Roma close to Dybala and Çelik renewals as Gasperini rebuild gathers pace

Roma Primavera striker Edoardo Morucci has undergone bilateral inguinal hernia surgery. The club announced that Morucci was operated on today under the supervision of the club doctor. The procedure included reconstruction of the conjoined tendon and ilioinguinal neuroplasty. Morucci will be discharged tomorrow and will begin rehabilitation protocols. The Primavera centre-forward's absence represents a loss for the youth team as they continue their campaign in the 2026-27 season.

Santiago Castro has spoken about an emotional two weeks representing Argentina, including his debut with the national team and witnessing Lionel Messi's final match. The Roma forward was intercepted by TNT Sports upon his return to the club and reflected on the experience alongside the Argentine legend. Castro emphasised the importance of performing well at Roma to maintain his place in the national team setup. "Arrivare qui è il massimo. Voglio sempre esserci e dare il mio contributo, ma per farlo devo lavorare duro con la Roma. Rappresentare l'Argentina è un motivo d'orgoglio" — reaching the national team is the maximum, he said, and to stay there he must work hard with Roma, as representing Argentina is a source of pride. He acknowledged the transitional period ahead for Argentina and stressed the need to follow the example of more experienced players in the squad, after the veterans had helped the younger contingent. On Messi's farewell, Castro said the squad had been told to savour the occasion, though the focus remained on winning out of respect for the fans: "Non lo realizzerò mai del tutto. Ho un paio di foto che ho guardato per tutta la notte e continuerò a farlo anche nei prossimi giorni" — he will never fully realise what he lived through, he explained, having spent the night watching photos he plans to keep studying in the coming days. He described Messi as part of the group like anyone else, wanting to be treated normally, and noted that once you meet him you understand what kind of person he is.

Rodrigo Mora is set to win the third attacking slot for Roma's Serie A trip to Como on Sunday, according to Sky Sport's Angelo Mangiante. The Portuguese midfielder impressed in a training match at Trigoria this morning against Sorianese alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, who has recovered from injury. Mora appeared in sharp form following his appearances with Portugal Under 21 and has convinced head coach Gian Piero Gasperini to deploy him at the Sinigaglia stadium. The selection would complete an attacking trident built on technique, quality and ability to move between the lines. Mora is seizing his opportunity after a productive international break with Portugal's youth side.

Rodrigo Mora is set to win the third attacking slot for Roma's Serie A trip to Como on Sunday, according to Sky Sport's Angelo Mangiante. The Portuguese midfielder impressed in a training match at Trigoria this morning against Sorianese alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, who has recovered from injury. Mora appeared in sharp form following his appearances with Portugal Under 21 and has convinced head coach Gian Piero Gasperini to deploy him at the Sinigaglia stadium. The selection would complete an attacking trident built on technique, quality and ability to move between the lines. Mora is seizing his opportunity after a productive international break with Portugal's youth side.

Roma's radio stations have weighed in on Lorenzo Pellegrini's role in Gian Piero Gasperini's fast-moving squad ahead of the Serie A match against Como. The debate centres on whether the midfielder can adapt to the club's new, high-intensity style of play. Lorenzo Pes of Tele Radio Stereo said: "It intrigues me to see how Pellegrini can fit into a Roma that goes a thousand miles per hour. It seems like a squad somewhat far removed from how this player operates. He limited the damage in a Roma that wasn't playing at this pace; now honestly, I struggle to imagine him in this team. I think he needs to take steps to play in a Roma that plays this kind of football." Piero Torri of Radio Manà Manà countered that Pellegrini should not be underestimated, pointing to strong seasons including the Conference League campaign. "The competitors for that role on the pitch are Soulé and Mora, who have been on international duty. I'm becoming convinced that Lorenzo can start from the beginning," Torri said. Angelo Mangiante of Radio Manà Manà reported that Gasperini fielded Mora and Dybala behind Malen in a trial against Sorianese, with the Portuguese winger in excellent form for the Como clash. Mario Hermoso is expected to replicate last season's performance against Nico Paz at the Olimpico. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio noted that Paz and Dybala could be the tactical key to the match, with Niccolò Pisilli offering a midfield alternative if Marten de Roon's selection makes Roma too predictable against Como's quality. Simone Valdarchi cautioned that the title race is premature despite any confidence gained from the Como fixture.

