Ryan Friedkin arrives in Rome amid derby chaos and transfer decisions

Gian Piero Gasperini addressed Roma's commercial partners at Relais Appia Antica, speaking about the club's demanding nature and the squad's recent performance. He said: "I knew that Roma footballically is very demanding and difficult. But beyond results it matters to show you are working seriously, and that is always appreciated." Gasperini called the recent match against Inter "a spectacle" and thanked the business leaders for their confidence in the club. He also unveiled a personal project: a new wine from his vineyard called "Freisa 3-4-3", releasing on 5 October. "The 3-4-3 has been my fortune and I hope it is a good omen: with that system I built almost all my successes," he said. Roma have begun planning for the January transfer window to expand Gasperini's squad options. Among the profiles being monitored is Giorgi Kvernadze, a Georgian winger from Frosinone born in 2003, who has made a strong start to the season. Roma's scouts have closely followed the player, who has recorded 5 goals and 2 assists in Serie A and Coppa Italia. Frosinone appear reluctant to sell easily and have reportedly set the price at around €25 million. Napoli have also shown interest in Kvernadze. In his book "Oltre", Francesco Totti revealed a backstory from Paulo Dybala's arrival at Roma. The club had considered giving Dybala the number 10 shirt and wanted Totti himself to present it during the unveiling. Totti refused bluntly: "The answer was sharp: 'Are you all mad?' If you have the courage, give it to him yourselves. Nothing against the player—I like him very much as a person too." Dybala ultimately chose number 21, avoiding a direct comparison with Totti's legacy. Totti explained he would not oppose seeing the number 10 worn again, but with one condition: "Every day I hope another Totti manifests himself. One born in Rome, grown up in Rome, who chooses Roma for life. That shirt should go to someone who can build a long and deep bond with the club."

Ticket sales have opened for Roma's Champions League match against Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday 20 October at 21:00 at Stadio Olimpico. The fixture is matchday 3 of the league phase. The initial phase of sales is reserved for Plus subscribers and women's first-team subscribers, with tickets available through the club's official channels.

Tickets for Roma's Champions League match against Slovan Bratislava go on sale today, with the fixture scheduled for 20 October at 21:00. The match is Roma's third outing in the league phase. Seats in Curva Nord start at €45. Tickets for the earlier fixture against Real Madrid sold out several weeks ago. Roma have announced a tiered ticket allocation system to manage demand for the Bratislava match, with priority given to certain categories of season-ticket holders before the general public release. Roma stated: "From 16:00 on Thursday 24 September, PLUS Serie A season-ticket holders and the women's first-team season-ticket holders for the 2026–27 season may purchase non-transferable tickets at a dedicated price. To access this presale, login online using your PNR and date of birth; you can purchase a maximum of two tickets per code in a single transaction. General ticket sales begin at 12:00 on Friday 25 September 2026. Each supporter may purchase a maximum of four tickets per single transaction. Alongside general sales and throughout the sales period, PLUS Serie A and women's first-team season-ticket holders for 2026–27 can benefit from a dedicated price for extra non-transferable tickets. This discounted tariff is available online only; login with your PNR and date of birth. Each season-ticket holder may purchase a maximum of two tickets in one transaction. Chip exchange for COPPE season-ticket holders will not be available for this match."

Gian Piero Gasperini addressed Roma's commercial partners at Relais Appia Antica, speaking about the club's demanding nature and the squad's recent performance. He said: "I knew that Roma footballically is very demanding and difficult. But beyond results it matters to show you are working seriously, and that is always appreciated." Gasperini called the recent match against Inter "a spectacle" and thanked the business leaders for their confidence in the club. He also unveiled a personal project: a new wine from his vineyard called "Freisa 3-4-3", releasing on 5 October. "The 3-4-3 has been my fortune and I hope it is a good omen: with that system I built almost all my successes," he said. Roma have begun planning for the January transfer window to expand Gasperini's squad options. Among the profiles being monitored is Giorgi Kvernadze, a Georgian winger from Frosinone born in 2003, who has made a strong start to the season. Roma's scouts have closely followed the player, who has recorded 5 goals and 2 assists in Serie A and Coppa Italia. Frosinone appear reluctant to sell easily and have reportedly set the price at around €25 million. Napoli have also shown interest in Kvernadze. In his book "Oltre", Francesco Totti revealed a backstory from Paulo Dybala's arrival at Roma. The club had considered giving Dybala the number 10 shirt and wanted Totti himself to present it during the unveiling. Totti refused bluntly: "The answer was sharp: 'Are you all mad?' If you have the courage, give it to him yourselves. Nothing against the player—I like him very much as a person too." Dybala ultimately chose number 21, avoiding a direct comparison with Totti's legacy. Totti explained he would not oppose seeing the number 10 worn again, but with one condition: "Every day I hope another Totti manifests himself. One born in Rome, grown up in Rome, who chooses Roma for life. That shirt should go to someone who can build a long and deep bond with the club."

