Roma maintain strong interest in Oosterwolde as defensive reinforcement

Roma completed the signing of Marten de Roon from Atalanta late in the summer transfer window in a deal that closed quickly, driven by the midfielder's existing relationship with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini from their time together in Bergamo. De Roon's departure from Atalanta came after disappointment with how his spell at the club ended. Upon returning from the World Cup, the Dutchman expected a warm reception as club captain but instead found that new sporting director Cristiano Guintoli was reshaping the squad. He received no explanation of his role and Guintoli attempted to move him to Bologna in a cash-plus-swap arrangement involving Jonathan Rowe, shocking De Roon into requesting his contract be terminated. Gasperini then contacted him, and the Roma manager subsequently spoke to Atalanta president Luca Percassi about a transfer. The club proved willing to complete a deal, though De Roon asked for time to bid farewell properly to Bergamo, where his wife and daughters still live. He was not granted that opportunity. Gasperini wanted him available for Roma's match against Lecce, and De Roon complied despite his preference for a more respectful departure from Atalanta.

Gianluca Petrachi, Torino's sporting director, confirmed that Gasperini has expressed interest in Cacciamani ahead of Torino's match against Roma on 14 September. Speaking to DAZN before kickoff, Petrachi revealed that Roma made a significant offer for the midfielder, but Torino rejected it. "Yes, he is a player Roma like. I believe Gasperini has his eye on him," Petrachi said. "We had the idea of not selling him unless there were very important requests. An important one arrived but did not make us waver. We are happy to have him with us. I hope that today too he can give his contribution, even from the bench." Petrachi also reflected on his time at Roma, where he served as sporting director before joining Torino. He described the period as significant despite challenges. "Roma has been an intense year for me. I left good relationships there," he said. "There were particular circumstances, but I had an important year and Roma gave me a lot also emotionally. Even when I left, I felt the trust. Football lives on these situations and they must be faced." On Torino's transfer window, Petrachi expressed satisfaction with the squad's integration. "Players have arrived for the idea the coach has in mind, and many of them have settled well. At the moment we are happy," he noted. He also provided an update on midfielder Simeone's fitness: "He is training with the squad. We are here to understand if he can make it. He had a back problem, it is not a muscle issue. We are seeing how he manages his first movements."

Torino sporting director Petrachi addressed Roma's reported interest in midfielder Cacciamani ahead of the Serie A matchday 4 fixture between the clubs on 14 September. Petrachi confirmed that Gasperini has identified Cacciamani as a target and that an important offer from Roma arrived, but said Torino rejected it: "He is a player that Roma like, Gasperini has set his sights on him. We did not want to sell him unless a very important offer arrived, which it did but did not make us waver. Today he starts on the bench, but the coach makes his choices based on the match." Petrachi also addressed his own history with Roma, where he served as sporting director. He described his time at the club as intense and said he left good relationships despite unnamed difficulties. "Roma gave me a lot, also from an emotional point of view, even when I left," he said. He acknowledged the nature of football and its demands: "Football is lived through these situations and they must be faced. Today I am at Torino, so forza Toro." On Torino's transfer window, Petrachi said two functional signings had arrived to match the coach's vision, though integration remained incomplete for some players. He also addressed the absence of Simeone, saying the player was dealing with a back spasm rather than a simple muscle strain, and that Torino were assessing his availability for the match.

Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing to rotate his squad heavily ahead of matches against Torino and Inter, with Koné, Dybala, Malen and Mancini among those likely to be rested. Castro, Mora, Soulé, Pisilli and De Roon are expected to see more action as Roma look to preserve their key players and test the depth of the squad while addressing defensive issues that have emerged in recent fixtures. Salah-Eddine's departure to Panathinaikos is confirmed. The left-back moves on a loan deal with a right of redemption and underwent medical tests in Athens today to complete the transfer. Separately, defender Oosterwolde has reopened the possibility of joining Roma. An achilles tendon operation had scuppered a move earlier this summer, but Oosterwolde met with Roma officials in Istanbul and signalled his willingness to return. "I hope to come back to Roma in the coming months," he said. The club remains interested with D'Amico continuing to monitor developments. Gasperini values Oosterwolde's versatility, and his recovery from surgery will be key to determining whether Roma can revive the deal as early as January. Carina told Radio Radio: "I've read plenty of criticism of Roma. In 30 years doing this job I'd never known a situation where I couldn't speak to my colleague—there was an absurd broadcast an hour and a half before the match and 30 minutes after. Given where it was played, Roma put in a more than decent performance: they dominated the first half. From the stadium, I had the sense that Roma wouldn't lose it, and could even have won it." Pruzzo added: "I saw a good Roma. What I keep thinking is that I have many doubts about whether the squad is qualitatively as strong as people say: I don't have that perception. In the first half they played like last season, but in the second, when you need to change, there isn't the same level. I think Castro is Roma's best option off the bench. Then Molina comes on and does the same thing as Rensch, and Mora yesterday did nothing."

