Roma hit snags in pursuit of Mora and Luis Henrique

Roma are monitoring Ecuadorian forward Keny Arroyo, a 2006-born attacker currently playing for Cruzeiro, as they look to strengthen their attack. According to Agência RTI Esporte, both Roma and Benfica have already begun initial contacts with the Brazilian club's entourage to gather information on the player's contract situation. Arroyo has made 50 appearances for Cruzeiro, scoring eight goals and providing eight assists. He joined the Brazilian club from Besiktas in September 2025. Cruzeiro paid €8 million for 50% of his registration rights, while the remaining half of his economic rights is still owned by Independiente del Valle. His contract with the Belo Horizonte club runs until 31 December 2029 and includes a release clause of as much as €100 million. Cruzeiro have reportedly set their conditions for any negotiations: a bid of at least €45 million would be required. Club president Pedro Lourenço regards Arroyo as an asset of the club, but does not intend to sell him during the European winter transfer window. The player's entourage also considers a future move possible, though they do not want to rush the process. Their objective is to find a destination in a leading league that can aid his development and consolidate his path with the Ecuador national team.

Endrick's future could lie away from Real Madrid, with Roma and AC Milan at the front of the queue to secure the Brazilian forward, and the young Blancos player reportedly preferring Roma. Italian reports had moved him away from Milan on Tuesday, claiming the reason was the Rossoneri's symbol, the devil, and that the deeply Christian Endrick had ruled out a move to Milan for that reason. The player's entourage has denied that version, calling it a "fantasy" in comments to Globo from Brazil. According to UOL Esporte, which carries the same denial, Endrick wants a club that competes in the top domestic and international competitions. That means a top league and the Champions League. Roma offer both, while Milan play in the Europa League, the article notes. Real Madrid closed the door on a loan in the summer, but could consider a sale in January, starting from a permanent deal for a fee of at least the amount paid to Palmeiras. That means at least 60 million. For Roma, the report puts them in contention for a player who prioritises Champions League football, a factor that matters in their pursuit of a forward this winter. The January window is the point at which Real Madrid could reopen talks, and any permanent transfer would need to reach the figure linked to his Palmeiras move. The entourage's rejection of the symbol story leaves the Champions League criterion as the central point in the reporting. Endrick's camp has pushed back on claims about his religious reasons for avoiding Milan, while the club-selection factors remain the centre of the discussion.

Roma are accelerating their transfer activity and focusing their attention on the attack, with Endrick at the top of the list. The Brazilian reportedly wants more playing time after a first spell at Real Madrid in which he did not carve out the role he had hoped for. Roma are pressing to sign him on loan, but the route remains complicated: Milan are also following the situation, and the Spanish club has not yet decided whether to let him leave. Endrick is not the only name on Gian Piero Gasperini's mind. Among the alternatives are Jamie Gittens, for whom Chelsea have reportedly opened the door to a loan move, and Ademola Lookman, a profile that continues to attract interest. The name of Rodrigo Riquelme has also returned to the discussions in recent assessments. The priority has become adding quality and options in attack, temporarily putting the search for an alternative to Wesley on hold. Lulli played an important role in this change of strategy.

Rodrigo Mora has become a fixed presence for Gian Piero Gasperini after just two months, scoring four Serie A goals in nine appearances. Roma paid 25 million euros for the Portugal international, with a further 25 million to Porto possible. Mora is already part of the Portugal national team set-up. While Tommaso Baldanzi struggles to find space at Genoa under Daniele De Rossi, Mora is a regular starter for Gasperini. He ended a difficult start to the season with three goals in a row, against Genoa, Udinese and Sassuolo. He had never scored in three consecutive matches at Porto. His four league goals are double the two the former number 35 scored in 54 matches over two years. He has also registered two assists, against Real Madrid and Manchester United. The young playmaker's form matters for Roma's wider plans. Gasperini is enjoying a pairing of very young attacking midfielders. Rodrigo, born in 2007, works well alongside Matías Soulé, born in 2003. Paulo Dybala returns from the trip to Parma, but Mora will also find his place in Gasperini's system. Before the end of the year, Roma play seven matches in under a month, so the squad will need every option. The article stresses that the squad has room for everyone. Rodrigo's rise has changed the early-season picture, and his goals and assists have given Gasperini a clear reason to build his attack around him alongside Soulé and Dybala.