Roma have made an emphatic start to the 2026-27 season, claiming four wins and two draws across their opening six matches without defeat, and their attacking shape under Gian Piero Gasperini is becoming increasingly defined. The side have generated one of Serie A's strongest offensive phases, producing 111 total shots over six matches—an average of 20.6 per game—with 68% coming from the central area, 18% from the left and 15% from the right. Gasperini's system combines aggressive pressing, high tempo and collective play with relentless shot creation, generating 14 goals so far: 12 from open play, one from a set piece and one on the counter. Donyell Malen has emerged as the attacking focal point, already on six goals with 20 shots (10 on target) as Roma's primary reference point in the box. However, the creative engine runs through Paulo Dybala on the right flank. The Argentine leads Serie A for chances created (22) and assists (4), and has completed 201 successful passes, underscoring his centrality to Roma's build-up play. Gasperini's tactical identity also involves using inverted wingers—Wesley, for instance, frequently plays on the left to cut inside onto his right foot, a pattern that generated his goal against Juventus last season in a 3-3 draw at the Olimpico. In the match against Inter, Nahuel Molina, deployed on the left, finished with three shots. While Roma shoot most from the centre, the right flank proves most productive in creating opportunities, generating 39% of offensive chances. The combination of Dybala's creativity and the movement patterns Gasperini has installed suggest Roma's attacking threat remains multifaceted and difficult to defend, grounded in the manager's clear strategic blueprint of aggressive, high-tempo football that prioritises collective movement and continuous offensive production.

Roma have set a record that has never been achieved in the club's history: ten consecutive Serie A matches in which they have scored at least two goals. The streak began on 25 April with a 0–2 win at Bologna and has survived the change of season, spanning the final five matches of last season and the opening five of the current campaign under Gasperini. During this run the squad has scored 27 goals, won nine matches and drawn one, while conceding just five goals in total—remarkably, Roma kept clean sheets in seven of these ten fixtures. The start to the 2026–27 season has accelerated the phenomenon. After five matchdays Roma have 14 goals at an average of 2.8 per game, the best offensive opening by the club since Serie A returned to 20 teams in 2004–05. The previous best in that span was 13 goals in 2016–17. Roma have not conceded more than two goals in any match; Fiorentina and Lecce each shipped four, while Atalanta, Torino and Inter conceded two apiece. The 2–2 draw with Inter left intact another distinction: Roma have not started a campaign without a loss in their opening five matches since 2014–15. All 14 goals have come from inside the penalty area, with zero from distance and zero penalties awarded. Roma have produced 99 shots, 35 on target, and 72 chances according to official Lega Serie A data, indicating that their prolificty stems from an enormous volume of dangerous situations created close to goal. Donyell Malen has scored six goals in the opening five matchdays and after just four fixtures joined an exclusive club: only Pedro Manfredini and Francesco Totti had reached six goals in their first four league matches for Roma. Malen closed last season with 14 goals in 18 Serie A appearances; across both campaigns he has now scored 20 goals in 23 league matches. Paulo Dybala has not yet scored this season but has supplied four assists in five appearances, currently leading the Serie A assists table. Three of those came together in Roma's 4–0 win over Fiorentina on matchday one. Manu Koné's brace in the first half against Inter saw him become only the fifth Roma player to score twice in the opening 45 minutes of a Serie A match against the Nerazzurri, after Roberto Pruzzo, Francesco Graziani, Abel Balbo and Francesco Totti.

Roma have reached the top of Serie A alongside Inter and Lazio after the opening phase of the season, but attention has already turned to a gruelling month ahead combining league and Champions League fixtures with no respite until November. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has relied heavily on the established core of the squad in the early weeks, with the summer signings introduced gradually, rotating between starting roles and substitute appearances. The intensity of the coming period will require him to call on the full squad of twenty-two players. Among the summer arrivals, Leonardo Balerdi has made an immediate impact, supported by strong performances from Nahuel Molina, the former Atlético Madrid player who provided his first assist against Inter and impressed on the left flank against Torino despite arriving with delayed pre-season preparation due to World Cup commitments. Rodrigo Mora has shown promise in two starts against Fiorentina and Atalanta, though he has found reading the game more difficult as a substitute—though he did score from the bench at Lecce. Gasperini is focused on unlocking the Portuguese midfielder's potential as a player capable of making a difference through his quality. The squad refresh is completed by Koulierakis, Lorenzo Pellegrini and especially Marten de Roon, a signing Gasperini strongly advocated for to strengthen and provide balance to the midfield.

