Roma players eye World Cup glory in USA

Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi is attracting attention from Serie A's big clubs, with AC Milan and Juventus reportedly monitoring his situation ahead of the reopening of the January transfer window. According to Tuttomercatoweb, Milan are the more serious suitors and are considering a possible approach during the winter session. Milan are looking for a central defender and see Ghilardi as one of the alternatives to Sporting's Gonçalo Inácio. Juventus also rate the former Verona player, but for now they do not reportedly see strengthening the defence as an immediate priority. No official offers or negotiations with Roma have been registered. The situation is an interesting one given that Ghilardi is finally earning the trust of Gian Piero Gasperini. He had already made an impression against Slovan Bratislava, and on Tuesday evening against Cagliari he needed only a few minutes to produce a superb assist for Rodrigo Mora's 3-2 goal. A possible sale in January therefore looks far from certain, as Roma need to broaden their rotation options, not reduce them. Gasperini recognised the progress of the 2003-born defender after the Cagliari match, saying: "He has grown a lot compared to last year and will find more and more space." That praise underlines how central Ghilardi has become to the coach's plans in defence. For Roma, the interest from Milan and Juventus is a sign of the player's rising value, but the club's priority is keeping a squad with enough depth for a demanding season.

Roma are reportedly monitoring Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez as the winter transfer window approaches, with the Argentine's future seemingly away from Old Trafford. His contract expires on 30 June. According to the Italian daily AS, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid are interested in the Argentine and ready to sign him. Martínez is also attracting attention in Italy, where Roma, Inter and Como are keeping a close eye on the situation as they weigh a possible addition to their defence. The report makes clear that Martínez's contract runs out on 30 June, a factor that could shape any move. Roma, Inter and Como are all assessing whether the player could strengthen their backline.

Roma are beginning to look at the transfer market with an eye on next summer, according to reports in Spain citing AS. Although Gasperini is hoping for reinforcements in January, the club's thoughts are already turning to next year, and they are reportedly considering Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martínez. The Argentine defender's contract with Manchester United runs until June 2027, and he could decline to renew it. The English club can activate an option to extend his deal automatically by one more year, but Martínez is reportedly on the verge of leaving. Roma would not be alone in the race: Inter and Como are also interested in Serie A, while Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have begun making enquiries in Spain. The report indicates that competition for the player is strong across Italy and Spain, with several clubs monitoring his situation as his contract approaches its final year.

Roma will travel from Udine to Manchester after Saturday's match at Udinese, having decided not to return to Rome in between. Their schedule is packed: Saturday's match in Friuli, then a Sunday morning training session at Udinese's sports centre, where the Friulani will host the giallorossi. Roma leave Trieste at 16:00 for England for the Champions League tie against Manchester United. On Monday, the eve of the game, Malen and his team-mates will train at Old Trafford at 19:00 Italian time. Gasperini's press conference, featuring one player, is scheduled for 18:20. The match against the Red Devils kicks off on Tuesday at 21:00. Roma will return to Italy on Wednesday morning rather than immediately after the game. Roma's next Serie A fixture is on Saturday 7 November, when they host Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has drawn up a shopping list as the club looks to strengthen its squad, with three signings reportedly in mind before the international break. Roma face Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo as the last three matches of a gruelling run of nine games in 28 days, and they are doing so short of numbers. Svilar, Dybala and Koné will not be available tomorrow, and only the last two are hoping to return from the next fixtures. The squad is stretched thin. Gasperini said earlier in the season: "La rosa va allungata" ("The squad needs to be lengthened"). While awaiting the UEFA ruling expected in November, the sporting director is already working to reinforce the team. Last January, Malen, Vaz, Venturino and Zaragoza arrived at the club. Gasperini would be content with three targeted signings: an attacking winger, a backup for Wesley and a dynamic central midfielder. For the attacking unit, the names linked are Leweling and Gittens. A surprise could be van Bommel of PSV Eindhoven, a player Roma have been monitoring for some time. Roma are also not giving up on Endrick. Real Madrid have little room for the Brazilian, who wants to leave. D'Amico will need to find the right formula, which could resemble the deal that brought Bobby in a year ago: a loan with an obligation to buy on certain conditions. Attention then turns to the wide midfield. Mendes has offered Balde of Barcelona, while the new name is Pascini of Atlético Mineiro. The most pressing problem, however, is midfield. Pellegrini will return in 2027, and Koné has frequent physical problems. Roma need a energetic runner in the centre of the park, and Moses of Slavia Prague is on the notebook.

