Roma target Nusa as Dybala and Soulé celebrate Argentina victory

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has identified a striker and a left-back as the remaining pieces needed to complete the squad ahead of tomorrow's away fixture at Lecce. Gasperini said: "To complete the team we need a piece that closes that section. A left-back and a forward have remained. Lulli has filled in somewhat, I have always believed in him, he is giving important responses but we cannot load such large responsibilities on him. Last season we had Angeliño, Tsimikas, Çelik, Wesley and also Rensch." Gasperini has most of his squad available for the trip to Via del Mare, with Lorenzo Pellegrini and Devyne Rensch expected to return to group training next week. Leonardo Balerdi was officially confirmed as a new arrival this morning, joining fellow recent additions Konstantinos Koulierakis, Rodrigo Mora, Santiago Castro and Nahuel Molina among the squad.

Leonardo Balerdi has given his first interview as a Roma player, describing his arrival from Marseille as a move to convince Gasperini and climb the defensive hierarchy. The Argentine former Marseille captain spoke to the club's official channels about his childhood, Gasperini's interest dating back to his Atalanta years, and his experiences elsewhere. "I am truly happy and very calm," Balerdi said. "From the moment I arrived here in Rome they welcomed me with incredible affection and warmth." Bareldi is included in Roma's squad for the trip to Lecce on 31 August at 18:30 for the second Serie A round. Roma come into the fixture on the back of a 4–0 home win against Fiorentina and aim to maintain that momentum. However, Devyne Rensch remains unavailable and will return to Gasperini's disposal on Tuesday; Lorenzo Pellegrini is also sidelined. Jan Ziółkowski and Robinio Vaz are absent due to transfer matters. Gasperini has already moved to strengthen the squad, completing the arrival of Marten De Roon from Atalanta within 24–48 hours. De Roon, who boasts over 60 international caps, was released by Atalanta after many years at the club and was not in their plans. Gasperini explained the reasoning behind the De Roon move at his pre-match press conference: "De Roon came about quickly in the space of 24–48 hours. He had a situation at Atalanta after many years and did not fit their plans. There was this opportunity and I made contact with Percassi. They made the decision very quickly and left him free to decide. So El Aynaoui has the chance of a new experience. From an economic perspective it is important because it gives us the chance to move on another role. De Roon is intact even if he is an advanced age; he will enter a strong group that wants to be protagonists. Two captains have arrived and I believe we give this squad a strong physical turning point that it needs, as well as personality. Marten is Dutch like Malen and balances out the Argentines. I am certainly happy and I think from this aspect we come out solid." With three days remaining in the summer transfer window, Roma continue to pursue reinforcements for Gasperini, particularly a left-winger with a right foot. The club is now pushing hard for Luiz Henrique, a Brazilian winger born in 2001 at Zenit. According to Fabrizio Romano, talks are ongoing between Roma and Zenit over Henrique, who has signalled openness to the move and made Roma his priority. The two clubs must now reach final agreement.

Leonardo Balerdi has made his first official statements as a Roma player, striking a measured tone in his approach to the club's fierce local rivalry. Speaking about his European pedigree and first impressions of the Stadio Olimpico, the Argentine centre-back recalled his previous appearance there as an opposing player with a knowing smile: "I've played in very hot atmospheres like Boca, Dortmund and Marseille. I've already been at the Olimpico as an away player but I played against the other team. I can't wait to feel all the warmth of the giallorosso fans on my side." The comment deftly avoided naming Lazio while making clear reference to the Derby della Capitale. Balerdi's remarks reveal a player already attuned to the sensitivities of Roman football. The 1999-born defender arrives from Marseille and brings significant experience of high-pressure environments across European football. His background—from Boca Juniors' Bombonera through Dortmund's Bundesliga and Marseille's Vélodrome—equips him with the tactical maturity and mental resilience required to integrate quickly into Gian Piero Gasperini's defensive unit. Such qualities are essential for managing the intensity and tactical demands of Roma's backline. Balerdi's comments reflect a natural and direct communication style suited to navigating the complexities of Roman football culture without resorting to empty declarations. His track record demonstrates an ability to perform under sustained pressure—a characteristic essential for rapid integration into Roma's defensive structures.