Roman radio pundits have been debating a possible move for Brazilian forward Endrick, with contrasting views on whether he would suit Roma. On David Rossi's Rete Sport show, Rossi said Il Corriere dello Sport reported that both AC Milan and Roma were interested in the player, and that Endrick had said he would not join Milan because the club's symbol is the Devil. Rossi questioned whether that could be credible, adding that when a name is this obvious a deal rarely happens unless it is already done. He also said there was a danger Fonseca wanted Endrick at Sporting, where the player had felt at home under Fonseca at Lyon. "Endrick is a fantastic player," Rossi said. "Gittens may play on the left, but between him and Endrick there are, for me, three categories of difference." The debate comes as Roma are in the title conversation. Gianluca Piacentini named three reasons to believe in the scudetto: the league's strongest coach, room to improve through the January transfer market, and a levelled-down Serie A, which he said was shown by Lazio sitting top of the table. He said he hoped the race would be between Roma and Inter. Piacentini also criticised the 'atleta di Cristo' explanation, saying it was not a fair criterion for choosing a destination. Fabio Petruzzi said Endrick sees little of the pitch and may want to leave to play regularly, adding that if he has not played while Vinicius was suspended for four matches, he will never play. He said that if he were an attacker, Gasperini is the first coach he would want to work with, and that Endrick, a left-footed player, can play on the left. Mario Corsi said the Mora-Endrick comparison was a trap because the two are completely different players. He said Endrick has a strong shot, dribbling and heading ability, and that strong players must be signed. He said Malen should not be deployed on the wing because he must stay in the middle, and that Gasperini and D'Amico had not heard from Friedkin for a long time and were somewhat worried. "If they really want to win, they have to make this move." Francesca Ferrazza said Roma need two forwards with Pellegrini gone, and that Endrick offers the best value for money. Lorenzo Pes said Malen's frequent substitutions also happened last year, and that Retegui at Atalanta rarely finished matches. Valentina Catoni said that when Dybala is fit he always plays. Piero Torri recalled Mourinho saying Endrick would not leave Madrid, noted that the Brazil international has started only one match, and said Endrick is a second striker who would sit behind Soulé and Dybala. Roberto Pruzzo said Endrick wants to play and that Italian football has become a second-tier league. Nando Orsi argued Roma need a right-footed winger who plays on the left, and that Endrick would be of little use with Castro already in the squad. Mario Mattioli warned that bringing Endrick into the Roma dressing room could be an unwanted explosion, calling him very difficult to manage and saying he would have to play always and in every match. "He is not a dressing-room man," Mattioli said, adding that Endrick is not the man who says "let's arm ourselves and set off" when a common effort is needed.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini wants to bring in two attacking players, with a striker of pace and thrust the clear priority. Tony D'Amico publicly acknowledged last Saturday that finding such a forward is the aim, a quality the current squad palpably lacks and which was exposed in high-level matches against Manchester, Real and Inter. Endrick is seen as the ideal profile for his technical and athletic qualities. He was deployed in support of the main striker at Lyon a year ago, when Fonseca, who now wants him at Sporting, used him in that role. He has scored 8 goals and provided 8 assists in a few months, a sign of enormous potential that is still largely unexplored. Gasperini would pair him with Malen, with a playmaker behind the front line such as Mora, in a 1-2 attack, and would add a second attacking player alongside him. That second player would be a left-footed winger who can operate as a wide midfielder or a winger, with a profile similar to Moreira: versatile and able to be used in several roles or positions during a match. The alternative would be an attacking midfielder in the mould of Pasalic or Pellegrini, who could come in as part of the rotations. The target is not a deep-lying or central midfielder.

Roma are accelerating their transfer activity and focusing their attention on the attack, with Endrick at the top of the list. The Brazilian reportedly wants more playing time after a first spell at Real Madrid in which he did not carve out the role he had hoped for. Roma are pressing to sign him on loan, but the route remains complicated: Milan are also following the situation, and the Spanish club has not yet decided whether to let him leave. Endrick is not the only name on Gian Piero Gasperini's mind. Among the alternatives are Jamie Gittens, for whom Chelsea have reportedly opened the door to a loan move, and Ademola Lookman, a profile that continues to attract interest. The name of Rodrigo Riquelme has also returned to the discussions in recent assessments. The priority has become adding quality and options in attack, temporarily putting the search for an alternative to Wesley on hold. Lulli played an important role in this change of strategy.

Roma are pursuing Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Endrick as a January transfer target, and his personal faith could play a part in his choice of next club, according to Corriere dello Sport. The 20-year-old reportedly considers himself a follower of Christ, and the report suggests this could make Rome particularly appealing, given the presence of numerous evangelical communities and places of worship in the capital. Roma continue to work on convincing Real Madrid to let the Brazilian leave. Endrick is keen to find more regular football after accumulating little playing time this season. The Giallorossi reportedly have further advantages: his friendship with Wesley and his appreciation for the attacking football of Gian Piero Gasperini. Sporting director Tony D'Amico remains in contact with the player's entourage and is considering a loan move. Competition for the player is not lacking, but the report suggests that, between technical motivations, personal ambitions and religious convictions, Roma could have an edge in persuading Endrick to choose Trigoria.

