Roma radio roundtable: Friedkin may exit football; Gasperini questioned on midfield depth; Mora needs time the club cannot spare

Dan Friedkin has decided to sell Everton, a move that has delighted Roma supporters who now hope the ownership will concentrate its efforts entirely on the Giallorossi. Roma fans have responded positively on social media, with one writing: "Egoistically and above all as a fan, I say it's better this way—let them focus more on Roma, which in my view is their priority on the sporting side, with their own stadium now close to completion and an increasingly upward sporting path. It's certainly not Cannes, while Everton could have become a real distraction." Others fear the Friedkins may treat Roma as they have Everton, arguing: "Build the stadium. The company increases in value. Resell the company and profit on the initial investment. They are entrepreneurs and that's how they operate. They will do the same with us—the signs are there and have been evident for years. They are not Franco Sensi. They are not Dino Viola. Love for a team is something else." The hope is that this will not be the case. The relationship between Everton supporters and the Friedkin Group has never truly taken root. News of their arrival in 2024 was initially welcomed, but after two years the story is already winding down. This summer there were numerous criticisms of their transfer activity, and following the club's announcement, many on social media have attacked Dan Friedkin over the decision to sell: "They never wanted to be part of our club—they just wanted easy money and to sell as many players as possible. They never spoke to the manager or the fans." The Roma president has never been seen at the new stadium built in 2025, an absence that has pleased no one. One post on X states: "It would have been better to have an owner whose sole focus was Everton." Some defend the Friedkins, noting: "It's not entirely their fault. The PSR has ruined every possibility of investing." The PSR—the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules—is the financial regulation established to ensure clubs spend within their limits.

Andrea Stramaccioni has outlined his tactical views on the upcoming Como–Roma fixture, arguing that the two clubs have made significant progress since last season but Inter retain an edge. "Senza dubbio sarà una sfida tra due squadre che hanno dimostrato di essere cresciute tantissimo nel finale dello scorso campionato e hanno ricominciato più forti e competitive. L'Inter però ha ancora qualcosa in più, anche se il gap si è ridotto," the DAZN analyst said. Stramaccioni highlighted Roma's home victory over Como last season as a blueprint for the contest. Roma's approach then centred on suffocating Como's quality and cutting off their creative outlets. He noted that Gasperini and Como's Fabregas have met four times in Serie A—each winning twice—and on each occasion Roma fielded a midfielder in the trident to provide tactical balance: Pasalic and Samardžić in the two matches against Atalanta, and Pellegrini in the two against Roma. "Quindi assolutamente sì, Lorenzo sarebbe perfetto per avere maggiore duttilità tattica," Stramaccioni said of Pellegrini's capacity to drop deep and provide equilibrium. He added that if Pellegrini were unavailable, Gasperini could deploy Matías Soulé in a more defensive role during phases without possession, as the club managed against Inter. On the battle between the playmakers, Stramaccioni separated Paulo Dybala and Como's Paz: "Sono due giocatori che fanno innamorare chi ama questo gioco." Dybala, he argued, has won everything and operates as a second forward with greater determining power, while Paz possesses crystalline talent and functions as a number ten capable of dropping deeper or drifting right. "Ad oggi, però, Paulo è leggermente più determinante nella Roma di quanto non lo sia Nico nel Como," Stramaccioni concluded.

