Roma return to Trigoria as El Aynaoui set to rejoin squad

Roma are already preparing for the January transfer window, with sporting director Tony D'Amico studying a deal to bring Real Madrid forward Endrick to the club. The summer transfer window has just closed, but Roma believe the squad assembled in recent weeks can still be strengthened, particularly in attack. D'Amico is exploring a loan arrangement that would include a purchase option for Roma and a counter-option for Real Madrid—a complex formula designed to give both clubs a stake in the player's future while allowing Roma to move beyond a straightforward temporary deal. Endrick is facing limited opportunities at Madrid due to competition in the attacking department, and the prospect of regular playing time in Rome could help facilitate the move. For head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, he would represent another quality option for an attack the manager believes can still be improved. The fact that D'Amico is already studying the mechanics and conditions shows Roma's intent to arrive at January fully prepared and complete what was not possible in the final days of summer. Endrick is no longer merely a name circulating in transfer gossip; it is a target Roma intends to pursue with considerable advance preparation.

Niccolò Pisilli is set to make his first Serie A start of the season in Roma's trip to Torino, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini moving to deploy the midfielder alongside Bryan Cristante. The decision comes with Manu Koné sidelined by knee inflammation and training separately; Gasperini has chosen to preserve the French midfielder ahead of the Inter fixture. Pisilli, born in 2004 and a Roma academy product, has made 81 appearances for the club and has already contributed 71 minutes and a goal against Fiorentina this season. Gasperini's faith in the young midfielder reflects a wider commitment: in the summer transfer window, the coach blocked a potential sale to Porto worth approximately €25 million, convinced Pisilli could become an important rotation option. That conviction was reinforced during the Istanbul fixture when Koné was injured and Gasperini again chose Pisilli over Marten de Roon. Emanuele Lulli, born in 2007, offers a parallel story of academy development. The defender has started Roma's first three league matches and impressed against Fiorentina, Lecce, and Atalanta before being rested during the Champions League match against Fenerbahce. His availability for the Torino trip remains uncertain after a bout of influenza forced him to miss the latest training session. Should he recover, he will compete for the right-back spot where Nahuel Molina has not yet reached peak fitness and Devyne Rensch did not convince in Istanbul. Both players embody Roma's strategy of developing talent within the academy system. With a long season ahead across both Serie A and the Champions League, having two Trigoria-raised players capable of earning genuine first-team rotation represents far more than a feel-good story for the club.

Marten de Roon continues to command respect from his former Atalanta teammates despite fan anger at the club, which surfaced during a defeat to Cagliari on 12 September. The midfielder, now a Roma player for the past two weeks, was praised by Lazar Samardzic in the aftermath of that match. Speaking to DAZN after the game, Samardzic said: "Marten is Atalanta for us, he spent ten years here and achieved tremendous results. For us he is a legend, we wish him the best because he is an incredible person who helped so many of the boys who arrived. For us he is number one, he will always be our captain." De Roon's departure to Roma represents a significant moment for Atalanta, where he had become a cornerstone of the squad. The affection shown by current players underscores the influence he wielded during his decade at the club, even as supporters expressed their frustration with recent performances. Atalanta manager Maurizio Sarri also spoke to DAZN following the 2–1 loss to Cagliari at the New Balance Arena. He referenced Roma's 2–1 victory over Atalanta at the Olimpico in the previous round, saying: "I was worried after Bologna, in part after Roma, not certainly after the match with Cagliari. I am very disappointed by the result, but I saw a bit of light at the end of the tunnel."

Marten De Roon is settling into his opening weeks as a Roma player after nine years at Atalanta. Head coach Gasperini, who worked extensively with the Dutchman at Bergamo, brought him in to strengthen the midfield following the departure of Neil El Aynaoui. De Roon has already featured in the closing stages of Roma's match against Lecce, and he has taken a lighter approach to his adjustment by sharing a social media post of a video call with fellow countryman Kevin Strootman, the former Roma midfielder, asking for advice about life in the capital. Strootman spent five seasons in giallorosso between 2013 and 2018, making 131 appearances and scoring 13 goals. He became a fans' favourite for his combative style and the passion he showed for the club. De Roon's post joked about the situation, using his Dutch connection to seek tips on settling in at Roma. De Roon wrote on social media: "Happy to be here. There is only one Dutchman to call when you want advice on Roma." The post reflected the 33-year-old midfielder's sense of humour as he begins life at the Stadio Olimpico, tapping into Strootman's experience of the club and the city to guide his early months in the Italian capital.

