Roma's shopping spree continues — Gasperini demands more

Nicolò Tresoldi has attracted widespread interest after scoring a hat-trick against Inter in the most recent UEFA Champions League game, with multiple clubs preparing bids for the January transfer window. Roma attempted to sign the striker last summer with an offer of €35M, but Club Brugge rejected the bid as insufficient. The capital club has since withdrawn from the race after pivoting toward Santiago Castro to provide backup to Donyell Malen. Tresoldi, who represents Germany U-21 and has been tracked by Barcelona, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, and RB Leipzig, is now valued between €54M and €63M following his recent performances. Club Brugge's position has strengthened considerably after selling Christos Tzolis to Arsenal for €40M, which will allow them to hold out for a premium fee. The article suggests the window for Serie A clubs to acquire Tresoldi has closed: he is now beyond their financial reach, and moves abroad in January or at the end of the season are more likely. Tresoldi has bagged nine goals already this season. While he is reportedly a massive Milan fan, AC Milan have not shown serious interest, having made a splash for Gonçalo Ramos with Francesco Camarda as backup. Tresoldi stated that he remains undecided about which national team to represent, as Italy are attempting to convince him to switch from Germany U-21. He indicated he would face less competition in Jürgen Klopp's side.

José Mourinho has made clear he has no intention of letting Endrick leave Real Madrid, directly warning rival clubs including Roma that they will have to contend with him to sign the Brazilian forward. Endrick was a long-standing Roma target last summer under Gasperini, and came close to joining the club in August before Mourinho intervened and persuaded him to stay at Madrid, where he has since received minimal playing time. At a press conference on 13 October ahead of Roma's match against Real Madrid, Mourinho was asked directly about Endrick's future and responded bluntly: "I club interessati dovranno lottare con me per ingaggiarlo. Lo adoro, ha un potenziale di altissimo livello ed è molto importante per noi. Non ha bisogno di essere ceduto in prestito, farà grandi cose e avrà un grande successo qui. Giocherà presto." Roma continue to monitor the 21-year-old, who impressed during a six-month spell at Lyon in France, where he scored 8 goals in limited appearances. Milan and Aston Villa are also credited with interest. Roma's sporting director Tony D'Amico is meanwhile evaluating other concrete options to strengthen the club's attack in January.

Roma have begun planning reinforcements for the January transfer window and have set their sights on Daniel Banjaqui, a 2008-born right-back at Benfica considered one of Europe's most promising young talents in his position. The interest comes as the club looks ahead to both immediate needs and longer-term recruitment options. Banjaqui has already attracted attention from several clubs, including Juventus, according to German transfer outlet Transfersfeed. The move would form part of Roma's broader strategy to strengthen the squad in the coming window, with ambitious signings under consideration beyond their existing targets.

Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné will undergo instrumental scans on 16 October to determine the severity of injuries sustained in Roma's recent fixture. Koné suffered a problem to his biceps femoris with fears of a muscle tear, while Dybala withdrew with a muscular strain. His entourage has signalled optimism, though confirmation will come after the scans. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini must navigate significant absences for the Genoa match, with Donyell Malen unavailable through suspension and Dybala and Koné unlikely to feature. This will force tactical changes beyond a typical rotation: Rodrigo Mora, Niccolò Pisilli and Santiago Castro are expected to feature more prominently. The run of injuries follows Roma's recent disappointment at the Olimpico, where Gasperini must shift focus quickly to the league fixture without time to dwell on that setback. The enforced absences represent a necessity rather than planned squad management, as the technical staff grapples with multiple unavailability. Genoa will provide Roma's immediate opportunity to bounce back, with the league offering no respite. Former manager Daniele De Rossi will return to the Olimpico as Genoa's head coach. Speaking on the fixture, De Rossi said: "Like the match last year, I prepared it like all the others and was focused on the game. Perhaps having already played against Roma might help me be a bit more detached, but the real difference is that I prepared last year's first leg worse while the second one a bit better."

