Roma well represented at AIC Gran Galà del Calcio awards ceremony

Radja Nainggolan was present at the stadium for Roma's match against Fiorentina on 26 August, and the Belgian midfielder's emotional reaction during the national anthem was captured on video and shared across social media. In the footage, Nainggolan expressed how much he missed the club, saying "I missed you? very much." The moment underscored the enduring bond between the former Roma player and the Giallorossi, whose connection to the club remains strong despite his departure from the club.

Six AS Roma players have been nominated for awards at the Gran Galà del Calcio, which takes place on 2 September at the Teatro della Scala in Milan. Sky Sport will broadcast the ceremony live. Mile Svilar is a candidate for best goalkeeper, Evan N'Dicka for best defender, Manu Koné for best midfielder, and Donyell Malen for best forward. Malen has made a strong start to the season with a hat-trick against Fiorentina. Gian Piero Gasperini is also in contention, nominated for best coach of the previous season.

Lawyer Fabio Federico, representing a property owner in the expropriation procedure for Roma's planned new stadium at Pietralata, says all legal attempts to block the project have been exhausted. Federico told Radio Roma Sound that local residents and associations have already pursued claims before the Regional Administrative Court (TAR) and the Council of State, and those phases are now closed. The stadium construction will proceed, though Federico indicated the timeline may yet be affected by ongoing negotiations over compensation. Federico identified a calculation error in the municipality's expropriation valuation. He explained that the property owner should have been offered the base price plus a 10% premium for voluntary sale, but only the base price was applied in the official documents. In his client's case, this discrepancy amounts to approximately €32,660. Federico noted that this error was flagged in observations submitted to the municipality, with documentation published on the municipality's official website detailing the miscalculation. On contact with Roma or the municipality, Federico stated: "No one has made themselves available." He added that notification came in late July, "at a time of little attention even from the recipients," suggesting the procedure requires careful scrutiny. The Commissioner overseeing the expropriation has already shortened the public tender period specifically to guarantee the construction timeline for the stadium. Federico observed that any delay now depends on whether Roma and the municipality move quickly to reach an agreement with affected property owners. He emphasized: "It is a matter of timing. It is logical that those with an interest in this matter, including Roma Calcio, have needs linked to timescales. It is in the interest of the party that wants to proceed to seek an agreement with those who hold a right, because compensation valuations in expropriation must follow established rules and cannot ignore the particular needs of the affected parties." Federico's communication to the municipality was dated 5 August and, he suggested, could have been resolved "in very brief times." Nearly three weeks later, no response had been received. He concluded that the speed of the procedure now rests with the municipality and Roma, both of which share an interest in accelerating the process.

Six AS Roma players have been nominated for awards at the Gran Galà del Calcio, which takes place on 2 September at the Teatro della Scala in Milan. Sky Sport will broadcast the ceremony live. Mile Svilar is a candidate for best goalkeeper, Evan N'Dicka for best defender, Manu Koné for best midfielder, and Donyell Malen for best forward. Malen has made a strong start to the season with a hat-trick against Fiorentina. Gian Piero Gasperini is also in contention, nominated for best coach of the previous season.

Gian Piero Gasperini deployed three different formations during Roma's match against Fiorentina, avoiding the 3-4-2-1 system that defined last season but never abandoning the aggressive one-on-one pressing and intensity that characterise his approach. The tactical adjustments were made to nullify Fiorentina's threats rather than to compensate for transfer market gaps or absences. Gasperini's willingness to shift shape underscores a deeper principle: Roma's behaviour remains unchanged regardless of formation. The side consistently attacks, with N'Dicka operating as a target on the attacking third and Mancini and Hermoso—later replaced by Koulierakis—covering the flanks. Fiorentina manager Grosso began in a 4-3-2-1 before moving to 4-2-4 when Roma went two goals clear. With Kean deployed alongside Pellegrino, Gasperini matched the adjustment with an identical system. The lineup featured Svilar in goal, Lulli, Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso across the back, Cristante and Koné in midfield, and Soulé, Dybala, Malen and Wesley in attack. Soulé had replaced Mora at 2-0. When Grosso shifted to 4-3-3 late on, Gasperini responded by introducing El Aynaoui and Pisilli for Koné and Dybala, switching to a 3-5-1-1. This brought Mancini, N'Dicka and Koulierakis across the back, a five-man midfield of Lulli, Pisilli, Cristante, El Aynaoui and Wesley, with Soulé supporting Castro in attack. Roma scored a fourth goal. Gasperini's track record with such adjustments is long and proven, but the club now needs a right-footed winger capable of providing thrust on the break and winning one-on-one duels. The manager will learn soon whether Chelsea is willing to negotiate for Gittens, and after Lyon play Fenerbahce tomorrow evening, whether an agreement with Fofana can be finalised.