Jayden Oosterwolde's move to Roma may not be permanently over. The Dutch defender came close to signing during the summer before medical issues during his examination caused the deal to collapse. On Thursday he attended Fenerbahce's match against Roma and met with people he had encountered during his brief time in the capital in August. When asked about a return to Roma, Oosterwolde said: "I hope to come back in Rome in any months," signalling his desire to join in the coming months. Roma have not entirely ruled out reviving the transfer, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The club intends to first monitor how Oosterwolde's recovery progresses after his operation. Should those signs be positive, sporting director Tony D'Amico could reopen talks with Fenerbahce in the January transfer window. The original deal structured in August involved a €1 million loan with a €16 million purchase option conditional on certain criteria being met. If negotiations resume, the formula could be reworked in light of the injury and the months that have passed. Oosterwolde could also represent an investment not just for January but with the 2027–28 season in mind, given that Mario Hermoso's contract expires in June and other defenders' futures may be evaluated based on the club's technical and financial needs. No new negotiations are currently underway, but the door that appeared firmly shut this summer may have been left slightly ajar. Oosterwolde himself makes clear which outcome he prefers: to return to Roma and complete what was interrupted in August.

Jayden Oosterwolde has opened the door to joining Roma in January, less than two months after his summer move collapsed. The Dutch defender was in Istanbul for Roma's Champions League fixture and told club officials he hopes to return to Rome in the coming months. His arrival was abandoned in August when a tendon problem emerged during medical checks, forcing him to undergo surgery the week before today. Roma remain actively interested. Gian Piero Gasperini rates him highly for his versatility—Oosterwolde can play as a centre-back or left-back—and Tony D'Amico continues to monitor his recovery at Trigoria. A January arrival would serve Roma's longer-term planning: Mario Hermoso's contract expires in June, and the club may use the window to reshape their defence while managing financial strategy around potential departures and profit on sales. Roma will assess his post-operative progress carefully before moving forward, and should he recover well, the club is open to reworking the deal's structure from the original August proposal. When asked directly about a possible transfer to Rome, Oosterwolde said: "I hope to come back in Rome in any months."

Roma's loanees across Italy and Europe made an impact on the weekend. Artem Dovbyk was the standout performer, coming off the bench in the 66th minute for Bologna against Sassuolo and scoring the equaliser in the 91st minute to secure a 2–2 draw and the Rossoblu's first point of the season. The Ukrainian striker's decisive finish came in an Emilia derby on loan with a right of redemption clause. Elsewhere, young goalkeeper Radoslaw Zelezny put in a strong performance for Perugia in their 2–1 victory over Pineto, playing all 90 minutes as the side's first-choice keeper. The 2006-born Zelezny was blameless for the goal conceded and made several crucial saves, including a high-quality intervention in the first half and a decisive stop in the second. He is on loan at the Umbrian club with an option and counter-option attached. Midfield prospect Alessandro Romano again started for Cagliari in Serie A, remaining on the pitch for the full 90 minutes as the Sardinians won 1–0 away at Lecce thanks to a Daniel Maldini goal in the 29th minute. Romano's loan includes an obligation to buy if certain sporting conditions are met. Neil El Aynaoui made an immediate first-team debut for RB Leipzig, starting in the away fixture against Werder Brema and playing until the 75th minute. However, Leipzig suffered a 3–1 defeat. The Moroccan midfielder's move is on loan with a right of redemption. Filippo Reale, a 2006-born defender, played the full 90 minutes for Carrarese on the flank in their 1–0 home loss to Empoli, conceding in the 74th minute; he is on loan with an option and counter-option in Roma's favour. Luigi Cherubini started in attack for Benevento in the first half at Ascoli before being substituted at the interval; Benevento were reduced to ten men in the 41st minute by Prisco's red card and lost 1–0 to a Brunori penalty in the closing stages. Cherubini's loan includes a right of option and obligation to buy. Mattia Mannini received his first call-up after joining Benevento on loan but remained unused from the bench in the same Ascoli defeat. Angeliño was an unused substitute as Deportivo La Coruña won 3–2 away at Villarreal in La Liga. Robinio Vaz was included in a Premier League squad for the first time after a late-market transfer to Hull City but did not feature in a 0–0 draw with Aston Villa. Jan Ziółkowski was unavailable for Monza's away trip to Parma—which ended 1–1—due to a plantar fascia problem requiring monitoring. Marash Kumbulla likewise missed Rayo Vallecano's 3–2 victory over Racing Santander as he continues to deal with a knee issue.