Rome's radio stations dissected Lorenzo Pellegrini's prospects and Santiago Castro's playing time in depth on 8 October, with studio hosts split on whether the midfielder can justify his renewed contract under Gasperini's high-tempo system. Mario Corsi stated bluntly: "Pellegrini knows inside himself that this is the moment where he either succeeds or fails. This is his last chance, because if he has another opaque season I don't think he'll stay at Roma. From a player like Pellegrini it isn't enough to have one good match — he was Roma's captain, and people expect him to make a difference." Lorenzo Pes offered a contrasting view of the tactical fit: "I'm very curious to see how Pellegrini will slot into a Roma going at full speed. He seems a player who is a bit removed from how this team is shaped. He managed the damage in a Roma that wasn't playing at this rhythm, but honestly I struggle to imagine him in this squad." Paolo Cosenza countered that Pellegrini's ability to play vertically and his vision suited Gasperini's approach. Alessio Nardo framed the renewal as a high-stakes gamble: "The society has placed this squad and its fate in Gasperini's hands. All the players were approved by the coach — he and D'Amico are jointly responsible for the players signed, sold and renewed. Dybala has proved he deserved his renewal 100 per cent. Now we will evaluate Pellegrini on the pitch. If Pellegrini doesn't deliver, we will have to hold Gasperini to account for it, because he has always defended him." CCastro's limited first-team action also drew comment. Checco Oddo Casano explained the transfer fee: "Castro cost 35 million partly because Bologna was the only club willing to take Dovbyk, a player with continuous physical problems, absorbing his entire wage and including a purchase option. When a young but promising player has a low wage, he often costs you more in transfer fee." Gianluca Piacentini observed that Donyell Malen was scoring a goal per game, making him a regular starter, but argued Castro deserved playing time to develop. David Rossi advocated for Castro's inclusion: "He's an ambitious player, and you can see it when he takes the pitch. If at the end of the season Malen plays 38 times as a starter and Castro comes on 38 times for five minutes, he'll tell you he made a mistake, because he wants to be the main man." Roberto Pruzzo highlighted the tactical duel in the upcoming Como match: "Think of Nico Paz and Dybala — that could be the key to the game. Pisilli is in form and can give you a midfield alternative in a very static situation, because if De Roon plays, it becomes very readable against Como, who make their quality their best weapon." Nando Orsi predicted Paz would be benched, saying Fabregas uses the bench to punish occasional indolence. The match is scheduled for 12:30, with Orsi defending the early kickoff as standard in English football for years.

Roma's full-backs have become a cornerstone of Gian Piero Gasperini's push to the top of Serie A, a marked shift from last season when they proved problematic. Wesley and Nahuel Molina are now among the club's key strengths, and both will start when Roma resume the league campaign against Como, where they will face manager Fabregas. The turnaround reflects Gasperini's tactical evolution since arriving at the club: in his first season, Wesley was the only defender fully convincing on the flanks, while Zeki Çelik had to make do elsewhere. Now the picture is entirely different. Gasperini has uncovered Emanuele Lulli in the course of the season, and Molina has gradually built his fitness, delivering quality and assists to Roma's attacking phase. For the Como fixture, Gasperini plans to deploy Molina on the right and Wesley on the left. The selection reflects not just Roma's attacking ambitions but also Gasperini's defensive strategy: by using two attacking full-backs, he aims to stretch Como's wide players—Baturina on one flank and Diao on the other—and occupy them throughout the match. Wesley, the more naturally offensive of the pair, will be tasked with driving forward and supporting the build-up play. Molina is likely to carry greater defensive responsibility, balancing his own contributions with the need to contain Como's threats on the wing.

