Roma push to extend Mancini deal as Inter circle

Roma have abandoned their move for Jayden Oosterwolde after conducting additional medical tests that altered their assessment of the defender's injury status. Oosterwolde had already arrived in the capital in recent days and passed initial medical examinations, but further investigation into a biceps injury he was carrying prompted Roma to reopen talks with Fenerbahce about modifying the deal's terms. When no new agreement could be reached, the club decided not to proceed with the signing. The transfer had been structured as a loan with an obligation to buy, with a combined value under €20 million. Roma's medical team established that the defender would require three to four weeks to return to group training and a minimum of six to eight weeks before he could play, timescales the club deemed unacceptable. Having reassessed the situation with the Fenerbahce hierarchy, Roma chose to withdraw rather than risk the investment given the extended recovery period. Oosterwolde will now return to Turkey. The move had been expected to be wrapped up swiftly after the midfielder arrived at Ciampino airport two days ago, with only medical clearance standing between the player and his registration.

Roma have withdrawn from the signing of Jayden Oosterwolde after additional medical examinations revealed concerns over the defender's recovery timeline from a muscular injury sustained at Fenerbahce. The Dutch left-back had arrived in Rome in recent days and completed initial medical tests, but deeper assessments prompted the club to halt the transfer, which had been structured as a loan with an obligation to buy under certain conditions. Roma and Fenerbahce had attempted to renegotiate the terms of the deal after the medical findings emerged, but the giallorossi ultimately decided the recovery period was too lengthy and uncertain to justify proceeding. Oosterwolde will return to Fenerbahce. The setback leaves head coach Gian Piero Gasperini still seeking reinforcement on the wing before the transfer window closes, with sporting director Tony D'Amico now tasked with finding an alternative solution in that position.

Roma are exploring defensive reinforcements as the transfer window enters its final days, with uncertainty over Jan Ziółkowski's future complicating their planning. The Polish defender is in talks with Monza over a potential departure, forcing Roma to plan for a replacement centre-back option. The pursuit of Morato has grown increasingly difficult after Nottingham Forest rejected Roma's advances on a loan with a purchase option. Director D'Amico has turned his attention to Thilo Kehrer, the 1996-born defender leaving Monaco according to Sky Sport. Kehrer is viewed as an experienced profile capable of providing Gasperini with defensive cover when needed. The move would allow Roma to manage their squad depth at centre-back depending on whether Ziółkowski departs before the window closes.

Alessandro Romano has become the latest academy graduate to leave Roma for a substantial fee, joining Cagliari this summer for €5 million plus add-ons after scoring on his debut for the Sardinian club. The midfielder's departure exemplifies a pattern established under José Mourinho's tenure, when Roma developed and sold players including Tahirovic, Felix and Missori at significant profit. Romano arrived at Trigoria in 2022 from Winterthur for €70,000 thanks to the initiative of Vincenzo Vergine, who ran the academy from July 2021 until September 2023. The lengthy negotiations to secure the Italian-Swiss player were competitive, as Roma were not alone in pursuit; Romano has since attracted attention from national team coach Mancini, though he has represented only Switzerland's youth sides. That same year Vergine also brought Sergej Levak, a Croatian midfielder, to the club. Levak now plays for Atalanta's under-23 side and has already caught the eye of Sarri for the senior squad, but generated no transfer profit as he left Roma on a free transfer at the end of his contract this summer. Mourinho gave league debuts to 14 academy players overall, and the broader youth system proved crucial to Roma's finances in summer 2023 when several academy products were sold to balance the accounts. Romano and Levak represent the latest generation from a pipeline that has consistently delivered sellable talent.

Andrea Stramaccioni has praised Roma's performance against Fiorentina, saying the club can position itself as a serious challenger to Inter and Napoli if they add one final piece to complete the left side of attack for Gasperini. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Stramaccioni said: "If they add one last piece to make Gasperini happy and complete the left side of the attack, in my view they can position themselves as immediate rivals to Inter and Napoli." Watching Roma live on 24 August, Stramaccioni was struck by their intensity and consistency. "It is rare to see a team play at these rhythms for 90 minutes," he said. Dybala's performance particularly impressed him: the Argentine created three assists from three ball-carrying accelerations and made a defensive recovery in the 75th minute on the halfway line. "In these conditions in our Serie A it becomes very difficult to stop them. And the chemistry with Malen is natural football chemistry." Stramaccioni also highlighted Koné's world-class level, praised Rodrigo Mora's previously missing characteristics, and noted the strength of Roma's Italian spine—Mancini, Cristante, and Pellegrini—all of whom renewed their contracts at Gasperini's insistence. Asked whether the title picture had shifted before matchday one, Stramaccioni acknowledged it is early with transfers and squads still being completed, but said: "Inter and Roma have made a very strong start: they have clear and defined ideas of play."

