Roma target Frosinone's Kvernadze as January target; Georgian winger valued at €25 million

Roman radio stations hosted debate on Roma's transfer strategy, with commentary focused on a potential January move for a midfielder. Piero Torri, speaking on Manà Manà Sport, raised questions about the timing and readiness of Kvernadze as a target. "I don't know if Kvernadze is the right player for January," Torri said. "You have to understand if Gasperini wants a ready-made player, or if he's happy with a gamble. The player seems interesting, seems like a Gasperini type—but is he ready? I don't know what fee Frosinone will ask for now, I think €20–25 million. If you move quickly, the price can't rise much further. But you'll also need to see what Uefa tells Roma in mid-November, and where Roma sits in December." Lorenzo Pes, also on air, defended Roma's recent decision to allow a young midfielder to leave, citing the strength of the club's academy. "Every so often you have to make a choice on young players," Pes said on Tele Radio Stereo. "The coach probably felt protected at midfield by those he had. Romano wanted to play and would have been the fifth midfielder here. You could have loaned him out, but this opportunity came up and in the end you made that choice. When you have an academy as productive as this one, it's inevitable you lose sight of someone occasionally. Keeping control over all the young players becomes difficult." The discussion underscored the dual pressures Roma faces: balancing academy development against first-team needs, and timing potential moves to suit both sporting and financial circumstance.

Roma are already eyeing moves in the January transfer window, with sporting director Tony D'Amico closely tracking two promising Serie A prospects: Giorgi Kvernadze of Frosinone and Darryl Bakola of Sassuolo. No formal approaches or negotiations have been opened, but both players have entered the club's radar as potential additions within head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's system. Kvernadze, 23, is a left-winger from Georgia with a right foot, standing 188 centimetres tall and contracted to Frosinone until 2028. His season has already attracted major clubs' attention, with three Serie A goals, two Coppa Italia goals and two assists. He plays predominantly from the left flank but drifts infield, combining superior physical build for an offensive winger with acceleration, stamina and goal-attacking threat. Frosinone value him at close to €25 million—a steep asking price relative to his current market standing and one likely to fluctuate with his form across the season. Bakola, born in 2007, represents a longer-term investment. He arrived at Sassuolo from Olympique Marseille in February 2026 and operates as a right-sided midfielder with strong attacking ambitions. He can play as a box-to-box midfielder, playmaker or central midfielder, combining close ball control, vertical passing and ability to evade pressure through dribbling and direction changes. He has been likened to Roma midfielder Manu Koné structurally, though the French player remains notably more complete and developed. For now, Roma's interest amounts to observation only. January remains distant and no official contact has been made with Frosinone or Sassuolo.

Rome's radio stations have weighed in on three key issues facing Roma as the season progresses: the speculation around midfielder Kvernadze, the development of Rodrigo Mora, and the decision to sell Niccolo Romano to Cagliari. Alessio Nardo criticised the timing of any potential move for Kvernadze. "If you were smart, you would have gone to get him in July or mid-August," Nardo said. "Now he's had an extraordinary start to the season, and after three weeks Frosinone will make you pay triple. Now it's foolish to go and get Kvernadze." Piero Torri added context: Frosinone are likely to demand €20–25 million for the player, but the price could rise further if Roma move slowly. Torri also flagged that Roma's position in the league table in December, and UEFA's verdict on the club's situation by mid-November, will determine whether the ownership feels obliged to invest in January. On Mora, Daniele Lo Monaco offered a technical assessment tempered by concerns about readiness. "From a technical standpoint I think Rodrigo Mora is superior to Matías Soulé," Lo Monaco said. "For me, Mora has only Dybala above him, because he does extraordinary things that others can only imagine. But from a physical point of view you have some doubts, because when he goes into a challenge, opponents push him around. And every so often during the match he loses focus, and with Gasperini you cannot afford that. Today he is not quite ready to play with Gasperini, but he will become ready soon, especially if he does not have the pressure on him of having to prove he is worth €50 million, because otherwise it becomes a problem." Fabio Petruzzi framed the Romano sale as a difficult but necessary choice. "Romano is a good player, I do not say otherwise, but I would be cautious," Petruzzi said. "He would not have played at Roma. Roma had to make a choice: either Pisilli or Romano." Stefano Carina highlighted the oddity of Romano's sale: the initial asking price was €9 million, but the player departed for €5 million. "If you were asking nine million then perhaps this lad is worth something," Carina noted. "Cagliari saw further ahead, and now it seems like a big regret."

