Roma monitors Fofana as Lyon awaits Champions League play-off verdict

Roma have moved ahead of AC Milan in the pursuit of Real Madrid's Endrick, already opening discussions with the player's representative agency Roc Nation and positioning themselves for direct talks with Madrid's hierarchy during the Champions League match at the Olimpico on 14 October. The Brazilian winger has endured a difficult start at Madrid, limited to just four minutes of playing time due to a muscle injury and seeking rhythm through Brazil's friendlies against Australia and India. Madrid rejected approaches from Milan and Aston Villa in the summer, but that stance could shift in January if Endrick's minutes remain scarce through the congested autumn fixture schedule. Roma intends to exploit the Champions League encounter to speak directly with Madrid's board and press their case for either a loan or transfer move. Milan, for their part, rely on owner Cardinale's established partnership with Roc Nation, strengthened by joint investments in the United States. However, Madrid holds the final say: the club has previously loaned Endrick out—to Lyon without recall options—to aid his development. Should the player seek regular playing time midway through the season, Roma are ready to move decisively into the running.

Porto president André Villas-Boas has backed Rodrigo Mora to establish himself at Roma following the midfielder's move from the Portuguese club two months ago. Speaking to the Corriere della Sera, Villas-Boas described the transfer negotiation as complex. "It's true because Rodrigo is an idol of Porto's fans, a player who was formed in our academy and represents so much for all of us—a real gem," he said. "Last season he didn't get the playing time he hoped for, so at a certain point we decided to listen to proposals for him. Roma came looking for us with force and in the end we reached an agreement that was satisfying for everyone." The deal between the two clubs includes performance-related clauses tied to Mora's output. Villas-Boas, speaking both as Porto's president and drawing on his experience as a coach, expressed confidence in the 24-year-old's prospects in Serie A. The midfielder joined Roma in August after spending his career in Porto's academy system, where he had become a fan favourite. His path to regular football has been blocked by competition, prompting the move to Italy as a fresh opportunity to develop his career. On Mora's chances of succeeding, Villas-Boas was unequivocal: "He has unlimited talent. At the right time he will find his space and enchant Roma—I'm certain of that. And more: he has great personality, he knows where he wants to go and he knows what objectives he wants to pursue along his career, which is why he will impose himself. Technically Rodrigo has a talent that can take him serenely among the best in the world; I have no doubts."

Roma remain fixed on an attacking winger for the January transfer window, with four candidates dominating discussion at Trigoria: Leweling, Gittens, Luiz Henrique and Endrick. Head coach Gasperini is methodical in his approach—this is his familiar pattern, reshaping the squad when the window reopens. The club also has a full-back slot in mind, though a potential return to Oosterwolde cannot be ruled out. The winger target, however, commands the focus of sporting director D'Amico and Roma's recruitment team. Each of the four front-runners faces obstacles at their current clubs. Gittens, reportedly Gasperini's preference, has yet to debut in the Premier League and suffered an injury while on U21 duty. Leweling has accumulated only 146 minutes of action and missed selection in the new national team coach Klopp's initial squad of 44 players during a difficult phase at his club. Luiz Henrique remained in Russia due to bureaucratic issues and lost his international call-up, making a January move appear unlikely. Endrick, protected and blocked by Mourinho in summer, has been sidelined at Real Madrid with just four minutes of playing time granted. Much hinges on November, when UEFA will rule on Roma's alleged breach of the Settlement Agreement. The expectation is that a loan deal with a purchase option—a formula rejected by the club in summer—may now gain traction and suit Gasperini's requirements.