Roma's priorities have shifted: a backup for Wesley is no longer a priority, and the club are now focused on strengthening their attack ahead of the winter window. The January market opens early this year, on 28 December, between Christmas and New Year, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is reportedly hoping for at least two signings, both in attacking roles. The forward line is short of numbers, and reinforcing it is the absolute priority. Lorenzo Pellegrini will not return until 2027, while Paulo Dybala remains a question mark over his physical condition. Gasperini wants two attacking players. Compared with the summer, the priorities have changed. In the final days of the summer window Roma had also looked at a backup for Wesley, but that is no longer a priority. The coach is willing to keep his group of four wide players, largely thanks to the emergence of Lulli. The 2007-born player has quickly become a fixed point for the Giallorossi and sits ahead of Rensch in the pecking order on the right, often putting pressure on Molina. Balde was recently offered for that role, with his agent the same as Mora's, but all talks are currently frozen. Part of the reason is that a proper transfer summit has yet to take place, and part is that Roma will hunt for forwards to strengthen the attacking unit. Endrick is at the top of the list, but Gittens, van Bommel and Leweling are also under close watch. Kvernadze is considered more difficult to land.

Roma's priorities have shifted: a backup for Wesley is no longer a priority, and the club are now focused on strengthening their attack ahead of the winter window. The January market opens early this year, on 28 December, between Christmas and New Year, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is reportedly hoping for at least two signings, both in attacking roles. The forward line is short of numbers, and reinforcing it is the absolute priority. Lorenzo Pellegrini will not return until 2027, while Paulo Dybala remains a question mark over his physical condition. Gasperini wants two attacking players. Compared with the summer, the priorities have changed. In the final days of the summer window Roma had also looked at a backup for Wesley, but that is no longer a priority. The coach is willing to keep his group of four wide players, largely thanks to the emergence of Lulli. The 2007-born player has quickly become a fixed point for the Giallorossi and sits ahead of Rensch in the pecking order on the right, often putting pressure on Molina. Balde was recently offered for that role, with his agent the same as Mora's, but all talks are currently frozen. Part of the reason is that a proper transfer summit has yet to take place, and part is that Roma will hunt for forwards to strengthen the attacking unit. Endrick is at the top of the list, but Gittens, van Bommel and Leweling are also under close watch. Kvernadze is considered more difficult to land.

Roma's summer recruits have been involved in 36.5% of the club's goals this season, with 15 of the team's 41 strikes involving one of them. Gian Piero Gasperini has relied heavily on seven players who were not part of the squad in the last match of the previous campaign: Nahuel Molina, Marten de Roon, Leonardo Balerdi, Rodrigo Mora, Emanuele Lulli, Santiago Castro and Konstantinos Koulierakis. Lulli came up from the Primavera. Molina has been the most-used player, with 751 minutes, one goal and two assists. He is followed by De Roon (732 minutes), Balerdi (639), Mora (595), Lulli (546), Castro (370) and Koulierakis (225). Gasperini has given minutes to every summer arrival, including the Primavera graduate, showing confidence in the quality of the new players. Mora has been the most productive, with four goals and two assists. His recent form, with a sharp improvement in the latest matches, has eased doubts about the investment made in the summer, reported at €25 million plus 50% of a future resale, for a valuation of €50 million. Across all competitions, the new players have taken part in 15 of Roma's 41 goals. By comparison, at the same stage of last season, Massara's summer signings from that campaign had contributed to just three goals: Wesley with one goal, Ferguson with one assist and Tsimikas with one assist.

Former Roma player Vincent Candela has urged the club not to settle for less, backing Gian Piero Gasperini's approach and insisting the side can push Inter until the end of the Serie A title race. Speaking to Il Messaggero, Candela praised Gasperini's work, the progress of Matías Soulé and the solidity of the midfield, while also highlighting the impact of Donyell Malen. He also sent a message to the transfer market: "If a couple of missing pieces arrive, we can have even more fun." Roma return to training at Trigoria tomorrow afternoon, and Gasperini is set to gradually bring back Paulo Dybala and Mile Svilar. Svilar, recovering from a stress fracture in the fifth toe of his foot, will undergo a new check-up. Koné and Nahuel Molina will remain at Trigoria during the break. Molina's recall to the national squad has been halted by the club, a call-up that would have meant returning to the capital just two days before the league resumes. Gasperini's side have set a new record in the club's history, scoring 31 goals in the first 11 Serie A matchdays, a figure never previously reached. The previous best was 28 goals in the 1960-61 season. Roma remain unbeaten in Serie A, as are Lazio, and among the top five European leagues they share this record only with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Roma have also not lost at the Stadio Olimpico for over a year.