Roma put Luis Henrique deal on hold to prioritise striker target

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 are tracking Ruben van Bommel of AZ Alkmaar as a potential signing in the January transfer window. The 2004-born winger, son of former AC Milan player and current Netherlands manager Mark van Bommel, has returned to action this season following a serious knee injury that kept him sidelined for an extended period. Gasperini has prioritised the addition of a right-footed attacking winger for the past two summers, a position Roma hope to strengthen when the January window opens. Van Bommel's profile has been on Roma's radar for weeks. The AZ Alkmaar player has registered 2 goals and 4 assists so far this season.

Wesley has attracted the attention of Manchester United, with the English club considering the Roma defender as part of their future recruitment plans. According to the British website Theatreofred.com, the Brazilian left-back has impressed Michael Sansoni, Manchester United's director of data. Sansoni joined the club in 2025 after spending 11 years with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team, where he worked as a Senior Performance Engineer and contributed to eight championship-winning seasons with Lewis Hamilton. The approach marks a return of Premier League interest in Wesley following Roma's rejection of a Chelsea offer last summer. The 24-year-old joined Roma from Flamengo in July 2025 on a five-year contract, initially on a deal worth €25 million plus €5 million in add-ons. Manchester United's renewed pursuit suggests the Brazilian has made a strong impression in his first season in Serie A, though Roma are unlikely to consider selling one of their key defensive reinforcements from the previous transfer window.

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.

AS Roma have prevented Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina from travelling to Argentina for an event scheduled for 6 October surrounding the Argentina vs Benin match. The club cited sporting and logistical reasons for the decision, specifically the duration of the intercontinental journey and the proximity of Roma's official fixtures. Both players were part of Argentina's 2022 World Cup-winning squad alongside Lionel Messi, and the event carries significance for them. However, Roma's management determined that releasing them would conflict with the club's immediate competitive schedule. The decision reflects the tension between international commitment and domestic club priorities during a congested fixture calendar. The club issued an official statement saying: "AS Roma communicates that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not participate in the event organised in Argentina for the Argentina vs Benin match on 6 October. The Society recognises the value of the appointment for the two players, linked to Lionel Messi and protagonists with him in the 2022 World Cup victory. The Club's choice responds to sporting and logistical reasons, linked to the duration of the intercontinental journey and the proximity of official commitments. AS Roma expresses the utmost respect for Lionel Messi and his extraordinary career, wishing him and the Argentine Federation a special evening."

AS Roma has confirmed that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not travel to Argentina for a farewell celebration organised in honour of Lionel Messi on 6 October, which coincides with an Argentina–Benin match. Both players, World Cup winners with Messi in 2022, had been invited to the event in Buenos Aires. With twelve Roma players on international duty across their respective national teams, the club is closely monitoring the situation of three Argentine internationals—Leonardo Balerdi, Santiago Castro and Matías Soulé—all called up by the Albiceleste. Their return to Trigoria carries particular sensitivity given Roma's fixture against Como on 11 October, which falls just days after the players' expected arrival. Dybala and Molina's potential absence from training would have compounded the tight turnaround, creating further uncertainty over their readiness for the match. AS Roma released a statement explaining the decision: "The Club recognises the value of the appointment for the two players, linked to Lionel Messi and protagonists with him in the 2022 World Cup victory. The choice responds to sporting and logistical reasons, related to the duration of the intercontinental journey and the proximity of official commitments. AS Roma expresses the maximum respect for Lionel Messi and his extraordinary career, wishing him and the Argentine Federation a special evening."

AS Roma has confirmed that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not attend the celebration event organized in Argentina for Lionel Messi's official retirement from international football, which coincides with an Argentina versus Benin match on 6 October. Both players were part of Argentina's 2022 World Cup winning squad alongside Messi. The club cited sporting and logistical reasons for the decision, specifically the demands of intercontinental travel and the proximity of Roma's upcoming official fixtures. In a statement, AS Roma acknowledged the significance of the occasion for both players and their connection to Messi. The club expressed its "maximum respect for Lionel Messi and his extraordinary career," wishing him and the Argentine Football Federation "a special evening."