Roma to resume hunt for attacking reinforcement in January after summer search failed

Roma could reopen talks with Jayden Oosterwolde during the winter transfer window after a summer move collapsed over medical concerns. The club had scheduled the defender's medical examinations before completing the deal, but assessments revealed a significant muscle tear that required surgery and an estimated three-month recovery. Roma chose not to proceed at that point, but have kept the 2001-born left-back on their radar. Director of sport Massimo D'Amico continues to monitor Oosterwolde's progress, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini had already approved the move when it was being considered in summer, signalling how highly the former Parma player was valued for the project. The failed summer operation has not damaged relations between the parties. Roma will reassess Oosterwolde once he returns to full fitness and provides sufficient physical guarantees, with the January window offering a chance to revive negotiations that seemed all but done before the injury setback. A recent sign of sustained interest came during Roma's Champions League fixture against Istanbul, when Oosterwolde greeted several Roma players and subsequently held talks with Gasperini and his staff. Much will depend on the Dutch defender's recovery and Roma's own evaluation, but he remains a profile to watch for the giallorossi's left flank.

Evan N'Dicka is set to return to Trigoria after international duty with Ivory Coast and will target a starting berth against Como. Physical complaints, a virus, and Leonardo Balerdi's strong performances have limited his appearances; he was benched for tactical reasons against Inter. Bryan Cristante remains under assessment following a left knee collateral problem. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini explained the situation: "Bryan is recovering, he's being treated and it takes time. It's not certain he'll definitely miss Como and Real Madrid, but we won't be willing to risk anything. If he has to miss one or two more matches, the objective is to get him back in top condition." Wesley reportedly reached out directly to his friend Endrick, expressing how pleased he would be to welcome him to Roma as early as January. The contact between the two Brazilians drew on a bond formed through difficult moments; last June, Endrick had himself called Wesley after an injury forced him to leave Brazil's training camp. The roles have now reversed, with the Roma winger ready to tell Endrick about the club and Trigoria. The pair will have a chance to meet at the Olimpico on 14 October when Roma face Real Madrid. According to Football Benchmark estimates, Roma's squad is valued at approximately €600 million, the third-highest figure in Serie A behind Inter (€829 million) and Juventus (€777 million). The valuation is linked to resources invested by the Friedkin Group and Gasperini's work during his first year. Two Roma players feature in the top 10 in the league: Manu Koné at €64 million and Donyell Malen at €58 million. Roma supporters will return to away fixtures without residency restrictions for the first time in nine months. The away section at Sinigaglia will be full for the Como match, despite technical issues many fans encountered during ticket sales. From Sunday, Roma enter an intense stretch of nine matches in 27 days across Serie A and the Champions League, with approximately 62,000 spectators expected at the Olimpico for Real Madrid's visit.

