Roma stalled on Mora as Luis Henrique move appears unlikely

Santiago Castro is searching for his breakthrough at Roma after a subdued start to the 2026-27 season. The Argentina forward, signed this summer from Bologna for €36 million plus 10 per cent of any future resale, has managed just 105 minutes in Serie A and none in cup competition, with zero goals to his name. Donyell Malen, his rival for the forward position, has already scored six times in five league matches and has started every game in both Serie A and the Champions League. Castro knew when he agreed to join Roma that he would compete for a starting place against an elite talent. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has shown no interest in discussing a pecking order, but Malen has consistently been handed the opening lineup slot. Fortune has not favoured Castro either: he struck the woodwork twice in the match against Atalanta. His limited playing time has made it difficult to build momentum, though Gasperini and the club expect his opportunities to increase when the international break ends. Francesco Totti, the Roma legend, has publicly backed Castro and revealed a behind-the-scenes connection to the signing. In his book *Oltre*, Totti recounted a dinner meeting with Gasperini in March and explained his recommendation: "I suggested to him an attacker who was Santiago Castro, a winger and a midfielder, all foreigners. He thought for a moment, then said: 'The winger costs a lot, I hadn't thought about the midfielder and he wouldn't be bad, I really like the attacker. I think we see football the same way, as you did then.' I said: 'It's not about taste, boss. I based it on the philosophy of your teams, especially how you got Atalanta to play for so many years.'"

Roma are weighing a move for Frosinone attacker Giorgi Kvernadze, who has scored three goals already this season and caught the attention of bigger clubs. The Georgia international is valued at over €20 million after joining Frosinone for around €1 million, and is believed to fit Gian Piero Gasperini's system. Roma conducted exploratory research on the player and see him as both a capable acquisition and one offering room for growth. The club pursued several attacking signings in the summer but none materialised. Kvernadze is expected to be a target again in the summer window, as Roma look to strengthen their attacking options. Beyond his ability on the pitch, the player is viewed as a sustainable target with development potential. Hull City have also enquired about Kvernadze, and Roma are hoping his value does not escalate further. The club is evaluating the possibility of executing a favourable January move for the forward.

Roma's Serie A fixture at Bologna on 4 December could be played without Roma supporters in attendance. The match clashes with a Virtus Bologna basketball fixture against Partizan Belgrade in the EuroLeague on the same evening, and authorities are concerned about public order given the rivalry between the two clubs' fanbases. Officials are considering a ban on Roma fans traveling to the Stadio Dall'Ara. In the transfer market, Roma are preparing concrete moves for the January window. Giorgi Kvernadze, a Georgian winger, fits the club's criteria for young signings and has emerged as a potential target. Roma's management would be willing to move toward the €25 million asking price set by Frosinone to accelerate negotiations, though Hull City and Borussia Dortmund have also registered interest in the player. Manu Koné continued his strong form with France in a 1–0 Nations League victory over Turkey, deployed as a central midfielder in a 4-3-3 formation—a different role from his usual position. Zinedine Zidane praised the Roma midfielder after the match, saying: "Manu is not used to playing in that position, I wanted to see this side of him and he was very good in terms of balance." Two analysts also discussed Roma midfielder Nico Pisilli, with one noting his five appearances have included good performances but a normal pattern of variation, while the other highlighted errors in his latest outing despite generally strong displays.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is spending Roma's four-day break in Tuscany with his family before returning to action. The midfielder, sidelined by an injury sustained in the final stages of last season that prevented him from taking part in summer preparation, was pictured at the seafood restaurant La Dogana by Enoteca La Torre in Capalbio alongside chef Ricardo Takamitsu. Roma return to work on Tuesday with their sights set on the Como fixture at the Sinigaglia. Pellegrini's comeback carries significance for Gian Piero Gasperini's squad. If the 7 appears against Como, he will reach 350 Roma appearances, moving to within one of Tommasi's tally, currently 12th in the all-time list. With nine matches in 27 days ahead, Gasperini intends to call on Pellegrini in a role that has been shared between Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora this season.

Antonio Carlos Zago, a defender from Roma's Serie A championship-winning squad, shared a special anecdote about Francesco Totti on a day dedicated to marking 50 years of the club legend. Zago revealed the close bond that remains between them, saying: "I wish Francesco all the happiness in the world, he is a wonderful guy and the relationship between us has stayed very strong." Zago recalled his early days at Roma, when he and Totti were initially roomed together during a retreat. The former defender recounted: "I remember very well that when I arrived at Roma they initially put me with Francesco in a retreat room." Zago went on to describe a memorable incident from that first night, hinting at a prank Totti played that gave him quite a shock.