Roma's loanees across Italy and Europe made an impact on the weekend. Artem Dovbyk was the standout performer, coming off the bench in the 66th minute for Bologna against Sassuolo and scoring the equaliser in the 91st minute to secure a 2–2 draw and the Rossoblu's first point of the season. The Ukrainian striker's decisive finish came in an Emilia derby on loan with a right of redemption clause. Elsewhere, young goalkeeper Radoslaw Zelezny put in a strong performance for Perugia in their 2–1 victory over Pineto, playing all 90 minutes as the side's first-choice keeper. The 2006-born Zelezny was blameless for the goal conceded and made several crucial saves, including a high-quality intervention in the first half and a decisive stop in the second. He is on loan at the Umbrian club with an option and counter-option attached. Midfield prospect Alessandro Romano again started for Cagliari in Serie A, remaining on the pitch for the full 90 minutes as the Sardinians won 1–0 away at Lecce thanks to a Daniel Maldini goal in the 29th minute. Romano's loan includes an obligation to buy if certain sporting conditions are met. Neil El Aynaoui made an immediate first-team debut for RB Leipzig, starting in the away fixture against Werder Brema and playing until the 75th minute. However, Leipzig suffered a 3–1 defeat. The Moroccan midfielder's move is on loan with a right of redemption. Filippo Reale, a 2006-born defender, played the full 90 minutes for Carrarese on the flank in their 1–0 home loss to Empoli, conceding in the 74th minute; he is on loan with an option and counter-option in Roma's favour. Luigi Cherubini started in attack for Benevento in the first half at Ascoli before being substituted at the interval; Benevento were reduced to ten men in the 41st minute by Prisco's red card and lost 1–0 to a Brunori penalty in the closing stages. Cherubini's loan includes a right of option and obligation to buy. Mattia Mannini received his first call-up after joining Benevento on loan but remained unused from the bench in the same Ascoli defeat. Angeliño was an unused substitute as Deportivo La Coruña won 3–2 away at Villarreal in La Liga. Robinio Vaz was included in a Premier League squad for the first time after a late-market transfer to Hull City but did not feature in a 0–0 draw with Aston Villa. Jan Ziółkowski was unavailable for Monza's away trip to Parma—which ended 1–1—due to a plantar fascia problem requiring monitoring. Marash Kumbulla likewise missed Rayo Vallecano's 3–2 victory over Racing Santander as he continues to deal with a knee issue.

Gian Piero Gasperini held his pre-match press conference ahead of Roma's Serie A fixture against Atalanta on matchday three, addressing injury updates and his feelings about the club. Paulo Dybala's tests have shown nothing concerning, though he will train on the day of the press conference to build confidence before three matches this week. On free-agent recruitment, Gasperini expressed doubt: "I believe it is difficult, I do not know what the possibilities might be, but I would not count on it much." He closed the door firmly on reintegrating Salah-Eddine, stating the player "has had several opportunities that he has refused. As far as Roma goes, I have already made choices and he is not in Roma's plans." Evan N'Dicka's injury status has improved substantially, with Gasperini saying "N'Dicka much better, I believe he is in the match. Today we will try him out." Lorenzo Pellegrini is progressing gradually and may return "perhaps with Inter or after the break," indicating a timeline beyond the immediate fixtures. Donyell Malen continues to impress, though Gasperini suggested working on his repertoire. The coach praised Rodrigo Mora's development after two consecutive appearances: "He is young but has already shown his talent against Fiorentina and Lecce. He has ample room for growth in the physical aspect, resistance and fitness. We are dealing with a boy of absolute value." Gasperini defended his decision not to name hierarchies in midfield despite the departure of Neil El Aynaoui and the arrival of Marten de Roon. "Pisilli is very far advanced: he has taken on maturity, awareness, he has grown, he is strong," Gasperini said. "I have four players there, I do not make hierarchies. De Roon, Balerdi and the latest arrivals must reach their best condition; they will play spells and we will see them at full-time probably after the break. Pisilli, Koné and Cristante are solid. We play in 16 and there are many matches. Do not make distinctions between those who start at the beginning and those who come in because in the end you will see that the playing time will be similar for everyone." On squad depth and tactical flexibility, he confirmed Santiago Castro and Mora can operate as forwards and that multiple tactical interpretations are possible. When asked about his time at Roma changing him, Gasperini reflected: "Certainly this experience has enriched me. I arrived in a different environment after nine years of great satisfaction and great integration with the city and the environment. It was not an easy choice, but I am happy to have made it because the conditions no longer existed. Great gratitude and great respect though for Atalanta. To feel alive again, the Roma piazza has been the maximum: it motivates you, stimulates you and we needed to improve the squad, so there was the challenge of needing to improve on what had been done up to that point." On Matías Soulé, he confirmed the player's pubalgia is behind him and he has recovered to excellent condition.

