Stramaccioni backs Cristante as key to Gasperini's Roma; defends Romano deal

Former captain Francesco Totti has spoken again about his bond with Roma, saying he would one day like to return to Trigoria, and has assessed the club's chances of challenging for the Scudetto under Gian Piero Gasperini. Speaking on the programme Shasha Sport, Totti looked back over key moments of his career, from turning down Real Madrid to his farewell to football. Asked what Roma still means to him, Totti said: "For me Roma is everything, above all the Roma as a club, as well as the city. It has given me a huge amount and I have given a lot to it. That is why, as you know, I always say that certain things are done together, not alone." On leaving Trigoria, he said: "It was my home. I lived there for longer than I lived in my own house. I grew up there and I stayed for over thirty-five years. I arrived when I was twelve years old. For me, going to Trigoria was like coming home. I never imagined that one day the moment to leave would come." Recalling his last match at the Olimpico, he said: "It was a historic, special day. Beautiful to live through, but at the same time painful, because it marked the end of a career, the end of a dream. I went round the stadium and saw all the people, from the youngest to the oldest: everyone was crying." On turning down Real Madrid, Totti admitted: "At that moment, I did have some doubts. But in the end, as I have always said, my love for Roma, for the city and for the club, which I carry in my heart, pushed me to decide to stay. I felt it was right, that the best choice was to remain with that team." He also credited Carlo Mazzone with his development. "I think he was the one who helped me most to mature. He taught me many things about football and above all he knew how to manage me when I was still very young." On this season's title race, Totti said: "I think they have the potential to do something important. Probably one or two signings would be needed to strengthen the squad and make it a real Scudetto contender, a team capable of dreaming of the title. The club is working very well, the coach is a great technician and the team, in my opinion, is strong." Looking ahead to the Champions League, he added: "In the Champions League you have to be more prepared, have superior physical condition and an even better equipped squad. You have to be ready because you face opponents who are often stronger than you, always competitive and used to playing at European level."

Roman radio pundits have been debating the Serie A title race, with several arguing Roma can genuinely challenge for the scudetto and that Lazio's surge should not be dismissed as a miracle. Rete Sport's David Rossi said the negative reaction after the Manchester defeat was undeserved by the club and by Gasperini. He said: "The negativity after Manchester was not deserved, neither by us nor by Gasp. Roma on Saturday offer another performance; they have become a team that always wins these matches. If you lose against the top 5 and win against the others, with a few draws here and there, you win the scudetto with ninety points… We not only win these games, we win them well." He added that against Sassuolo, Malen did not want to score and missed a couple of important chances, and that the first half could have been closed out 5 or 6 nil. Gianluca Piacentini, also on Rete Sport, discussed Kvernadze, who has a €4 million release clause in July, saying a January deal could cost between €10 and €12 million. On the Champions League race, he said Roma are in the mix, having reached the 11th matchday, alongside Lazio and Milan, which he said he did not expect. He noted that Napoli and Juventus are well behind. Piacentini argued that finishing second rather than fourth matters for the club's growth: "If you finish fourth you feel you have taken a step back; finish second and you have taken one forward. It is a matter of growth, so second is better than fourth." Checcо Oddo Casano, also on Rete Sport, praised the club's fitness record compared with other sides. He said: "Roma have held up well compared with other teams in terms of injuries. The work done by Gasperini and his staff is aimed at minimising injuries. Up to now, people who are always injured have stopped, such as Pellegrini and Dybala. Svilar has been unlucky with a broken foot, as has Koné… This squad runs, recovers, and we see a much more productive team than in previous years. This is down to better training. The intensity of the match is the result of the intensity of the weekly work. Competition for places has also raised the level of training, because no one is certain of his place." Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo said this league is Inter and Roma, as it was at the start, and that Como can come back. He warned about Milan: "Be wary of Milan. Not so much this year, although anything can happen. Voices from Milan are talking about the January market, and beyond, they are also talking about next year. The madman (Cardinale, ed.) could build a team… I would not want Inter to win the scudetto this year and Milan next year." He added that Roma will do something in January, as the sporting director has said, and that Mora always scores, knowing where to place himself with an educated foot. Francesca Ferrazza, also of Tele Radio Stereo, praised Koné for turning down France, saying those matches do not count for much, and said Hermoso has become one of Gasperini's fixed points. She added that Gasperini had made his position clear, saying he will not sign for second place. Lorenzo Pes, also of Tele Radio Stereo, said the club now has a technical guide with clear ideas from the first day, and that Gasperini has accelerated the project. He said: "Now Roma have a technical guide with clear ideas from day one. For years we have heard about projects and building; now all of this has been accelerated by Gasperini from the first season. He has never hidden the real objective, which is to shorten the timelines as much as possible." Alessio Nardo, also of Tele Radio Stereo, said Roma should be among the top four and that finishing from fifth down would be a drama, adding that he would also be disappointed if Roma did not reach at least the Champions League playoff. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio said Lazio play well and have an identity, and that they play only once a week, which helps them. On Roma, he said the side walk over weaker teams, and that Dybala, who has not played for two months, needs to be recovered. On Milan, he said they should leave Europe, as a double commitment would be a problem. On Mora, he said: "His growth is not something you see, because his height is what it is… joking aside, he still has half an hour of stamina." He said Mora is at his best against this type of team and becomes decisive in the final metres, though in other games he bounces and must be ready to be substituted after half an hour. On Hermoso, he admitted he had been wrong to think his career was finished, saying he had bounced back spectacularly. Nando Orsi of Radio Radio said he never doubted Roma would fight for the scudetto, and that Lazio are playing well with one match a week, describing them as a humble, convinced and empathetic side. He said: "It cannot just be a miracle; miracles do not last long. This is a team that must go all the way, or at least try. Napoli and Atalanta are far away." Mario Mattioli, also of Radio Radio, said Roma have more players but also more fixtures, while Lazio have a coach who is more realistic than the king in judging what happens on the pitch. He said: "I believe Lazio will last; whether they last longer than Roma, I don't know."

