Roma closes in on Castro as Argentina forward agrees terms

Roma are monitoring the market for attacking wingers, and a new name has been added to the list drawn up by Tony D'Amico: Brazilian talent William Gomes of Porto, according to journalist Ekrem Konur. The Giallorossi are reportedly following the progress of the 2006-born player closely, alongside Manchester United and Liverpool. The 20-year-old's performances have drawn the attention of several European scouts, although Porto's high valuation already represents a significant obstacle to any possible deal. Gomes was born on 15 March 2006 and is a left-footed offensive winger who usually plays from the right. He came through at São Paulo and joined Porto in January 2025 for around €9 million. In Portugal he has gradually earned more game time. Last season he scored 8 goals in 28 appearances in the Portuguese league, adding 4 goals in 11 Europa League matches. The current season has confirmed his progress: in his first seven Liga Portugal appearances he has scored 2 goals and provided 2 assists. Technically, he is a very attacking winger, quick especially over the first few metres and especially dangerous when he can run directly at a defender. Dribbling, acceleration and his ability to cut inside onto his left foot to shoot are the qualities that most set him apart. He can also start from the opposite flank, but it is mainly from the right that he uses his left foot to move into the middle of the pitch. On paper, the profile matches several qualities Roma are looking for: young, already accustomed to European football, capable of creating superiority in one-on-one situations and confident in front of goal. He is exactly the type of player who could add to the attacking options available to Gasperini. The main problem is price. Porto recently tied Gomes down until 30 June 2031, and the new contract includes a release clause of €100 million. Valuations from the leading specialist websites currently hover around €25-30 million, but the Portuguese club holds a very strong negotiating position and would have no need to sell him on favourable terms. For this reason, for now, the talk is exclusively of monitoring rather than negotiations. Roma are following the player, as are Manchester United and Liverpool, aware that any move would require a significant investment.

Emanuele Lulli has agreed a contract renewal with Roma, with the deal running to 2031. His previous contract was due to expire in 2027. The 19-year-old is set to start on the right flank tonight at Napoli. Reported by Daniele Aloisi in Il Messaggero, the news came on Friday, as Roma prepare for the trip to the Maradona with an injury list that includes Mile Svilar, Manu Koné, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala. Despite the absences, Roma's mood remains positive, and Donyell Malen returns to the attack. Cristante and Malen are both available again after missing the last league match. Malen leads the line and is looking for a brace after scoring a double at the same ground last year. Matías Soulé will partner him up front. Gian Piero Gasperini has also planned a rotation with Nahuel Molina, who played in the Champions League and will feature again on Tuesday against Cagliari. At 19 years and 68 days, Lulli could make his sixth start for the club. Only Marquinhos has started his first six games in a Roma shirt at a younger age, at 18 years and 181 days. The main puzzle is in the attacking midfield. Rodrigo Mora is pushing for a start but could begin on the bench. The likely solution is to deploy Bryan Cristante in that role, where he can also provide cover in front of Lobotka, McTominay or Anguissa. Cristante returns from the match against Inter. In defence, Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso are all back in contention.

