Roma consider Pisilli as trequartista against Inter; Hermoso doubtful with ankle issue

Evan N'Dicka and Wesley trained normally on 16 September, while Mario Hermoso undertook separate work due to a minor ankle injury but is expected to be available for Saturday's match against Inter. Davide Massa will referee the fixture, with assistants Meli and Berti, fourth official Maresca, VAR Mazzoleni and AVAR Di Paolo. Massa's record against Roma stands at 10 wins, 12 draws and 12 defeats in 34 matches, while Inter have won 23, drawn 5 and lost 5 of their 33 previous encounters with him. Donyell Malen's strong start to the season—six goals and one assist—has attracted interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. Arsenal have made initial exploratory contact, but no official offers or negotiations with Roma exist. The club views Malen as central to Gasperini's project and has no intention of selling him in January. Malen is contracted until 2030 and Roma value him at approximately 60 million euros. Sabatini told Radio Radio Pomeriggio: "If I think back a year ago, it's the same situation: Inter won with a goal after 10 minutes. Roma play more football, not for the three points, but because they have the opportunity to land a blow on Inter that could hurt them. Knocking Inter out with three weeks of second thoughts would be an important result from a moral standpoint." Piero Torri on Radio Manà Manà Sport said: "For me a great team never adapts to opponents but always imposes its way of playing. Pisilli as a trequartista behind Dybala and Malen could be a move to try to surprise Inter, but in my opinion the team is used to playing in a certain manner. On the counter-attack Inter can really hurt you."

Donyell Malen has emerged as one of the standout performers in Roma's strong start to the 2026–27 season, scoring 6 goals and providing 1 assist in the club's opening matches under Gian Piero Gasperini. His form has reignited interest from Premier League clubs, a competition he knows from his previous spell with Aston Villa. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City are reportedly tracking the Dutch forward, with Arsenal having initiated informal contact to gauge his situation, according to Ekrem Konur. However, no formal negotiations have been opened with Roma and no official offer has been tabled. Malen himself has not ruled out a potential return to England, though any move remains premature at this stage. Roma's position is resolute: the club will not part with Malen in January and has no intention of dismantling a squad built to compete across multiple fronts. The Giallorossi view the forward as central to Gasperini's technical project and have reportedly valued him at around 60 million euros. Roma secured Malen permanently from Aston Villa at the end of last season, and his contract with the club runs until 30 June 2030. The strength of Roma's position depends on the arrival of concrete offers and, crucially, Malen's own willingness to leave.

Roberto Mancini, back as Italy manager after three years away, is planning fresh faces in his squad selections as the national team embarks on a new era following their World Cup qualifying failure. According to Sky Sport's Peppe Di Stefano, Doumbia, Romano and Ali Zoma will feature in upcoming call-ups. The trio have impressed the coach: Doumbia moved to Sporting after two seasons at Venezia, Romano has made a strong start at Cagliari, and Ali Zoma is impressing Nuremberg's supporters in the German second division. Samuele Inácio, a Borussia Dortmund talent, is also confirmed in Mancini's thinking; all three players have chosen to represent Italy despite holding dual nationality. Mancini is also reviewing Kayode, though the player could be left with Italy's Under-21 squad for their important fixtures, while Retegui may similarly be rested. Among attacking wingers, Vergara is currently ahead of his club-mate Politano for selection. Mancini is working closely with Under-21 coach Baldini on young talent who have performed well but will remain at U21 level for now, notably Milan's Cissè, who has made an impressive start under Amorim. Five players have been deliberately left in the U21 setup: Lulli, Raimondo, Koleosho, Ndour and Pisilli.

Evan N'Dicka and Wesley trained normally on 16 September, while Mario Hermoso undertook separate work due to a minor ankle injury but is expected to be available for Saturday's match against Inter. Davide Massa will referee the fixture, with assistants Meli and Berti, fourth official Maresca, VAR Mazzoleni and AVAR Di Paolo. Massa's record against Roma stands at 10 wins, 12 draws and 12 defeats in 34 matches, while Inter have won 23, drawn 5 and lost 5 of their 33 previous encounters with him. Donyell Malen's strong start to the season—six goals and one assist—has attracted interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. Arsenal have made initial exploratory contact, but no official offers or negotiations with Roma exist. The club views Malen as central to Gasperini's project and has no intention of selling him in January. Malen is contracted until 2030 and Roma value him at approximately 60 million euros. Sabatini told Radio Radio Pomeriggio: "If I think back a year ago, it's the same situation: Inter won with a goal after 10 minutes. Roma play more football, not for the three points, but because they have the opportunity to land a blow on Inter that could hurt them. Knocking Inter out with three weeks of second thoughts would be an important result from a moral standpoint." Piero Torri on Radio Manà Manà Sport said: "For me a great team never adapts to opponents but always imposes its way of playing. Pisilli as a trequartista behind Dybala and Malen could be a move to try to surprise Inter, but in my opinion the team is used to playing in a certain manner. On the counter-attack Inter can really hurt you."