Nahuel Molina has become one of Gasperini's most dangerous players in Roma's opening Serie A fixtures, proving to be a decisive summer acquisition for €13 million. The Argentine has demonstrated his impact through aggressive ball recovery in advanced positions—notably helping create Manu Koné's opening goal—and his consistent threat from distance. After five league matches, Molina ranks among Serie A's best for chances created (2.9 per 90 minutes, behind only Dybala and Wesley in giallorosso), ball recoveries (5.04 per 90), and possessions won in the opponent's third (0.78 per 90), according to Sofascore data. Roma have finally secured a right-sided threat matching Gasperini's tactical demands, addressing a weakness from last season when the club saw only sporadic contributions from a combination of Zeki Çelik and Kostas Tsimikas on that flank. Alongside other key acquisitions—Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala and Leonardo Balerdi—Molina is reshaping the team's profile. Some observers outside Rome had already suggested he represented a downgrade compared to Çelik, but offensive and defensive statistics offer no room for interpretation. Molina's record through early September demonstrates substantial improvement across all phases: key passes, dribbling, expected assists, ball recoveries and possessions won in the advanced third all favour the Argentine over his predecessor.

Roma have reached the top of Serie A alongside Inter and Lazio after the opening phase of the season, but attention has already turned to a gruelling month ahead combining league and Champions League fixtures with no respite until November. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has relied heavily on the established core of the squad in the early weeks, with the summer signings introduced gradually, rotating between starting roles and substitute appearances. The intensity of the coming period will require him to call on the full squad of twenty-two players. Among the summer arrivals, Leonardo Balerdi has made an immediate impact, supported by strong performances from Nahuel Molina, the former Atlético Madrid player who provided his first assist against Inter and impressed on the left flank against Torino despite arriving with delayed pre-season preparation due to World Cup commitments. Rodrigo Mora has shown promise in two starts against Fiorentina and Atalanta, though he has found reading the game more difficult as a substitute—though he did score from the bench at Lecce. Gasperini is focused on unlocking the Portuguese midfielder's potential as a player capable of making a difference through his quality. The squad refresh is completed by Koulierakis, Lorenzo Pellegrini and especially Marten de Roon, a signing Gasperini strongly advocated for to strengthen and provide balance to the midfield.

Former striker Abel Balbo has praised Roma's early-season form under Gian Piero Gasperini, saying the team is entertaining to watch and delivering results. Balbo singled out Donyell Malen for particular praise: "He is very strong, scores like the great strikers and is functional to Gasperini's style of play." He also commended Paulo Dybala: "He is magic and fantasy; with him on the pitch the team runs better." On Roma's league position, Balbo assessed that while Inter remain superior, Roma are now the only side capable of competing for the title. Matías Soulé has earned a callup to Argentina's squad following a strong start to the 2026–27 season. The winger has scored 2 goals and provided 1 assist across his first 6 matches. Soulé will join teammates Santiago Castro and Leonardo Balerdi in the Argentina setup for forthcoming friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin. The fixture against Benin on 6 October will be Lionel Messi's final appearance for the Argentina national team. Soulé marked the moment on social media: "Enjoying these moments."

Nahuel Molina has become one of Gasperini's most dangerous players in Roma's opening Serie A fixtures, proving to be a decisive summer acquisition for €13 million. The Argentine has demonstrated his impact through aggressive ball recovery in advanced positions—notably helping create Manu Koné's opening goal—and his consistent threat from distance. After five league matches, Molina ranks among Serie A's best for chances created (2.9 per 90 minutes, behind only Dybala and Wesley in giallorosso), ball recoveries (5.04 per 90), and possessions won in the opponent's third (0.78 per 90), according to Sofascore data. Roma have finally secured a right-sided threat matching Gasperini's tactical demands, addressing a weakness from last season when the club saw only sporadic contributions from a combination of Zeki Çelik and Kostas Tsimikas on that flank. Alongside other key acquisitions—Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala and Leonardo Balerdi—Molina is reshaping the team's profile. Some observers outside Rome had already suggested he represented a downgrade compared to Çelik, but offensive and defensive statistics offer no room for interpretation. Molina's record through early September demonstrates substantial improvement across all phases: key passes, dribbling, expected assists, ball recoveries and possessions won in the advanced third all favour the Argentine over his predecessor.

Roma have reached the top of Serie A alongside Inter and Lazio after the opening phase of the season, but attention has already turned to a gruelling month ahead combining league and Champions League fixtures with no respite until November. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has relied heavily on the established core of the squad in the early weeks, with the summer signings introduced gradually, rotating between starting roles and substitute appearances. The intensity of the coming period will require him to call on the full squad of twenty-two players. Among the summer arrivals, Leonardo Balerdi has made an immediate impact, supported by strong performances from Nahuel Molina, the former Atlético Madrid player who provided his first assist against Inter and impressed on the left flank against Torino despite arriving with delayed pre-season preparation due to World Cup commitments. Rodrigo Mora has shown promise in two starts against Fiorentina and Atalanta, though he has found reading the game more difficult as a substitute—though he did score from the bench at Lecce. Gasperini is focused on unlocking the Portuguese midfielder's potential as a player capable of making a difference through his quality. The squad refresh is completed by Koulierakis, Lorenzo Pellegrini and especially Marten de Roon, a signing Gasperini strongly advocated for to strengthen and provide balance to the midfield.

