Summerville hold-up as Al Hilal swoops; Mbaye prestito opening emerges

Liverpool have emerged as the latest heavyweight club to express interest in Roma midfielder Manu Koné, according to journalist David Ornstein of The Athletic. Koné remained at Roma after a summer window in which Atlético Madrid made an approach and Chelsea made contact on the final day of the transfer market, though the latter were only described as "informational contacts" by Roma's sporting director D'Amico. Ornstein stated: "I think there is interest from the Reds for Koné at Roma, and they will have other options too. He was very close to Chelsea before they turned to Camara, and we'll see what position Roma find themselves in during the winter window. He has been examined very carefully by Manchester United and I think Liverpool like him." Despite the external attention, Koné remains focused on Roma and is regarded as one of the fundamental elements of Gasperini's squad.

Mason Greenwood will face Roma for the first time since a failed transfer pursuit, now wearing the Fenerbahçe colours in their Champions League clash in Istanbul. The English forward was a priority target for Gian Piero Gasperini during the summer transfer window, and the Roma coach recently acknowledged his disappointment at failing to complete the deal. Greenwood will instead pose a significant threat in what is Roma's opening European fixture of the season. The transfer saga has captured attention in Turkey ahead of the match. Turkish outlet Fanatik stoked anticipation by using Greenwood's connection to Roma, with the publication stating: "Greenwood will destroy Roma. After having refused them, now he will show his value." For Roma, the task now is to move past what happened in the summer market. Greenwood was identified as a key attacking reinforcement for Gasperini's squad, but the operation fell through and the player opted to join Fenerbahçe instead.

Jeremie Leweling has found himself sidelined at Stuttgart after a dramatic summer transfer saga with Roma that ultimately collapsed. The German forward has appeared only in the closing stages of matches against Bayern Munich and Cologne, totalling just 48 minutes on the pitch. Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeneß prefers attacking midfielders Undav and El Khannouss behind striker Pejcinovic, with Vagnoman occupying the right flank, leaving little room for Leweling in the team's setup. The player's summer proved chaotic. Roma and Stuttgart agreed a €35 million transfer fee, with both clubs satisfied by the deal—Stuttgart especially pleased to receive the revenue. Leweling repeatedly changed his mind, however: he committed to Roma, then reversed course, then reconsidered again, with a plane waiting to fly him to Italy before another change of heart. The indecision infuriated both clubs. Had the move succeeded, Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini had planned to deploy Leweling in a dual role that would have guaranteed regular playing time. Instead, Roma continue without him and perform well, Leweling sits unused at Stuttgart and faces criticism from local supporters. The failed transfer has left both parties worse off.

Roma's radio stations weighed in on the club's Champions League campaign launch and squad decisions ahead of Thursday's fixture in Istanbul. Roberto Pruzzo told Radio Radio he saw no red flags in the project: "The sensation around Roma is absolutely positive, there seems to be only one path and they are following it. Everyone is behind the manager, and that feels like the most positive signal. There are technical qualities that let the coach make changes when necessary without negative impact. Right now I don't see any downsides. Until the break I expect Roma to physically surprise opponents—I think they've done targeted planning to go 200 kilometres per hour until the break." Staff changes dominated discussion of squad depth. Ilario Di Giovambattista reported that Nahuel Molina would play against Fenerbahce, while Lorenzo Pellegrini's first call-up would come at Torino. Paolo Marcacci anticipated "surgical changes" for Istanbul, potentially including Santiago Castro for Donyell Malen up front. Paolo Cosenza and Piero Torri both attacked the travel ban on Roma province residents, with Torri calling it "totally unconstitutional" and urging the club to take an official stand. "Why can't I go to Torino to watch Roma? What have I done wrong?" Torri asked. "If there is individual responsibility, the state must guarantee me freedom." Alessio Nardo questioned Gasperini's handling of Salah-Eddine, who has rejected all offers with only the Mexican market remaining open. "He's turned everything down and now he's just going to graze at Trigoria with no real ambition until January," Nardo said. "When Salah-Eddine isn't considered and is out of the project, and when Guerreiro—who played for Bayern Munich last season—is immediately discarded, it makes me think the left-back position is a priority for Gasperini. But he doesn't seem to have chased it aggressively on the market. Salah-Eddine played in a World Cup and African Cup of Nations. If Kostas Tsimikas was there last season, maybe he deserved a chance. Clearly Gasperini really hates him." Lorenzo Pes added that Gasperini had made no current reassessment: "He's stuck with the view he had a year ago. Salah-Eddine doesn't have the characteristics Gasperini wants in his wing-backs." Roma's opening Champions League fixture comes Thursday at 18:45 in Istanbul against Fenerbahce. David Rossi noted the absence of Aurélien Guendouzi and flagged environmental difficulty alongside technical challenge. Nando Orsi backed the title ambition, calling the league Roma's "indubitable objective" while viewing Napoli as in a particular moment and Inter focused on Champions League victory.