Andrea Stramaccioni believes Roma need only one more signing to establish themselves as genuine challengers to Inter and Napoli this season. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, the analyst was impressed by Roma's league debut: "If they add one final piece to make Gasperini happy and complete the left side of the attack, Roma can position themselves as an immediate antagonist to Inter and Napoli." Stramaccioni highlighted the intensity and consistency of Roma's opening performance. "On 24 August it is rare to see a team play at these rhythms for 90 minutes," he said. He singled out Paulo Dybala's creativity and work rate—"three assists following three accelerations with the ball at his feet, and at 75' he made a defensive run to win the ball back on the midfield line"—and praised the natural chemistry between Dybala and Donyell Malen. He also commended Manu Koné as "at world level" and identified Rodrigo Mora as bringing characteristics the squad previously lacked. Stramaccioni emphasised the strength of Roma's midfield and defence, describing the "personality, strength and solidity of the Italian spine" reinforced by Gasperini's priority renewals of Gianluca Mancini, Bryan Cristante and Lorenzo Pellegrini. On the wider title race, he added: "It is early—the market and squads are still to be completed—but Inter and Roma have started very strong: clear and defined ideas of play."

Roma have learned their eight opponents in the UEFA Champions League League Phase following the draw in Monte Carlo. Gian Piero Gasperini's side will face Real Madrid, PSG, Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Lille, Fenerbahçe, Slovan Bratislava and AEK Athens, with four matches at the Stadio Olimpico and four away. The standout home fixture will be Real Madrid's visit, marking José Mourinho's return to the Olimpico as an opponent after his years managing Roma. Luis Enrique will also feature prominently in the draw — he returns to face Roma, this time from the PSG bench, adding another layer of intrigue to a competition that holds particular resonance for the club. Slovan Bratislava's inclusion stirs memories of Roma's 2011 European elimination under Enrique, a match recalled for the controversial substitution of Francesco Totti. At home, Roma will also host Sporting Lisbon, Lille and Slovan Bratislava. Away, the fixtures include one of recent European football's great classics: Manchester United at Old Trafford, a tie that evokes numerous Champions League clashes between the clubs across the 2000s. The Fenerbahçe trip carries particular significance, bringing Roma face-to-face with Mason Greenwood — described as a major regret from the summer transfer window — alongside Mattéo Guendouzi, who will encounter Paulo Dybala after previous meetings, and Romelu Lukaku. The campaign concludes with a trip to AEK Athens in Greece. Roma's full League Phase schedule: Real Madrid (home), PSG (away), Sporting Lisbon (home), Manchester United (away), Lille (home), Fenerbahçe (away), Slovan Bratislava (home), AEK Athens (away). The draw has assembled a fixture list rich in European history and storylines for Roma's return to the Champions League.

Paulo Dybala has committed to Roma by accepting a dramatic wage cut, restructuring his contract around performance bonuses that could ultimately make him the club's highest-paid player. His base salary fell from 8 million euros net to 2.2 million, but a complex bonus structure rewards every appearance, goal and assist. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged Dybala's commitment after Roma's victory against Fiorentina, saying: "In this squad there are players who wanted Roma very strongly or wanted to stay at Roma very strongly." Dybala reached 100 Serie A appearances for Roma in that same match. The contract, signed on 12 July, reflects both an act of loyalty and a calculated gamble on his own performance. Dybala will earn 100,000 euros for each starting appearance lasting at least 45 minutes, capped at 20 matches for a maximum of 2 million euros. He has already collected 100,000 euros following the Fiorentina win. Substitute appearances of 20 minutes or more earn him 75,000 euros. From his 21st match onwards, the appearance bonus rises to 150,000 euros per game. Goal contributions drive even larger payments: every five goal involvements trigger a bonus ranging from 100,000 to 1 million euros. Dybala has already begun accumulating these rewards, recording three goal involvements in the opening matchday alone. The structure is straightforward: the more prominent Dybala becomes, the more he earns. If his season stalls and he plays infrequently, he will pocket only the 2.2 million base salary—a scenario neither he, Roma nor Gasperini wish to see unfold. Over the course of his fifth season at the club, the bonus framework could elevate his total compensation to rival or exceed that of any teammate.

Giancarlo Antognoni, Fiorentina legend, has praised Paulo Dybala as the best attacking midfielder in Serie A and the player capable of driving Roma towards the title under Gian Piero Gasperini. Speaking to Corriere della Sera, Antognoni analysed Roma's recent victory and Dybala's role in it, singling out the Argentine's quality on the ball as decisive. "Dybala is one of the strongest in the league, the best in his position," Antognoni said. "If he continues like this, Gasperini will be able to fight for the Scudetto. With the ball he does what he wants: pure spectacle. Fiorentina gave him too much freedom, but if bad luck leaves him in peace, Gasperini has an ace in his hand." Antognoni also highlighted Dybala's impact on Roma's opening goal, noting how he "jumped past half the team before setting up Malen." Antognoni reflected on the rarity of the number 10 role in modern football, observing that Italy has few players of such quality. "Football has become too tactical and physical," he explained. "The number 10 still exists in youth academies, but at club level results come first and fear of losing stifles imagination. So the number 10s have to adapt: Calhanoglu became a regista, Dembélé is a ten disguised as a nine, Yildiz starts wide but moves inside the pitch." He detected signs of revival, citing Nico Paz at Como, Liberali, and Mastantuono as promising talents, and suggested that talented players in midfield positions—like Lautaro at Inter—can make their teams unpredictable. Antognoni also praised Rodrigo Mora, describing him as another talented signing Roma has brought in who "seems already almost ready."