Cristante is in Roma's squad for the trip to Napoli, according to the squad list published by Il Messaggero. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini is short in the final third, with Pellegrini, Dybala, Svilar and Koné all sidelined. He has only Mora and Soulé behind Malen, and is considering playing Cristante further forward. The squad list names Balerdi, Ghilardi, Hermoso, Koulierakis, Lulli, Mancini, Molina, N'Dicka, Rensch and Wesley in defence; Cristante, De Roon, Mora and Pisilli in midfield; and Malen, Soulé and Castro in attack. Camara and Di Nunzio are also listed. The situation is serious enough that Roma are expected to act in the January transfer window. The club must spend to give Gasperini at least two reinforcements between attack and the flanks. Gittens and Leweling remain on the list, and the club has not ruled out the complicated pursuit of Endrick. A new left-back name has emerged: Alejandro Balde of Barcelona, who is finding few minutes under Flick and has been offered by Jorge Mendes. His name joins that of Oosterwolde. Sky Sport reports that Roma are close to the final details of a contract renewal for Lulli, which would run to 2031. The deal has not yet been officially announced, and the last points must be settled before it is formalised. Speaking to Corriere dello Sport at the Amsterdam stop of the EA7 World Legends Padel Tour, Stekelenburg was asked about Svilar. He said: "If I had to put him in the top five... no, not yet. After all, there are Courtois, Neuer and others. But he is a young lad and he is doing an excellent job. He just has to keep growing." Asked to choose between Højlund and Malen if he were a sporting director, Graziani said: "Malen without thinking twice. Hojlund I like a lot, and sometimes he looks to me like a 'little Lukaku' the way he leads the attack and the physical battles he takes on, and he has a great sense of goal; but Malen is my ideal striker, for the way he attacks space, for his dribbling, for the acceleration he has in the last twenty metres and because he can roam across the whole attacking front."

Radio pundits on Radio Radio have weighed in on Roma's selection dilemmas ahead of their upcoming fixture against Napoli, with former player Pruzzo and commentator Carina among those offering views. Orsi said Napoli are a strong side despite appearing to struggle, and that Roma must take advantage while staying fully focused. He said he would not give up on Lulli and De Roon, and that De Roon should have a fixed place because he best interprets his role. If Cristante does not play today, he will play on Wednesday, because De Roon cannot play seven matches in a row. Orsi added that Cristante playing in attack raises some doubts about his mobility, though there are no problems with his tactical intelligence. Pruzzo said: "Lulli deserves the renewal. Mora is not ready: he should show important signs, given what was paid for him. However, the season deserves a lot of attention." Carina described a battle for a place between Cristante and Mora. He noted that Gasperini has kept Trigoria closed off and has not spoken publicly, which he attributed to the coach having already talked a lot, adding that Gasperini prefers to speak when the team loses rather than when it wins. Carina said Lulli is preferred to Molina on the flank and that Lulli will be tied down until 2031, having still been under a youth contract. He said: "I expect Castro close to Malen, and perhaps the 3-5-2, because you can't play with two strikers? However, it's my opinion." Sabatini said Napoli have withdrawn from the race for the top places, with their aim now a top-four finish, and that they face a side with more unavailable players than usual for the first time. He said that if Napoli were to lose, the situation would be very tense. For Roma, he added, a non-win would still be interesting given the emergency. He said there is more pressure on Napoli. Amterà said he was surprised that Gasperini did not hold his press conference, adding: "I don't know if there is a reason. But he is someone who has always spoken before the big matches."

Roma's visit to Napoli dominated the Roman radio debate, with several pundits giving their views ahead of the match. Sandro Sabatini said: "Penso che la corsa all'alta classifica il Napoli se la sia già tolta dalla testa, mentre se parliamo di quarto posto è diverso." He added that a draw would be an interesting result for Roma. Sabatini said: "Per la Roma una non vittoria, un bel pareggio, sarebbe un risultato molto interessante, considerata anche l'emergenza. Sul Napoli c'è molta più pressione che sulla Roma." He pointed out that Roma have more injuries, leaving Gasperini with more difficulties. Giancarlo Padovan was the most confident Roma backer. He said Napoli need a big performance and to make up ground, while Roma are "sta bene, benissimo". He added: "Oggi gli equilibri sono cambiati, la Roma è una squadra da scudetto e il Napoli no, almeno non quest'anno." Padovan said Roma are favourites. Roberto Pruzzo took a different view, saying Napoli must win today and that he saw no favourite between the two sides. He noted that matches played so close together are far harder to call. Ugo Trani focused on selection, arguing that Cristante should play in midfield alongside Pisilli and De Roon, and that Anguissa should be left out. Trani also praised Lulli, noting he was signed for €60 million after one season at Cagliari, and questioned whether the club should have focused on the risk of letting Lulli leave on a free transfer rather than on the sale of Romano. Paolo Marcacci said he was open to the idea of Cristante playing a role similar to Perrotta, and suggested Castro and Malen could partner up front. He was less convinced by Mora, whom he criticised after two clear errors against Slovan Bratislava. Stefano Agresti said Gasperini achieved great things at Atalanta but that Roma is a different challenge in a big city, adding that his spell at Milan had not been significant. He argued the match matters more to Napoli but still matters to Roma, who can exploit their attacking resources. Nando Orsi said Napoli's situation is partly down to their own coach, and that he would not give up Lulli, de Roon or Malen, while suggesting some rotation is needed with so many matches close together. He had doubts about Cristante's mobility in a wide-attacking role, though not his tactical intelligence.