Daniele Ghilardi has emerged as one of the season's surprises at Roma. After months of adaptation last season following his arrival from Verona, the defender earned Gasperini's trust, yet began the campaign without a league start across the opening eighteen matches. His turning point came at Lecce, where he suddenly stepped into the side and performed flawlessly. Last week at the same venue he was named in the starting eleven again, producing four tackles won from five attempts, eight ground duels won and aerial supremacy. On Saturday against Atalanta, Ghilardi replaced Gianluca Mancini and contributed significantly to Roma's comeback. Gasperini chose to release Jan Ziółkowski over the summer in favour of keeping the 2003-born defender, continuing a pattern of player development that has become a hallmark of his management at Roma. Crucially, Italy national team coach Roberto Mancini attended the Olimpico fixture and took note of the performance. While Ghilardi remains too early for September's international break, Mancini is expected to consider him for future call-ups.

Roma came from behind to beat Atalanta 2–1 on 5 September, with goals from Mario Hermoso in the 90th minute and Matías Soulé in the 93rd turning the match after Éderson had put the visitors ahead in the 47th. Gasperini's Roma dominated the opening two Serie A fixtures against Fiorentina and Lecce without conceding, and the manager named a side with Evan N'Dicka returning from a muscular problem to anchor the defence alongside Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné were paired in midfield, with Emanuele Lulli and Wesley holding the flanks. Rodrigo Mora operated behind the front two: Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen started in attack. The victory keeps Roma's unbeaten start intact ahead of their Champions League debut on Thursday against Fenerbahce. Gasperini had Daniele Ghilardi, Leonardo Balerdi, Nahuel Molina, Soulé, Santiago Castro, Marten de Roon, Niccolò Pisilli, Pierluigi Gollini, Giorgio De Marzi and Jan Ziółkowski among his substitutes. Atalanta, managed by Maurizio Sarri, fielded Matteo Carnesecchi in goal and included substitutions involving Gianluca Scamacza (replaced in the 46th minute), Kolasinac, Éderson, Alexei Kolasinac and Jérémie Zappacosta. The match was refereed by Colombo, with assistants Bahri and Palermo; the fourth official was Collu, VAR Camplone and assistant VAR Santoro. Bellanova received a yellow card in the 83rd minute for Atalanta.

Roma extended their unbeaten run to nine matches in Serie A with a commanding 2–0 away victory at Torino, goals from Donyell Malen and Niccolò Pisilli securing the club's fourth consecutive win at the start of the 2026–27 season. The nine-game streak combines four wins from this campaign's opening phase with the final stretch of last season—a run Roma have not achieved since 2014–15. The result keeps Roma level on points with Inter, who visit the Olimpico on Saturday for a fixture scheduled before the international break. Despite managing an injury emergency and enforced rotation following Champions League action, manager Gian Piero Gasperini's side played with notable control and personality. Leonardo Balerdi made his first Serie A start in place of an injured Evan N'Dicka, while Nahuel Molina also started. Malen opened the scoring in the 40th minute, latching onto a loose ball after Gianluca Mancini's high press and a Paulo Dybala assist, for his sixth league goal of the campaign. In the second half, Roma managed the game with maturity, their defence marshalled by a commanding Balerdi performance, while Mile Svilar made a decisive save on Simeone. Gasperini introduced Marten de Roon, Manu Koné, Santiago Castro and Rodrigo Mora from the bench, injecting fresh energy and tactical clarity. Pisilli sealed the win in injury time with a right-footed finish, converting after Mancini's generous play with a loose ball, in a display that reinforced Roma's current form ahead of Saturday's meeting with the defending champions.

