Roma's pre-season hit by injury as Vaz sidelined with knee problem

Gian Piero Gasperini spoke to Sky Sport from his wine estate in Asti, addressing Roma's upcoming fixtures against Como and Real Madrid after the international break. The head coach discussed the club's ownership, the fitness of his squad, and the decision to retain Manu Koné in the summer transfer window. Gasperini outlined his relationship with the Friedkin Group, saying: "A relationship different to the one I had with Percassi, which was present daily and went beyond work. With the Friedkin it doesn't happen, but I always feel their trust and support from a distance. They come little to Rome, but they put Galantic here who now acts as close liaison between Roma and them. My objective is to manage to involve them much more, but not so much for me as for them themselves and for the fans. Bringing greater presence in view of the centenary and the new stadium is an objective of mine." On José Mourinho, Gasperini said: "He is a special person, and people like that achieve success beyond what happens on the pitch. Here he won a Conference and played a final; in the league perhaps he did less, but he is someone who was appreciated by the supporters and that means he really has something special." Gasperini explained the squad's unusual break during the international pause, noting the team had reduced numbers and could not play friendlies, so "we decided to give continuity the first week. Then we took days of rest like today." On Bryan Cristante's injury, he said: "Cristante has a collateral ligament problem, he is recovering but it will take time. I'm not sure if he will miss both Como and Real but we won't risk anything since there are now many matches and we want him at his best." He praised Matías Soulé's form, noting Soulé "did something extraordinary in the first half last season then was held back by a groin injury. He recovered and when he arrived at the pre-season camp he was overweight but now he is playing at a high level. He debuted with Argentina and that for me is always a reward for the whole squad." Gasperini also confirmed that Malen is fit and Dybala is training as he has since early July. On Koné specifically, Gasperini stated: "He couldn't be replaced in so little time. There was nothing feasible. The market lasted long and making a sale at the last moment was impossible even for the timing. These transfers then require the entry of so many people. Personally I'm happy it went this way; he will have the chance, as he is already doing, to increase his value further." The coach declined to commit to signing a striker in January, saying: "It's not easy; strikers are always expensive and are sought by many. We have a good department; that role is lacking but it's not like we're playing with ten."

Gian Piero Gasperini said Bryan Cristante is recovering from injury but Roma will not risk a setback by rushing him back into action. Speaking at a wine presentation at Cascina Gilli in Castelnuovo Don Bosco, Asti, the head coach confirmed the midfielder is progressing but needs time. "He is recovering, it takes time," Gasperini said. "We will not be willing to risk anything. The objective is to get him back in the best condition even if he should miss one or two more matches." Roma trained regularly during the recent international break despite a reduced schedule that prevented friendly matches. Gasperini explained the decision to maintain continuity in work rather than arrange games. He reflected on past breaks, noting that previous pauses—such as a World Cup break—were longer and involved a different type of competition. The club's medical staff and coaching team are taking a cautious approach with Cristante's rehabilitation as the season progresses. Gasperini also discussed the broader impact of the fixture congestion and the five-substitution rule on squad management. "The five substitutions help a little," he said. "Four are made in a significant way, one is a reserve. The energy expenditure is considerable. The management for coaches is a bit less complicated; you have the possibility to use the whole squad better. All players have the hope of participating in more matches. The disadvantage is injuries, which happen in football always and there is no scientific explanation. You can expand the squads but the problem of injuries remains."

Edoardo Bove spoke publicly for the first time since his medical emergency, addressing his past at Roma and his path forward during an appearance at the Festival dello Sport in Trento on 4 October. The former Roma midfielder opened up about the psychological toll of losing his career to sudden illness and his slow return to football, saying: "I have always cultivated the dream of returning to play. Football is a huge passion of mine. I wanted and want to live off this. What does it feel like to be a footballer without football? The sensation is similar to that of a great loss. For external reasons you are forced to face life differently. In this, how we react is important. We can do whatever we want. Football was everything to me in that moment. Now I have arrived at the idea that football is my greatest passion but there is also so much else." Bove's struggles followed his medical emergency during a Fiorentina-Inter match. He recalled: "The truth is I remember nothing from that moment. I woke up in hospital without remembering what happened. I found myself facing a difficulty from nowhere. I was forced to stay away from the pitch and my daily life for a while." He described how watching matches and children play initially caused him distress, leading him to turn to tennis briefly before rediscovering his commitment to football. A forthcoming documentary about his journey, he explained, became therapeutic: "It is an intimate account of my inner journey. If I gave permission for cameras to enter my private life it is to show the difficulties a young man can live through. I don't want to be a model, but it is a way to inspire people who live with difficulties and to give them the strength to look inside themselves and seek help." Bove also reflected on his Roma career and friendships forged at the club. He discussed Jannik Sinner (Cobolli), whom he met competing in tennis tournaments before both pursued football at Roma: "He didn't know how important he was to me. Watching him achieve his dreams, working—it gave me the strength to say 'I can do it too'. He left football for tennis. If you think about it, it is a rather mad choice because in tennis you have less chance of making it." Regarding Roma's finals, Bove said: "The one we won was a great emotion for the city. The one we lost was one of the darkest days of my life. I treasure the lost one more because in the Europa League I was more of a protagonist than in the Conference. The majority of changes happen in the most difficult moments. That defeat was a blow but it allowed me to grow." His Roma idols, he added, were Daniele De Rossi, Radja Nainggolan, and Andrea Pirlo. Bove credited José Mourinho with launching his career at Roma, recalling the moment Mourinho called him into his office to tell him he would be part of the first team. He described his Roma debut in their stadium as "a great emotion" despite it being empty due to the pandemic. He also named the Europa League semi-final against Bayer Leverkusen as unforgettable and mentioned a derby loss as a match he would wish to replay.