Cristante is in Roma's squad for the trip to Napoli, according to the squad list published by Il Messaggero. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini is short in the final third, with Pellegrini, Dybala, Svilar and Koné all sidelined. He has only Mora and Soulé behind Malen, and is considering playing Cristante further forward. The squad list names Balerdi, Ghilardi, Hermoso, Koulierakis, Lulli, Mancini, Molina, N'Dicka, Rensch and Wesley in defence; Cristante, De Roon, Mora and Pisilli in midfield; and Malen, Soulé and Castro in attack. Camara and Di Nunzio are also listed. The situation is serious enough that Roma are expected to act in the January transfer window. The club must spend to give Gasperini at least two reinforcements between attack and the flanks. Gittens and Leweling remain on the list, and the club has not ruled out the complicated pursuit of Endrick. A new left-back name has emerged: Alejandro Balde of Barcelona, who is finding few minutes under Flick and has been offered by Jorge Mendes. His name joins that of Oosterwolde. Sky Sport reports that Roma are close to the final details of a contract renewal for Lulli, which would run to 2031. The deal has not yet been officially announced, and the last points must be settled before it is formalised. Speaking to Corriere dello Sport at the Amsterdam stop of the EA7 World Legends Padel Tour, Stekelenburg was asked about Svilar. He said: "If I had to put him in the top five... no, not yet. After all, there are Courtois, Neuer and others. But he is a young lad and he is doing an excellent job. He just has to keep growing." Asked to choose between Højlund and Malen if he were a sporting director, Graziani said: "Malen without thinking twice. Hojlund I like a lot, and sometimes he looks to me like a 'little Lukaku' the way he leads the attack and the physical battles he takes on, and he has a great sense of goal; but Malen is my ideal striker, for the way he attacks space, for his dribbling, for the acceleration he has in the last twenty metres and because he can roam across the whole attacking front."

Former coach Andrea Stramaccioni has praised Donyell Malen, likening the Dutch forward's movement to that of Andriy Shevchenko, as Roma prepare to face Napoli at the Maradona. Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, Stramaccioni also highlighted the way Gian Piero Gasperini's side defends by attacking. Roma's form has been strong, with a clear identity, a productive attack and an effective defensive phase. Stramaccioni said: "It is impressive, ever more in tune with the verticality of Roma's final pass. His half-moon of movement away from his marker, the first controlled touch oriented forward, and the speed with which he does it remind me, with the appropriate comparisons, of the movements Andriy Shevchenko liked to make." He then turned to the team as a whole: "Roma have scored with 11 different players, and Dybala, Mancini, Wesley and Pellegrini are still missing. But the out-of-possession phase stands out more: Gasperini's side 'defends by attacking' while controlling the ball. It is the best defence in Serie A (and two of the three goals conceded came against Inter) and has the best goal difference in the league." On the Napoli fixture, Stramaccioni said: "He is too experienced, he knows that at Napoli the level of difficulty is very high. He will find a side 'wounded', which cannot afford to lose again and will play to the death in front of their very hot crowd. And Gasp knows this well. He will prepare a high-intensity match, taking time and space away from Napoli's build-up, meaning limiting Lobotka and De Bruyne. And trying to exploit the vertical spaces that may open up." He also pointed to a potential weakness. "Roma have conceded little when defending in a set shape, but have suffered from second balls from dead-ball situations: look at Inter and Real Madrid. On the other side, isolating the attackers one-on-one in open space and forcing Allegri's wide players to chase Wesley and company can cause Napoli problems." On squad depth, Stramaccioni said: "Without injuries I would have said Napoli, although they are a little short in midfield. But now, with Roma missing key players, I see them as similar. Roma's real advantage is a year of work with Gasperini: more certainty and enthusiasm." Finally, he assessed the ambitions of both clubs. "Napoli are a great potential in search of certainty, continuity and solidity. Roma are a group full of enthusiasm who have plenty of certainty, but to stay up there they must win matches like this one."

