Roma Seal Koulierakis Deal as Gasperini Eyes Left-Wing Reinforcement

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.

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."

Roma's transfer activity is not yet complete. Director D'Amico is already planning for January, with Endrick, the Brazilian forward at Real Madrid, emerging as a priority target. The 2006-born striker has found little playing time this season due to the fierce competition for places in Madrid's attack, and Roma see him as an ideal solution for Gasperini's requirements. Gasperini has repeatedly emphasised that the squad needs reinforcement, particularly an left-footed winger on the right flank—a position Roma failed to fill during the summer window despite the coach's request for more than a year. Endrick fits the profile of an attacking player who could provide what the Roma boss demands. D'Amico is working on a loan deal with an optional purchase clause and a counter-purchase option in Real Madrid's favour. The structure mirrors Endrick's move to Lyon in January of last year, which was arranged as a paid loan with performance-related bonuses tied to his appearances.

Roma's defensive hierarchy may begin to shift. Gianluca Mancini remains one of Gian Piero Gasperini's key figures, but in the last two matches he has shown signs of fatigue, while Leonardo Balerdi has made the most of every minute he has been given from the bench. Against Atalanta and Fenerbahce the pattern was identical: Mancini started and Balerdi came on in the second half. In just two substitute appearances totalling 39 minutes, the Argentine defender has caught attention through his personality, aggression in duels and physical engagement. Gasperini introduced him with a precise description: "A captain"—not merely a reference to the armband Balerdi wore at Marseille, but above all a reflection of a defender who appears to need little time to settle mentally into matches. Mancini remains understandably one of Roma's certainties and it would be premature to speak of a true reversal of the pecking order. However, two consecutive substitutions and the need to manage a third match in a few days could open the door. Against Torino, Balerdi could have his first real opportunity to start. It also signals the depth the defensive unit has reached. With Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso ahead, Gasperini can call on alternatives including Balerdi, Koulierakis and Ghilardi. The Argentine is the one pushing hardest right now to change the hierarchy. Mancini remains the starter and Balerdi has begun to knock on the door. At Torino, Gasperini may decide to open it.

Roma radio stations aired differing assessments of the club's draw away to Fenerbahçe and the squad assembled for the 2026–27 season. Roberto Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio mattina, praised Roma's display as good but not spectacular, and expressed lingering doubts about the expanded squad's overall quality. He acknowledged that Castro is the best option among the substitutes, but highlighted concerns about the club's recruitment strategy. "I had many doubts about this enlarged squad, perhaps it is not qualitatively as good as people say," Pruzzo said. "When you need to change in the second half, a good player comes on but with different characteristics." On the forward Mason Greenwood, he added: "For Greenwood an extra effort should have been made—he is someone who changes the balance of matches. The problem was the wages, but in a season like this you needed certainties like him who in matches like these shakes everything up. I would not have spent money on Koulierakis, a profile Roma already has in the squad. I would have signed a midfielder instead." Pruzzo also offered qualified praise for Leonardo Balerdi, the summer arrival on defence, and said he expects Matías Mastantuono to prove decisive. He stressed that Roma must be competitive across every component of the squad. Nando Orsi, also of Radio Radio mattina, countered that the expanded roster was necessary for rotation across three competitions, and that Roma's single point from Istanbul was a valuable one. Filippo Biafora (Radio Manà Manà – 90.9) was less critical of the draw, calling it unexpectedly tough, and suggested that Manu Koné will be preserved for the match against Torino after a minor complaint, with Bryan Cristante and Niccolò Pisilli expected to form the midfield pairing.

Roma kick off their Champions League campaign against Fenerbahce in Istanbul, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini confirming a strong starting lineup. Gasperini has retained the core of Roma's winning run this season, with one change: Devyne Rensch starts at left-back in place of Emanuele Lulli. Paulo Dybala takes his regular place in attack, flanking Matías Soulé behind Donyell Malen in a 3-4-2-1 formation. Rodrigo Mora is unused among the substitutes, expected to come on in the second half if needed. Nahuel Molina's first-team debut from the start is postponed. Roma field: Svilar; Mancini, N'Dicka, Hermoso; Rensch, Cristante, Koné, Wesley; Soulé, Dybala; Malen. Among the squad available from the bench are De Marzi, Gollini, Balerdi, Ghilardi, Koulierakis, Lulli, Molina, De Roon, Pisilli, Mora and Castro. Fenerbahce start with Ederson in goal and deploy Muriqi as their centre-forward, supported by Mason Greenwood and Ferdi Aktörkoglu in attacking midfield. The Turkish side's squad includes Raphaël Varane in their defensive ranks.