Lionel Messi has contacted Paulo Dybala to invite him to a special celebratory match marking his official farewell to the Argentina national team, with the Roma forward keen to accept. Messi also wants Nahuel Molina alongside Dybala for the fixture, which will reunite players from Argentina's triumphant 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar. However, the invitation requires approval from Gian Piero Gasperini, Roma's head coach, who must sign off on both players' participation. According to reports, Gasperini is expected to grant clearance for the pair to attend. Molina has made a strong start to the season and has put behind him the uncertainties of the past, while Dybala represents the highest quality in Roma's tactical setup. Any permission from the coach will come with a strict instruction: intelligent management of their fitness and avoidance of any physical strain. Roma face a challenging away trip to Como as they resume their league campaign, followed by a dense block of fixtures. Gasperini is intent on preserving the sharpness of his best players ahead of that demanding schedule.

Rome's radio stations have weighed in on three key issues facing Roma as the season progresses: the speculation around midfielder Kvernadze, the development of Rodrigo Mora, and the decision to sell Niccolo Romano to Cagliari. Alessio Nardo criticised the timing of any potential move for Kvernadze. "If you were smart, you would have gone to get him in July or mid-August," Nardo said. "Now he's had an extraordinary start to the season, and after three weeks Frosinone will make you pay triple. Now it's foolish to go and get Kvernadze." Piero Torri added context: Frosinone are likely to demand €20–25 million for the player, but the price could rise further if Roma move slowly. Torri also flagged that Roma's position in the league table in December, and UEFA's verdict on the club's situation by mid-November, will determine whether the ownership feels obliged to invest in January. On Mora, Daniele Lo Monaco offered a technical assessment tempered by concerns about readiness. "From a technical standpoint I think Rodrigo Mora is superior to Matías Soulé," Lo Monaco said. "For me, Mora has only Dybala above him, because he does extraordinary things that others can only imagine. But from a physical point of view you have some doubts, because when he goes into a challenge, opponents push him around. And every so often during the match he loses focus, and with Gasperini you cannot afford that. Today he is not quite ready to play with Gasperini, but he will become ready soon, especially if he does not have the pressure on him of having to prove he is worth €50 million, because otherwise it becomes a problem." Fabio Petruzzi framed the Romano sale as a difficult but necessary choice. "Romano is a good player, I do not say otherwise, but I would be cautious," Petruzzi said. "He would not have played at Roma. Roma had to make a choice: either Pisilli or Romano." Stefano Carina highlighted the oddity of Romano's sale: the initial asking price was €9 million, but the player departed for €5 million. "If you were asking nine million then perhaps this lad is worth something," Carina noted. "Cagliari saw further ahead, and now it seems like a big regret."

Radio commentators in Rome have offered contrasting assessments of Rodrigo Mora's early impact at the club, with debate centring on his game-time and development compared to fellow midfielder Matías Soulé. Chiara Ciotti argued on Radio Romanista that Soulé is preferred because he has established an understanding with Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, and that sharing space with Mora complicates the dynamic. Stefano Impallomeni called for patience with the Portuguese player, saying: "Mora has important qualities, but you have to be patient. I hope he can show us what he can do. I was very intrigued by him, especially with his tight play. He still needs to build himself up and consolidate himself. Away from goal I'm not sure if he can become like Papu Gómez." Davide Fidanza suggested Mora requires further development and positioning closer to goal. He drew a parallel with Niccolò Pisilli, whose growth over three years has been substantial, and noted a physical difference in that trajectory. Fidanza added: "Mora lives on instinct, he has important plays, but sporadic ones. Soulé is tactically more complete—he may make fewer technical touches but he communicates more fluidly with his teammates and is much more decisive during the match."

Rodrigo Mora has been singled out as one of the season's early disappointments following a substitute appearance, but broadcaster Francesco Repice has pushed back sharply against the assessment. The 19-year-old Portuguese midfielder was grouped among underperformers during a broadcast of Domenica Sportiva, a judgment Repice described as premature given Mora's contribution since arriving at Roma. Mora has already scored once and provided an assist across his early appearances, alongside several quality performances. His recent omission from the squad against Inter was tactical rather than a sign of decline: Gasperini was unable to make attacking changes because defenders had suffered injuries. Repice stressed that five matches into the season is far too small a sample to draw conclusions, particularly about a teenager signed as a long-term investment. Repice said on air: "You're making a mistake. If you put him among the flops you're making a terrible error. The zero minutes against Inter were because the defenders had got injured and Gasp couldn't make changes up front." He added: "Mora has already scored and is an absolute talent—putting him among the flops is wrong. We're at matchday five and I'd point out that Ramos was paid 70 million." Gasperini is integrating the midfielder gradually into the squad.