Manu Koné is getting closer to a return to action for Roma, with his recovery progressing well ahead of the club's trip to Napoli. The midfielder has been sidelined since the Champions League match against Real Madrid on 14 October, when he suffered a muscle injury. He was found to have a first-degree tear of the right hamstring. Roma are short on numbers for the difficult trip to the Maradona, and Gian Piero Gasperini's side are also dealing with a squad reduced to the bare minimum. In the infirmary, there is also encouraging news about Paulo Dybala, who is pushing to speed up his own timetable and is aiming to return already on Tuesday against Cagliari. Koné is expected to be available again between the Champions League match against Manchester United on 3 November and the Serie A fixture against Sassuolo the following weekend. That timeline points to his return coming at the start of November, when Roma face a demanding run of fixtures. Il Messaggero reports in today's edition that Koné is increasingly close to a comeback, and the French midfielder's return is now a step away. Roma will be hoping that the 3 November Champions League tie against Manchester United and the Sassuolo game give Gasperini a fully fit midfielder to call on once again.

Roma will rely on Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora to supply creativity in the attacking third for the big match at the Maradona against Napoli, with Paulo Dybala still sidelined. Soulé has already scored two goals and provided an assist so far this season. Mora, a 19-year-old Portuguese midfielder who arrived for a significant investment, has shown flashes of quality interspersed with some quieter spells, and this fixture represents his first real test of maturity. Their main job will be to play in Donyell Malen, who returns from suspension and remains, in the words of the report, the true talisman of Gasperini's Roma. The Dutch forward goes back to the stadium where, a year ago, he scored a memorable double. Gasperini hopes to have Bryan Cristante available from the start. If he is fit, Cristante could partner Marten de Roon in midfield, allowing Niccolò Pisilli to push forward into the attacking third alongside Soulé. At the back, the starting trio of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso is set to reform. On the flanks, Wesley is confirmed at left-back, while Emanuele Lulli is the favourite to start ahead of Nahuel Molina on the right. The absence of Dybala and the return of Malen give Gasperini a clear shape to work with, but the match will also show how far Soulé and Mora can carry the attacking load on the road to one of the toughest venues in Serie A.

Former coach Andrea Stramaccioni has praised Donyell Malen, likening the Dutch forward's movement to that of Andriy Shevchenko, as Roma prepare to face Napoli at the Maradona. Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, Stramaccioni also highlighted the way Gian Piero Gasperini's side defends by attacking. Roma's form has been strong, with a clear identity, a productive attack and an effective defensive phase. Stramaccioni said: "It is impressive, ever more in tune with the verticality of Roma's final pass. His half-moon of movement away from his marker, the first controlled touch oriented forward, and the speed with which he does it remind me, with the appropriate comparisons, of the movements Andriy Shevchenko liked to make." He then turned to the team as a whole: "Roma have scored with 11 different players, and Dybala, Mancini, Wesley and Pellegrini are still missing. But the out-of-possession phase stands out more: Gasperini's side 'defends by attacking' while controlling the ball. It is the best defence in Serie A (and two of the three goals conceded came against Inter) and has the best goal difference in the league." On the Napoli fixture, Stramaccioni said: "He is too experienced, he knows that at Napoli the level of difficulty is very high. He will find a side 'wounded', which cannot afford to lose again and will play to the death in front of their very hot crowd. And Gasp knows this well. He will prepare a high-intensity match, taking time and space away from Napoli's build-up, meaning limiting Lobotka and De Bruyne. And trying to exploit the vertical spaces that may open up." He also pointed to a potential weakness. "Roma have conceded little when defending in a set shape, but have suffered from second balls from dead-ball situations: look at Inter and Real Madrid. On the other side, isolating the attackers one-on-one in open space and forcing Allegri's wide players to chase Wesley and company can cause Napoli problems." On squad depth, Stramaccioni said: "Without injuries I would have said Napoli, although they are a little short in midfield. But now, with Roma missing key players, I see them as similar. Roma's real advantage is a year of work with Gasperini: more certainty and enthusiasm." Finally, he assessed the ambitions of both clubs. "Napoli are a great potential in search of certainty, continuity and solidity. Roma are a group full of enthusiasm who have plenty of certainty, but to stay up there they must win matches like this one."