Roberto Mancini, back as Italy manager after three years away, is planning fresh faces in his squad selections as the national team embarks on a new era following their World Cup qualifying failure. According to Sky Sport's Peppe Di Stefano, Doumbia, Romano and Ali Zoma will feature in upcoming call-ups. The trio have impressed the coach: Doumbia moved to Sporting after two seasons at Venezia, Romano has made a strong start at Cagliari, and Ali Zoma is impressing Nuremberg's supporters in the German second division. Samuele Inácio, a Borussia Dortmund talent, is also confirmed in Mancini's thinking; all three players have chosen to represent Italy despite holding dual nationality. Mancini is also reviewing Kayode, though the player could be left with Italy's Under-21 squad for their important fixtures, while Retegui may similarly be rested. Among attacking wingers, Vergara is currently ahead of his club-mate Politano for selection. Mancini is working closely with Under-21 coach Baldini on young talent who have performed well but will remain at U21 level for now, notably Milan's Cissè, who has made an impressive start under Amorim. Five players have been deliberately left in the U21 setup: Lulli, Raimondo, Koleosho, Ndour and Pisilli.

Italy manager Mancini is preparing to name his squad on Friday following another World Cup disappointment. Bryan Cristante and Gianluca Mancini are expected to feature in the selection, with Daniele Ghilardi reportedly set to receive a call-up as a fresh addition to the squad. Emanuele Lulli and Niccolò Pisilli will instead be included in the Under 21 setup, called up by manager Baldini for that age group. Italy will begin their Nations League campaign against Belgium, Turkey and France in the coming fixtures.

Roma will face Inter at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, 19 September at 18:00 in a Series A fifth-round fixture that pits two of the season's strongest starts directly against each other. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has reported that nearly his full squad is available for the match after Evan N'Dicka recovered from a gastrointestinal issue and Wesley returned to training following a strong ankle contusion sustained during a European fixture in Istanbul. Both players have been in doubt but are now fit to feature. Roma have won their opening four league matches — beating Fiorentina, Lecce, Atalanta and Torino — to sit on 12 points at the fifth-round stage. Inter arrive at the same points total with an identical record, making the Olimpico clash a direct contest between the Serie A's two unbeaten leaders. The fixture carries significant weight as a first summit meeting in the upper reaches of the table. Historically at the Olimpico, Roma hold the advantage over Inter: in 105 previous meetings there, Roma have won 42, Inter 36, with 27 draws. Roma have also scored more goals at home against Inter, registering 168 to Inter's 152. The last meeting at the stadium came on 10 October 2025, when Inter won 1-0. Gasperini is expected to field a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal, a defensive line of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, and Wesley and Emanuele Lulli as full-backs. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné will anchor midfield. Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé will operate in attacking midfield roles behind Donyell Malen. Leonardo Balerdi remains a candidate to displace N'Dicka from the starting XI after strong recent performances. Inter, managed by Cristian Chivu, face more pressing fitness concerns: Hakan Calhanoglu missed the last match with an adductor strain and his availability remains uncertain, while John Stones was withdrawn in their previous fixture with a muscular issue. No Roma players are suspended or unavailable. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN and Sky. Official team sheets will be released approximately one hour before the scheduled 18:00 kickoff on Saturday, 19 September.

Italy manager Mancini is preparing to name his squad on Friday following another World Cup disappointment. Bryan Cristante and Gianluca Mancini are expected to feature in the selection, with Daniele Ghilardi reportedly set to receive a call-up as a fresh addition to the squad. Emanuele Lulli and Niccolò Pisilli will instead be included in the Under 21 setup, called up by manager Baldini for that age group. Italy will begin their Nations League campaign against Belgium, Turkey and France in the coming fixtures.

