Sancho emerges as available option; travel ban for Torino fixture

Lorenzo Pellegrini's absence is growing, with the midfielder ruled out for at least two to three months after tests revealed a high-grade tear of the musculotendinous junction of the semitendinosus in his right thigh. Roma face Napoli on Saturday 24 October at 18:00, and the injury adds to an already crowded treatment room. Pellegrini could return between late January and early February 2027, though a further operation is a possibility. Coming after his summer surgery, the new injury may also weigh on his future at the club, as the number 7's contract expires in June 2026. Staying at Roma is considered highly unlikely. The absence also forces a change in the midfield. Bryan Cristante is reportedly being tried again in the number 10 role, with the headline noting he is "ripassa" as a trequartista. Pellegrini's situation is the latest setback for the squad as the team prepares for the trip to Naples.

Lorenzo Pellegrini faces at least two months on the sidelines after tests revealed a high-grade lesion at the distal musculotendinous junction of the semitendinosus in his right thigh, sustained against Slovan Bratislava. Recovery times will be assessed as the clinical picture evolves, but the midfielder could return in the first days of 2027. The setback adds to Roma's injury problems, following those of Svilar, Koné and Dybala. Roma continue preparations for their Serie A clash with Napoli on Saturday at 6pm at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Training took place at Trigoria, and there is positive news from Bryan Cristante, who has returned to regular group work despite visible strapping around his knee. The captain will be available to Gasperini for the match against the Partenopei and could even start from the first minute. Fans of both Napoli and Roma will be able to watch Saturday's match, valid for the eighth round of Serie A, free of charge on DAZN, including non-subscribers. Under the TV rights tender, five matches this season are being broadcast in free mode, and the Maradona fixture is among them. Supporters of both clubs need only log in following the instructions provided by DAZN to access the live stream. With the winter transfer window approaching, Roma have already begun identifying possible reinforcements for Gasperini. According to the English outlet Sport Witness, on Tuesday evening, while Roma beat Slovan Bratislava 4-0 at the Olimpico, several Roma scouts were at the Porto against PSV match. The fixture, won 1-0 by the Dutch side, also drew the attention of several Premier League clubs. Under observation are left-winger Esmir Bajraktarević, born 2005, and midfielder Sven Mijnans, born 2000, who had already been followed in the summer. On Rome radio, the Roma-Napoli fixture has been widely discussed. Luigi Ferrajolo told Radio Radio: "The absences of Koné and Dybala are heavy: Koné is the engine of the midfield and Dybala the inspiration. If Cristante can play, he can push Pisilli a bit further forward. Or Mora plays, hoping he wakes up a bit and makes a greater contribution." Alessandro Vocalelli added: "Roma have already passed some tests: not every match can be an exam. It is a stage in a journey in which the team must perform well, because it can help distance a direct Champions League rival. Physically he seems to be better, but Napoli have resources that make the match anything but simple."

Former Roma midfielder Angelo Di Livio, speaking to Retesport, said he likes the idea of playing Wesley further forward against Napoli, with Molina dropping deeper on the same flank. Di Livio believes Gasperini will be missing two important players, including Dybala, and he questioned Lorenzo Pellegrini's latest injury, asking what fault the player had for having to stop again. Di Livio said Cristante is not well and does not think he can start. He expects Gasperini to have prepared alternative plans in midfield to cover the absences. The attacking absences of Pellegrini and Dybala in the final third are what make the idea of Wesley further up the pitch appealing to him. Di Livio expects Evan Lulli...

Roma are already looking ahead to the January transfer window, with sporting director Tony D'Amico reaffirming the club's intention to give Gian Piero Gasperini new resources to cope with a packed fixture list. Speaking to Sky Sport, D'Amico said: "January is far away, now we concentrate on ourselves. Then we will do our utmost to give the coach resources to face all the matches in the best way." According to Corriere dello Sport, despite the comments of José Mourinho, Endrick remains among the profiles being monitored and stays on the radar for January. On the flank, the pursuit of Oosterwolde remains active. His possible arrival, however, will also depend on the player's physical condition, after a muscle injury had slowed his move during the summer. If Oosterwolde has fully recovered, his profile will be seriously considered by the club, making fitness the key condition for any deal to progress.

