Roma in contact with Mendes over Mora as Villas-Boas sign-off awaited

Alessandro Romano, a midfielder born in 2006 who debuted for Italy against Belgium, has emerged as one of the season's breakout performers after joining Cagliari on loan with a €5 million purchase option from Roma this summer. His rapid impact has triggered intense transfer interest, with Inter and Juventus now actively pursuing the 20-year-old alongside several Premier League clubs who have submitted offers to Cagliari. Roma retain a financial stake in Romano's future: the club has secured a 10% resale clause on any profit Cagliari generates above the €5 million they paid to sign him. Inter are reportedly balancing their pursuit of Romano against ongoing difficulties in renewing the contract of Turkish midfielder Gordon Stipic, while the player's development has become a priority for the club's sporting directors Marotta and Baccin, who have been tracking him for several weeks.

On his 50th birthday, Francesco Totti reaffirmed that Roma's number 10 shirt is not awarded lightly, telling the Corriere dello Sport: "The number 10 isn't given just because you play well for five matches: there has to be a journey, there are no temporary 10s." The Roma legend reflected on significant moments in his career and links with teammates including Cassano and Candela, and highlighted the role of Vito Scala, whom he described as "a big brother" who guided and protected him throughout his professional life. Totti also explained his departure from a Roma administrative role, saying: "I had three years left on my contract, but if I'm going to be at the club doing nothing, I'm leaving. I don't steal money." As Roma approach the 2027–28 season — the club's centenary year — the first kit designs have emerged. According to Footy Headlines, the primary shirt will draw inspiration from Roman FC, one of the three founding clubs in 1927, featuring a red base with gold accents in a design by Adidas. The third kit will pay homage to Alba Audace with a white base and dark green details, using the ASR acronym badge already seen this season. Both designs look back to the club's origins ahead of 22 July 2027. The Pietralata stadium project has advanced significantly in Roma's pursuit of a new ground. On 28 September, the decisive service conference concluded positively, granting approval for the facility to enter Italy's official candidacy for Euro 2032 alongside the Stadio Olimpico and Flaminio. The Italian Football Federation will submit documentation to UEFA by the 1 October deadline. Construction is targeted to begin in 2027 after UEFA compliance checks. Archaeological work in the Pietralata area continues, focusing on the Castellum Aquae, a large Roman cistern previously identified. The artifact will not obstruct construction; instead, it will be protected, enhanced and incorporated into the future stadium as approved by the relevant authorities.

Roma are exploring a move for PSV Eindhoven winger Ruben van Bommel ahead of the January transfer window, with the Dutch club valuing the 22-year-old at €25 million. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has requested reinforcement on the left wing, and van Bommel, son of former midfielder and manager Mark van Bommel, fits the profile. The right-footed winger, who plays predominantly on the left flank, has returned to action after a long knee injury and has recorded two goals and three assists in nine appearances so far this season. Van Bommel represents one potential solution to strengthen Roma's attacking department after the squad was not reinforced in that area during the last transfer window. Born in 2004, he developed through PSV's youth academy before emerging with MVV Maastricht and AZ Alkmaar. He rejoined PSV in summer 2025 and now wears the number 7 shirt. Roma's sporting director Tony D'Amico has placed the youngster on his list as a candidate with both domestic and international experience across Dutch football. However, van Bommel is not the only player under consideration. Alternatives being monitored by the club's leadership include Kvernadze, Endrick, and Luiz Henrique—all identified as potential options to provide Gasperini with the left-flank reinforcement that remained unfilled in the most recent transfer campaign.

Roma resumed training at Trigoria on 29 September with three key players absent from the session: Donyell Malen, Wesley and Bryan Cristante, all nursing minor injuries from the previous week. Malen is sidelined with a knee problem, Cristante has lower back pain, and Wesley suffered a right thigh strain in the match against Inter. All three will be assessed and gradually reintegrated into group training, with Cristante expected to return by the end of the week. Wesley and Malen should follow shortly after. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is already looking ahead to the major fixture on 11 October despite the upcoming Como match still some distance away. All three injured players are expected to start when fit. The squad will feature a battle for the playmaker role between Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé, while a defensive duel looms between Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi. Lorenzo Pellegrini is among those in contention but is unlikely to feature from the start.

Rodrigo Mora, signed in the summer for €25 million with a further €25 million option to remove Porto's 50 per cent sell-on clause, is ready to establish himself as a regular starter in Gian Piero Gasperini's system. The Portuguese playmaker's season has been mixed: two starts in the opening three matches yielded a goal at Lecce, but he has since spent three consecutive games on the bench against Fenerbahce, Torino and Inter. Gasperini rates him highly as an exceptional talent but demands consistency and immediate responses. Mora's technical quality is evident in the numbers. He leads Roma's squad with an 80 per cent dribbling success rate, ahead of Donyell Malen at 67 per cent. His attributes fit perfectly into the 3-4-1-2 system, which suits Roma's approach against the four-man defences that dominate Serie A. The next opponent, Como managed by Cesc Fàbregas, will be a direct test of that setup. The crowded schedule ahead amplifies Mora's opportunity: between October and November, Roma will play nine matches in twenty-eight days against Como, Real Madrid, Napoli and Manchester United. With minimal margin for error in the title race and European competition, the young forward's moment has arrived. Mora is currently with Portugal Under-21, from whom he will return to Trigoria on 7 October after playing against Gibraltar and the Czech Republic. His absence from international travel across continents gives Roma easier fitness management than Matías Soulé faces. Lorenzo Pellegrini's five-month layoff and uncertain readiness to start also increase the likelihood of Mora appearing from the first minute alongside Malen and Paulo Dybala.

Rome's mayor Roberto Gualtieri has confirmed that AS Roma's new stadium at Pietralata will be ready by the end of 2029, with the foundation stone to be laid in spring 2027 — the club's centenary year. Following approval from the Conferenza dei Servizi, Gualtieri outlined the project timeline in an interview with Repubblica. The construction phase is expected to last approximately two and a half years, with the possibility that the stadium could be operational for the start of the 2029–30 season if the schedule holds. Gualtieri emphasized the rigorous planning behind the project, which differs significantly from the failed Tor di Valle scheme. "Our administration, together with Roma, has worked rigorously for four years," he said. "This work now bears fruit and realizes the dream of Viola and Sensi: a stadium owned by the society." Unlike the previous attempt, the new development focuses exclusively on the stadium, parks, and the regeneration of Pietralata without additional building beyond that scope. Gualtieri acknowledged the project's complexity, noting that "enthusiasm is not enough," referencing lessons learned from earlier setbacks. The 2027 centenary holds special significance for both the club and the city. "An important milestone for the society, the fans, and the city," Gualtieri said. "The town hall will play its part." He confirmed that laying the foundation stone during the centenary year remains certain, though he declined to preview the full commemorative programme. Before construction begins, the project verification must be completed and the tender process launched.