Roma's opening week in the Champions League has delivered both significant encouragement and a small warning signal. The club's comeback victory against Atalanta—from 1–0 down to a 2–1 win in four minutes—and a draw away to Fenerbahce have created a picture of a squad with considerable depth and psychological resilience, but also a pattern worth monitoring in the matches ahead. Bryan Cristante emerged as the week's standout performer and the clearest evidence of Roma's evolution under Gasperini. Against Fenerbahce, Cristante scored the opening goal and touched the ball 112 times, completing 91 passes and playing 24 balls into the final third. His rise from useful squad member to gravitational centre of the team's balance, personality and order has become impossible to ignore. The bench itself proved the most interesting development of the week. When Gasperini made changes against Atalanta, the team did not lose force but gained it. Nahuel Molina increased the team's thrust down the flank, Santiago Castro signalled he is ready to make an impact, and Matías Soulé came off the bench to decide the match. Leonardo Balerdi also impressed, intent on climbing the manager's hierarchy. Roma's refusal to accept defeat completed the narrative: at 89 minutes against Atalanta, trailing 1–0, the side won 2–1 in the next four minutes through Mario Hermoso and Soulé. That capacity to keep playing and pushing until the final second is among the week's best signals. Two consecutive early-second-half goals, however, have begun to form a pattern. Ederson scored at 47 minutes in Roma's win over Atalanta; Brown equalised at 48 minutes in Fenerbahce's match against Roma. Gasperini himself acknowledged after Istanbul: "they are two clues." It does not necessarily signal a structural problem, but Roma has taken a few minutes too long to fully switch back on after the interval in both games. Donyell Malen's dip comes not from genuine crisis but from unrealistic expectations. He began the season in exaggerated form—multiple goals, a barrage of them, and the sense that every touch would create a chance. Two scoreless matches were enough to shift perception, though he supplied an assist for Cristante against Fenerbahce. At Istanbul he appeared less brilliant and dominant than in his opening displays. Gianluca Mancini and Wesley, meanwhile, remain undisputed pillars but have not yet shown their best form. Mancini has appeared less dominant and assured than his standard, while Wesley must rediscover the continuity, brilliance and ability to devastate the flank that had made him among Roma's most incisive players. No alarm: simply two important engines not yet running at full revs.

Jayden Oosterwolde's move to Roma may not be permanently over. The Dutch defender came close to signing during the summer before medical issues during his examination caused the deal to collapse. On Thursday he attended Fenerbahce's match against Roma and met with people he had encountered during his brief time in the capital in August. When asked about a return to Roma, Oosterwolde said: "I hope to come back in Rome in any months," signalling his desire to join in the coming months. Roma have not entirely ruled out reviving the transfer, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The club intends to first monitor how Oosterwolde's recovery progresses after his operation. Should those signs be positive, sporting director Tony D'Amico could reopen talks with Fenerbahce in the January transfer window. The original deal structured in August involved a €1 million loan with a €16 million purchase option conditional on certain criteria being met. If negotiations resume, the formula could be reworked in light of the injury and the months that have passed. Oosterwolde could also represent an investment not just for January but with the 2027–28 season in mind, given that Mario Hermoso's contract expires in June and other defenders' futures may be evaluated based on the club's technical and financial needs. No new negotiations are currently underway, but the door that appeared firmly shut this summer may have been left slightly ajar. Oosterwolde himself makes clear which outcome he prefers: to return to Roma and complete what was interrupted in August.

Roma's defensive hierarchy may begin to shift. Gianluca Mancini remains one of Gian Piero Gasperini's key figures, but in the last two matches he has shown signs of fatigue, while Leonardo Balerdi has made the most of every minute he has been given from the bench. Against Atalanta and Fenerbahce the pattern was identical: Mancini started and Balerdi came on in the second half. In just two substitute appearances totalling 39 minutes, the Argentine defender has caught attention through his personality, aggression in duels and physical engagement. Gasperini introduced him with a precise description: "A captain"—not merely a reference to the armband Balerdi wore at Marseille, but above all a reflection of a defender who appears to need little time to settle mentally into matches. Mancini remains understandably one of Roma's certainties and it would be premature to speak of a true reversal of the pecking order. However, two consecutive substitutions and the need to manage a third match in a few days could open the door. Against Torino, Balerdi could have his first real opportunity to start. It also signals the depth the defensive unit has reached. With Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso ahead, Gasperini can call on alternatives including Balerdi, Koulierakis and Ghilardi. The Argentine is the one pushing hardest right now to change the hierarchy. Mancini remains the starter and Balerdi has begun to knock on the door. At Torino, Gasperini may decide to open it.