Donyell Malen earned a match rating of 8.7 from the daily newspapers after scoring a hat-trick in Roma's win over Fiorentina on 24 August, with Paulo Dybala rated 8.2 following three assists. Evan N'Dicka (7.2) and Manu Koné (7.1) also impressed, while Lulli impressed on his debut with 6.9. Lower down the ratings were Konstantinos Koulierakis and Matías Soulé (both 6.1), Mile Svilar (6.2) and Santiago Castro (6.3). Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini earned an overall rating of 7.7. The Malen–Dybala partnership has become central to Roma's attacking play. Across seven matches played together, Malen has scored seven goals, six of which came from Dybala's assists. The partnership reflects a growing understanding between the two forwards as Roma builds momentum through the early season. Gasperini granted the squad a rest day on 25 August following the Fiorentina victory, with players set to resume training on Wednesday, 26 August, ahead of the trip to Lecce. Malen spoke of the connection with Dybala: "Dybala sees before every movement I make—I am blessed to be able to play with him." Dybala added: "I wanted to play, I wanted to do it in this stadium, with my teammates and with this coach."

Six AS Roma players have been nominated for awards at the Gran Galà del Calcio, which takes place on 2 September at the Teatro della Scala in Milan. Sky Sport will broadcast the ceremony live. Mile Svilar is a candidate for best goalkeeper, Evan N'Dicka for best defender, Manu Koné for best midfielder, and Donyell Malen for best forward. Malen has made a strong start to the season with a hat-trick against Fiorentina. Gian Piero Gasperini is also in contention, nominated for best coach of the previous season.

Gian Piero Gasperini deployed three different formations during Roma's match against Fiorentina, avoiding the 3-4-2-1 system that defined last season but never abandoning the aggressive one-on-one pressing and intensity that characterise his approach. The tactical adjustments were made to nullify Fiorentina's threats rather than to compensate for transfer market gaps or absences. Gasperini's willingness to shift shape underscores a deeper principle: Roma's behaviour remains unchanged regardless of formation. The side consistently attacks, with N'Dicka operating as a target on the attacking third and Mancini and Hermoso—later replaced by Koulierakis—covering the flanks. Fiorentina manager Grosso began in a 4-3-2-1 before moving to 4-2-4 when Roma went two goals clear. With Kean deployed alongside Pellegrino, Gasperini matched the adjustment with an identical system. The lineup featured Svilar in goal, Lulli, Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso across the back, Cristante and Koné in midfield, and Soulé, Dybala, Malen and Wesley in attack. Soulé had replaced Mora at 2-0. When Grosso shifted to 4-3-3 late on, Gasperini responded by introducing El Aynaoui and Pisilli for Koné and Dybala, switching to a 3-5-1-1. This brought Mancini, N'Dicka and Koulierakis across the back, a five-man midfield of Lulli, Pisilli, Cristante, El Aynaoui and Wesley, with Soulé supporting Castro in attack. Roma scored a fourth goal. Gasperini's track record with such adjustments is long and proven, but the club now needs a right-footed winger capable of providing thrust on the break and winning one-on-one duels. The manager will learn soon whether Chelsea is willing to negotiate for Gittens, and after Lyon play Fenerbahce tomorrow evening, whether an agreement with Fofana can be finalised.

