Roma's title hopes grow as injured stars return and young squad flourishes

Thirteen Roma players have been called up for international duty, leaving Trigoria largely empty during the break, and Gian Piero Gasperini will have to work with the few who remain in Rome. The Italian report notes that the club's form has made it a reservoir for national teams. Midfielder Manu Koné, who has just recovered, was not called up by France, a fortunate outcome for Gasperini. The first players back will be Ghilardi and Pisilli, who finish their commitments with the match against Belgium on 15 November and are expected at Trigoria the following day, giving them five days to prepare for the game against Parma. Malen returns on 17 November, while Gasperini will be reunited with Lulli and Koulierakis on 18 November. Players who travelled overseas will take longer: Balerdi, Soulé and Castro are due back in Rome by 19 November, just two days before the trip to Emilia. Mora, Wesley and Ndicka are also expected close to the match. The report suggests Gasperini may only have his full squad available on the eve of the clash at the Tardini. The timings make management difficult for Gasperini, who risks having the whole group together only the day before the fixture at the Tardini. The schedule leaves a short window for tactical preparation with the full squad.

Rodrigo Mora has finally come into his own, cancelling out early doubts within weeks and establishing himself as one of the brightest talents in Gasperini's Roma. Corriere della Sera reports that his rise has exploded recently, overturning the difficulties of his first months and the debate over his transfer cost. His goal against Sassuolo was his third consecutive Serie A goal, following those against Cagliari and Udinese: four goals in total in just 399 minutes, an average of one goal every hundred minutes. He has also been a creative force in the Champions League, providing key assists at Old Trafford against Manchester United and against Real Madrid, while making the most of Dybala's absence to take control of the final third. Behind the breakthrough is Gasperini's total trust. The coach has always believed in the talent of the former Porto player, protecting him when he played less and developing him in the final metres. Mora is now the club's second-highest scorer alongside Pisilli and Soulé, behind only Malen. He has also earned his first call-up to the Portugal senior squad, in what the report describes as the new era after Cristiano Ronaldo. The milestone adds weight to an exciting progression within an ambitious technical and economic project, and the Friedkin Group have a talent of enormous value on their hands, ready to make Giallorossi fans dream. The report's central message is that Mora has gone from a player under scrutiny to one of the most decisive presences in the squad, with a personality and technical freshness that have won over everyone at Trigoria. Corriere della Sera frames his progress as the reward for both the coach's faith and the club's investment, with the young midfielder now taking centre stage with the composure of a natural.

Former Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo has said Mora has around half an hour of energy in him and struggles when the level rises, speaking on Radio Radio Mattino (104.5). Pruzzo said: "Roma go for walks against the smaller teams, like Sassuolo. They could find something more from the market and from the recovery of Dybala, who hasn't played for months. Mora still has about half an hour of energy, and against teams like Sassuolo he goes to town. Then, when the level rises, he struggles more. In these games, however, he manages to excel and is sought out by his team-mates. He can carve out an important role." Pruzzo also revised his view of MATías Hermoso, admitting he had misjudged him. He said: "On Hermoso I have changed my mind: he has rebounded spectacularly, I had got my assessment of him wrong." Pruzzo's remarks came as Roma's form and squad options were being debated across the capital's radio stations, which he described as a phenomenon unmatched elsewhere in Italy. Fellow Radio Radio Mattino pundit Nando Orsi was equally bullish about Roma's title prospects. He said: "At the start of the season I had no doubts about Roma's chances in the Scudetto fight. They are simply confirming the predictions I made a few months ago."

Roma's strength lies less in individual numbers than in a group that has fully absorbed Gian Piero Gasperini's football, according to Il Messaggero. Using intelligent management and constant rotation, the coach has got value from almost the entire squad during a recent run of nine matches in 27 days. Every player has become useful, and every piece has found its place. The secret, as Il Messaggero reports, is total involvement. Gasperini does not talk about turnover; for him, "everyone plays", and the numbers back that up. Around a core of solid starters such as Evan N'Dicka and Wesley, the coach has a reliable group ready to answer the call. The clearest example is Niccolò Pisilli. A year ago he had played just six minutes and came close to a loan move to Genoa; today he has almost 700 minutes, four goals, and has become the club's second-highest scorer behind Donyell Malen. Injuries, paradoxically, have accelerated the process, opening the door for many others. De Roon has brought continuity, Rodrigo Mora and Emanuele Lulli have brought freshness, and Leonardo Balerdi has regained his solidity in a defence that can count on four high-level centre-backs and the reliability of Daniele Ghilardi. In goal, Pierluigi Gollini and Devis Vásquez have also answered the call. Even Santiago Castro, who seemed destined for little playing time, has carved out his own role. With Paulo Dybala and Mile Svilar set to return when the season resumes, the group will be more complete still. Despite this, Gasperini has stressed that to keep growing the squad will need to be widened further in January. That view is shared by sporting director D'Amico, who says the club is united, has clear ideas, and wants to plan every step without limits.