Roma head into a demanding stretch of fixtures with Gasperini now ready to rely heavily on the summer recruits who have gradually been introduced to the squad. The club closed the first part of the campaign level on points with Inter and Lazio at the top of the table, but a punishing run awaits: between Serie A and Champions League, there will be no respite until November. With only one week in four featuring a European fixture so far, Gasperini has largely favoured the established players while carefully integrating the new arrivals, deploying them either from the start or off the bench. Several summer signings have already made an impact. Balerdi has made a strong early impression, while Molina began well despite arriving physically behind schedule after playing in the World Cup final. He provided his first assist against Inter and showed promising effectiveness when fielded on the left at Turin. Rodrigo Mora presents a mixed picture: the Portuguese midfielder impressed in two starting performances against Fiorentina and Atalanta but struggled when introduced as a substitute, failing to read the rhythm of matches. Paradoxically, he scored when coming off the bench at Lecce. Gasperini intends to gradually unlock the full potential of the talent he strongly pursued. Konstantinos Koulierakis and Marten de Roon will also prove invaluable—the latter was Gasperini's move to shore up the midfield. Lorenzo Pellegrini completes the picture as the squad faces its most testing period of the season.

Roma are using the international break to work away from the spotlight, with experienced midfielders Marten de Roon and Lorenzo Pellegrini among the senior figures remaining at Trigoria to strengthen their position in the pecking order ahead of the squad's return to action. The Giallorossi want to maintain their strong form when fixtures resume, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini central to Roma's resurgence both on and off the pitch. The club has returned to Champions League football for the first time in seven years, and the financial picture has improved alongside sporting progress. Gasperini has been instrumental in this turnaround, replicating the sustained success he achieved during his nine-year spell at Atalanta. Roma's squad is now valued approximately €150 million higher than it was a year ago, reflecting both the quality of recruitment and the effectiveness of the coaching environment. The improvement comes despite the competitive demands of the current season. The break gives Roma's players the chance to work in concentrated fashion on the training ground without the pressure of immediate fixtures, positioning the club well for the demanding schedule ahead.

Roma's players on loan across Europe experienced a mixed week of midweek and league fixtures. Neil El Aynaoui performed well for RB Leipzig despite a 2–0 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, completing 31 of 34 passes and winning 8 of 14 duels while receiving a yellow card in the 74th minute. His statistical rating reached 7.2, among Leipzig's best performances. Anass Salah-Eddine made a convincing debut for Panathinaikos in a Greek Cup tie against Kifisia, playing all 90 minutes on the left flank in a 2–0 victory. FotMob rated him 7.3 for a clean display as Panathinaikos dominated with 71 per cent possession in the first half. By contrast, Angeliño's week at Deportivo La Coruña ended disastrously: he was sent off for a challenge on Miguel Sierra in the 59th minute of a midweek fixture against Sevilla—initially given a yellow card before the VAR review led to a direct red—leaving his side to lose 1–0 already down in the scoreline. Statistical ratings gave him just 5.7, and Deportivo manager Hidalgo noted how the expulsion undermined the team's comeback effort. Angeliño subsequently missed the following 1–1 draw against Betis through suspension. Mohamed Seck at Foggia produced sharply contrasting displays within days. Playing 90 minutes in a goalless midweek draw against Savoia, he was identified as Foggia's best performer, winning nearly every duel against opposing attackers. Coach Auteri retained him for the next match against Inter U23, but this time his form dipped noticeably. Foggia lost 2–1, and a careless passing error by Seck enabled the decisive goal from Fumagalli. Foggiacalciomania rated him 5.5, noting good physical condition but a costly mistake. The week illustrated the growth trajectory of a defender aged just 20, with evident talent and physicality that must be coupled with fewer lapses in concentration. Elsewhere, Federico Nardin at Pescara played the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 midweek draw against Gubbio, earning ratings of 6 and 6.9 for personality and reliability despite some refinements needed, but sat out the subsequent 1–0 win at Vado. Filippo Reale completed 90 minutes for Carrarese in a 1–0 home defeat to Benevento, earning 6 and 6.7 ratings for an orderly display, while Luigi Cherubini entered at the 77th minute for Benevento and struck the post with a close chance in the 83rd. Radoslaw Zelezny, Perugia's goalkeeper, conceded five goals across two matches but received ratings of 6 in both a 3–0 home loss to Spezia and a 2–0 away defeat at Grosseto, with no clear responsibility on most goals. Robinio Vaz at Hull City entered off the bench in the 78th minute during a 2–1 loss at Newcastle after more than ten minutes without notable incident, marking his second consecutive Premier League appearance. Marash Kumbulla remained unused at Rayo Vallecano despite being named in squads for a 2–1 win against Espanyol and a 1–1 draw at Osasuna. Jan Ziolkowski has not returned to action for Monza, continuing recovery from plantar fasciitis. Artem Dovbyk spent another week without playing time at Bologna.