Robinio Vaz has had limited playing time since joining Hull City on loan in August, with only eight minutes against Chelsea and twelve against Newcastle to his name so far this season, plus a subdued showing in the Curaçao Cup. The French midfielder has moved between benches at Marseille, Roma and now Hull City, where he arrived on a temporary deal with a buyout option. Vaz joined Roma in January on a €22 million transfer at the behest of Massara, but failed to win over head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who opted to send him out on loan rather than allow his valuation to diminish further. The club structured the deal as a €2 million loan fee coupled with a €30 million buyout clause for Hull City, which carries no performance or appearance conditions—it depends solely on the English club's judgment of the player. Despite injuries to Hull's Gelhardt and Ansah, Vaz has not broken into their starting hierarchy. The arrangement came at a time when Vaz also faced racist abuse on social media, prompting Hull City to issue a statement in his defence. The hope now, whether or not the buyout is triggered, is that the midfielder finds regular football in England and can rebuild his career after a difficult spell at the Stadio Olimpico.

AS Roma are planning to establish an Under 23 side to compete in Serie C, following the model adopted by Juventus, Atalanta, Milan and Inter. Chief executive John Galantic announced the project at the Festival dello Sport, emphasising the need to build a bridge between the youth academy and the first team and reduce the discontinuity that often hinders the transition from Primavera to professional football. Galantic said: "We don't live by sales alone, we need more Lullis and more Pisillis, we must focus on youth development," and indicated potential strategic partnerships with Cannes, another club owned by the Friedkin family. The initiative aims to develop homegrown talent and prevent young prospects from leaving the club. The project hinges on two critical elements the club will address in coming months. The first concerns the stadium that will host the second team's home matches. The Tre Fontane currently lacks the structural requirements for Serie C football, and Roma are evaluating whether renovation is feasible. The alternative under consideration is the Stella Polare stadium in Ostia, home to Ostiamare, managed by Daniele De Rossi. The second element is financial sustainability: the initial investment is estimated at €20 million, with approximately €3 million annually required for operational costs including wages, travel, logistics and registration fees. The UEFA classifies spending on second teams and youth sectors as "virtuous" investments, providing direct benefits to the club's balance sheet under Financial Fair Play regulations. The Under 23 project reflects Roma's established commitment to youth development, evident in recent transfer activity. The club has recruited Rodrigo Mora (19), Konstantinos Koulierakis (22), a player named Vaz (19) and Santiago Castro (21). This direction will continue in the winter window, with the club monitoring prospects including Endrick, Kvernadze, Van Bommel and Bakola. Recent encouragement has come from Matías Soulé and Castro earning senior debuts for Argentina.

Roma's Under-23 side is no longer a concept. Following John Galantic's announcement at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, the Friedkin Group is developing the intermediate step between the Primavera and first team that currently does not exist, matching the structure already in place at Juventus, Atalanta, Milan and Inter. Galantic said: "We need more Lulli and more Pisilli, we must invest in the youth academy. And then we need a growth stage between Primavera and first team. So we need an Under-23 side." The project aims to prevent the academy's best products from being sold or loaned out during the most sensitive phase of their development, while also incorporating possible synergies with Cannes. Two major obstacles remain. The first is the stadium: Tre Fontane does not currently meet all necessary requirements, and Roma is evaluating a renovation. The alternative is Stadio Stella Polare, the ground used by Ostiamare. The second concerns the cost of the operation. The total investment needed is estimated at around 20 million euros, with annual running costs between 2.5 and 3.5 million euros for salaries, staff, travel and logistics. Serie C admission requires a non-repayable contribution of 720,000 euros, provided a place becomes available in the league. While significant, this investment aligns with the club's sustainability strategy and is viewed favourably under UEFA financial rules. The Under-23 would allow Roma to manage directly the development of young players, filling the gap that often emerges when a player outgrows the Primavera but is not yet ready for regular Serie A football. The club's philosophy reflects this commitment: forming more players at Trigoria, guiding them toward professional football, and making the academy a structural component of the sporting and economic project. This approach is evident in recent recruitment, with signings including Rodrigo Mora, Koulierakis, Vaz and Santiago Castro, all with significant development potential.