Roma's radio pundits have been weighing up the team ahead of tomorrow's trip to Udinese, and Lorenzo Pes on Teleradiostereo 92.7 says Paulo Dybala is unlikely to feature in the Champions League against Manchester United. Pes said: "Balerdi and Hermoso have recovered. I expect de Roon to start again. Svilar will return against Parma, the medical staff have decided not to take a risk and the goalkeeper could go back to work in Belgium. Koné trained on the pitch yesterday, his goal is to return with Sassuolo and then go to the national team. Dybala wants to be there against Manchester, but it will depend on him. He also did personalised work yesterday, and for now it is difficult to see him in the Champions League." The broadcasters are unanimous that Roma must win in Udine, and several pundits warn that the fixture is no formality. Francesco Balzani on Teleradiostereo 92.7 said: "I fear everyone. Roma are clearly stronger and must win in Udine, but when there are these closely spaced matches... And Udinese at home have always caused problems for the giallorossi. My mind is on Manchester on Sunday, and I hope the players do the same. The most important path for me remains the one in Italy, the goal is the Scudetto, and you must not fail these games against the 'small' sides." Roberto Pruzzo on Radio Radio Mattino 104.5 noted that Udinese have recovered Davis and Zaniolo and could cause problems, adding: "Roma must immediately steer the game tomorrow. In the last match Gollini made some saves and the giallorossi must be careful. In midfield Roma have few alternatives. This point of the season is delicate." The panel's predictions on the line-up vary. Ugo Trani on Teleradiostereo 92.7 said: "I think the certainties like Wesley and Malen will surely play tomorrow, the doubt is at the back. If Balerdi is well he could play him at centre-right, but if he is not at 100% he will not risk him. On the right flank, in my opinion, Lulli plays. Up front Soulé and Mora from the start, but they could also field a midfielder. I don't think they will force Koné's return before the break, also because France are there too. The Udine game frightens me, Manchester is whatever comes. But against Udinese I consider it the hardest of the three matches." Trani also said: "Ghilardi has learned a lot from Mancini, sometimes he even gives the impression he could play as a winger because he has an explosive pace." He added: "I really hope for Endrick, Milan are out. If he leaves, he comes here." Felici said on Teleradiostereo 92.7: "We need some attention towards Udinese, but we also need a sense of reality, and the conclusion is that Roma cannot afford not to win in Udine. Against Cagliari, even though the win came 4-2, it was not a stroll. In Udine you may not have to score a goal-fest, but to win you have to win." Balzani expected "two changes in defence", with Ghilardi and Balerdi alongside Hermoso, and suggested Mora could start with Cristante pushed forward and de Roon behind. Simone Valdarchi on Radio Manà Manà 90.9 expects rotation in defence and on the flanks, pointing out that Koulierakis and Mancini could be left out compared with the last outing, while at least two of Ghilardi, Balerdi and Hermoso could play. He said: "If he had the chance, I think Gasp would give Ndicka a rest too, but maybe it is not the moment." Nando Orsi on Radio Radio Mattino 104.5 was the most confident: "There is too great a gap between Roma and Udinese. All games are difficult, but on the pitch you see the differences in value. I do not see any other result besides a Roma win."

Emanuele Lulli has been one of the surprises of the season, and Gian Piero Gasperini is the coach who insisted on keeping him at Roma and turning him into one of the most interesting wingers in Serie A. After just seven matches in the giallorossi shirt, Lulli has already shown he has what it takes to establish himself: he runs, he fights, he scores and he creates goals for team-mates. He is a complete winger who makes an impact in both phases of play, giving Gasperini exactly what he was looking for. For the coach, it is a return to familiar ground. At Roma he has found the wide players he likes, the same kind that allowed him to build a side capable of making the difference at Bergamo. The greatest credit, though, goes to Gasperini for believing in Lulli when others might have let him go. Looking back shows how much has changed. Turkish full-back Zeki Çelik, who played in that role, collected two goals in 151 appearances for Roma. Lulli needed just seven matches to match that tally. The article describes that gap as enormous, and it says it reflects the weight of this new bet on the young player. Çelik's departure to Juventus, which initially looked hard to swallow, now takes on a different meaning, described as a genuine sliding door moment for the giallorossi season. Roma have found a new protagonist, Gasperini has another winger to back, and the fans have a young player to cherish. Lulli comes from Palestrina, is a 2007-born player and has a world of opportunity ahead of him. Above all, the article concludes, he has already found his place: at Roma, his team.