Roma are awaiting instrumental examinations on Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala, both withdrawn early from Wednesday's Champions League match against Real Madrid. Dybala is suspected to have suffered muscular overload, but greater concern surrounds Koné, the French midfielder who appeared in tears after sustaining a flexor injury to his thigh. Tests scheduled for 16 October will clarify the severity of both injuries and recovery timescales. The assessments come as Gian Piero Gasperini faces the prospect of losing two more first-team regulars on top of existing absences, with Roma due to face Genoa on Saturday evening. The Stadio Olimpico is preparing a new Hospitality area in the Tevere Stand to complement the existing facility in the Monte Mario Stand. Work on the space is nearing completion and the new area could be inaugurated on Saturday during the Genoa fixture, offering dedicated services including catering to Hospitality bracelet holders. When interviewed by TNT Sports Brasil, Wesley expressed satisfaction with his performance against Real Madrid despite the result. "I'm happy, it's nice to receive a compliment from a manager like Mourinho," he said. The Brazilian revealed he had prepared carefully for his duel with Vinícius: "I was telling myself that I had to stop him. I was ready and I'm happy with my match, even though I still have a lot to improve." Gasperini had personally entrusted Wesley with the task of containing Real's attacker. "He told me he would put me to mark Vinícius and that he believed in me. I answered: 'Okay, let's go'," Wesley explained. Commentators offered contrasting perspectives on the performance. Carina on Radio Radio attributed Roma's collapse to individual errors: "It's hard to explain Roma's collapse. Roma played a spectacular match, dominated it, but matches last until the 90th minute and beyond. There were certainly individual errors: on Endrick's goal there's a marking error from Balerdi, on Rüdiger's from Molina. But it would be unfair to blame them entirely: it was a general collapse." Pedrelli on Radio Bruno 101.5 preferred to judge the display on performance rather than result: "I don't look at the result, but at the performance. A great match from Roma despite so many absences, against one of the strongest teams in the world. We're not far from making a real leap forward. Gasperini is the manager I wanted, especially in the answers he gives after the match."

Roma conceded three goals in the final eight minutes of their Champions League match against Real Madrid at the Olimpico on Wednesday evening, suffering their first defeat of the season. The collapse has reignited debate about the club's recurring vulnerability in moments of control: this is now the third occasion under Gasperini when a two-goal advantage has evaporated against major opponents. Earlier in the season, Roma surrendered a 3–1 lead to draw 3–3 at home with Juventus, Juventus scoring their leveller from set play, and later drew 2–2 at home to Inter after leading 2–0 in the first half. Gasperini himself identified three corners that became three goals in Madrid's comeback as a key factor, but the article frames Roma's collapse as a deeper psychological phenomenon—a sudden loss of nerve at the decisive moment that manifests physically, comparing it to an athlete freezing at the critical juncture of a match. Roma host Genoa, managed by De Rossi, on Saturday. The club will be weakened by absences: goalkeepers Mile Svilar and midfielder Bryan Cristante are injured, as are Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala; forward Donyell Malen is suspended. Roma will have only 16 outfield players available. The squad is at its minimum, and the team faces the match fatigued by their effort against Madrid and traumatised by the manner of their defeat. How Roma respond will test whether this pattern of late collapses can be arrested.

Roma's 3–1 victory over Real Madrid on 14 October left supporters with mixed emotions. For 80 minutes Roma dominated the European champions, but defensive errors in the closing stages—specifically three corner-kick concessions—soured what could have been a complete performance. A fan and observer reflecting on the match the morning after acknowledged the pride of the display while warning that such lapses cannot recur if Roma are to sustain a title challenge this season. Gasperini's work and his squad have a clear objective: Roma must compete at the highest level. The article praised the team's attacking quality and intensity but identified corner-kick defending as a correctable flaw that Gasperini must address. The performance drew criticism from Mourinho, who saw the match differently; the writer disagreed, saying "there were 80 minutes of Roma and nothing else" before three crucial set-piece errors. The broader context is that Roma, as a squad commanding significant investment, must maintain focus and consistency throughout the 2026–27 season to challenge for honours. Donyell Malen was singled out for particular praise: "Every shot a threat, no waste." The writer observed that Malen's two goals against Real Madrid, combined with a victory, would have completed his vindication at the club—though the player's quality was acknowledged regardless of the result. The emotional weight of the night united Roma's supporters across the city, a reminder of football's power to bind a community. Looking ahead, Roma must refocus before the fixture against Genoa, managed by Daniele De Rossi. Santiago Castro and Rodrigo Mora are expected to take prominent roles in that match. Gasperini's task is to correct the set-piece errors and restore the clarity that Roma displayed in open play, ensuring the club builds on the positives rather than repeating defensive mistakes.

Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné will undergo instrumental scans on 16 October to determine the severity of injuries sustained in Roma's recent fixture. Koné suffered a problem to his biceps femoris with fears of a muscle tear, while Dybala withdrew with a muscular strain. His entourage has signalled optimism, though confirmation will come after the scans. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini must navigate significant absences for the Genoa match, with Donyell Malen unavailable through suspension and Dybala and Koné unlikely to feature. This will force tactical changes beyond a typical rotation: Rodrigo Mora, Niccolò Pisilli and Santiago Castro are expected to feature more prominently. The run of injuries follows Roma's recent disappointment at the Olimpico, where Gasperini must shift focus quickly to the league fixture without time to dwell on that setback. The enforced absences represent a necessity rather than planned squad management, as the technical staff grapples with multiple unavailability. Genoa will provide Roma's immediate opportunity to bounce back, with the league offering no respite. Former manager Daniele De Rossi will return to the Olimpico as Genoa's head coach. Speaking on the fixture, De Rossi said: "Like the match last year, I prepared it like all the others and was focused on the game. Perhaps having already played against Roma might help me be a bit more detached, but the real difference is that I prepared last year's first leg worse while the second one a bit better."

Sports Illustrated, the US photography-focused publication, has highlighted Donyell Malen in a recent Instagram post following his standout display against Real Madrid. The Dutch forward scored twice in that match and became the subject of a 20-image gallery published by SI featuring Roma's number 9. The caption read: "Donyell Malen renders every image iconic."

Roma came away with regret from their return to Champions League football at the Stadio Olimpico after seven years, with a dominant performance undone in the final ten minutes. Lorenzo Pellegrini, introduced in the second half as captain in place of Matías Soulé, posted a message to Roma supporters on social media: "Today more than ever... PROUD TO BE ROMANISTI!" Marten de Roon, in his second consecutive start and the author of Roma's opening goal, also reflected on the result: "What to say after last night. My first Champions League goal on my debut at the Olimpico. It's a difficult result to digest but thanks to all the fans for the unforgettable atmosphere. We continue, Sine-Metu!" The performance marked a significant return to European football's premier competition for the club after a seven-year absence, despite the disappointment of the outcome.

Roma face Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday 17 October at 20:45 in Serie A matchday seven, aiming to return to winning ways after a 4–3 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid. The Giallorossi drew 0–0 against Como and 0–0 against Inter before the Real Madrid loss; they have not won since facing Torino. Genoa, managed by Daniele De Rossi, won their first match of the season last time out, beating Fiorentina 2–1. Gasperini will make changes to his squad following injuries sustained against Real Madrid. Manu Koné left the pitch in the first half with a muscle problem, while Paulo Dybala was substituted at half-time with a muscular strain; both remain under assessment as of 15 October, with recovery timings unclear. Mile Svilar is out with a fractured toe, Bryan Cristante with a knee problem, and Donyell Malen suspended following his red card against Como. Roma last won on matchday six against Torino. In Gasperini's 3–4–2–1 formation, Pierluigi Gollini will start in goal with Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso in the three-man defence. Emanuele Lulli and Wesley are set for the full-back positions, with Marten de Roon and Niccolò Pisilli in midfield. Santiago Castro will lead the attack in place of the suspended Malen, Matías Soulé will play behind him, and Rodrigo Mora is favoured to complete the attacking line if Dybala cannot recover; Lorenzo Pellegrini is an alternative. De Rossi's Genoa are likely to line up in a 4–4–1–1 with goalkeeper Bijlow, but a 3–5–2 with Vitinha alongside the striker remains possible. Roma hold a dominant record at the Olimpico against Genoa: across 65 official matches played in the capital, the Giallorossi have won 48, Genoa 9, with 8 draws. Most recently Roma won 3–1 on 29 December 2025; before that, on 17 January 1990, Genoa last won at the Olimpico, prevailing 1–0. The official lineups will be confirmed before kickoff. The match will be broadcast on DAZN and Sky Sport, with streaming available through NOW and Sky Go according to subscription level.

Gian Piero Gasperini must reshape Roma's lineup for the Genoa match after suffering disappointment against Real Madrid in the Champions League. Donyell Malen is suspended, while Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala both exited injured and are unlikely to be available, forcing the coach to hand opportunities to squad members who have seen limited action. Rodrígo Mora, Niccolò Pisilli and Santiago Castro are candidates to step up. Castro, who cost Roma 35 million euros, has been largely sidelined by Malen's form this season, receiving three consecutive starts on the bench. The article notes that Roma have become more goalscoring and incisive with Malen in the team, but there will come a point when he needs rest—and Genoa offers Castro the chance to prove himself. Pisilli, described as one of Gasperini's special projects, has been transformed by the coach over recent months and given the confidence to dominate in Serie A; he is not yet fully there but close. He will likely partner Marten de Roon at midfield. Mora, identified as among the positives from the Champions League night, is also ready to start. Castro has struck the woodwork on occasions but has been unable to convert chances, though the article suggests his moment has arrived. Pisilli has consistently made the most of his opportunities and will do so again. The Genoa fixture represents Castro's chance to break from Malen's shadow and show Gasperini he is more than a backup, leaving his own mark in giallorosso colours.