return to Champions League football with a draw at Fenerbahce. During the pause, Gasperini will work with the squad members who remain at Trigoria, including Wesley, Malen and Cristante, who are managing physical knocks, plus players not selected by their national teams. Two friendly matches are scheduled to maintain match rhythm and provide opportunities for young players. Francesco Totti has revealed in his new book *Oltre* that he received playing offers from both Como and Genoa at age 48, with the prospect serious enough to prompt him to train intensively. Ultimately, however, a fundamental conviction prevailed. "Can you play for a team that isn't Roma?" Totti wrote, explaining his decision to turn down the moves. The book also chronicles other chapters from his life since retirement: his gradual rapprochement with Luciano Spalletti after years of silence, facilitated by work together on advertising campaigns; the beginning of his relationship with Noemi Bocchi, from their first meeting to their first kiss near Piazza del Popolo; and the death of his father Enzo, "the Sheriff", which Totti describes as the moment "the world collapsed". On disciplinary matters, the sporting judge issued no suspensions for the fifth round of Serie A but handed down multiple fines for fan misconduct. Roma were fined €3,000, matching Inter's sanction. Juventus received the heaviest penalty at €10,000 for failing to observe a minute's silence dedicated to Sandro Mazzola. Defender Leonardo Balerdi has regained Argentina's confidence following his strong start at Roma. Now at an Albiceleste training camp, Balerdi said: "I had huge hunger to return. Coming back here is a new challenge and I must face it the right way." His rapid integration into Gasperini's defensive system and return to regular football have restored him to Scaloni's squad after missing the World Cup.

Roma and Inter played out an intense and entertaining match, with post-match exchanges between the two sides captured on camera. Gasperini stopped Lautaro Martinez to compliment him, with DAZN's microphones picking up the Roma coach saying: "Vaff... you always score!" as the two embraced and smiled. Malen also had a word with Martinez in jest, referencing a save by the Inter goalkeeper that could have altered the match's outcome. After greeting Akanji, his former teammate from their time at Borussia Dortmund, the Roma forward turned his attention to Martinez, who laughed along as they revisited the moment. The relaxed atmosphere between the two squads underscored the competitive nature of the encounter, with both sides expected to challenge for the top of the table in the season ahead.

Roma continued their conditioning work at Trigoria on 22 September, refusing to ease off during the international break. The squad's next match is scheduled for 11 October against Como, but Gasperini kept the players sharp with athletic sessions despite the pause in fixtures. Among those training were Paulo Dybala and Mile Svilar, alongside several players using the stoppage to rebuild match fitness after recent struggles or late arrivals to the squad. Nahuel Molina, Marten de Roon and Lorenzo Pellegrini were the focus of Gasperini's attention during these weeks without competition. Molina, an Argentine midfielder, suffered fatigue from a long World Cup campaign but had recently rediscovered sufficient form; Gasperini aims to have him at peak condition for a demanding run of fixtures in October. De Roon, who joined late in the transfer window after being sidelined in Maurizio Sarri's plans at Atalanta, follows a similar recovery path. Pellegrini, the captain and number 7, earned his first squad call-up this season in the match against Torino and must complete his athletic rehabilitation after missing the summer preparation alongside his teammates. He will use these weeks without matches to conduct a mini pre-season programme. Also training were Pierluigi Gollini, Devyne Rensch, Vasquez and Giorgio De Marzi under Gasperini's close observation. Three players were absent: Bryan Cristante due to lower back pain, Donyell Malen with a knee complaint, and Wesley sidelined by a muscular strain.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini exploded with emotion when Matías Soulé scored, sprinting toward the Curva Sud in a moment that recalled José Mourinho's famous touchline celebration in September 2021, when Stephan El Shaarawy netted in the 91st minute against Sassuolo. The comparison was striking: both managers had been unable to contain their joy at critical moments, running to embrace the supporters. Yesterday's display suggested Gasperini is restoring the emotional intensity that Mourinho once brought to the Olimpico. The exuberance was infectious, yet it came to an abrupt halt. A staff member physically stopped Gasperini before he could reach the touchline—not to dampen the celebration, but to protect him from a second yellow card. The coach was already on a caution, and a further offense would have meant a ban for Roma's next fixture, a sensitive away trip to Turin. The intervention, though it cut short the moment, was tactically essential. Gasperini's desire to celebrate was unmistakable, but the immediate need to preserve his availability for the coming matches took precedence. The incident encapsulated what has shifted at Roma: the club has rediscovered emotion and connection with its supporters under Gasperini's leadership. The Curva Sud will wait for their manager's unreserved embrace—though likely not for much longer.