Niccolò Pisilli and Emanuele Lulli embody Roma's academy excellence — both young, Roman-born romanisti developed through the club's youth system. Pisilli, born in 2004, has amassed 81 appearances in a Roma shirt and will make his 82nd against Torino tomorrow, starting in midfield alongside Bryan Cristante for the first time this season. Lulli, 19 and born in 2007, was rested during Roma's Champions League fixture at Fenerbahce to protect him, and will face Torino with Cacciamani — another Roma summer target of identical age — opposing him. The pair represent the calibre of talent being developed within the club. Marten de Roon, among the recent arrivals, is gradually being integrated into the squad rotation, while Nahuel Molina — not yet at full condition — is expected to feature more regularly in the starting eleven after the international break. The Stadio Olimpico will host the clash against Atalanta, where national team coach Mancini was present to observe Roma's players. On the transfer front, Salah-Eddine has left Roma to join Panathinaikos on loan with a purchase option set at 7 million euros plus 1 million in add-ons, completing the final operation of the summer window.

Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing to rotate his squad heavily ahead of matches against Torino and Inter, with Koné, Dybala, Malen and Mancini among those likely to be rested. Castro, Mora, Soulé, Pisilli and De Roon are expected to see more action as Roma look to preserve their key players and test the depth of the squad while addressing defensive issues that have emerged in recent fixtures. Salah-Eddine's departure to Panathinaikos is confirmed. The left-back moves on a loan deal with a right of redemption and underwent medical tests in Athens today to complete the transfer. Separately, defender Oosterwolde has reopened the possibility of joining Roma. An achilles tendon operation had scuppered a move earlier this summer, but Oosterwolde met with Roma officials in Istanbul and signalled his willingness to return. "I hope to come back to Roma in the coming months," he said. The club remains interested with D'Amico continuing to monitor developments. Gasperini values Oosterwolde's versatility, and his recovery from surgery will be key to determining whether Roma can revive the deal as early as January. Carina told Radio Radio: "I've read plenty of criticism of Roma. In 30 years doing this job I'd never known a situation where I couldn't speak to my colleague—there was an absurd broadcast an hour and a half before the match and 30 minutes after. Given where it was played, Roma put in a more than decent performance: they dominated the first half. From the stadium, I had the sense that Roma wouldn't lose it, and could even have won it." Pruzzo added: "I saw a good Roma. What I keep thinking is that I have many doubts about whether the squad is qualitatively as strong as people say: I don't have that perception. In the first half they played like last season, but in the second, when you need to change, there isn't the same level. I think Castro is Roma's best option off the bench. Then Molina comes on and does the same thing as Rensch, and Mora yesterday did nothing."

Anass Salah-Eddine has left AS Roma to join Greek club Panathinaikos on loan with a purchase option worth €7 million plus €1 million in add-ons. The deal was confirmed on 12 September 2026, with the left back undergoing medical examinations in Athens the same day. The 25-year-old Moroccan defender has fallen out of favour under Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and sought a move to secure regular playing time. Roma and Panathinaikos had been in advanced talks over the transfer, with the loan structure agreed as a conditional obligation to buy. The move also saw backing from Azzedine Ounahi, Salah-Eddine's Morocco teammate, while Olympiacos had also pursued the player. Transfer specialist Gianluca Di Marzio and Sky Sport reported that discussions between the two clubs reached an advanced stage before the deal was finalised. Fabrizio Romano confirmed the agreement with a verbal accord struck and medical arrangements locked in place. The buy clause structure was finalised at €7m plus €1m add-ons, with the option to make the transfer permanent at the conclusion of the loan spell. Salah-Eddine's departure marks his exit from Roma's squad after being deemed surplus to requirements by Gasperini's technical project. The player moves to the Super League Greece seeking greater opportunities for competitive action.