Mile Svilar is edging closer to a return, with Roma's goalkeeper still at Trigoria on Sunday continuing his recovery from a fracture to his right foot that has kept him sidelined for the past month. Roma resume training on Wednesday. The Belgian had hoped to speed up his return, but after checks ten days ago, caution prevailed. Svilar is set to be ready to reclaim his place between the posts for the match at Parma, having been replaced by Gollini, who defended the goal well up to Manchester. A back problem also forced the Roman club's number ninety-five to miss the last two matches. The two-week international break, writes Gabriele Turchetti in Il Tempo, presents the perfect opportunity for Paulo Dybala to recover his best form. The Argentine's layoff caused by a calf tear sustained against Real Madrid has been longer than expected, but his condition is now improving and, barring setbacks, he will be available again for the Parma game. Together, the returns of Svilar and Dybala would give Roma a significant double boost ahead of the trip to Parma, with the break allowing both players the time needed to get back to full fitness.

Roma are set to welcome back key players after the international break, with Mile Svilar and Paulo Dybala both close to returning from injury, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. The break arrives at a convenient moment for the club, which has come through a difficult run of closely spaced matches and numerous injuries. In 27 days Roma played nine games with a limited number of players available, but the injury list is finally emptying and Gian Piero Gasperini will regain fundamental pieces for the second half of the season. The Roman side has managed to cope thanks to the depth of the squad and the early return of Manu Koné against Sassuolo. Svilar's influence is shown clearly by the numbers: with him in goal, Roma had conceded just four goals in six matches, a very low average that inevitably changed during his absence. Dybala's return, meanwhile, will bring back the special quality seen in the first part of the season, even as Roma appreciate the growth of Matías Soulé. Gasperini can also count on Gianluca Mancini and Devyne Rensch, both ready to return to availability, ahead of the trip to Parma on 21 November. Lorenzo Pellegrini will not return until January. Despite that, the overall picture is very positive, with Roma recovering all their players and preparing to become even more competitive.

Rodrigo Mora has finally come into his own, cancelling out early doubts within weeks and establishing himself as one of the brightest talents in Gasperini's Roma. Corriere della Sera reports that his rise has exploded recently, overturning the difficulties of his first months and the debate over his transfer cost. His goal against Sassuolo was his third consecutive Serie A goal, following those against Cagliari and Udinese: four goals in total in just 399 minutes, an average of one goal every hundred minutes. He has also been a creative force in the Champions League, providing key assists at Old Trafford against Manchester United and against Real Madrid, while making the most of Dybala's absence to take control of the final third. Behind the breakthrough is Gasperini's total trust. The coach has always believed in the talent of the former Porto player, protecting him when he played less and developing him in the final metres. Mora is now the club's second-highest scorer alongside Pisilli and Soulé, behind only Malen. He has also earned his first call-up to the Portugal senior squad, in what the report describes as the new era after Cristiano Ronaldo. The milestone adds weight to an exciting progression within an ambitious technical and economic project, and the Friedkin Group have a talent of enormous value on their hands, ready to make Giallorossi fans dream. The report's central message is that Mora has gone from a player under scrutiny to one of the most decisive presences in the squad, with a personality and technical freshness that have won over everyone at Trigoria. Corriere della Sera frames his progress as the reward for both the coach's faith and the club's investment, with the young midfielder now taking centre stage with the composure of a natural.

Former Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo has said Mora has around half an hour of energy in him and struggles when the level rises, speaking on Radio Radio Mattino (104.5). Pruzzo said: "Roma go for walks against the smaller teams, like Sassuolo. They could find something more from the market and from the recovery of Dybala, who hasn't played for months. Mora still has about half an hour of energy, and against teams like Sassuolo he goes to town. Then, when the level rises, he struggles more. In these games, however, he manages to excel and is sought out by his team-mates. He can carve out an important role." Pruzzo also revised his view of MATías Hermoso, admitting he had misjudged him. He said: "On Hermoso I have changed my mind: he has rebounded spectacularly, I had got my assessment of him wrong." Pruzzo's remarks came as Roma's form and squad options were being debated across the capital's radio stations, which he described as a phenomenon unmatched elsewhere in Italy. Fellow Radio Radio Mattino pundit Nando Orsi was equally bullish about Roma's title prospects. He said: "At the start of the season I had no doubts about Roma's chances in the Scudetto fight. They are simply confirming the predictions I made a few months ago."