Roma's pursuit of Real Madrid forward Endrick remains at an impasse two months after a summer rejection, with the Spanish club offering neither discussion nor closure on a potential move. The international break has revived interest in the 20-year-old, who has made only four minutes of league action and no Champions League appearances under Carlo Ancelotti and remains keen to leave in search of regular playing time. Endrick has repeatedly told Real Madrid he wants to join Roma and wear the giallorosso, most recently reiterating this to José Mourinho before reporting to the Brazilian national team two weeks ago. Ancelotti has publicly acknowledged the forward needs consistent minutes to develop. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has not prioritised the signing, concentrating instead on upcoming fixtures rather than transfer activity—a perspective that makes sense given the January window lies three months away. Roma's primary target remains a winger with specific qualities: physically strong and capable of explosive pace. Endrick is not that profile, though Gasperini would accept him as a secondary option, potentially deploying him on the right wing or as a second striker. The first-choice targets remain Chelsea's Gittens, Stuttgart's Lewelling and Zenit's Luiz Henrique, all of whom were discussed in the closing stages of the summer market and remain on Roma's radar. Only Henrique received significant playing time after negotiations halted in August. Another barrier exists: the Friedkin family's likely demands for departures before any arrival. Soulé has been repeatedly pursued—both in summer and now through the winter window—while a possible move for defender Oosterwolde could mean Rensch or Ghilardi leaving. Oosterwolde was abandoned at the end of August due to physical problems, which are reportedly now resolved. For any Endrick deal to progress, Real Madrid must break its silence, the player must remain committed despite minimal minutes, and Roma must find clarity on squad-trimming priorities.

Roma could reopen talks with Jayden Oosterwolde during the winter transfer window after a summer move collapsed over medical concerns. The club had scheduled the defender's medical examinations before completing the deal, but assessments revealed a significant muscle tear that required surgery and an estimated three-month recovery. Roma chose not to proceed at that point, but have kept the 2001-born left-back on their radar. Director of sport Massimo D'Amico continues to monitor Oosterwolde's progress, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini had already approved the move when it was being considered in summer, signalling how highly the former Parma player was valued for the project. The failed summer operation has not damaged relations between the parties. Roma will reassess Oosterwolde once he returns to full fitness and provides sufficient physical guarantees, with the January window offering a chance to revive negotiations that seemed all but done before the injury setback. A recent sign of sustained interest came during Roma's Champions League fixture against Istanbul, when Oosterwolde greeted several Roma players and subsequently held talks with Gasperini and his staff. Much will depend on the Dutch defender's recovery and Roma's own evaluation, but he remains a profile to watch for the giallorossi's left flank.

Lorenzo Pellegrini faces at least two months on the sidelines after tests revealed a high-grade lesion at the distal musculotendinous junction of the semitendinosus in his right thigh, sustained against Slovan Bratislava. Recovery times will be assessed as the clinical picture evolves, but the midfielder could return in the first days of 2027. The setback adds to Roma's injury problems, following those of Svilar, Koné and Dybala. Roma continue preparations for their Serie A clash with Napoli on Saturday at 6pm at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Training took place at Trigoria, and there is positive news from Bryan Cristante, who has returned to regular group work despite visible strapping around his knee. The captain will be available to Gasperini for the match against the Partenopei and could even start from the first minute. Fans of both Napoli and Roma will be able to watch Saturday's match, valid for the eighth round of Serie A, free of charge on DAZN, including non-subscribers. Under the TV rights tender, five matches this season are being broadcast in free mode, and the Maradona fixture is among them. Supporters of both clubs need only log in following the instructions provided by DAZN to access the live stream. With the winter transfer window approaching, Roma have already begun identifying possible reinforcements for Gasperini. According to the English outlet Sport Witness, on Tuesday evening, while Roma beat Slovan Bratislava 4-0 at the Olimpico, several Roma scouts were at the Porto against PSV match. The fixture, won 1-0 by the Dutch side, also drew the attention of several Premier League clubs. Under observation are left-winger Esmir Bajraktarević, born 2005, and midfielder Sven Mijnans, born 2000, who had already been followed in the summer. On Rome radio, the Roma-Napoli fixture has been widely discussed. Luigi Ferrajolo told Radio Radio: "The absences of Koné and Dybala are heavy: Koné is the engine of the midfield and Dybala the inspiration. If Cristante can play, he can push Pisilli a bit further forward. Or Mora plays, hoping he wakes up a bit and makes a greater contribution." Alessandro Vocalelli added: "Roma have already passed some tests: not every match can be an exam. It is a stage in a journey in which the team must perform well, because it can help distance a direct Champions League rival. Physically he seems to be better, but Napoli have resources that make the match anything but simple."