Roma extended their winning run to four consecutive victories with a 2–0 defeat of Torino at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, maintaining their position alongside Inter at the top of Serie A. The significance lay not merely in the result but in the manner of the performance. Donyell Malen struck late in the first half before Niccolò Pisilli added a second in stoppage time, but the team's control of the match—sustained possession, tactical pressure, and evident technical and physical superiority—revealed a side learning to win without requiring a flawless display. Gasperini's squad demonstrated the maturity to wait, accelerate when required, defend effectively, and rotate personnel while preserving its identity. Torino exposed the depth now available to Roma. Evan N'Dicka was absent through influenza, Wesley unavailable, and Manu Koné initially benched following recent knee problems—three players typically central to the squad's foundation. Yet Roma did not appear diminished. Leonardo Balerdi's replacement performance was the evening's most telling statement: he played with striking personality, aggressive in the tackle, commanding in the air, quick covering open space, and constantly engaged. He is no mere backup. Marten de Roon entered in the second half and immediately fitted Gasperini's system with experience, reading and order. Emanuele Lulli again confirmed his capacity to operate at this level, while Nahuel Molina, deployed on the left flank in Wesley's place, contributed without disrupting the team's balance. This marks the real growth: in previous years Roma required its established starters to maintain standards; now the squad contains alternatives who enter, perform, keep the team in the match, and function as genuine options rather than stopgaps. The champions remain central to Roma's ambition. Paulo Dybala continues to transform ordinary matches through individual quality—a pass, a gesture, an instinct—while Malen supplies what the club lacked for too long: a striker who reads space and converts the team's work into goals. Inter remain the stronger force overall, with greater quality in depth and the natural frontrunners in the Scudetto race. Yet Roma has earned the right to approach a direct confrontation without inferiority complex or damage-limitation mentality. On Saturday at the Olimpico, Inter will visit when both sides sit at full points, offering a magnificent test to measure Gasperini's squad's genuine ambitions. September is too early to declare verdicts, but the fixture will reveal how closely Roma can approach the tournament's reference point. Torino confirmed Roma's solidity, health, hunger and conviction in its methods. Success no longer depends solely on eleven names on the starting sheet; the club finds answers from those starting further back. Four consecutive wins do not award trophies or automatically transform a squad into a title candidate, but they permit looking higher. This Roma, today, has the right to try.

Roma extended their unbeaten start to 2026-27 with a fourth consecutive victory, moving top of Serie A alongside Inter. Donyell Malen scored as Roma dominated Torino, with Niccolò Pisilli adding a late goal in stoppage time. The Dutch forward has become the division's leading scorer with six goals from 22 Serie A appearances totalling 20 goals. Gasperini's side have conceded just one goal across four matchdays while scoring 12, producing figures that suggest title credentials. The manager's tactical adjustment—inverting his two attacking midfielders to break down Torino's resistance—proved decisive. Roma's defence impressed without Evan N'Dicka, who was ruled out unexpectedly due to a virus. The centre-back trio of Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi and Mario Hermoso proved nearly flawless, with Balerdi, who arrived from Olympique in understated fashion, increasingly commanding the defensive line. Torino offered little threat despite early moments of promise, while Roma maintained control throughout. Pisilli's diagonal finish capped a determined attacking sequence initiated by Mancini down the right flank. The victory comes after Roma managed the fatigue from their Champions League trip to Istanbul. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport's Sebastiano Vernazza, Roma's credentials rest not merely on Malen's prolific form but on deeper strengths: structured play, clear tactical patterns and a collective mentality that binds the squad together. Saturday's fixture at the Olimpico against Inter will test those credentials at the highest level.