Gianluca Mancini has silenced his doubters with an impressive performance, capping a week in which the Roma defender faced scrutiny over errors in matches against Atalanta and Fenerbahce. A selfie with children outside Trigoria yesterday underscored his commitment to the giallorossi colours. After coming under fire from some quarters who called for Leonardo Balerdi to replace him, Mancini delivered a strong showing, even taking the captain's armband after Bryan Cristante's substitution. Inter, who made a significant move for him in the summer, now face him as an opponent — a test of the resolve Mancini showed when he chose Roma over a financially superior offer elsewhere. The 23-year-old has committed his future to the club, signing a contract extension through 2029. He is expected to start on Saturday in the heart of Roma's defence alongside Mario Hermoso and either Evan N'Dicka or Balerdi as the team prepares to confront Inter's attacking threat. Mancini could have decided to face Roma as an adversary this summer, but rejected that path. Instead, he is set to enjoy a Serie A campaign that has begun with high expectations and his first Champions League season as a key player.

Niccolò Pisilli has impressed in Roma's opening matches after overcoming a difficult summer, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is weighing how to use him in the coming fixture against Inter. Gasperini has long admired the 21-year-old midfielder, who will turn 22 in a week. Last season the coach praised Pisilli's development repeatedly and made his commitment to the club explicit in January, saying he would "stay here". Pisilli has repaid that faith on the pitch, delivering the kind of outside-the-box shots that few other midfielders in the Roma squad possess. Before the Torino match, Gasperini was direct about his midfield depth: "In midfield we have four players, all four are essential and important." The numbers back him up. Pisilli has already scored 10 goals in 82 Roma appearances (across 5 assists)—a tally De Rossi reached in 105 matches. Remarkably, 7 of his 10 goals came after the 80th minute and 3 beyond the 90th, a striking pattern that underscores his impact as a substitute. Against Inter, he could start again, though potentially in a different role. With Koné expected to return to midfield alongside Cristante and de Roon ready to come off the bench, Gasperini may deploy Pisilli as a trequartista behind Dybala and Malen. This positioning would allow him to support the midfield—more so than Soulé or Mora—while leveraging his ability to strike from distance and find space between the lines to create attacking threats.

Marten De Roon's arrival at Roma in the final days of the summer transfer window had raised eyebrows among supporters, not least because of the departure of Neil El Aynaoui. The 35-year-old Dutch midfielder faced scepticism over his age and a history of social media provocations directed at Roma following clashes between his former club Atalanta and the Giallorossi. But in his early appearances, De Roon has already justified Gian Piero Gasperini's decision to reunite with him. Gasperini has deployed De Roon more frequently than any other player across his managerial career—361 appearances, compared to Toloi's 289—demonstrating the depth of their working relationship. De Roon left Atalanta after falling out of favour under Sarri, and Gasperini brought him to Roma on what amounted to a free transfer within 48 hours. His arrival initially unsettled Roma's fanbase due to past social media friction, but De Roon apologised immediately and made himself available. Though his competitive minutes remain limited—35 across Serie A and Champions League—his early impact has been positive, with Gasperini appearing to orchestrate play from the dugout with precision. De Roon brings valuable experience to a squad that is shorter than last season but higher in quality. After Paulo Dybala, he holds the second-most Champions League appearances in the group with 44, offering younger players like Niccolò Pisilli the chance to develop under an established presence. His integration has helped stabilise a Roma side operating with Gasperini's direct tactical methods.

Marten De Roon has arrived at Roma to rejoin Gian Piero Gasperini, the coach who has deployed him more frequently than any other manager in his career. The 35-year-old midfielder left Atalanta after Sarri and D'Amico determined he no longer fit their plans, and Roma secured him on what was reportedly a nominal fee within 48 hours. His exit from Bergamo prompted Atalanta ultras to unveil a pointed banner: "You chose to pass through our history but not to belong to it. Goodbye little flag." Gasperini responded swiftly: "Should he have become an old shoe gathering dust in a cupboard? He didn't leave of his own accord." De Roon's arrival initially unsettled Roma's fanbase, given tensions dating back to social media provocations in previous years. He apologised immediately and made himself available. Though his minutes remain limited—35 across Serie A and the Champions League—his impact has been positive. De Roon understands Gasperini's system instinctively; the coach appears to operate him with remote-control precision from the bench. The squad is smaller than last season but superior in quality, and his presence is a luxury. He has brought experience to the group: after Paulo Dybala, he ranks second for Champions League appearances with 44, and younger players such as Niccolò Pisilli can develop optimally alongside him.