Roma close in on Wolfsburg defender Koulierakis

Roma completed the signing of Marten de Roon from Atalanta late in the summer transfer window in a deal that closed quickly, driven by the midfielder's existing relationship with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini from their time together in Bergamo. De Roon's departure from Atalanta came after disappointment with how his spell at the club ended. Upon returning from the World Cup, the Dutchman expected a warm reception as club captain but instead found that new sporting director Cristiano Guintoli was reshaping the squad. He received no explanation of his role and Guintoli attempted to move him to Bologna in a cash-plus-swap arrangement involving Jonathan Rowe, shocking De Roon into requesting his contract be terminated. Gasperini then contacted him, and the Roma manager subsequently spoke to Atalanta president Luca Percassi about a transfer. The club proved willing to complete a deal, though De Roon asked for time to bid farewell properly to Bergamo, where his wife and daughters still live. He was not granted that opportunity. Gasperini wanted him available for Roma's match against Lecce, and De Roon complied despite his preference for a more respectful departure from Atalanta.

Gianluca Petrachi, Torino's sporting director, confirmed that Gasperini has expressed interest in Cacciamani ahead of Torino's match against Roma on 14 September. Speaking to DAZN before kickoff, Petrachi revealed that Roma made a significant offer for the midfielder, but Torino rejected it. "Yes, he is a player Roma like. I believe Gasperini has his eye on him," Petrachi said. "We had the idea of not selling him unless there were very important requests. An important one arrived but did not make us waver. We are happy to have him with us. I hope that today too he can give his contribution, even from the bench." Petrachi also reflected on his time at Roma, where he served as sporting director before joining Torino. He described the period as significant despite challenges. "Roma has been an intense year for me. I left good relationships there," he said. "There were particular circumstances, but I had an important year and Roma gave me a lot also emotionally. Even when I left, I felt the trust. Football lives on these situations and they must be faced." On Torino's transfer window, Petrachi expressed satisfaction with the squad's integration. "Players have arrived for the idea the coach has in mind, and many of them have settled well. At the moment we are happy," he noted. He also provided an update on midfielder Simeone's fitness: "He is training with the squad. We are here to understand if he can make it. He had a back problem, it is not a muscle issue. We are seeing how he manages his first movements."

Torino sporting director Petrachi addressed Roma's reported interest in midfielder Cacciamani ahead of the Serie A matchday 4 fixture between the clubs on 14 September. Petrachi confirmed that Gasperini has identified Cacciamani as a target and that an important offer from Roma arrived, but said Torino rejected it: "He is a player that Roma like, Gasperini has set his sights on him. We did not want to sell him unless a very important offer arrived, which it did but did not make us waver. Today he starts on the bench, but the coach makes his choices based on the match." Petrachi also addressed his own history with Roma, where he served as sporting director. He described his time at the club as intense and said he left good relationships despite unnamed difficulties. "Roma gave me a lot, also from an emotional point of view, even when I left," he said. He acknowledged the nature of football and its demands: "Football is lived through these situations and they must be faced. Today I am at Torino, so forza Toro." On Torino's transfer window, Petrachi said two functional signings had arrived to match the coach's vision, though integration remained incomplete for some players. He also addressed the absence of Simeone, saying the player was dealing with a back spasm rather than a simple muscle strain, and that Torino were assessing his availability for the match.

Roma lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation for their Serie A match at Torino on 14 September 2026, with Niccolò Pisilli and Emanuele Lulli in the starting eleven. Matías Soulé was preferred to Rodrigo Mora in the forward line, while Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen completed the attacking unit. Gianluca Mancini, Mario Hermoso and Leonardo Balerdi formed the back three, with Bryan Cristante and Pisilli operating in midfield alongside Nahuel Molina and the left-side defender. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini named Mile Svilar in goal. The bench included several squad options: De Marzi, Gollini, Koulierakis, Ghilardi, Wesley, Devyne Rensch, Marten de Roon, Manu Koné, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Santiago Castro and Mora. Torino, managed by Abate, deployed a 3-5-1-1 formation led by Simeone in attack, with Vlasic supporting. The match was refereed by Maresca, with Tegoni and Fontani as assistants, Sozza as fourth official, and Aureliano on VAR duties with Ghersini as assistant VAR.

Roma's radio stations have dissected Gasperini's tactics ahead of tonight's match against Torino, with particular focus on Paulo Dybala's continued presence in the starting XI and the coach's squad rotation policy. Nando Orsi argued that Roma will remain unbeaten as long as they maintain their physical condition, saying the team has adopted Gasperini's system entirely: "The way Gasp plays is this: as long as Roma is in condition they will be unbeatable, Roma has become gasperinised, it plays exactly like Atalanta. But there are moments when you have to catch your breath and there you have to be careful." Francesca Ferrazza suggested Torino are preparing defensive traps from the 1980s to stop Roma's attacking approach. Gasperini's decision to keep Dybala on the pitch for consecutive matches rather than rotate him drew extensive discussion. David Rossi noted that the coach is transmitting psychological conviction to the Argentine forward, saying Gasperini wants him to understand: "You play, you're fine, you must play. And I'll show you: I remove everyone except you." Gianluca Piacentini acknowledged concerns that hierarchy decisions could create unrest within the squad, with some players beginning to feel sidelined, yet noted that Gasperini has used almost all his squad members: "With the exception of Gollini, they have all played. With the exception of Cristante, everyone has played, including De Roon and Koulierakis." Roberto Pruzzo observed that Dybala appears in optimal condition and was specifically prepared to reach the winter break in top form. Fabio Petruzzi added that Dybala's unconditional confidence from Gasperini has improved his self-belief: "When a player goes into a challenge, if he goes in weakly he gets hurt. I saw Dybala changed, especially in his running." Mario Corsi criticised Roma's lack of a left winger, noting that Rodrigo Mora is excellent but performs a different type of role, while criticising the club's previous failures to sign other targets. Daniele Lo Monaco reported that Roma had offered €35 million plus bonuses and a resale percentage for an unspecified winger before the player joined Milan for €50 million plus bonuses instead. Tonight's fixture will test whether Roma can maintain their form against Torino's expected defensive intensity after their midweek European match.

Gian Piero Gasperini held his pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow's visit to Torino, rejecting suggestions of a squad hierarchy. "Please stop talking about hierarchies, it's not fair to the players who are giving their all," he said. "It makes no sense for these players—they're all making an important contribution. Ghilardi is growing, there's Koulierakis." Emanuele Lulli will be available for selection after recovering from a virus intestinale (intestinal virus) that struck him in recent days; the 2007-born defender from Palestrina is expected to start. On Paulo Dybala's availability, Gasperini was blunt: "If he's well, he plays." The forward has been in excellent form and started in all four league matches so far this season. Lorenzo Pellegrini returns to the squad after his absence, a significant boost for Roma's midfield ahead of the trip to Turin.