Bryan Cristante is reportedly close to a return to a more advanced role behind the strikers for Roma, with Gian Piero Gasperini considering using him as an extra option in the trequarti as the club continues to struggle with injuries. The move would see Cristante operate in the position behind the front men in a 3-4-1-2, a role he could share with Niccolò Pisilli. The idea would mark a return to a formation Gasperini used in previous meetings with Milan, when Massimiliano Allegri's side lined up with a back three. In the reverse fixture on 25 January, Gasperini, having Donyell Malen available, deployed Matías Soulé behind the centre-forward and Paulo Dybala, a display that gave Roma plenty of the play but ended in a 1-1 draw. The opponent has changed, but the thinking has not. Milan have since switched from a back three to a 4-3-3 under Allegri, but against a flat back four Gasperini has often played a trequartista, and the same approach is not ruled out against Napoli. The key message for supporters is that the trequarti role is firmly on the table for the coming fixture, with Cristante the likeliest option to fill it. Gasperini has used the flexibility of the system to adjust his attacking shape, and the change would give Roma an additional creative presence between the midfield and the front line.

Roma's radio pundits are debating how Gian Piero Gasperini should line up against Napoli, with Mora, Soulé, Malen and Castro at the centre of the discussion. Rete Sport's David Rossi backed keeping Mora in the side alongside Soulé and Malen, arguing that Mora deserves more consecutive games to gain confidence and to win over the Roma crowd, and that playing away from home would ease the pressure on him. He also suggested a more natural role for Mora than the one Gasperini gave Pellegrini against Slovan, when Pellegrini was deployed on the right, a position that is not his. Rossi said: "Contro il Napoli o metti dentro tutti i centrocampisti, con uno tra Pisilli e Cristante alto sulla trequarti, oppure confermi Mora con Soulè e Malen, che è la cosa che farei io." Fabio Petruzzi, also on Rete Sport, proposed Rensch in front of Spinazzola with Wesley on the left, and expected Gasperini to keep faith with Mora but not to rule out Malen and Castro up front together. Tiziano Moroni was more critical, saying Mora had been insufficient in the last match and had created nothing, while noting he is only 19 and urging patience with Gasperini. Gianluca Piacentini raised the idea of Wesley pushed forward in the emergency, but said he would go for the classic line-up against Napoli, with Mora and Soulé behind Malen. He said: "Mora è arrivato da due mesi e per questo gli darei un po' di tempo. Facciamogli fare dieci partite consecutive." He added: "Però se ogni volta deve giocare con questo mattone addosso, che al primo errore viene fustigato, diventa dura…" On Tele Radio Stereo, Mario Corsi said Mora should be given time despite criticism, pointing out that Diomande is also 19. Francesca Ferrazza argued that Roma are not a side in difficulty, that the atmosphere in the stadium is the best it has been, and that Champions League matches drain energy but are tests of strength. Lorenzo Pes reported that Pellegrini, even with a mild injury, will not return before the break, and that what had filtered out suggested a month out with a more significant tear in the same spot where he had surgery. He said Gasperini must hope to recover Dybala soon, with recent reports pointing to an attempt for Udinese, and suggested Cristante move forward with Pisilli in midfield. Alessio Nardo joked: "Il giorno in cui la Roma acquisterà l'esterno sinistro titolare di piede destro faremo una festa in città, perchè finalmente sfateremo un tabù. Sono due anni che cerchiamo questo giocatore senza riuscire a trovarlo…" Piero Torri said Saturday's match against Napoli would be far from easy, and that Cristante was unlikely to start, though he could come on during the game in either the No.10 role or midfield. Roberto Pruzzo said he did not expect Mora to play against Napoli, suggested Castro could partner Malen, and believed Pisilli could operate in a dual role. Nando Orsi argued that Mora must play whenever he has the chance, otherwise he never gets the opportunity to settle in and understand the system. He said: "L'esborso economico deve essere confermato, e quando c'è la possibilità deve giocare." On Castro, he said: "Pensavo a Castro: poverino, non giocherà mai." He noted that Castro has been a starter for three or four matches this season, since Malen usually starts, and that coming on from the bench is very different from starting from the first minute.