Roma's media panel debated squad selection and the Como fixture ahead of the club's return to action after an international break. Carina highlighted Gasperini's challenge in a congested fixture schedule: following weeks without the full squad available for training, the manager faced a first full session yesterday, 8 October, with today marking the real start of preparation. The key tactical doubt lay on the left wing—between Mora and Soulé—with Mora favoured so far due to more days at Trigoria, though that contest remained fluid. "Chi non giocherà a Como, giocherà contro il Real Madrid," Carina noted, pointing to Como's importance as a league fixture before the Champions League showdown. With only three central midfielders in the squad, Pellegrini's potential return offered vital depth; the pundit called Como–Roma "the most important match for Gasperini, not the Real Madrid one." Torri, speaking on Mana Mana Sport, predicted Soulé would start the Como match "if he is well." "Gasperini will assess him over these two days, and if he is fit, he will play," Torri said. Dybala and Malen were automatic selections. Pruzzo underlined the value of a healthy Pellegrini, noting that returning him to the three-man midfield would create a fourth option—"an alternative you must have." He stressed that beating Como would maintain Roma's level and force Como's manager Fabregas to chase a result against Fiorentina, establishing "a certain gap" in the standings. Orsi and Mattioli backed De Roon as a reliable midfield presence. "De Roon can start quite comfortably," Orsi said. "He doesn't move the centremidfield dynamically, but he already knows Gasperini's tactical systems." Mattioli called De Roon "an inexhaustible motor" with "incredible athletic longevity," though he acknowledged the midfielder cannot play 96 matches. "His contribution will come. I believe Roma can come away with points—I do not know if a draw or a win." Pes reflected on José Mourinho's tenure, commenting: "At an emotional level, Mourinho's period was a moment of truly great unity. Budapest could have been the crowning of his season with Roma—he would have entered history, and there his adventure ends. A season that finished badly and became worse with the De Rossi question. There were certainly better Roma sides in terms of play, but emotionally something unique was created: Mourinho left a mark on Roma. Against Como it is an open, difficult match to read. But Roma can win it, if it has more desire than it showed against Inter. I think Roma will hardly fail."

Donyell Malen has explained his move to Roma and his early impressions in an interview with Corriere dello Sport, crediting the club's environment and coaching for unlocking his best form. The forward said he had never scored as many goals as he has in his first weeks at Roma, attributing the change to finding the right place with the right people. "I've played a lot everywhere, but today I believe I'm in the right place with the right people," Malen said. "The coach and my teammates give me a lot of confidence, and all these things together bring me to be what I dreamed of." He described an immediate connection with Paulo Dybala, laughing at online nicknames like "Dymalen" and "Dybalen" that play on their names. Malen confirmed he decided to leave Aston Villa himself, seeking regular football and a central role in the team. "I wanted to play, to be part of a squad where I could take the pitch every weekend and be important," he said. "In that phase I didn't feel I was, so I think I made the best choice." He praised Roma's stature, fanbase, and coaching staff as decisive factors in his decision, and highlighted the adjustment to Serie A's climate and defensive structure compared to the Premier League. "In England it rains a lot and it's cold. Here, in summer, you have to slow the game down: you can't go back and forth at forty degrees. In the Premier League there's a different philosophy—you never find defensive blocks like those in Italy." Malen revealed he was injured during the recent international break and regretted being unable to answer a Netherlands call-up. He also praised several teammates, singling out Niccolò Pisilli as "very young but you see immediately that he has quality" and Manu Koné as "fantastic." On head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, Malen said: "The way he manages players: you know he'll never lie to you." He acknowledged Gasperini's training sessions are "very heavy at times" but stopped short of confirming he had vomited from exhaustion like some other players have reported. He did reveal Gasperini threw furniture in the dressing room after the Parma match in celebration: "It was incredible. He was too happy: a table flew too."