Roma's electric start to the season has drawn praise from every quarter, and former coach Stramaccioni has singled out Donyell Malen, comparing the Dutch forward's movement to that of Andriy Shevchenko. Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, Stramaccioni, now a pundit, said: "He is impressive, increasingly in tune with the verticality of Roma's final pass. His half-moon run to get free, the first oriented touch and the speed with which he does it remind me, with the due comparisons, of the movements Shevchenko loved to make." Roma have played with flair, scoring and convincing, and have shown no obvious weak spots. Their only slip came against Real Madrid, and they have won every game since. Stramaccioni also highlighted Roma's defensive solidity, noting that the side have scored with 11 different players. "Gasperini's team 'defends by attacking'. It has the best defence and the best goal difference in Serie A," he said. Now comes a tough test, as Napoli visit the Stadio Olimpico. Stramaccioni warned that Roma will face a wounded side: "They will find a team that is hurt, that cannot afford to lose again, and will play to the death in front of their very hot home crowd." He views limiting Lobotka and De Bruyne, denying Napoli time and space in build-up, and exploiting chances to counter vertically as the key to the game. For Stramaccioni, Roma's advantage lies in the work done under Gasperini, which has brought "more certainty and enthusiasm". Yet he believes a further step is needed to stay at the top. "Roma is a group full of enthusiasm that has plenty of certainty, but to stay up there it must win matches like this one."

Gian Piero Gasperini takes Roma to the Maradona on Napoli-Roma, a fixture the article describes as never ordinary, with the Roma boss dealing with a real injury emergency. He is also keen to break several long-running head-to-head tabs against Massimiliano Allegri. One player Gasperini can count on is Donyell Malen, who returned on Tuesday against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League but was suspended for last weekend's league match against Genoa. For Napoli, the attacking burden falls on Rasmus Hojlund, a former pupil of Gasperini. Gasperini coached Hojlund at Atalanta in 2022-23, the season the Danish striker broke through by terrorising defences with his physical runs and his aggressive movement into space. After a campaign with 34 appearances, 10 goals and 4 assists, Hojlund was sold to Manchester United for a total cost of 85 million. Expectations rose sharply with that fee, and they were not met in England. He then returned to Italy, joining Napoli with the aim of rediscovering his best form after several seasons with more shadows than lights at Old Trafford. Today he is Napoli's main offensive reference point and the first threat Roma's defence must handle. Napoli supporters, however, have been critical of his performances and of the team's style under Allegri. The last meeting at the Maradona, a 2-2 draw in February, did not show Hojlund at his best. Malen took centre stage instead. He opened the scoring after 7 minutes from an assist by Zaragoza, and restored Roma's lead from the penalty spot in the 71st minute. Malen, nicknamed Bobby, wants to repeat that performance in Fuorigrotta, where he could have been playing little more than a year ago. As Il Mattino revealed, Napoli targeted the Dutch forward last January, but the interest never developed into a concrete offer. Gasperini's call, Malen's impact in Rome and the love of the Roma fans have since made the story a Giallorossi one.