Roma Flash: Koné stays amid Chelsea interest; federation to review Roma-Atalanta incident; journalist attacks fan travel restrictions

Roma have reduced their wage bill significantly in the past year, cutting costs by 14.8 million euros while maintaining squad strength and returning to the Champions League after seven years. The club now sits fifth in Serie A's payroll rankings at 92.7 million euros for the 2026-27 season, behind Inter (145.82 million), Juventus (145.52 million), Napoli (109.72 million) and Milan (103.14 million). The reduction comes as Roma have made an impressive start to the campaign, accumulating nine points from their opening fixtures. Director of Sport D'Amico outlined the strategy at a press conference, saying: "We knew our objectives, and we partly succeeded. We lowered the wage bill by 15 per cent, almost 20 million euros compared to last year." The figures published by Calcio e Finanza broadly confirm his statement. The wage bill fell from 107.5 million euros in the 2025-26 season to 92.7 million this season—a reduction of 13.8 per cent. This represents significant cost control, though it remains 5.5 per cent higher than two years ago, when Roma spent 87.9 million euros. D'Amico achieved the cuts while strengthening the squad and retaining key players, a notable outcome given Roma's ongoing financial constraints. The cost-containment effort appears to be on track, with the reduced wage burden proving compatible with sporting performance as the club prepares for Champions League football.

Lorenzo Pellegrini has recovered from a right thigh rectus femoris injury and will be included in Roma's squad for their Champions League trip to Fenerbahçe, though head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is managing his return cautiously. The midfielder has been sidelined during pre-season and the opening stages of the campaign but has spent the past week training at full intensity with his teammates, absorbing increasingly demanding physical work. His medical clearance comes at a crucial moment as Roma prepare for a congested fixture schedule spanning league and European commitments. Gasperini will have Pellegrini available as a key option from the bench in Istanbul, but the staff intends to handle his reintegration into match action with maximum care. The target date for his actual return to the pitch is next Monday in Roma's Serie A fixture against Torino. The number seven, who recently renewed his contract, is a central weapon in Gasperini's rotation system, offering versatility, playmaking vision and the ability to operate between the lines—assets essential for navigating the dense autumn calendar ahead.

Matías Soulé is set to play a starring role in Roma's return to the Champions League as the club travel to face Fenerbahce. The Argentine forward's comeback comes on the back of a decisive display in the previous league fixture against Atalanta, marking his readiness to shine on the European stage four years after his debut in the competition with Juventus. Soulé's resurgence is the product of work undertaken with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and Roma's restructured medical staff. The 2003-born forward arrived back this summer hampered by a troublesome groin injury and behind in his pre-season preparation, but worked hard during the training camp to regain peak condition. A transfer market saga saw Roma value him at €40 million in the face of interest from several Premier League clubs, while Gasperini considered the profile of Mason Greenwood for the right flank during early talks. Without official offers at that price and given Soulé's considerable commitment, he has been fully reinstated, with Gasperini certifying his complete physical and athletic recovery. In Istanbul, Roma will encounter both former Lazio striker Vedat Muriqi and Greenwood as opponents. For Soulé, the match represents the confirmation of a redemption arc that sees him restored to the heart of the capital club's tactical project, working in full harmony with teammate Paulo Dybala to deliver quality, unpredictability and high-level attacking solutions.