Niccolò Pisilli is set to make his first Serie A start of the season in Roma's trip to Torino, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini moving to deploy the midfielder alongside Bryan Cristante. The decision comes with Manu Koné sidelined by knee inflammation and training separately; Gasperini has chosen to preserve the French midfielder ahead of the Inter fixture. Pisilli, born in 2004 and a Roma academy product, has made 81 appearances for the club and has already contributed 71 minutes and a goal against Fiorentina this season. Gasperini's faith in the young midfielder reflects a wider commitment: in the summer transfer window, the coach blocked a potential sale to Porto worth approximately €25 million, convinced Pisilli could become an important rotation option. That conviction was reinforced during the Istanbul fixture when Koné was injured and Gasperini again chose Pisilli over Marten de Roon. Emanuele Lulli, born in 2007, offers a parallel story of academy development. The defender has started Roma's first three league matches and impressed against Fiorentina, Lecce, and Atalanta before being rested during the Champions League match against Fenerbahce. His availability for the Torino trip remains uncertain after a bout of influenza forced him to miss the latest training session. Should he recover, he will compete for the right-back spot where Nahuel Molina has not yet reached peak fitness and Devyne Rensch did not convince in Istanbul. Both players embody Roma's strategy of developing talent within the academy system. With a long season ahead across both Serie A and the Champions League, having two Trigoria-raised players capable of earning genuine first-team rotation represents far more than a feel-good story for the club.

Niccolò Pisilli is set to start for Roma against Torino on 13 September, filling the midfield slot alongside Bryan Cristante after Manu Koné suffered a slight knee injury during the Champions League visit to Fenerbahçe. The class of 2004 midfielder will make his first Serie A start of the season after three substitute appearances, stepping in as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini manages the squad across a packed fixture schedule. Gasperini opted to deploy Pisilli over Marten de Roon in Turkey, a signal of the hierarchy in midfield. Koné is likely to be rested to avoid compounding the injury ahead of the Inter fixture. Gasperini trusts Pisilli and values his offensive contribution and application without the ball, according to reports in Il Tempo. The coach is expected to make other changes across the defence and attack but will not drastically overhaul the team despite the rapid fixture congestion. Elsewhere, Leonardo Balerdi is pressing for minutes after two decent cameos in earlier games. Devyne Rensch struggled in Istanbul, leaving the right-back position uncertain, with Nahuel Molina still without a league start this season and Emanuele Lulli dealing with flu that prevented him training on 12 September, though he hopes to travel with the squad. Donyell Malen holds a clear advantage over Santiago Castro in attack. The choice among Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora remains fluid; Gasperini has difficulty leaving any of them out and may ask for an effort from one until the international break.

Roma are preparing for their match against Torino on 14 September with several changes across midfield, defence and attack as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini manages the squad's physical demands. Manu Koné will miss the opening in favour of Niccolò Pisilli, who is set to make his first league start of the 2026-27 season after the French midfielder completed a separate training session on 12 September as a precautionary measure. Lorenzo Pellegrini is available again after his absence and will be included in the squad. The defensive line will see Leonardo Balerdi come into contention to replace Gianluca Mancini, who has appeared below his best in recent outings, with Ghilardi also in the frame. Emanuele Lulli is expected to return to the starting XI on the right flank. In attack, Gasperini plans a managed rotation between Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé to control the demands on his forward resources as Roma push forward in their league campaign.