Donyell Malen earned a match rating of 8.7 from the daily newspapers after scoring a hat-trick in Roma's win over Fiorentina on 24 August, with Paulo Dybala rated 8.2 following three assists. Evan N'Dicka (7.2) and Manu Koné (7.1) also impressed, while Lulli impressed on his debut with 6.9. Lower down the ratings were Konstantinos Koulierakis and Matías Soulé (both 6.1), Mile Svilar (6.2) and Santiago Castro (6.3). Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini earned an overall rating of 7.7. The Malen–Dybala partnership has become central to Roma's attacking play. Across seven matches played together, Malen has scored seven goals, six of which came from Dybala's assists. The partnership reflects a growing understanding between the two forwards as Roma builds momentum through the early season. Gasperini granted the squad a rest day on 25 August following the Fiorentina victory, with players set to resume training on Wednesday, 26 August, ahead of the trip to Lecce. Malen spoke of the connection with Dybala: "Dybala sees before every movement I make—I am blessed to be able to play with him." Dybala added: "I wanted to play, I wanted to do it in this stadium, with my teammates and with this coach."

Six AS Roma players have been nominated for awards at the Gran Galà del Calcio, which takes place on 2 September at the Teatro della Scala in Milan. Sky Sport will broadcast the ceremony live. Mile Svilar is a candidate for best goalkeeper, Evan N'Dicka for best defender, Manu Koné for best midfielder, and Donyell Malen for best forward. Malen has made a strong start to the season with a hat-trick against Fiorentina. Gian Piero Gasperini is also in contention, nominated for best coach of the previous season.

Paulo Dybala has chosen to remain at Roma and continue his experience at the club, rejecting opportunities to return to Argentina or seek a move to the Middle East. Now a mature player beyond the pursuit of World Cups or lucrative long-term contracts elsewhere, Dybala has full awareness of his role at Roma and appears content with it. His relationship with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini mirrors that with his predecessors: the coach deploys him whenever he is fit, with strong understanding between them. Unlike some ageing players, Dybala does not require careful management to avoid fatigue-related injury; his physical problems arrive without warning and are not caused by wear and tear. When he is healthy, managers use him as much as possible. In Roma's recent fixture against Fiorentina, Dybala demonstrated mature football by placing himself entirely at the service of teammate Donyell Malen. Beyond an early attempt at goal, he operated to support the Dutch forward, seemingly keen to help him break Roberto Pruzzo's single-match goal record of five, set against Avellino in 1985–86. This reflected a version of Dybala liberated from routine responsibilities and focused solely on playing the matches that injury and misfortune have too often denied him. His choice of continuity at Roma, combined with his partnership with Gasperini and his willingness to elevate teammates, underlines the maturity of a phenomenal footballer entering a new chapter.

Devyne Rensch's muscular injury is not as serious as initially feared. An MRI on his left flexor revealed no major damage, with recovery expected to take 7–10 days; he is likely to miss the away trip to Lecce as a precaution after sustaining the problem during the match against Fiorentina. Donyell Malen's strong early-season form has reignited the race for the Serie A top scorer award. The Dutch forward has scored 17 goals in 19 matches for Roma, averaging 0.89 goals per game—a tally matching Lautaro Martínez's winning total in last season's title race, although Martínez reached it across 30 appearances. Malen is now positioned as Martínez's primary rival for the honour this term. Head coach Gasperini continues to manage expectations after Roma's 4–0 victory over Fiorentina. When asked about the title race, he responded dismissively: "You are a broken record." Gasperini's strategy is to capitalize on the fixture schedule and build momentum against Lecce and Atalanta, targeting 7–9 points before entering a more demanding phase of the season. Paulo Dybala has completed his entire pre-match preparation without injury or physical issues—a notable change from previous campaigns. Gasperini has praised his athletic condition but acknowledges that with Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia all running, he must carefully manage Dybala's minutes and recovery to maintain peak performance. Meanwhile, Unione Tifosi Romanisti and Associazione Italiana Roma Club have strongly protested the travel ban imposed on Roma supporters for the Lecce fixture. The fan groups argue it is "yet another unjust, discriminatory measure against Roma supporters" and point out that the Questore of Rome reported no incidents at the Olimpico during last season, calling for restoration of the "right to free movement of all citizens."