Leonardo Balerdi has completed his move to Roma from Marseille and given his first interview as a giallorosso player. The Argentine defender, formerly captain at Marseille, said he is "truly happy and very serene" after arriving in Rome and praised the warmth of his reception. "Since I was a child I have always felt a special fascination for this shirt," he said. "The enthusiasm of the fans and the passion of the stadium were fundamental to my choice. I thank the club for their trust and the fans for the beautiful welcome I received at the airport." Bareldi brings substantial European experience across Bundesliga, Ligue 1, continental competitions and Argentina's national team. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini tracked him during his time at Atalanta, though Balerdi noted: "There has not yet been recent direct contact with the manager, but I know he was following me since the Atalanta days. I have very positive opinions of him and I have so many incentives to start working on the pitch straightaway." The 24-year-old is fluent in Spanish, French, English and Italian. He learned Italian from his mother, an Italian language teacher in Argentina, as well as from his Italian partner and from various Italian teammates and coaches he has worked with. Reflecting on Roma's historic connection with Argentine players, he said: "Roma has a very strong history with Argentines: I think immediately of Dybala, Paredes, Heinze, Samuel and Batistuta." His childhood idols included Fernando Gago—who played for Roma—as well as Messi and Riquelme, citing his support for Boca Juniors. Bareldi has played in intense atmospheres at Boca, Dortmund and Marseille. "I have already been to the Olimpico as an opponent but played for the other side," he said. "I cannot wait to feel all the warmth of the giallorosso crowd on my side." Closing his interview, he promised: "I thank you all for your affection. I promise maximum effort and dedication for this shirt to help the squad reach the highest targets. Daje Roma daje!"

Leonardo Balerdi has given his first interview as a Roma player, speaking to the club's social media channels about his arrival and ambitions. The defender expressed his joy at joining, saying: "First of all happiness and also peace of mind, because from the moment I arrived here they welcomed me with joy, in a very beautiful way." Bareldi, who holds 11 caps for Argentina and has played in major European competitions, explained his motivation for choosing Roma. "I had something with this shirt: when I was young I saw this shirt and I said: 'It's beautiful'. I liked it so much and for that reason I wanted to play here," he said. He added: "I knew the club, the fans, I saw the passion and I wanted to be here, wanted to play here after seeing all that. I can thank the whole club for their trust, obviously the staff and everyone. I want to meet everyone, including the players, because I haven't had the time yet. I thank everyone and also the fans for waiting for me at the airport, for welcoming me." Bareldi, whose Italian mother was a teacher of the language and whose girlfriend is Italian, is fluent in French, Spanish, and English alongside Italian. He has studied under several Italian coaches who helped develop his command of the language. Among Roma's Argentine players, he highlighted Paulo Dybala, Leandro Paredes, Heinze, Samuel, and Gabriel Batistuta as memorable figures. His footballing heroes included Fernando Gago, who played for Roma: "When I was young I wanted to play in midfield and my idol was Gago, who played here. He was one of my idols when I was young. I even saved many photos of Gago in this shirt. Incredible." Bareldi has not yet met head coach Gian Piero Gasperini in person, though he confirmed they have had some contact. "He had looked for me when he was at Atalanta. People have spoken very well of him to me and now I want to start working with him," Balerdi said. In his message to Roma's supporters, he pledged: "I want to play and wear this shirt right away. I want to give all my heart and all my strength to take Roma as high as possible. Thank you for everything."

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad for Roma's Serie A matchday 2 fixture against Lecce. Neil El Aynaoui and Robinio Vaz are absent from the squad list, both players close to departing the club. Devyne Rensch and Lorenzo Pellegrini are also unavailable through injury. The 24-man squad features goalkeepers Svilar, De Marzi and Gollini. In defence, Gasperini has included Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi. Midfield options are Cristante, Koné, Pisilli and Mora, while attack is covered by Castro, Malen, Soulé and Dybala.