Gian Piero Gasperini will deploy Nahuel Molina and Wesley as twin wingers in Roma's visit to Como, harnessing simultaneous attacking thrust down both flanks to counter Cesc Fabregas's side. With Molina fully recovered and Wesley in continued form, Roma will field two genuine wide operators capable of delivering width, high pressing and chances for the attacking midfielders. The tactical choice targets Como's possession-based play built around Baturina and Diao's unpredictability; Molina and Wesley are instructed to close down Como's wide references and attacking midfielders immediately, forcing them away from build-up play into long balls. In possession, the overlapping runs of Molina and Wesley will create lateral chains with Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé, opening space for crosses and inside passes. Last season Roma's right wing relied solely on Wesley alongside the converted Zeki Çelik, but the club now possesses one of Serie A's strongest selections of wide midfielders. Gasperini's side has already created thirteen goalscoring actions from wide midfielders this season—second in the league behind Inter's fourteen. Wesley leads with seven goal contributions, followed by Molina on four and eighteen-year-old Emanuele Lulli, an academy product promoted to the first team, who has added two decisive contributions and demonstrates the depth of alternatives available on the flanks. A key feature of Gasperini's system is the tactical flexibility of both players. Wesley and Molina can interchange wings during matches without loss of effectiveness, alternating deep play and crosses with cuts inside on their stronger foot to link with the attacking midfielders. This constant switching prevents opposing defences from finding fixed reference points and allows Roma to vary attacking approaches throughout the game.

Zeki Çelik produced a costly error in Turkey's match against Italy in Bursa, clearing a corner kick directly to Alessandro Bastoni, who opened the scoring for the Azzurri. Italy dominated the fixture in a redemptive performance after losing to Belgium on Friday. Çelik's mistake was immediately seized upon by social media users, with Roma supporters among those criticising the defender's display. One Roma fan wrote: "La spazza Celik" (Çelik the sweeper), while others joked about whether a 'Çelik-cam' video would emerge—a reference to footage released by DAZN following Çelik's first friendly for Juventus. The Turkish international has endured a difficult start to his spell in Serie A, facing criticism not only from Roma fans but also from his country's supporters.

Roma's radio stations have weighed in on Lorenzo Pellegrini's role in Gian Piero Gasperini's fast-moving squad ahead of the Serie A match against Como. The debate centres on whether the midfielder can adapt to the club's new, high-intensity style of play. Lorenzo Pes of Tele Radio Stereo said: "It intrigues me to see how Pellegrini can fit into a Roma that goes a thousand miles per hour. It seems like a squad somewhat far removed from how this player operates. He limited the damage in a Roma that wasn't playing at this pace; now honestly, I struggle to imagine him in this team. I think he needs to take steps to play in a Roma that plays this kind of football." Piero Torri of Radio Manà Manà countered that Pellegrini should not be underestimated, pointing to strong seasons including the Conference League campaign. "The competitors for that role on the pitch are Soulé and Mora, who have been on international duty. I'm becoming convinced that Lorenzo can start from the beginning," Torri said. Angelo Mangiante of Radio Manà Manà reported that Gasperini fielded Mora and Dybala behind Malen in a trial against Sorianese, with the Portuguese winger in excellent form for the Como clash. Mario Hermoso is expected to replicate last season's performance against Nico Paz at the Olimpico. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio noted that Paz and Dybala could be the tactical key to the match, with Niccolò Pisilli offering a midfield alternative if Marten de Roon's selection makes Roma too predictable against Como's quality. Simone Valdarchi cautioned that the title race is premature despite any confidence gained from the Como fixture.