Roma lost Celik in the transfer market, a departure that many considered painful, but the positive side has been the emergence of Pierluigi Lulli, who has moved from the Primavera to scoring his first Serie A goal. The development has been described as the defining 'sliding door' of the window. The Italian coverage frames Lulli's breakthrough as the positive counterweight to losing Zeki Çelik, whose exit was widely viewed as a painful one for the club. Lulli's first league goal marks a significant step for a player who has come through the youth ranks to the first team. The report was published on 19 October 2026 and is headlined around the idea that Lulli is the key figure to emerge from the market, as Roma look to build on his progress.

Roma's full-backs have become a cornerstone of Gian Piero Gasperini's push to the top of Serie A, a marked shift from last season when they proved problematic. Wesley and Nahuel Molina are now among the club's key strengths, and both will start when Roma resume the league campaign against Como, where they will face manager Fabregas. The turnaround reflects Gasperini's tactical evolution since arriving at the club: in his first season, Wesley was the only defender fully convincing on the flanks, while Zeki Çelik had to make do elsewhere. Now the picture is entirely different. Gasperini has uncovered Emanuele Lulli in the course of the season, and Molina has gradually built his fitness, delivering quality and assists to Roma's attacking phase. For the Como fixture, Gasperini plans to deploy Molina on the right and Wesley on the left. The selection reflects not just Roma's attacking ambitions but also Gasperini's defensive strategy: by using two attacking full-backs, he aims to stretch Como's wide players—Baturina on one flank and Diao on the other—and occupy them throughout the match. Wesley, the more naturally offensive of the pair, will be tasked with driving forward and supporting the build-up play. Molina is likely to carry greater defensive responsibility, balancing his own contributions with the need to contain Como's threats on the wing.

Roma's loan players had a busy week across the Champions League, the Bundesliga, the German Cup, La Liga, Serie C and the Europa Conference League. Neil El Aynaoui was involved in three matches for RB Leipzig, while Luigi Cherubini was back in the Benevento starting line-up and came close to scoring twice. Robinio Vaz has returned to action after a physical problem he suffered against Fulham, and Mohamed Seck helped Foggia to a win. El Aynaoui, a Moroccan midfielder on a loan deal with a buy option, started Leipzig's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, a 4-1 loss, and played until the 63rd minute. On Saturday he played the full 90 minutes of a 4-0 win over Elversberg. His most eventful match came on Tuesday against Rot-Weiss Essen in the German Cup last 16. He began on the bench, but came on at half-time with Leipzig trailing 1-0 and reduced to ten men after Seiwald was sent off in the 44th minute. Baumgartner scored twice, in the 78th and 82nd minutes, to complete the comeback and send Leipzig through 2-1. El Aynaoui was booked in the 76th minute and played 45 minutes without a goal or assist. The win came after heavy defeats to Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. Cherubini, a winger born in 2004, returned to the starting line-up on Saturday in a 3-0 win at Arezzo. He played 74 minutes and twice came close to scoring, first with a spectacular scissor kick that was saved by goalkeeper Nunziante, then with a shot that hit the post. He started again on Tuesday in a 1-1 home draw with Catanzaro. He won the decisive penalty early in the second half, which Salvemini converted in the 51st minute after Candela fouled him, a decision confirmed by VAR. He was substituted for Saio in the 86th minute. Buso equalised for Catanzaro in added time, in the 92nd minute. Cherubini did not score or assist, but BeneventoNews24 and CalcioBenevento both gave him a 6.5. Mattia Mannini, a midfielder born in 2006, was an unused substitute for both matches, with Floro Flores opting for other players during the second-half changes. Mannini had played for Italy's Under-20 side during the previous international break. Mohamed Seck started at centre-back in Auteri's three-man defence as Foggia beat Cavese 1-0 at the Zaccheria, ending two straight defeats to Potenza and Giugliano. Foggiacalciomania gave him a 6 for a solid performance, noting his willingness to move forward from the defensive line. Goalkeeper Saro saved a penalty from Orlando, and Ravasio scored the winner in the 87th minute. Federico Nardin, a defender born in 2007, started for Pescara in a 2-1 win at Perugia, playing all 90 minutes without a booking. Merola scored twice for Pescara, first from open play and then from a penalty, after Carriero had given Perugia a lead inside the first minute. Radoslaw Zelezny, the Polish goalkeeper for Perugia, played the full match but conceded both Pescara goals, with Merola scoring in the 47th and 51st minutes. Marash Kumbulla, an Albanian defender on loan with a buy option, started for Rayo Vallecano in a 3-2 extra-time win over Recreativo Huelva in the first round of the Copa del Rey. He played 80 minutes after being on the bench for the 3-0 home defeat to Elche. Alemão scored Rayo's equaliser from the penalty spot and then the winner in extra time, with De Frutos also scoring. Anass Salah-Eddine, a Moroccan left-back playing for Panathinaikos, was not used in the 5-1 Conference League win over Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan on Thursday. He started on Sunday in a 1-0 league win at Volos.