Gian Piero Gasperini has reshaped AS Roma's environment in just fourteen months, turning a tense setting into a serene one where the squad operates with confidence and compactness. The transformation is evident in the club's strong start to the season: 9 points from the first three Serie A matches and a significant draw secured at Fenerbahce in Istanbul in the Champions League. Playing under enormous pressure in an intense atmosphere, Roma demonstrated maturity by suffering intelligently, maintaining unity, and defending a valuable result. The match showcased the identity Gasperini is constructing—high pressing, intensity, and directness. The squad showed some fatigue early in the second half, a sign the team is still under development, but the coach can rely on a core of key leaders including Svilar, Dybala, N'Dicka, Cristante, Koné and Malen, supported by an increasingly dependable bench featuring Balerdi, Pisilli and other squad members. Fans have grasped and appreciated this direction. Roma knows when to push—as demonstrated against Atalanta at the Olimpico—and when to defend with intelligence, as in Turkey. The giallorossi approach their next challenges against Torino and Inter with enthusiasm and a fresh sense of purpose, ready to test their ambitions further.

Mile Svilar has emerged as Roma's one constant as Gasperini navigates fresh squad questions this season. In Roma's Champions League debut yesterday against Fenerbahce, Svilar was decisive in both the first half and the second period when the Roma defence began to struggle, anchoring a side that had started the league campaign impeccably and shown courage in Europe. While goals from Malen and performances from Dybala, Mora and Soulé have drawn attention in attack, Svilar's quality between the posts has been overshadowed—though he maintains an 87.5% save percentage in Serie A. Gasperini's expansive style, particularly in Europe, exposes Roma's defence to counterattacks and one-on-one situations where Svilar's role becomes critical. Qualification to the knockout stages will depend significantly on his performance. Roma's Champions League campaign this season will pit Svilar against the world's best forwards, a challenge he has prepared for since signing a renewal. His dramatic intervention in the penalty shootout against Feyenoord entered Roma folklore, and the Curva Sud has repeatedly called for his contract extension—unsurprising given his commitment to the club. Svilar marked his return to European competition after nine years by posting on social media: "Grateful to be back playing in the Champions League after 9 years, and even more special to do it with this shirt. Forza Magica Roma!!!" He last played in the competition as an 18-year-old with Benfica. Among all the uncertainties Gasperini will face this season, Svilar remains the pillar of this squad.

Roma's opening Champions League match in Istanbul provided a revealing examination of individual readiness at the competition's highest level, exposing both natural fit and shortcomings that Serie A sometimes masks. Manu Koné emerged as the clearest success story. Until a knee injury forced his substitution at the 52nd minute, he appeared to raise his game as the match intensified, showing pressure, physical duels, ball protection and the ability to break the first press. Donyell Malen proved similarly suited to matches where chances are limited and the capacity to attack space becomes decisive. Mile Svilar's performance raised only the question of how far he can progress in the competition. Paulo Dybala demonstrated that while understanding how to play at this level has never been his problem, availability remains the constraint. When his physical condition allows, the Champions League remains his natural habitat: he takes possession facing forward, makes precise decisions, and creates space where others see none. Gianluca Mancini's European credentials are not in doubt, but Istanbul confirmed he appears less sharp and reactive than his usual standard. His replacement by Leonardo Balerdi sharpened the contrast; the Argentine entered immediately into the match's intensity, bringing aggression and intensity. Nahuel Molina passed a significant test, showing he can handle the demands placed on full-backs across both phases. Wesley posed a tactical question: at left-back with his weaker foot, Fenerbahçe systematically closed his inside corridor, forcing him onto the byline with his left foot and making him more predictable. Rodrigo Mora, frequently called upon by Gian Piero Gasperini, revealed that the Champions League is also a physical examination. Pressed, challenged and confined to tight spaces, he could not impose himself as he knows he can. Matías Soulé discovered that talent must be paired with better decision-making as margins shrink. Dybala, Koné, Malen and Svilar appear ready for this dimension; Balerdi entered with force and Molina withstood the impact. Mancini must rediscover his sharpness, Wesley needs a tactical solution, and Mora requires the physical tools to express his talent at this level.