Gian Piero Gasperini has committed firmly to Roma ahead of the match against Atalanta, saying he is emotionally invested in the club despite transfer speculation. At his pre-match press conference, the head coach rejected suggestions that Roma would pursue free agents to fill gaps at left-back, specifically addressing rumours of interest in Zinchenko and Guerreiro. "I'm in love with this Roma, this is an environment where you enjoy coming to," Gasperini said. "Regardless of results, ours is a very healthy environment." On the transfer market: "I believe it's difficult to draw from the free-agent market. I don't know what the possibilities might be, but I wouldn't count on it much." Gasperini also confirmed that Salah-Eddine has no future at the club after rejecting multiple opportunities. "He's had quite a few chances and turned them down. I've already made my choices and he doesn't fit into our plans," the coach explained. On his personal freedom, he added: "I feel free to socialise with whoever I want." Sarri, managing the visiting Atalanta side, praised Roma during the conference and will be without two players for the match at the Olimpico.

Paulo Dybala has completed a full training session at Trigoria after recovering from a muscle problem sustained earlier in the week, clearing the way for Roma's Champions League campaign to begin. The forward had been managing reduced workloads in recent days but has now overcome the issue and rejoined the squad for the complete session under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Roma's long-awaited return to the Champions League League Phase will begin on Thursday 10 September at 18:45 with a fixture away to Fenerbahce at Stadio Sukru Saracoglu in Istanbul. The club has announced all operational details for supporters planning to travel to Turkey for the match. When asked about squad depth and potential recruitment, Gasperini offered a firm assessment of Roma's options. "Dybala hasn't got anything serious but he needs to feel comfortable playing," Gasperini said on Sky Sport. "As for free agents — it's difficult, I don't know what opportunities there might be, I don't think about it much, I wouldn't rely on it too heavily." Regarding player Salah-Eddine, Gasperini added: "He's had several opportunities that he refused. As far as Roma is concerned, I made some choices; he didn't fit in and doesn't fit into Roma's plans." Former Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini praised Gasperini's work with the squad in comments on Amore Giallorosso. Singling out Donyell Malen as the driving force, Sabatini said: "Every team that wants to win needs a hero, a leader, and Roma has one — Malen is a sensational player who drags the team along and frightens opponents. Roma had Totti, Juventus had Platini, Milan in my day had Rivera, Liedholm's Roma had Falcao." He also credited Gasperini with restoring Malen to his most effective position. "Malen came from a difficult spell, even at Aston Villa he seemed sidelined, playing out wide. Gasperini was very good at giving him back his role, bringing him closer to goal, and today his performance is truly supernatural." Meanwhile, the article also reports that the proposed new stadium at Pietralata has gained momentum in September, with 15 favourable opinions received so far out of 50 entities required to approve the project through the Services Conference process.