Mario Hermoso has become one of the most surprising symbols of Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical revolution at Roma, having turned from a pure defender into a complete player who combines marking solidity with a striker's instinct. He is now an established starter, has earned the coach's full trust, and the club has moved to work on a renewal that would tie him to the giallorossi for the long term. According to Il Corriere dello Sport, his development is one of the masterpieces of Gasperini's work. Before a decisive meeting in July 2025, Hermoso's future looked uncertain. Since then his approach to the role has changed completely: aggressive and alert when defending, he becomes an extra attacker as soon as he crosses the halfway line. The numbers back this up. He has scored seven goals under Gasperini, three of them so far this season, including the strike that unlocked the match against Sassuolo. That output places him among the best goalscoring defenders in Europe, directly behind names such as van Dijk and Querfeld, and far surpasses what he produced in his years at Atletico Madrid. His impact is considerable, in some ways comparable to what Kolasinac had at Gasperini's Atalanta, but enhanced by superior technical quality and a more pronounced goal sense. In his thirteen starts he has, alongside his tackles and interceptions, made 120 entries into the opposition box and produced close to a thousand touches, a level of involvement no other Roma player matches. Gasperini described him as "cold as a number nine". Il Corriere dello Sport reports that such a high level of performance made it inevitable to address his contract. Now that the deadline tied to the Champions League clause has passed, Roma and the player are reportedly very close to an agreement running until 2029, with an option for 2030. Hermoso would also have accepted a reduction in his salary, following the example of senior players such as Mancini, Cristante, Dybala and Pellegrini. The gesture is a strong signal of both parties' desire to continue together.

Thirteen Roma players have been called up for international duty, leaving Trigoria largely empty during the break, and Gian Piero Gasperini will have to work with the few who remain in Rome. The Italian report notes that the club's form has made it a reservoir for national teams. Midfielder Manu Koné, who has just recovered, was not called up by France, a fortunate outcome for Gasperini. The first players back will be Ghilardi and Pisilli, who finish their commitments with the match against Belgium on 15 November and are expected at Trigoria the following day, giving them five days to prepare for the game against Parma. Malen returns on 17 November, while Gasperini will be reunited with Lulli and Koulierakis on 18 November. Players who travelled overseas will take longer: Balerdi, Soulé and Castro are due back in Rome by 19 November, just two days before the trip to Emilia. Mora, Wesley and Ndicka are also expected close to the match. The report suggests Gasperini may only have his full squad available on the eve of the clash at the Tardini. The timings make management difficult for Gasperini, who risks having the whole group together only the day before the fixture at the Tardini. The schedule leaves a short window for tactical preparation with the full squad.

Former Roma midfielder Edoardo Bove has praised Gian Piero Gasperini's side, saying the team "has great potential" and plays an almost suffocating, man-to-man style. Now at Watford, Bove said he had faced Gasperini in Italy and knew well the problems his football creates. Looking at his own future, he added: "Being in England makes me happy, it was a dream. But I don't hide that I have one eye on Italy." Francesco Totti has again spoken about a possible return to Roma and left the door open. "For me Roma is everything, but certain things are done in two, not alone," the former captain said, adding that he did not want to stir controversy. He also recognised the club's good form: "They are doing well, everything works and the team is very strong." Remembering Trigoria, he said: "It was my home. I arrived there at twelve and stayed for over thirty-five years." Roma face the final international break of 2026 with 13 players called up by their national teams. Soulé, Balerdi and Castro will join Argentina and Wesley will link up with Brazil. Italy have called up Pisilli and Ghilardi, while Mancini has been ruled out by a strain to his hip flexor. Malen will rejoin the Netherlands and Mora returns to the Portugal senior squad. Koulierakis, Lulli, Vásquez and De Marzi will also depart on international duty. Koné, by contrast, has been spared by France.

Rodrigo Mora has finally come into his own, cancelling out early doubts within weeks and establishing himself as one of the brightest talents in Gasperini's Roma. Corriere della Sera reports that his rise has exploded recently, overturning the difficulties of his first months and the debate over his transfer cost. His goal against Sassuolo was his third consecutive Serie A goal, following those against Cagliari and Udinese: four goals in total in just 399 minutes, an average of one goal every hundred minutes. He has also been a creative force in the Champions League, providing key assists at Old Trafford against Manchester United and against Real Madrid, while making the most of Dybala's absence to take control of the final third. Behind the breakthrough is Gasperini's total trust. The coach has always believed in the talent of the former Porto player, protecting him when he played less and developing him in the final metres. Mora is now the club's second-highest scorer alongside Pisilli and Soulé, behind only Malen. He has also earned his first call-up to the Portugal senior squad, in what the report describes as the new era after Cristiano Ronaldo. The milestone adds weight to an exciting progression within an ambitious technical and economic project, and the Friedkin Group have a talent of enormous value on their hands, ready to make Giallorossi fans dream. The report's central message is that Mora has gone from a player under scrutiny to one of the most decisive presences in the squad, with a personality and technical freshness that have won over everyone at Trigoria. Corriere della Sera frames his progress as the reward for both the coach's faith and the club's investment, with the young midfielder now taking centre stage with the composure of a natural.