Rome's radio stations dissected Lorenzo Pellegrini's prospects and Santiago Castro's playing time in depth on 8 October, with studio hosts split on whether the midfielder can justify his renewed contract under Gasperini's high-tempo system. Mario Corsi stated bluntly: "Pellegrini knows inside himself that this is the moment where he either succeeds or fails. This is his last chance, because if he has another opaque season I don't think he'll stay at Roma. From a player like Pellegrini it isn't enough to have one good match — he was Roma's captain, and people expect him to make a difference." Lorenzo Pes offered a contrasting view of the tactical fit: "I'm very curious to see how Pellegrini will slot into a Roma going at full speed. He seems a player who is a bit removed from how this team is shaped. He managed the damage in a Roma that wasn't playing at this rhythm, but honestly I struggle to imagine him in this squad." Paolo Cosenza countered that Pellegrini's ability to play vertically and his vision suited Gasperini's approach. Alessio Nardo framed the renewal as a high-stakes gamble: "The society has placed this squad and its fate in Gasperini's hands. All the players were approved by the coach — he and D'Amico are jointly responsible for the players signed, sold and renewed. Dybala has proved he deserved his renewal 100 per cent. Now we will evaluate Pellegrini on the pitch. If Pellegrini doesn't deliver, we will have to hold Gasperini to account for it, because he has always defended him." CCastro's limited first-team action also drew comment. Checco Oddo Casano explained the transfer fee: "Castro cost 35 million partly because Bologna was the only club willing to take Dovbyk, a player with continuous physical problems, absorbing his entire wage and including a purchase option. When a young but promising player has a low wage, he often costs you more in transfer fee." Gianluca Piacentini observed that Donyell Malen was scoring a goal per game, making him a regular starter, but argued Castro deserved playing time to develop. David Rossi advocated for Castro's inclusion: "He's an ambitious player, and you can see it when he takes the pitch. If at the end of the season Malen plays 38 times as a starter and Castro comes on 38 times for five minutes, he'll tell you he made a mistake, because he wants to be the main man." Roberto Pruzzo highlighted the tactical duel in the upcoming Como match: "Think of Nico Paz and Dybala — that could be the key to the game. Pisilli is in form and can give you a midfield alternative in a very static situation, because if De Roon plays, it becomes very readable against Como, who make their quality their best weapon." Nando Orsi predicted Paz would be benched, saying Fabregas uses the bench to punish occasional indolence. The match is scheduled for 12:30, with Orsi defending the early kickoff as standard in English football for years.

Lorenzo Pellegrini announced he is fully fit and eager to resume after six months out of action, speaking at an event where he received the Colalucci award. The midfielder, who had appeared on the bench twice before the international break but was not yet ready, said the three-week gap gave him the perfect opportunity to train, push himself and prove his readiness. "I'm finally back at the disposal of the team," Pellegrini said. "This break came at the perfect moment, because I had the chance to work, push and also test myself. I'm very happy and very charged for this restart." Roma sit high in the league after five matches without Pellegrini, though the season is only four hours old. The midfielder's return comes as the club prepares to resume domestic fixtures and chase Champions League duties on midweek. Asked about whether the coming fixture against Como will decide who becomes the main challenger to Inter, Pellegrini cautioned against premature judgments. "It's very difficult to say now. These are the first four hours of the campaign, and then we restart after a very long break. There will also be new things for us: not playing for three weeks is particular, and it's difficult to have to restart. We have lots of matches, because we'll then play the midweek Champions game. It will certainly be complicated." He added: "It's difficult to say this is the match that decides who will be Inter's rival, because the season is long, it's just started and we come from a break that never happened before." Pellegrini reflected on his longer journey at Roma, describing himself as a reserved but simple person deeply attached to the club. "I've always done what I felt was right," he said of his decision to stay. "I believed it could make me happy, and I'm proud of that, because you must never compromise when you do what you feel and when you respect above all the love you have for yourself, for what you do and for where you do it. Here in Rome it's very important to us." He also noted that Roma's dressing room under the current regime is strong and united. "I prefer the dressing room from before," he reflected on past approaches, "but I must say our dressing room is truly a lovely group: united, calm, working, serene and strong. It knows what its group objective is." On the morning after receiving his award, Pellegrini expressed hope that the occasion would bring good fortune for Sunday's fixture.