Roma's interest in Jayden Oosterwolde has not ended despite the dramatic collapse of negotiations last summer. The Dutch player arrived in the capital for medical examinations, but concerns emerged over his muscle injury during those tests. In early September, he underwent surgery with a recovery period estimated at around three months. Director Tony D'Amico and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini have kept Oosterwolde on their radar, with January potentially offering a second opportunity to complete the deal. Gasperini had already approved the move in summer, and both he and D'Amico continue to monitor the player's rehabilitation. The club has not crossed Oosterwolde off their list and remain interested in the former Parma player once he returns to full fitness. A recent encounter in Istanbul before Roma's match against Fenerbahçe showed the relationship remains intact: Oosterwolde greeted several Roma players and met with Gasperini, the medical staff and the fitness team. Roma are watching the progress of his recovery without urgency but without having closed the door either. If his physical condition provides adequate assurances, January could bring Oosterwolde back to the centre of Roma's transfer activity. The summer halt to negotiations need not mark the end of the story.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is poised to start for Roma at Como on Sunday lunchtime as Gian Piero Gasperini prepares a tactical masterclass against Cesc Fàbregas. The Roma midfielder has spent the international break working intensively at Trigoria to restore his physical condition and has positioned himself as a strong candidate for a starting place. The fixture promises to be a refined chess match between two coaches renowned for their strategic approach; the pair already registered counter-moves and in-game adjustments in their two direct meetings last season that shifted match momentum. Pellegrini's versatility is set to be the tactical switch of the game. Should Fàbregas confirm a four-man defence in his starting 4-2-3-1, Gasperini will deploy Pellegrini on the attacking midfield line, free to move between the lines and supply the attacking pair of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. This setup is designed to remove reference points for Como's centre-backs and break the opposition's pressing lines. Roma's current strength lies in their capacity to adapt to the opponent's reading of play. In their last meeting by Lake Como, when Como switched to a three-man defence, Roma suffered from defensive escalation and had to shift Pellegrini into an unnatural wide position on the right. On Sunday, Gasperini's response will be far more fluid and effective. Should Fàbregas move to a three-man line mid-match, Roma will redraw their attacking setup without losing balance: Dybala on the right, Pellegrini in his favoured left position, and Malen as the central pivot. This variety of solutions is also supported by alternatives on the bench, where Matías Soulé and young Rodrigo Mora offer guarantees to replace either Dybala or the Dutch forward in the closing stages.

Roma begin a critical phase of their season with the trip to Como, the first fixture in a nine-match stretch across twenty-seven days that will test their squad depth and rotation strategy. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has emphasised the need for careful individual management and targeted turnover to maintain the team's sharpness in both Serie A and European competition. Bryan Cristante remains sidelined with inflammation of the knee's collateral ligament. The medical staff are prioritising proper recovery without rushing his return, assessing his condition day by day and avoiding unnecessary risk ahead of both the Como match and the subsequent Champions League encounter against Real Madrid. His absence opens the door for Marten de Roon to make his Roma debut from the start. The Dutch midfielder, a former Atalanta captain, will pair with Manu Koné in midfield. Gasperini has confirmed that Chelsea made late-window attempts to sign Koné, but those moves were firmly rejected to ensure continuity of the project. Positive news comes from the attack, where Donyell Malen has recovered from the knee problem sustained before the international break in the match against Inter and is ready to lead the line from the first minute. Paulo Dybala will support him, and a competitive battle is expected for the second starting berth on the attacking midfield line. Lorenzo Pellegrini and Matías Soulé are candidates for rotation during the match. Soulé has put behind him the pubic bone issues that had hampered his form and is in excellent physical condition after his recent senior international debut. Rodrigo Mora stands ready as a viable alternative during the game.

Gian Piero Gasperini has revealed he feels consistent backing from the Friedkin Group but wants to see them more engaged with Roma. In an interview with Sky Sport, the coach said: "I always feel their trust and support even though they come to Rome very little. Now they have put in Galantic who certainly makes a tighter connection between Roma and them. My objective remains clear: to get them more involved, not for me but for them and for the fans." Gasperini was discussing his experience at the club while unveiling a new wine label called "3-4-3" produced in Piedmont at Cascina Gilli in Castelnuovo Don Bosco (Asti). Roma continue to pursue Endrick as an attacking reinforcement. Director Tony D'Amico has reopened decisive contact with the entourage of the Brazilian Real Madrid forward during the international break, testing the 2006-born talent's willingness to move to the capital. Endrick has signalled openness to a Roma transfer, though Milan remain strong competitors. His season at Madrid under Mourinho has been complicated, featuring limited appearances and an injury that has hampered his output—a situation pushing him to explore new opportunities for regular playing time. Midfielder Rodrigo Mora has been included in the final 25-man shortlist for the Golden Boy 2026 award, football's annual prize for the best European player under 21. Mora received his place via a wild card alongside Mastantuono, Gadou, Kostoulas and Espart. The honour, created in 2003 by Tuttosport, recognises emerging talent from across Europe's top divisions. Meanwhile, Bryan Cristante's recovery timeline has extended. According to radio commentary, the midfielder sustained a collateral ligament injury, with rehabilitation expected to take approximately one month—longer than initially anticipated. Roma's defence has been singled out as one of Serie A's strongest this season.

