Roma close to Rodrigo Mora as Gollini awaits news; Candela reflects on Franco Sensi

Juventus and Napoli both attempted to lure Paulo Dybala away from Roma during the summer transfer window, but the Argentine remained committed to the club and to head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Juventus conducted an initial enquiry into Dybala's contract situation, while Napoli also signalled their interest. In both cases, however, Dybala's response was unambiguous: his priority was Roma and honouring his commitment to Gasperini. Gasperini's role in retaining the forward proved central to the outcome. The coach worked with both the player and the club to unlock a contract negotiation that had stalled for months, convincing Dybala that he would be a cornerstone of his tactical project. Dybala's decision to stay was reinforced by the direct confidence Gasperini showed in him, illustrating the trust between manager and player at a critical juncture. The contract renewal through 2027 was also facilitated by Dybala's willingness to restructure his salary downwards, accepting a deal built around a fixed base with various bonuses tied to appearances, goals and assists. The most significant aspect of the situation, however, remains that Dybala had the opportunity to explore other options and chose to remain at Roma—a reflection of the faith Gasperini had placed in him.

Bryan Cristante is a doubt for Roma's trip to Como on 11 October, with kickoff at 12:30 on Sunday, after the midfielder withdrew from international duty with lower back pain and subsequently picked up a knee issue. The medical staff will assess Cristante in the coming days; if he is unavailable, Manu Koné is on standby, with either Niccolò Pisilli or Marten de Roon as alternatives. Roma resume their campaign after the October international break in what is billed as a significant fixture. The club has contingency options in midfield to cover a potential absence from a key player. Gasperini will make a final decision on Cristante's fitness ahead of the match. On transfer matters, the article notes several developments: Inter are reportedly considering a move for a midfielder, with Roma holding a 10 per cent sell-on clause from Cagliari on that player. Two other stories have emerged concerning Roma—Gasperini's involvement in Paulo Dybala's contract renewal, during which Dybala rejected approaches from both Juventus and Napoli, and a claim from Spanish sources that a deal for Real Madrid's Endrick to join Roma was agreed before being halted.

Paulo Dybala has signed a contract extension with Roma this summer after head coach Gian Piero Gasperini intervened to broker the deal, turning around a situation that threatened the forward's future at the club. Gasperini kept a promise made at the end of last season to work on both fronts — with the player and the club — to persuade the Friedkin Group to the negotiating table. Dybala had proved decisive in Roma's push to secure Champions League qualification in the final weeks of the 2025-26 campaign, and the coach was instrumental in driving the renewal forward. The new terms represent a compromise after initial offers fell short. Dybala wanted a base salary no lower than €3 million and a two-year extension through 2028. The final agreement runs for one year and includes a fixed base of €2.2 million — a 72 per cent reduction from his previous pay — plus up to €2 million more in performance-related incentives tied to appearances, goals and assists. The renewal caps months of uncertainty over Dybala's position at the Stadio Olimpico, where he has been reviving his form under Gasperini after arriving from Juventus in summer 2022. Dybala's commitment comes despite interest from two Serie A rivals. Juventus made contact via his agent Novel during the summer to gauge his availability and salary expectations, but Dybala thanked them and reaffirmed Roma as his priority. Napoli also sounded out the terrain with a similar approach and received the same response. The 32-year-old's willingness to cut his wages significantly reflects both his desire to stay and the trust he has placed in Gasperini's project at Roma. The two have history dating to the 2012-13 season, when Dybala made his Serie A debut at Palermo under Gasperini's management.