Roma's first team is running smoothly under Gian Piero Gasperini, with well-targeted signings, a recognisable style and young players developing well. The problem lies with the players out on loan in Serie A and abroad, who have struggled to establish themselves. Some were signed under the previous management of Massara, others under Ghisolfi, and some have been drifting between clubs since the Mourinho era. Many of them, if not all, could return to the club in June without having been redeemed, which the article calls a clear loss. Goalkeeper Zelezny is on loan at Serie C side Perugia. He has started every match, but his figures are less impressive: 17 goals conceded in 11 games for a side that was expected to be among the leaders. In defence, Angelino, Ziolkowski and Kumbulla are out on loan. Angelino, who has recently suffered serious health problems, returned to Deportivo La Coruña. He has made only one start, against Sevilla, and was sent off in the 59th minute. Kumbulla has not played a minute for Rayo Vallecano in La Liga and has made just one appearance in the Copa del Rey. Ziolkowski has one appearance on record, due to a serious plantar fascia injury, and is expected back in November. In midfield, El Aynaoui is a regular starter for Leipzig, but his performances have been unexceptional, with a single assist. Leipzig are fifth in the Bundesliga and 29th in the Champions League. Setting aside Romano and Baldanzi, who both have an obligation to buy, Cherubini has made 7 appearances and scored one goal for Benevento. Salah Eddine, who moved to Panathinaikos in September, has four appearances in total, and it is still too early to judge him. Robinio Vaz's start at Hull City has been disappointing: no starts, only a few minutes late in matches, and no goals. The Frenchman cost 25 million in January and is not finding a place in the side as he did under Gasperini. Mannini, who has also moved to Benevento, has no starts. Dovbyk risks returning as early as January. Palladino never picks him, preferring Osteegard in the unusual role of centre-forward given Piccoli's absence. The Ukrainian has scored one goal in four matches, all under Tedesco while he was still in charge at Bologna.

Neil El Aynaoui has impressed at RB Leipzig, and a permanent move to the German club in June is looking increasingly likely. The midfielder had asked to leave Roma towards the end of the summer transfer window, having not fully convinced Gasperini to give him a leading role at the club. Player and coach spoke calmly with each other and found a solution in the final week of the window, which allowed the Moroccan to win a place in the Leipzig starting line-up. He has made 9 appearances this season, with one assist and three consecutive starts in the Champions League. According to the latest information from Germany, Leipzig are satisfied with the Moroccan's performances, and the obligation to buy is looking more and more probable in June. Leipzig have already paid 3 million plus 1 million in bonuses for his loan. They hold an option to buy for 25 million plus 3 million, up to a maximum of 28 million. Roma could therefore make a useful profit on a sale in June. The club also holds a 20% sell-on clause, which it could collect in the future should Leipzig increase his value further.