Roma study Fofana move as Mora deal stalls

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 closed the summer transfer window with one significant regret: the absence of a left-sided attacking winger. Despite extensive negotiations until the final days, sporting director Tony D'Amico has already signalled that the club will return to the market in January to provide Gasperini with the reinforcement needed to complete the squad. Several targets who fell through over the summer are now in very different circumstances, potentially reopening old pursuit lines. Jamie Gittens, Trigoria's preferred option for the position, has struggled to find playing time in the Premier League under Xabi Alonso, appearing for only 52 minutes in the League Cup and suffering an ankle injury with the Under 21s. Jamie Leweling, who rejected Roma at the last moment, is also struggling: he has failed to become a regular starter in the Bundesliga and has lost his call-up to the German national team under new manager Jürgen Klopp. Brazilian options Luiz Henrique and Endrick are also in flux. Luiz Henrique remained at Zenit after bureaucratic complications derailed his Roma transfer, though he plays regularly and has fallen out of favour with the Brazil national team. Endrick is enduring a difficult start at Real Madrid under José Mourinho, with only four minutes on the pitch. Brazil's national team coach Carlo Ancelotti has reminded young players of the importance of continuous playing time. A loan move could become relevant again on 14 October, when Roma face Real Madrid at Stadio Olimpico in the Champions League.

Four players Roma pursued over the summer transfer window could resurface as targets when the January window opens, with left-sided attacker emerging as a priority gap in Gian Piero Gasperini's squad. Jamie Gittens, Jamie Leweling, Luiz Henrique and Endrick were the main names in the final stages of the summer campaign after moves for Greenwood and Summerville fell through. Gittens was Roma's preferred choice on technical grounds, but Xabi Alonso blocked a loan move with a buy option or obligation during the off-season, viewing him as central to his plans. The Borussia Dortmund winger's season has stalled significantly: he has played no minutes in the Premier League and only 52 minutes in the League Cup, and he has suffered an ankle injury while on England Under-21 duty requiring medical tests. Leweling's deal with Stuttgart collapsed in summer after the German player withheld permission, and in the Bundesliga he has yet to start a match, appearing only as a substitute. That form cost him a place in Jürgen Klopp's first squad list as Germany's new manager. Luiz Henrique remained at Zenit after bureaucratic problems halted Roma's summer approach, has regained playing time in Russia but dropped out of Brazil's plans. Endrick moved to Real Madrid, where Carlo Ancelotti stated: "Players so young must play to grow"; the teenager has collected only four minutes under Ancelotti. Director of sport Tony D'Amico confirmed Roma's intention to complete the squad in January with a pair of signings for Gasperini. The opportunity for fresh talks over Endrick could come on 14 October, when Roma face Real Madrid at the Olimpico in the Champions League.

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.

Rodrigo Mora is set to return to Roma's squad after the international break and will have a chance to revive his season in the trip to Como on 11 October. The Portuguese midfielder has started three matches this season—against Fiorentina, Atalanta and Lecce, where he scored—but has since sat on the bench for three consecutive fixtures against Fenerbahçe, Torino and Inter. Head coach Giampiero Gasperini remains convinced of his potential, describing him as "an extraordinary talent" while calling on young players to deliver immediate results. Mora leads Roma's squad in dribbling success rate at 80%, ahead of Donyell Malen among attacking players, who sits at 67%. Roma invested €25 million to sign Mora from Porto, with a further €25 million available to eliminate a 50% resale clause owed to the Portuguese club. He is currently on international duty with Portugal's Under-21 side, where he has already provided an assist against Bulgaria, and will rejoin after matches against Gibraltar and Czech Republic. His return is scheduled for 7 October, four days before the league resumes. Gasperini is increasingly considering a 3-4-1-2 formation, which could suit Mora's characteristics alongside Paulo Dybala and Malen. Malen is back from a minor knee issue, while Dybala was not called up by Argentina. Roma resumed training at Trigoria today after four days' rest. The coaching staff will monitor Bryan Cristante, Malen and Wesley, all recovering and expected gradually back in full training during the week. Gasperini is also considering a friendly during the break to prepare for the Como trip. Dybala has been ever-present in the opening six matches and ranks third in playing time among outfield players with 407 minutes, behind Cristante and Mario Hermoso. The Argentine has not yet scored this season but has four assists and is in strong physical condition. Roma plan to deny both Dybala and Nahuel Molina permission to travel to Buenos Aires for Messi's final Argentina match, avoiding two intercontinental trips close to the league's resumption. After Como, the fixture list intensifies sharply: Roma face nine matches in twenty-eight days through October and November, including Champions League encounters with Real Madrid, Napoli and Manchester United. The increased minutes will provide Mora with opportunities to prove he can be far more than an investment for the future.