Porto president André Villas-Boas has backed Rodrigo Mora to establish himself at Roma following the midfielder's move from the Portuguese club two months ago. Speaking to the Corriere della Sera, Villas-Boas described the transfer negotiation as complex. "It's true because Rodrigo is an idol of Porto's fans, a player who was formed in our academy and represents so much for all of us—a real gem," he said. "Last season he didn't get the playing time he hoped for, so at a certain point we decided to listen to proposals for him. Roma came looking for us with force and in the end we reached an agreement that was satisfying for everyone." The deal between the two clubs includes performance-related clauses tied to Mora's output. Villas-Boas, speaking both as Porto's president and drawing on his experience as a coach, expressed confidence in the 24-year-old's prospects in Serie A. The midfielder joined Roma in August after spending his career in Porto's academy system, where he had become a fan favourite. His path to regular football has been blocked by competition, prompting the move to Italy as a fresh opportunity to develop his career. On Mora's chances of succeeding, Villas-Boas was unequivocal: "He has unlimited talent. At the right time he will find his space and enchant Roma—I'm certain of that. And more: he has great personality, he knows where he wants to go and he knows what objectives he wants to pursue along his career, which is why he will impose himself. Technically Rodrigo has a talent that can take him serenely among the best in the world; I have no doubts."

Lorenzo Pellegrini is ready to reclaim a leading role at Roma after 184 days out. The midfielder has recovered from a long injury, signed a contract renewal on 8 August, and is now pushing for a starting place when Roma face Como. He returns with leadership, technical quality and work completed during the international break at Trigoria. A social media post — "True happiness is being at peace with the people around you" — reflects the calm with which he approaches his comeback after a previous season that yielded seven goals and four assists. Pellegrini's injury began on 10 April. Despite Gasperini assigning the captaincy based on appearances, Pellegrini remains the natural reference point in the dressing room, confirmed by his contract extension and his choice to stay despite several offers from Italian and foreign clubs. His lengthy absence and dedicated rehabilitation put him in fresher condition than squad-mates returning from international duty, including Soulé and Mora. In Gasperini's 3–4–1–2 system, Pellegrini can operate on the attacking midfield line behind Dybala and Malen, providing quality in the final third and pressing intensity. Gasperini is seriously considering starting him, with Pellegrini estimated to have an autonomy of around sixty minutes but ready to begin the match and definitively reclaim his place.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is on the verge of his first competitive appearance in 184 days, with the trip to Como offering the chance to mark his official return. The midfielder finds a Roma squad transformed from the one he left behind: a new system, fresh hierarchies, and a captain's armband assigned under different criteria. Rather than stepping straight back into a pre-established role, Pellegrini must essentially start over—but this fresh start gives Gasperini scope to deploy him in a way no other attacking option in the squad can replicate. In the current 3-4-1-2 formation, Pellegrini can operate behind the two forwards without functioning as a purely classical playmaker. He can drop deeper to supply a passing option to midfielders, press high, make off-the-ball runs, and serve Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in the final metres. This versatility could transform the system into something more fluid—oscillating between a three-man midfield and a genuine three-man attacking line. Against Como, where Gasperini wants to press the opening possession of Fabregas's side, Pellegrini could shield the first phase of opposition build-up before becoming the man for the final pass once possession is regained. This dual function differs sharply from what Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé offer and could prove crucial in matches requiring greater central density. Pellegrini has a practical advantage: while teammates traversed the globe with their national squads, he used the international break to work uninterrupted at Trigoria. His recovery is complete, with his match fitness estimated at around one hour of play. Gasperini can now genuinely consider him a starting option rather than merely a player to integrate gradually. The timing suits Roma well. After Como comes a sequence of nine matches in 28 days, making it impossible to rely on the same players constantly. Pellegrini need not displace anyone; he can allow Gasperini to reshape the squad's character without overturning it, alternating with other attacking players and offering control when needed in midfield. Pellegrini's real challenge differs from his past burden. He no longer must prove himself as captain or symbol of Roma; he must earn his space within a team that has found balance without him. That liberation from the weight of recent years could free him to become exactly what Gasperini is asking—not the project's centre, but an additional weapon in a squad that from October will need everyone available.