Roma's loanees across Italy and Europe made an impact on the weekend. Artem Dovbyk was the standout performer, coming off the bench in the 66th minute for Bologna against Sassuolo and scoring the equaliser in the 91st minute to secure a 2–2 draw and the Rossoblu's first point of the season. The Ukrainian striker's decisive finish came in an Emilia derby on loan with a right of redemption clause. Elsewhere, young goalkeeper Radoslaw Zelezny put in a strong performance for Perugia in their 2–1 victory over Pineto, playing all 90 minutes as the side's first-choice keeper. The 2006-born Zelezny was blameless for the goal conceded and made several crucial saves, including a high-quality intervention in the first half and a decisive stop in the second. He is on loan at the Umbrian club with an option and counter-option attached. Midfield prospect Alessandro Romano again started for Cagliari in Serie A, remaining on the pitch for the full 90 minutes as the Sardinians won 1–0 away at Lecce thanks to a Daniel Maldini goal in the 29th minute. Romano's loan includes an obligation to buy if certain sporting conditions are met. Neil El Aynaoui made an immediate first-team debut for RB Leipzig, starting in the away fixture against Werder Brema and playing until the 75th minute. However, Leipzig suffered a 3–1 defeat. The Moroccan midfielder's move is on loan with a right of redemption. Filippo Reale, a 2006-born defender, played the full 90 minutes for Carrarese on the flank in their 1–0 home loss to Empoli, conceding in the 74th minute; he is on loan with an option and counter-option in Roma's favour. Luigi Cherubini started in attack for Benevento in the first half at Ascoli before being substituted at the interval; Benevento were reduced to ten men in the 41st minute by Prisco's red card and lost 1–0 to a Brunori penalty in the closing stages. Cherubini's loan includes a right of option and obligation to buy. Mattia Mannini received his first call-up after joining Benevento on loan but remained unused from the bench in the same Ascoli defeat. Angeliño was an unused substitute as Deportivo La Coruña won 3–2 away at Villarreal in La Liga. Robinio Vaz was included in a Premier League squad for the first time after a late-market transfer to Hull City but did not feature in a 0–0 draw with Aston Villa. Jan Ziółkowski was unavailable for Monza's away trip to Parma—which ended 1–1—due to a plantar fascia problem requiring monitoring. Marash Kumbulla likewise missed Rayo Vallecano's 3–2 victory over Racing Santander as he continues to deal with a knee issue.

Roma's supporters delivered a vital performance in the final half-hour against Atalanta, providing what the article describes as a 'cardiac massage to the hope' of a team that deserved better. Gian Piero Gasperini's side produced an assured display under constant, relentless pressure, with Manu Koné orchestrating the midfield and Bryan Cristante directing operations. The team's quality merited victory even before the goals arrived. Matías Soulé scored a deserved goal that crowned a summer of redemption for a player who had battled through earlier difficulties. Gasperini's endorsement of the winger's progress underlined his return to form. Santiago Castro made an immediate impact, showing hunger and clarity in his play, though finishing proved elusive. Artem Dovbyk scored Bologna's goal, salvaging their display after a complex sequence of play. Donyell Malen's performance was erratic; the article suggests he had uneven moments throughout the match. The week's verdicts also included criticism of Luca Percassi's conduct as 'undignified and deplorable, regardless of context', and sharp judgement of the decision to sack Grosso, with the editorial noting that ending a manager's tenure and forcing another coach to restart from zero serves only to worsen matters. Juventus's match against Milan drew unflattering comparison to a sleeping aid, relieved only briefly by Cissè and Gatti.

Roma return to the Champions League for the first time in seven years when they travel to Istanbul to face Fenerbahce on Thursday evening. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will deploy a squad combining several players making their maiden appearance in the competition's main draw alongside seasoned European campaigners. Gianluca Mancini and Manu Koné will make their Champions League debuts, as will younger squad members including Pisilli, Lulli, Mora and Ghilardi. Gasperini can call on considerable experience to balance the newcomers. Paulo Dybala and Marten de Roon have accumulated nearly one hundred appearances between them at the highest level. Nahuel Molina and Mario Hermoso both bring over sixty European appearances from their time at Atlético Madrid, while Donyell Malen, Leonardo Balerdi and Artem Dovbyk add further continental pedigree. Dybala will lead the attack and is targeting a European goal; his last came in the Europa League final in Budapest against Seville. Roma will be supported by approximately 2,300 fans in the away section at the Turkish stadium. The domestic competition faces a ticketing restriction for the upcoming Serie A fixture against Torino: the CASMS has banned ticket sales to residents of Rome province due to potential clashes with Parma supporters travelling to Como, permitting purchases only to AS Roma Card holders from other Italian regions.