Roma's radio pundits are debating how Gian Piero Gasperini should line up against Napoli, with Mora, Soulé, Malen and Castro at the centre of the discussion. Rete Sport's David Rossi backed keeping Mora in the side alongside Soulé and Malen, arguing that Mora deserves more consecutive games to gain confidence and to win over the Roma crowd, and that playing away from home would ease the pressure on him. He also suggested a more natural role for Mora than the one Gasperini gave Pellegrini against Slovan, when Pellegrini was deployed on the right, a position that is not his. Rossi said: "Contro il Napoli o metti dentro tutti i centrocampisti, con uno tra Pisilli e Cristante alto sulla trequarti, oppure confermi Mora con Soulè e Malen, che è la cosa che farei io." Fabio Petruzzi, also on Rete Sport, proposed Rensch in front of Spinazzola with Wesley on the left, and expected Gasperini to keep faith with Mora but not to rule out Malen and Castro up front together. Tiziano Moroni was more critical, saying Mora had been insufficient in the last match and had created nothing, while noting he is only 19 and urging patience with Gasperini. Gianluca Piacentini raised the idea of Wesley pushed forward in the emergency, but said he would go for the classic line-up against Napoli, with Mora and Soulé behind Malen. He said: "Mora è arrivato da due mesi e per questo gli darei un po' di tempo. Facciamogli fare dieci partite consecutive." He added: "Però se ogni volta deve giocare con questo mattone addosso, che al primo errore viene fustigato, diventa dura…" On Tele Radio Stereo, Mario Corsi said Mora should be given time despite criticism, pointing out that Diomande is also 19. Francesca Ferrazza argued that Roma are not a side in difficulty, that the atmosphere in the stadium is the best it has been, and that Champions League matches drain energy but are tests of strength. Lorenzo Pes reported that Pellegrini, even with a mild injury, will not return before the break, and that what had filtered out suggested a month out with a more significant tear in the same spot where he had surgery. He said Gasperini must hope to recover Dybala soon, with recent reports pointing to an attempt for Udinese, and suggested Cristante move forward with Pisilli in midfield. Alessio Nardo joked: "Il giorno in cui la Roma acquisterà l'esterno sinistro titolare di piede destro faremo una festa in città, perchè finalmente sfateremo un tabù. Sono due anni che cerchiamo questo giocatore senza riuscire a trovarlo…" Piero Torri said Saturday's match against Napoli would be far from easy, and that Cristante was unlikely to start, though he could come on during the game in either the No.10 role or midfield. Roberto Pruzzo said he did not expect Mora to play against Napoli, suggested Castro could partner Malen, and believed Pisilli could operate in a dual role. Nando Orsi argued that Mora must play whenever he has the chance, otherwise he never gets the opportunity to settle in and understand the system. He said: "L'esborso economico deve essere confermato, e quando c'è la possibilità deve giocare." On Castro, he said: "Pensavo a Castro: poverino, non giocherà mai." He noted that Castro has been a starter for three or four matches this season, since Malen usually starts, and that coming on from the bench is very different from starting from the first minute.