Sending young players out on loan is often meant to build experience, but the tactic frequently backfires. Three recent cases illustrate the gamble: Bologna's Antonio Raimondo, Roma's Alessandro Romano, and Atalanta's Dominic Vavassori have all thrived in loan moves, raising questions about whether their parent clubs made the right call letting them go. Raimondo has scored two double goals in Bologna's opening four matches this season after manager Tedesco chose to start the season with Artem Dovbyk, fresh from a difficult spell at Roma, and Roberto Piccoli. Roma took a bolder step by loaning Alessandro Romano to Cagliari with an obligation to buy during the summer transfer window. Romano scored on his debut, has been among Cagliari's best performers consistently, and earned a senior international cap—a remarkable return for a prospect Roma developed in their youth academy. Roma's midfield includes Cristante, Koné, Pisilli and De Roon, all established operators with strong pedigree. Their presence justified sending Romano out, yet one observer, Pisacane, remarked that Romano was "very similar to Strootman," suggesting his value may have been underestimated. Vavassori, with Atalanta, has an equally striking early record. Though Sarri declined to change his forward pairing of Scamacca and Krstovic—the combination that earned Atalanta European qualification last year—Vavassori has netted twice in the opening stretch of this season with Palermo, a club positioned to mount a promotion bid. Baldini recognised Vavassori's potential after calling him to a national team stage following the World Cup campaign, and Atalanta acknowledged his promise by granting him significant minutes in their U23 side. Not every loan fails: Milan showed sound judgment loaning Cissè and Liberali to Catanzaro last season under Aquilani, and both have since been integrated into the first team. The article concludes that success depends on the squad, the player, and the context—there is no universal formula, though evaluation errors remain common.

Roma players out on loan delivered mixed results across a busy weekend of football, with Alessandro Romano continuing to impress in Serie A while others made their debuts for their temporary clubs. Romano played all 90 minutes as Cagliari defeated Atalanta 2–1 at Bergamo, and created a chance for Mendy early in the second half that was ruled out for marginal offside. The 20-year-old also fired from distance in the 15th minute, forcing a corner from Carnesecchi. Under coach Pisacane, Romano has become an established starter and is at Cagliari on a loan with an obligation to buy should certain sporting conditions be met. Neil El Aynaoui experienced a contrasting week at RB Leipzig. The Moroccan midfielder played the full match in the Bundesliga club's 4–1 Champions League defeat away at Como on Thursday, then returned to the starting XI in Bundesliga action on Sunday, playing 74 minutes in a 5–0 victory over Hamburg without scoring or assisting. He remains on loan with a right of redemption. Robinio Vaz made his Premier League debut for Hull City, entering at the 82nd minute in place of McBurnie during an away fixture at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea. Hull secured a 2–2 draw, and Vaz, born in 2007, now has his first minutes in English football under his belt. He too is on loan with a right of redemption. Other Roma loanees had quieter weekends. Mattia Mannini made his Benevento debut off the bench, replacing Siatounis in the 74th minute of a 3–1 win against Hellas Verona—his first appearance after being unused at Ascoli. Filippo Reale played 90 minutes at left centre-back in Carrarese's 1–0 home defeat to Catanzaro, the goal coming from Iemmello in the 83rd minute. Radoslaw Zelezny started in goal for Perugia away at Ravenna but saw his side lose 3–0 after being reduced to ten men when Kabashi was sent off late in the first half. He had kept a clean sheet in a win against Pineto the previous week. Luigi Cherubini sat unused on Benevento's bench in their 3–1 success, a reversal of his playing status from Ascoli. Angeliño made a second consecutive unused substitute appearance for Deportivo La Coruña in a 1–1 draw at Getafe. Marash Kumbulla returned to the squad list for Rayo Vallecano but did not play in a 4–1 defeat at Real Madrid's Bernabeu. Jan Ziolkowski remained unavailable with a foot problem that had already kept him out the week prior; Monza lost 3–2 to Lecce without him. Artem Dovbyk was held out of Bologna's trip to Napoli after sustaining a minor groin issue in the 91st minute of a prior victory; Bologna lost 1–0 at the Maradona, with manager Tedesco calling the precaution sensible rather than a serious injury. Anass Salah-Eddine is nearing a loan move to Panathinaikos; Roma has agreed terms and the winger has arrived in Athens for medicals, though an official announcement had not yet been published at the time of writing.