Donyell Malen has praised his instant connection with Paulo Dybala and described Roma as the right environment for him to flourish, in an interview with Corriere dello Sport. The forward, who joined from Aston Villa, credited the club's dimension—its importance, supporters, coaching staff and squad—with accelerating his development. "I've never felt like this before, and from the first days," Malen said. "I think everything has changed. I've played a lot and everywhere, but today I believe I'm in the right place with the right people. The manager and my teammates give me so much confidence, and all of these things together bring me to be what I dreamed of being." Malen explained his decision to leave Aston Villa: "It was me, I wanted to play, to be part of a squad where I could take the field every weekend and be important. In that phase I didn't feel I was, so I think I made the best choice." His impact at Roma has been significant—he highlighted his debut as a turning point. "The first match. Starting very well, scoring a hat-trick, was fundamental. As a squad, we were strong and connected, and the feeling I had was immediately very good. From moments like this we can build and do something special." On his preferred position, he stated: "In the centre is where I feel better, more comfortable." Malen expressed surprise at the quality of midfielders Niccolò Pisilli and Manu Koné. "He is very young, I saw immediately he has quality. Manu, fantastic," he said. He also praised head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's directness in managing players: "The way he manages the players, you know he will never lie to you about anything. After Parma he was too happy—even a table flew." Malen described differences between Italian and English football, noting the defensive blocks in Serie A and the contrasting tactical philosophies, before declining to engage in a comparison with Lautaro Martínez over goalscoring: "Better that I concentrate on myself."

Italy Under-21 head coach Silvio Baldini has called for Serie A clubs to guarantee regular playing time for young prospects, citing Niccolò Pisilli's rise as proof of the method's success. Speaking to the Gazzetta dello Sport, Baldini highlighted Pisilli's journey at Roma, noting that the midfielder was sidelined at the start of last season before being given opportunities that ultimately led to his call-up to the senior national team. "Our hope is that they give space to these boys," Baldini said. "I think of Pisilli at the start of last year, when he was not playing at Roma. Then he was used and he arrived in the senior national team. If they don't play, these boys don't progress. Talent should not be imprisoned in tactics. And 11 or 12 of them, for me, are completely ready for the senior national team: it's just about choosing. I don't choose—for me they are like my sons." Baldini's comments underline the importance of pathway development for young Italian talent at club level.

Roma face Como in a tactical battle between Fabregas and Gasperini, two coaches with contrasting philosophies seeking to dictate play. Gasperini is considering deploying Rodrigo Mora on the trequarti in support of Dybala and Malen, a move with both technical and tactical significance. Against Como's four-man defence, this setup would allow Mora to exploit space between the lines and combine quickly with two players whose strengths complement each other: Dybala's ability to read situations others miss and Malen's capacity to attack space immediately. Marten de Roon is expected to anchor midfield, providing equilibrium and tactical knowledge of Gasperini's systems crucial against Como's possession-based approach. Evan N'Dicka is favoured over Leonardo Balerdi in defence, with Nahuel Molina and Wesley operating on the flanks. The match's decisive factor may lie on the wings. Como build superiority through passing and draw pressure to free players in space; Roma counterpress through individual aggression and advanced recovery. The fullbacks will be fundamental, needing to support attacking play without leaving the corridors Como exploits. Molina and Wesley could prove decisive both in pressing and by forcing Como's wingers to defend, preventing Fabregas's side from developing their game with continuity. The sides have met twice previously in contrasting circumstances. At the Olimpico, Roma imposed themselves through intense pressing, with Wesley scoring the decisive goal. In the return fixture, a side lacking clear attacking reference points gradually lost shape and ceded initiative to Como. However, this Roma present different offensive possibilities. The presence of Malen, Dybala's talent and Mora's potential deployment offer Gasperini solutions capable of troubling a well-organised team like Fabregas's. Roma must start aggressively, press immediately and prevent Como from gaining confidence in their passing patterns.

Roma are working on multiple transfer targets for the January window beyond Endrick, the Brazilian forward who has caught coach Gian Piero Gasperini's eye. While Endrick is a striker and left-footer who has shown he can operate in a secondary role at Lyon, his arrival may prove redundant given Paulo Dybala's elevated form and Matías Soulé's recent return to top condition — both players already operate in the centre-forward areas where the Brazilian would likely be deployed. Director Tony D'Amico is therefore pursuing alternative options, with initial contact already made on two specific players. The first is Georgian left-winger Kvernadze, a right-footed player with an imposing physical presence, pace and goalscoring ability who could compensate on that flank for the different profile offered by Rodrigo Mora. The second is Ruben van Bommel of PSV, son of the former Milan and Barcelona midfielder and current Belgium coach. Van Bommel, born 2004, was sidelined by a serious injury last season but has since recovered and is back at peak fitness. Van Bommel has scored 2 goals and provided 4 assists, and has already gained early Champions League experience. Roma's recruitment staff view both players as capable of strengthening the squad in areas where tactical balance is needed.