Radio commentators Simone Valdarchi and Piero Torri have offered contrasting views on Roma's squad and management in separate interviews. Valdarchi addressed the relationship between head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and Como's Cesc Fabregas, stating: "Between Gasperini and Fabregas there is a bit of tension, it is something known for some time. Various episodes have shown it: missed handshakes and comments on each other's football. There is certainly technical respect, but if we look at the Subbuteo episode it fits into this context." Torri, speaking on Radio Manà Manà, expressed his unwavering faith in midfielder Manu Koné, saying: "Doumbia seems strong to me, but I find it absurd to think of a life after Koné. I am completely in love with Koné as a footballer. I would never consider the idea of selling Koné, but if someone comes with 100 million you have to sit down and I think it is almost inevitable. The objective, in my opinion, is to prevent his departure." On prospective forward Endrick, Torri added: "For Roma, Endrick would not play 20 matches out of 20. If there are two spots up front they are booked by Dybala and Malen."

Lorenzo Pellegrini is poised to start for Roma at Como on Sunday lunchtime as Gian Piero Gasperini prepares a tactical masterclass against Cesc Fàbregas. The Roma midfielder has spent the international break working intensively at Trigoria to restore his physical condition and has positioned himself as a strong candidate for a starting place. The fixture promises to be a refined chess match between two coaches renowned for their strategic approach; the pair already registered counter-moves and in-game adjustments in their two direct meetings last season that shifted match momentum. Pellegrini's versatility is set to be the tactical switch of the game. Should Fàbregas confirm a four-man defence in his starting 4-2-3-1, Gasperini will deploy Pellegrini on the attacking midfield line, free to move between the lines and supply the attacking pair of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. This setup is designed to remove reference points for Como's centre-backs and break the opposition's pressing lines. Roma's current strength lies in their capacity to adapt to the opponent's reading of play. In their last meeting by Lake Como, when Como switched to a three-man defence, Roma suffered from defensive escalation and had to shift Pellegrini into an unnatural wide position on the right. On Sunday, Gasperini's response will be far more fluid and effective. Should Fàbregas move to a three-man line mid-match, Roma will redraw their attacking setup without losing balance: Dybala on the right, Pellegrini in his favoured left position, and Malen as the central pivot. This variety of solutions is also supported by alternatives on the bench, where Matías Soulé and young Rodrigo Mora offer guarantees to replace either Dybala or the Dutch forward in the closing stages.

Roma begin a critical phase of their season with the trip to Como, the first fixture in a nine-match stretch across twenty-seven days that will test their squad depth and rotation strategy. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has emphasised the need for careful individual management and targeted turnover to maintain the team's sharpness in both Serie A and European competition. Bryan Cristante remains sidelined with inflammation of the knee's collateral ligament. The medical staff are prioritising proper recovery without rushing his return, assessing his condition day by day and avoiding unnecessary risk ahead of both the Como match and the subsequent Champions League encounter against Real Madrid. His absence opens the door for Marten de Roon to make his Roma debut from the start. The Dutch midfielder, a former Atalanta captain, will pair with Manu Koné in midfield. Gasperini has confirmed that Chelsea made late-window attempts to sign Koné, but those moves were firmly rejected to ensure continuity of the project. Positive news comes from the attack, where Donyell Malen has recovered from the knee problem sustained before the international break in the match against Inter and is ready to lead the line from the first minute. Paulo Dybala will support him, and a competitive battle is expected for the second starting berth on the attacking midfield line. Lorenzo Pellegrini and Matías Soulé are candidates for rotation during the match. Soulé has put behind him the pubic bone issues that had hampered his form and is in excellent physical condition after his recent senior international debut. Rodrigo Mora stands ready as a viable alternative during the game.