Rodrigo Mora produced an eye-catching performance for Portugal U21, laying on a decisive assist and displaying moments of outstanding quality as the team's number ten, though Portugal still lost 2–1 to Bulgaria. Mora was man of the match for his side in the fixture, deployed as a central attacking midfielder behind striker Varela in a 4-2-3-1 formation that appeared to suit his strengths. The performance is welcome news for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who has backed Mora since the midfielder's arrival at Roma. His central attacking midfield role — his most natural position — brings out his vision of play and ability in the final pass. However, a tactical puzzle remains: while Mora's qualities are beyond question, his best position is a 4-2-3-1 setup that Gasperini employs only sporadically as a match-in-progress tactical change. Finding tactical common ground will be the crucial step in coming weeks. With the restart of the league campaign and a packed fixture list spanning Serie A and European competition, Mora will have plenty of opportunities to stake a claim for a significant role in the squad.

Roma's players on loan across Europe experienced a mixed week of midweek and league fixtures. Neil El Aynaoui performed well for RB Leipzig despite a 2–0 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, completing 31 of 34 passes and winning 8 of 14 duels while receiving a yellow card in the 74th minute. His statistical rating reached 7.2, among Leipzig's best performances. Anass Salah-Eddine made a convincing debut for Panathinaikos in a Greek Cup tie against Kifisia, playing all 90 minutes on the left flank in a 2–0 victory. FotMob rated him 7.3 for a clean display as Panathinaikos dominated with 71 per cent possession in the first half. By contrast, Angeliño's week at Deportivo La Coruña ended disastrously: he was sent off for a challenge on Miguel Sierra in the 59th minute of a midweek fixture against Sevilla—initially given a yellow card before the VAR review led to a direct red—leaving his side to lose 1–0 already down in the scoreline. Statistical ratings gave him just 5.7, and Deportivo manager Hidalgo noted how the expulsion undermined the team's comeback effort. Angeliño subsequently missed the following 1–1 draw against Betis through suspension. Mohamed Seck at Foggia produced sharply contrasting displays within days. Playing 90 minutes in a goalless midweek draw against Savoia, he was identified as Foggia's best performer, winning nearly every duel against opposing attackers. Coach Auteri retained him for the next match against Inter U23, but this time his form dipped noticeably. Foggia lost 2–1, and a careless passing error by Seck enabled the decisive goal from Fumagalli. Foggiacalciomania rated him 5.5, noting good physical condition but a costly mistake. The week illustrated the growth trajectory of a defender aged just 20, with evident talent and physicality that must be coupled with fewer lapses in concentration. Elsewhere, Federico Nardin at Pescara played the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 midweek draw against Gubbio, earning ratings of 6 and 6.9 for personality and reliability despite some refinements needed, but sat out the subsequent 1–0 win at Vado. Filippo Reale completed 90 minutes for Carrarese in a 1–0 home defeat to Benevento, earning 6 and 6.7 ratings for an orderly display, while Luigi Cherubini entered at the 77th minute for Benevento and struck the post with a close chance in the 83rd. Radoslaw Zelezny, Perugia's goalkeeper, conceded five goals across two matches but received ratings of 6 in both a 3–0 home loss to Spezia and a 2–0 away defeat at Grosseto, with no clear responsibility on most goals. Robinio Vaz at Hull City entered off the bench in the 78th minute during a 2–1 loss at Newcastle after more than ten minutes without notable incident, marking his second consecutive Premier League appearance. Marash Kumbulla remained unused at Rayo Vallecano despite being named in squads for a 2–1 win against Espanyol and a 1–1 draw at Osasuna. Jan Ziolkowski has not returned to action for Monza, continuing recovery from plantar fasciitis. Artem Dovbyk spent another week without playing time at Bologna.

Roma have made contact with free agent Matteo Darmian as they explore defensive reinforcements during an extended fixture break. The 36-year-old has fielded approaches from smaller clubs during the summer with no result, but would prioritise Roma over potential moves to Parma or Torino. He has also received lucrative proposals to move to Dubai and may not wait long for a decision. The Giallorossi created space after sending Anass Salah-Eddine on loan to Panathinaikos with a €7 million option to buy, despite his solid spell at PSV and a Morocco World Cup call-up. While Roma's wingback options are in reasonable condition—with Emanuele Lulli emerging as an early revelation—Gian Piero Gasperini favours adding experienced players to manage demanding roles. A left-sided defender would be the preference. The former Inter man was not retained by the Nerazzurri after six years and over 200 appearances, starting only nine times in 2025-26 owing to competition and a serious calf injury. Darmian, a Milan academy product, began his career at Palermo before flourishing at Torino. He later moved to Manchester United and returned to Italy through Parma before joining Inter. His veteran status and experience align with Gasperini's preferences, though questions remain about his physical condition after a difficult previous season.

Roma have made contact with Matteo Darmian over a possible move, according to reports, though head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's side are not expected to sign available players on a permanent basis this window. Darmian, the former Inter defender, would reportedly favour a one-year deal, and the financial terms are manageable for Roma. However, the operation remains difficult: the player has attracted interest from other clubs, notably teams in Dubai, following the departure of Salah-Eddine which has opened a vacancy on the flanks. Club sources have ruled out significant free-agent signings, but Roma are keeping an eye on opportunities that align with Gasperini's demands. Darmian represents one such prospect, having become available at the end of last season. The current contact amounts to an initial inquiry rather than an advanced negotiation. The situation may develop further in the coming days.