Andrea Stramaccioni has outlined his tactical views on the upcoming Como–Roma fixture, arguing that the two clubs have made significant progress since last season but Inter retain an edge. "Senza dubbio sarà una sfida tra due squadre che hanno dimostrato di essere cresciute tantissimo nel finale dello scorso campionato e hanno ricominciato più forti e competitive. L'Inter però ha ancora qualcosa in più, anche se il gap si è ridotto," the DAZN analyst said. Stramaccioni highlighted Roma's home victory over Como last season as a blueprint for the contest. Roma's approach then centred on suffocating Como's quality and cutting off their creative outlets. He noted that Gasperini and Como's Fabregas have met four times in Serie A—each winning twice—and on each occasion Roma fielded a midfielder in the trident to provide tactical balance: Pasalic and Samardžić in the two matches against Atalanta, and Pellegrini in the two against Roma. "Quindi assolutamente sì, Lorenzo sarebbe perfetto per avere maggiore duttilità tattica," Stramaccioni said of Pellegrini's capacity to drop deep and provide equilibrium. He added that if Pellegrini were unavailable, Gasperini could deploy Matías Soulé in a more defensive role during phases without possession, as the club managed against Inter. On the battle between the playmakers, Stramaccioni separated Paulo Dybala and Como's Paz: "Sono due giocatori che fanno innamorare chi ama questo gioco." Dybala, he argued, has won everything and operates as a second forward with greater determining power, while Paz possesses crystalline talent and functions as a number ten capable of dropping deeper or drifting right. "Ad oggi, però, Paulo è leggermente più determinante nella Roma di quanto non lo sia Nico nel Como," Stramaccioni concluded.

Andrea Stramaccioni, a technical commentator for DAZN and former Roma Primavera manager, has analysed the Como–Roma fixture scheduled for 11 October at 12:30 in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. He positions the match as a contest between two of Inter's principal challengers, noting that both teams strengthened significantly in the final stages of last season and resumed this campaign more competitive, though Inter still hold an edge. Stramaccioni identified the tactical battleground as one between Como's model of technical possession and horizontal circulation—characteristic of Cesc Fabregas's setup—and Roma's aggression, speed and vertical intensity under Gian Piero Gasperini. He said: "The key will favour whoever succeeds in removing more 'certainties' from their opponent, that is, preventing them from playing as they wish by imposing their own rhythm." He predicted Como will employ rotations to draw Roma's key markers out of position and create space in transition. Against this, Roma can replicate their dominant performance in last season's home fixture, when they limited Como's possession and suffocated their creative sources, though he cautioned against an imbalanced approach. On Roma's midfield balance, Stramaccioni highlighted Lorenzo Pellegrini's potential dual role as a left-sided player who can drop deeper. He noted that in all four Serie A meetings between Gasperini and Fabregas—each won two apiece—a midfielder with an "equilibrating" function has started in Roma's attacking three: Pasalic and Samardzic against Atalanta, Pellegrini against Como. Alternatively, Matías Soulé could be deployed in a match requiring greater defensive sacrifice, as occurred against Inter. On the respective playmakers, Stramaccioni assessed Paulo Dybala and Nicolás Paz: "Both are players who captivate lovers of the game. They are obviously at different stages of their development and have different characteristics. Paulo has won everything; he is a player who determines outcomes and functions as a second striker. Nico has crystalline talent and is more of a number ten, capable of dropping deeper or starting decentred on the right. Today, however, Paulo is slightly more decisive in Roma than Nico is in Como."