Francesco Totti has said Roma could challenge for the Serie A title with a couple of high-level additions. In a lengthy interview given from Kuwait, the former Roma captain said he believes the club has great chances of achieving very positive results. Totti's view on the Champions League was more cautious. He believes the squad needs to be even more competitive to succeed in Europe's elite competition, and that the club must be better prepared for that level. Totti also spoke positively about Donyell Malen, one of the forwards in the Giallorossi attack. He said: "If he keeps going like this, it is good for both him and Roma itself." Asked about a possible return to the club, Totti said: "For me Roma is everything, above all Roma as a club, as well as the city. It has given me so much, and I have given a lot to it. That is why, as you know, I always say that certain things are done in two, not alone."

Thirteen Roma players have left Trigoria for the November international break, a squad-wide exodus that will see the club's men return to Rome only a few days before the match against Parma. Only Inter, Frosinone and Torino have had more players called up by their national teams (14), while Roma sit level with Milan and Como. The number could have been higher, given the less than ideal condition of Mancini and Koné. Daily work at Trigoria under Gasperini was the reason Koné said no to France. Cristante is also out, as explained by Italy coach Mancini: "I didn't need to test him because I know him." Molina will not be going to Argentina; the full-back had been called up at the last minute by coach Scaloni, but Roma and Gasperini opposed the move. Malen is among the most anticipated players, and on his role with the Netherlands, Xavi was clear: "I see him as a centre-forward." The mood around Trigoria is different, with Gasperini wanting to get all his starters back to fight for the Champions League and the derby. The headline also carries a comment from Francesco Totti on the Scudetto: "Something is missing to win the Scudetto." The break brings a mix of departures and returns for Roma, with the squad's fitness and availability becoming the main focus before the next fixture against Parma.

Roma are working on a contract extension for Mario Hermoso, with talks reportedly already under way for a deal running to 2029 with an option for 2030, according to Angelo Mangiante. Three goals this season and increasingly convincing performances have accelerated the process under Gian Piero Gasperini, with the Spaniard described as a pillar of the side. Elsewhere, Paulo Dybala's future may lie in the United States. Piero Torri reports that Inter Miami have already made contact with the Argentinian's entourage, while New York City are reportedly weighing up an offer. No agreement has been reached, but Dybala's contract, which expires in 2027, is fuelling the speculation. Roma are also looking to the January window, with Gasperini hoping for reinforcements. The club's strategy is to target a quick attacking winger, possibly on loan in the mould of Donyell Malen, while Endrick and Gittens remain under observation and Højbjerg has returned as an option for midfield. On the injury front, Mile Svilar and Dybala are aiming to return for the trip to Parma on 21 November, with Gasperini expected to regain two key players during the international break. Bryan Cristante and Gianluca Mancini are also in good shape, while Devyne Rensch remains in doubt. Lorenzo Pellegrini has decided against surgery on his tendon and will continue with conservative therapy, with his return not expected before January. Roma's Argentina international Nahuel Molina has been kept at Trigoria: the club refused Argentina's call-up after his FIFA suspension was reduced, with the invitation arriving only on Saturday during the Roma-Sassuolo match, too late for a long trip for what could be a single friendly. Lorenzo Dattilo, a left-back born in 2010, has signed a three-year contract, turning down Atletico Madrid. The former Under-17 European champion with Italy is already playing for Roma's Under-18 side. In Serie A, Roma sit third, unbeaten in the league and two points behind leaders Lazio, having scored 31 goals and conceded just ten in eleven matchdays. At Frosinone, the club is preparing a move to keep winger Kvernadze, who is being followed by Roma. According to Tuttomercatoweb, a deal worth one million euros a season, five times his current salary, is ready. Behind it sits a four-million-euro release clause, activatable from next summer, which Frosinone could seek to change.

Roma have 13 players called up by their national teams for the November break, a total that places them level with AC Milan and Como in the chasing pack behind Inter, Torino and Frosinone, who lead on 14. The squad list was drawn from the official call-ups for the November fixtures and is subject to changes before the matches. The Roma contingent includes goalkeepers Devis Vásquez and Giorgio De Marzi; forwards Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé; defenders Leonardo Balerdi, Daniele Ghilardi, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Emanuele Lulli, Evan N'Dicka and Wesley; and midfielder Niccolò Pisilli. Behind the leaders, Atalanta and Udinese are on 12, Juventus have 11, and Napoli and Lazio have eight, with the two Lazio absentees excluded from that count. The total could have been higher, potentially reaching or exceeding 17, had several physical issues or technical decisions by the national coaches gone differently. Gianluca Mancini was initially called up by Italy but had to withdraw with a muscle problem that has also kept him out of the recent match against Sassuolo. Italy coach also left Bryan Cristante out of the squad, although the coach explained he had no need to test him at this stage. Manu Koné, who returned and started against Sassuolo, was left out of France's squad by coach Zidane to avoid a possible physical setback. Nahuel Molina had been called up late by Argentina, but a one-match suspension still to be served, together with opposition from Roma and Gian Piero Gasperini, blocked his departure.