Roma's goalscoring spread has become a major talking point after Nicolò Molina's goal against Slovan Bratislava made it 11 different scorers in just ten matches. Donyell Malen leads the way with nine goals, while Pisilli, Koné, Soulé and Hermoso have two each. Lulli, Mora, Cristante, De Roon, Castro and Molina have one apiece. In Serie A, counting cup matches too, Roma have scored from more players than Inter, who are stuck on 10. Gian Piero Gasperini's side are the only Italian club in the top bracket of the Sofascore ranking. Paulo Dybala is the notable absentee from the list and is hoping to return before the international break to add his name to the scoresheet. Every outfield player seems to be getting involved. Ghilardi, who could have been the twelfth man on Tuesday, had a goal ruled out for offside against Castro. Mancini, N'Dicka, Balerdi, Wesley, Rensch, Kouliarakis and Pellegrini are all also looking to get on the scoresheet. The key statistic, according to the article, is the number of chances created and Roma's far greater presence in the opposition box compared with last season. Apart from the match at Como, where Roma played with ten men for more than half an hour, the team have scored in every game in Serie A and the Champions League. They have almost always scored at least twice, the exception being the 1-1 draw with Fenerbahce. Across all European leagues, Brighton lead the way with 15 goals from different scorers, followed by Barcelona, Lyon, Brentford and Real Sociedad with 13. Manchester City, Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid and Freiburg have 12, while Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are on 11.

Roma dominated Slovan Bratislava from start to finish, with Hermoso and Soulé's goals and a sustained attacking display putting the Champions League side in control, and Gasperini getting the answers he was seeking from players who had previously seen less action. Gasperini changed five players from the Genoa match, lining up in a 3-4-2-1, and the Roma side swarmed the Slovan 4-3-3 from the first whistle. Quick build-up play and incisive passing saw the Giallorossi push forward continually, with the left-sided chain of Pellegrini and Wesley particularly active, Hermoso initially supporting them. Slovan struggled to break up the rhythm and pressure, and their only real source of acceleration was Camara, who was looking for long balls. Roma won the ball back immediately, often without needing any particular marking, and the play was constantly played in a 40-metre area around Takac's goal. Roma's attacking play came mainly down the left, where they regularly reached the byline. The breakthrough was slow to come, however, because of poor finishing. Pellegrini shot wide with his left foot from a Malen pass, then Pisilli sent his rebound wide, and shortly afterwards Pisilli also fired over another chance created by switches of play. Pellegrini had three wayward shots in the first 25 minutes, and Malen initially misread the channels of entry, making some poor runs. Molina, still tentative, worked more in width than in depth. The opener came from a set piece: Ghilardi acted as a target man and Hermoso buried the header. Shortly after, Wesley assisted Molina from wide, who first fluffed his effort at the far post but was then ready on Takac's imperfect rebound to make it 2-0. The double lead ended any sign of a Slovan response, with Pellegrini sound defensively and Balerdi at times almost disarming in how easily he defused danger. With the two-goal cushion, the priority became conserving energy ahead of the Napoli match. After the restart, with the same eleven players, at least another 15 minutes of intensity were needed. The change of pace came when Soulé replaced Pellegrini, who had suffered a new injury, and took up position on the left in an already devastating chain. Soon after, Pisilli won the ball from Malen and Soulé finished it off, described as "like a snack taken from a child", closing out a game that, in effect, never began for Slovan. When Malen made it 4-0, managing energy became even more important. De Roon remained surprisingly on the pitch, and Roma controlled possession, avoiding further setbacks after Pellegrini's knock. Castro and Rensch came on for Malen and Wesley, but De Roon stayed on until the 72nd minute, when Mancini replaced him in midfield, a repeat of the Fonseca emergency of 2020. Koulierakis also came on for Hermoso. Three aspects stood out late on. At 4-0, several vigorous ball recoveries by the Giallorossi showed a ferocious mentality. Castro impressed with the quality of his touch and his game management, which was truly top class. Ghilardi scored a textbook goal, a perfectly co-ordinated volley that recalled Totti at Bologna in 2001, but it was ruled out for an obvious offside by two teammates.