Donyell Malen has been named Serie A Player of the Month after a striking start to the 2026-27 season. The forward has scored 6 goals in Roma's first 5 matches, establishing himself as the team's primary attacking focus under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Gasperini has deployed Malen as a centre forward rather than in a wide role, a change from his previous career positions that has yielded immediate results since his arrival in January. In national team news, Gianluca Mancini returns to Italy's squad for tomorrow's Nations League group-stage fixture against France at 20:45, having been rested during the preceding match against Turkey. Daniele Ghilardi, the other Roma player in contention, has been left out and remains without a senior international debut. Rodrigo Mora featured prominently for Portugal U21 in a 4-0 European Championship qualifier victory over Gibraltar, playing 60 minutes and opening the match with a spectacular overhead kick from just inside the penalty area. He drew a standing ovation when substituted after continuing to impress with creative play. Meanwhile, Roma president Dan Friedkin has personally engaged with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin to address the club's financial fair play breach ahead of a verdict expected in November. The two met during the assembly of European clubs in Copenhagen, where Friedkin outlined Roma's case: declining losses, consistent improvement in accounts, and future revenue growth from Champions League participation and the new stadium project. The discussion centred on Roma's failure to meet the financial objectives set four years earlier under the original UEFA agreement. Local media commentary has begun focusing on Roma's upcoming fixtures against Como and Real Madrid. Analysts have suggested that Mora could start against Como, given that Matías Soulé will have limited preparation time on his return, and that midfielder Marten de Roon could add midfield depth. One observer noted that Mora may prove decisive in the Real Madrid encounter: "The Real Madrid match seems the right one for Mora: he could become the decisive factor. Compared to last season Roma has more quality. Everyone can rotate and I think Gasperini will play them all in the coming matches."

Adidas has revealed a new Roma t-shirt from its EQT (Equipment) line, drawing design inspiration from the sportswear brand's 1990s aesthetic. The kit features white as its base colour, with wide yellow and red bands running across the shoulders, down the sleeves and across the chest. The centre displays the Gratton she-wolf in blue accompanied by the text 'asroma', while the Adidas branding and iconic trefoil logo sit above it. The release follows earlier reports of three commemorative shirts planned for the club's centenary season in 2026-27. The EQT collection represents Adidas's Equipment line, a nostalgic take on classic sportswear design that has become popular across football in recent years. This new Roma variant combines the club's traditional giallorossi colours with a retro visual identity, appealing to supporters who favour heritage-inspired aesthetics.

Donyell Malen has won the Serie A player of the month award for September (which includes August). The Dutch forward scored six goals in his first five league matches, a start that earned him the honour. Malen will receive the award during Roma's match against Genoa. A special Malen card is also being released in the FC27 video game. Malen will lead Roma's attack in the fixture against Como on Sunday, 11 October, when the team resumes their campaign. He missed international duty with a minor knee problem, but his condition is not a cause for concern. Paulo Dybala will partner him in attack, with a contest between Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé to fill the midfield role behind them.

Emanuele Lulli has made a remarkable impression in little over a month, overturning the squad hierarchy and earning the complete confidence of coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The nineteen-year-old from Palestrina has delivered an overwhelming start to the season, in some respects unexpectedly: last summer he was on the verge of joining Avellino on loan, but Gasperini's direct intervention halted the departure. After the exit of Romano, Roma were unwilling to let another academy product leave, and Gasperini chose to back the teenager's qualities. Lulli has started in four of Roma's first five league matches, sitting out only the clash against Inter, and has also appeared in the Champions League fixture against Fenerbahçe. With his contract expiring on 30 June 2027, Lulli has become a cornerstone of Roma's present and future plans. The club intends to move quickly to secure him, and discussions are expected to open soon. His agency represents Lorenzo Pellegrini as well, a shared connection that should smooth negotiations between the parties once a meeting is arranged. Meanwhile, the club is mapping out contract renewals across the squad. For key figures such as Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala, final assessments will be made later, likely towards the end of the season. The situation is also open regarding Pierluigi Gollini and especially Mario Hermoso, whose current agreement lacks the automatic renewal clause that was present in his previous contract, necessitating fresh talks between club and player.

Pierluigi Gollini took advantage of a free evening to watch Maxima Roma face Napoli at the Palazzo dello Sport in Rome. The Roma goalkeeper attended the match as a spectator, using the break in his club commitments to enjoy an evening of sport away from the pitch. Gollini's presence in the stands at the Rome venue did not go unnoticed, as he chose the Maxima Roma-Napoli fixture to spend the evening at the Palazzo dello Sport while awaiting his return to Roma's schedule.

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.