Soulé faces Greenwood in Roma's Champions League return

Roma will not pursue free agents this month and are prepared to wait until January to strengthen their squad, particularly in search of an attacking winger. According to Fabrizio Romano, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has decided against rushing into the transfer market despite receiving proposals for unattached players. Raphaël Guerreiro, available after his spell at Bayern Munich, was offered to the club but did not convince Gasperini sufficiently for a move to materialize. Similarly, Jadon Sancho—who came close to joining Roma a year ago—was proposed again but the club chose not to pursue the opportunity this time. Concerns about Sancho's physical condition and the time required to restore him to competitive fitness reportedly weighed against any deal. Roma's strategy is now set: the squad will remain unchanged until the January window, when the club intends to make a more decisive push to fill the remaining gaps in the squad.

Roma enter the Champions League for the first time in seven years on Thursday evening against Fenerbahce in Istanbul, arriving on the back of three consecutive Serie A victories and with a squad that has absorbed Gian Piero Gasperini's identity. The club intends to bring the same aggression and forward-thinking approach that has impressed domestically to the continent's elite competition, though the standard will inevitably be higher. Paulo Dybala will be central to Roma's European night. Gasperini appears intent on leaning on his most experienced players to guide a return to the highest stage after a long absence. The squad blends proven European hands with Champions League debutants: Mancini, Koné, Wesley, Pisilli, Mora, Ghilardi and Lulli will compete in the competition for the first time, while De Roon, Molina, Balerdi, Hermoso, Malen and Dybala bring substantial European pedigree. Gasperini himself knows these nights well from his time at Atalanta and will attempt to transfer that experience to Roma without changing the team's character—one built on constant attacking intent and refusal to surrender. Matías Soulé is among the most anticipated performers. After physical problems last season and a summer marked by transfer speculation, the Argentine has rediscovered form with two consecutive goals against Lecce and Atalanta, plus a 93rd-minute strike that set the Olimpico alight. He now faces Fenerbahce, featuring Mason Greenwood, one of Roma's major targets during the summer transfer window. Roma arrive in Istanbul with confidence and a squad mixing veterans and debutants. While not obliged to compete as equals with Europe's strongest sides, they have the tools to become an awkward obstacle. Gasperini knows it well: seven years on, Roma return among the stars—and they intend to do so without fear.

Roma's squad will remain unchanged until January, with the club deciding against signing free agents and planning to address the left-wing position in the winter transfer window. Guerreiro was offered to the club in recent days, according to Fabrizio Romano, but the former Bayern Munich player did not fully convince head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, and no negotiations have taken place with the player, who remains a free agent. Jadon Sancho, who came close to joining Roma a year ago, has also been proposed following his departure from Aston Villa and current status without a club. However, Roma rejected this option due to significant doubts about the English forward: recovering him to full fitness would require considerable time, and the club decided against pursuing that avenue.

Roma enter the Champions League for the first time in seven years on Thursday evening against Fenerbahce in Istanbul, arriving on the back of three consecutive Serie A victories and with a squad that has absorbed Gian Piero Gasperini's identity. The club intends to bring the same aggression and forward-thinking approach that has impressed domestically to the continent's elite competition, though the standard will inevitably be higher. Paulo Dybala will be central to Roma's European night. Gasperini appears intent on leaning on his most experienced players to guide a return to the highest stage after a long absence. The squad blends proven European hands with Champions League debutants: Mancini, Koné, Wesley, Pisilli, Mora, Ghilardi and Lulli will compete in the competition for the first time, while De Roon, Molina, Balerdi, Hermoso, Malen and Dybala bring substantial European pedigree. Gasperini himself knows these nights well from his time at Atalanta and will attempt to transfer that experience to Roma without changing the team's character—one built on constant attacking intent and refusal to surrender. Matías Soulé is among the most anticipated performers. After physical problems last season and a summer marked by transfer speculation, the Argentine has rediscovered form with two consecutive goals against Lecce and Atalanta, plus a 93rd-minute strike that set the Olimpico alight. He now faces Fenerbahce, featuring Mason Greenwood, one of Roma's major targets during the summer transfer window. Roma arrive in Istanbul with confidence and a squad mixing veterans and debutants. While not obliged to compete as equals with Europe's strongest sides, they have the tools to become an awkward obstacle. Gasperini knows it well: seven years on, Roma return among the stars—and they intend to do so without fear.

Paulo Dybala will face the Champions League stage for the first time in over four years when Roma travel to Istanbul to face Fenerbahce on matchday one of the league phase. The Argentine forward last appeared in the competition on 16 March 2022 in Juventus colours and has accumulated 53 appearances and 18 goals across his Champions League career. He remained at Roma over the summer to lead the club in Europe after a strong start to the season, recording four assists in the first three Serie A matches. The Istanbul fixture will pit Dybala against former Roma striker Romelu Lukaku and Mason Greenwood, though Fenerbahce will be without suspended midfielder Guendouzi. For Roma, the match marks the Champions League debut of several squad members including Gianluca Mancini, Wesley, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli, Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora, who will feature alongside more experienced European campaigners. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini appears to favour experience in his starting selection, with Nahuel Molina leading the race for the right-back role ahead of Emanuele Lulli, and Donyell Malen positioned as the central attacker, leaving the only outstanding decision on the attacking line between Soulé and Mora. Separately, the Italian Football Federation's Federal Prosecutor has opened a formal investigation into a verbal altercation between Atalanta chief executive Luca Percassi and Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico that occurred after the Roma-Atalanta match. With no federal inspectors present in the Olimpico car park at the time of the incident, Federal Prosecutor Giuseppe Chinè will now assess the evidence and determine any disciplinary action.

Paulo Dybala will face Fenerbahçe in Istanbul on Thursday evening as Roma return to the Champions League for the first time in eight years. The Argentine has not played in the competition since Juventus fell to Villarreal in the group stage on 16 March 2022. Dybala has made 53 Champions League appearances, scoring 18 goals, and returns to Europe's elite club competition having remained at Roma despite doubts surrounding the team's ability to qualify. He has started every pre-season match and all three league fixtures so far this season, missing only 15 minutes against Fiorentina and Lecce while providing four assists, though a goal remains elusive. Thursday's matchup will see Dybala reunite with former teammates Romelu Lukaku and Mason Greenwood, both now with Fenerbahçe. Greenwood was reportedly a candidate to join Roma this summer, while midfielder Sofyan Amrabat—whom Dybala has clashed with multiple times in Rome derbies—is sidelined by suspension. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini is expected to field experienced defender Nahuel Molina ahead of Emanuele Lulli, with the attacking responsibilities shared between Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora at centre-forward. Both have never played in the Champions League, though they have company among Roma's debutants in the competition: Gianluca Mancini, Wesley, Manu Koné and Niccolò Pisilli are all making their first appearance. Players with prior Champions League experience include Mario Hermoso, Evan N'Dicka, Bryan Cristante, Marten de Roon, Leonardo Balerdi, Donyell Malen and Santiago Castro. Meanwhile, the Italian Football Federation's legal department has opened an investigation into events following Roma's Serie A match against Atalanta. Atalanta's chief executive Luca Percassi allegedly verbally assaulted Roma's sporting director Tony D'Amico in the post-match period, according to multiple witnesses. Inspectors were not present at the time; federal prosecutor Giuseppe Chiné will now assess the evidence.