Andrea Stramaccioni has outlined his tactical views on the upcoming Como–Roma fixture, arguing that the two clubs have made significant progress since last season but Inter retain an edge. "Senza dubbio sarà una sfida tra due squadre che hanno dimostrato di essere cresciute tantissimo nel finale dello scorso campionato e hanno ricominciato più forti e competitive. L'Inter però ha ancora qualcosa in più, anche se il gap si è ridotto," the DAZN analyst said. Stramaccioni highlighted Roma's home victory over Como last season as a blueprint for the contest. Roma's approach then centred on suffocating Como's quality and cutting off their creative outlets. He noted that Gasperini and Como's Fabregas have met four times in Serie A—each winning twice—and on each occasion Roma fielded a midfielder in the trident to provide tactical balance: Pasalic and Samardžić in the two matches against Atalanta, and Pellegrini in the two against Roma. "Quindi assolutamente sì, Lorenzo sarebbe perfetto per avere maggiore duttilità tattica," Stramaccioni said of Pellegrini's capacity to drop deep and provide equilibrium. He added that if Pellegrini were unavailable, Gasperini could deploy Matías Soulé in a more defensive role during phases without possession, as the club managed against Inter. On the battle between the playmakers, Stramaccioni separated Paulo Dybala and Como's Paz: "Sono due giocatori che fanno innamorare chi ama questo gioco." Dybala, he argued, has won everything and operates as a second forward with greater determining power, while Paz possesses crystalline talent and functions as a number ten capable of dropping deeper or drifting right. "Ad oggi, però, Paulo è leggermente più determinante nella Roma di quanto non lo sia Nico nel Como," Stramaccioni concluded.

Roma's media panel debated squad selection and the Como fixture ahead of the club's return to action after an international break. Carina highlighted Gasperini's challenge in a congested fixture schedule: following weeks without the full squad available for training, the manager faced a first full session yesterday, 8 October, with today marking the real start of preparation. The key tactical doubt lay on the left wing—between Mora and Soulé—with Mora favoured so far due to more days at Trigoria, though that contest remained fluid. "Chi non giocherà a Como, giocherà contro il Real Madrid," Carina noted, pointing to Como's importance as a league fixture before the Champions League showdown. With only three central midfielders in the squad, Pellegrini's potential return offered vital depth; the pundit called Como–Roma "the most important match for Gasperini, not the Real Madrid one." Torri, speaking on Mana Mana Sport, predicted Soulé would start the Como match "if he is well." "Gasperini will assess him over these two days, and if he is fit, he will play," Torri said. Dybala and Malen were automatic selections. Pruzzo underlined the value of a healthy Pellegrini, noting that returning him to the three-man midfield would create a fourth option—"an alternative you must have." He stressed that beating Como would maintain Roma's level and force Como's manager Fabregas to chase a result against Fiorentina, establishing "a certain gap" in the standings. Orsi and Mattioli backed De Roon as a reliable midfield presence. "De Roon can start quite comfortably," Orsi said. "He doesn't move the centremidfield dynamically, but he already knows Gasperini's tactical systems." Mattioli called De Roon "an inexhaustible motor" with "incredible athletic longevity," though he acknowledged the midfielder cannot play 96 matches. "His contribution will come. I believe Roma can come away with points—I do not know if a draw or a win." Pes reflected on José Mourinho's tenure, commenting: "At an emotional level, Mourinho's period was a moment of truly great unity. Budapest could have been the crowning of his season with Roma—he would have entered history, and there his adventure ends. A season that finished badly and became worse with the De Rossi question. There were certainly better Roma sides in terms of play, but emotionally something unique was created: Mourinho left a mark on Roma. Against Como it is an open, difficult match to read. But Roma can win it, if it has more desire than it showed against Inter. I think Roma will hardly fail."