AS Roma faces UEFA review of its settlement agreement compliance after a summer transfer window costing approximately 125 million euros in purchases and 30 million in sales, with capital gains reaching only 25 million. The club will defend its position to UEFA at Nyon by highlighting a dramatic reduction in the wage bill—the primary evidence it claims of its sustainability strategy. Last season the payroll exceeded 133 million euros gross; it has now fallen to around 113 million, moving closer to the 100-million target. The wage cuts stem largely from player departures including Zaragoza, Çelik, Angeliño, Tsimikas, El Shaarawy and Dovbyk. The signing of Santiago Castro, a younger player with a lower salary spread across multiple years, exemplifies Roma's shift in strategy. Significant savings also came from the exits of El Aynaoui, Vaz, Ziółkowski and Kumbulla. Contract renewals for Dybala, Mancini, Cristante and Pellegrini followed the same model, reducing the fixed portion of salaries in favour of performance and appearance bonuses; these four extensions alone saved approximately 15 million euros. New arrivals Castro, Mora, Koulierakis, Molina, Balerdi and De Roon will cost around 25 million euros gross combined. Roma's overall wage reduction stands close to 45 million euros, reflecting the club's revised commercial approach as it attempts to satisfy UEFA's conditions set out in the 2022 settlement agreement.

Radio pundits across Rome's main sports stations have weighed in on the club's summer transfer window, with assessments ranging from 5.5 to 7.5 out of 10. The dominant theme is that Roma has strengthened their squad depth significantly but failed to address the most pressing gap: a left-sided winger to compete with Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in attack. Fabio Petruzzi gave the window 7.5, saying: "I'm optimistic: Roma is now clearly much stronger, as a squad, in mentality, as players. Between those who left and those who arrived there is a big difference. Between Balerdi and Ziolkowski there is a big difference, between Mora and El Shaarawy there is a big difference, but also between Castro and Dovbyk. For me you are now the second team behind Inter. Roma and Como in my view are up there; Roma has a bit more than the Lombards. There is a touch of disappointment—with something extra now you would be attached to Inter. But my rating is 7.5." Francesca Ferrazza graded it six, saying it would have been seven with Leweling and eight with Greenwood, and called the absence of a left winger "madness." She noted: "Gasperini closes his third transfer window without a left-sided forward. It's madness. The squad is wider, but a starter is missing up front." Other voices offered lower marks. Paolo Cosenza gave 5.5, arguing the bench is too thin and that Gasperini had asked for both a high and low left-sided winger but Roma supplied neither. Lorenzo Pes pointed out there is no left-footed fullback and that deals for Leweling and initially an alternative fell through, with reports of regime indecision before a revised offer to the German was made but rejected. Roberto Pruzzo awarded six, saying: "You've widened the options, you have two very strong centre-forwards. Castro in my view could play in any team in the championship, I won't even mention Malen. Mora will be able to help from the bench. You needed to sign a winger and it didn't happen, and so that's my assessment. There is no new starter compared to last year." Piero Torri suggested Roma may explore free agents including Sancho or Sterling to address the problem, saying: "I believe Roma will think about it. If Dybala stays fit over the coming months, the problem doesn't exist, because Dybala and Malen play there, and then you pick the third. If luck smiles on Roma and from now until 31 December, the absence of the left winger can become less damaging. But in any case I would go out and get a seventh player up front." The window closed with the squad expanded but incomplete.