Svilar rules out Juventus move, praises Gasperini's freedom and Malen's consistency

Leonardo Balerdi has made an immediate impact at Roma and spoke to il Tempo about his journey to the club. The Argentine defender revealed he has long harboured an ambition to join Roma, even requesting an official shirt from Strootman, his former Olympique Marseille teammate. "Roma is a dream," Balerdi said. "A year ago I could have arrived but it didn't happen. At the start of the transfer window my agent was at Trigoria, then I lost hope a bit, but when the call came in the final days I didn't think twice and said yes immediately." On his role in the squad, Balerdi explained he is still learning the movements of Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso. "I can play anywhere, but I prefer the central area," he added. Looking ahead, he expressed his desire to remain at the club long-term while staying focused on the present.

Leonardo Balerdi has opened up on his early weeks at Roma, revealing that he made the transfer non-negotiable after years at Marseille. In an interview with Il Tempo, the Argentine defender said he felt settled already: "I feel as if I've been here for at least three months. I've been welcomed brilliantly by everyone." He was adamant about his destination, telling the club: "There were other teams but at that point I said that if I didn't come here I would have stayed at Marseille." Balerdi described his Roma shirt as destiny. He explained: "When I had Strootman as a teammate I asked him to get me a Roma shirt, which I still keep at home. It was meant to be that I would wear it one day." He has also quickly built connections with his new teammates, singling out Manu Koné as particularly impressive. "Koné is an animal," he said. "I really like him a lot. The same with Malen—he was scoring lots of goals as soon as he arrived and he keeps doing it. Svilar as well. Maybe these three, apart from Dybala, have impressed me especially." On his style of play, Balerdi said he prefers a central defensive role: "By my characteristics I can play better as a centre-back. I like playing in open field as we saw in Turin. At Marseille it was the same; I'm used to it." He acknowledged areas for development: "I still need to understand the defence's movements better. I want to grow mentally too. I'm not setting any limits." He is also thriving under Gasperini's coaching methods. "I get on well with his instructions. I feel that physically I improve day by day. His way of training is an advantage for me because in matches I feel strong." Looking ahead, Balerdi framed the Inter fixture as pivotal: "We must win without looking at who we have in front of us. A match that can give us the decisive click for the rest of the season." He concluded with his personal aims: "I want to do everything to stay here for a long time. Both in the national team and at Roma I want to win a trophy."

Mile Svilar has dismissed suggestions that Roma are ready to challenge for the Scudetto and categorically denied holding talks with Juventus ahead of tomorrow's match against Inter. Speaking to Corriere della Sera, the goalkeeper said: "Here two good matches are enough to be praised and one defeat for drama. We must stay balanced. We'll understand more later if we're truly title contenders." He added: "It's early to talk about this at September." Developing Gasperini's influence in his second season, Svilar said Roma are playing with greater dominance than last year. "We're better, also for how we play. We're more dominant, more of a team. In the second year with Gasperini his ideas become automatic," he explained. On facing Inter, he called it "a great match we can't wait to play. We measure ourselves against the strongest team in the league." Svilar has amassed 54 clean sheets in 138 appearances, which he attributed to collective defence rather than individual achievement: "A shut-out is teamwork. If I win 2–1 with two decisive saves, I'm happier than with a clean sheet." He praised his one-on-one timing, crediting his father Ratko with transmitting "speed, drive and work ethic," and recalled his father's advice: "If you want to get there, you have to give up something." On Juventus's reported €40 million offer, Svilar was emphatic: "I never had even a conversation. I'm not someone who signs a renewal and then denies the choice." Asked about his biggest attacking challenges, Svilar named Lautaro and Thuram as the toughest opponents, and cited Iker Casillas—two of whose shirts and a pair of gloves he owns—as his goalkeeper idol. He also acknowledged Daniele De Rossi's transformative impact on his Roma career: "He changed my life. Perhaps without him I wouldn't be at Roma today."

Radja Nainggolan, the former Roma and Inter midfielder, reflected on his time in giallorosso colours during an interview with Radio Bruno Roma, touching on Sunday's Roma–Inter fixture and the club's summer recruitment. The big match remains Inter's to lose, he suggested: "I think Inter stay favourites to win the Scudetto. The Nerazzurri have built a strong squad, reached the Champions League final and have important reserves. The Scudetto Naples won last year, in my view, Inter lost. It will be a difficult match: Dybala can make the difference, he is a fantastic player." On Roma's transfer business, Nainggolan praised the early impact of defender Balerdi's personality and forward Santiago Castro's entry against Atalanta, though he noted Castro's latest display was less sharp. He believes Roma's new signings suit the team's current form. Back at the Olimpico for a match, he found the sold-out atmosphere striking: "When I was here it was different. If I have to thank Mourinho for one thing, it is that he brought people back to the stadium. The atmosphere is full, you see everyone singing: Roma is something else. It made an impression on me, it was a lovely experience." Asked whether Roma should attack or show more respect to Inter, Nainggolan insisted respect does not mean abandoning the offensive approach. "Roma has an identity, it has improved from last year. There is Mancini throwing himself forward too: these are things you notice. A team that wants to win must have its identity." On the goalkeeping contest, he rated Svilar's form: "Svilar played really well last year and he is confirming it. Martínez, on the other hand, is in his first year as starter: you feel the pressure. In the second goal against Udinese you see his error, but a goalkeeper has to make mistakes to learn." Pressed on defence, he would choose stability over the physical presence of N'Dicka or Balerdi for such a clash: "For a match like this, putting Balerdi in can be risky. I don't know what Gasperini will choose, but I would play with the more stable ones." On his departure from Roma itself, Nainggolan was candid. He said: "The first chance to play in Serie A was Roma: I would never have left, I did everything for Roma. The people respected me. But my personality is what it is: I hate falseness and false people, and when something goes against my values, I go. If you had asked me back then if I was happy to go to Inter or sad to leave Roma, I would have said I was sadder to leave Roma. I turned down offers from Chelsea and China to stay." He added that in today's Roma, with Malen's depth runs and the team's attacking philosophy, he would have thrived: "In this Roma I would have been well, I would have enjoyed myself. But unfortunately the era is different."

Leonardo Balerdi has opened up on his early weeks at Roma, revealing that he made the transfer non-negotiable after years at Marseille. In an interview with Il Tempo, the Argentine defender said he felt settled already: "I feel as if I've been here for at least three months. I've been welcomed brilliantly by everyone." He was adamant about his destination, telling the club: "There were other teams but at that point I said that if I didn't come here I would have stayed at Marseille." Balerdi described his Roma shirt as destiny. He explained: "When I had Strootman as a teammate I asked him to get me a Roma shirt, which I still keep at home. It was meant to be that I would wear it one day." He has also quickly built connections with his new teammates, singling out Manu Koné as particularly impressive. "Koné is an animal," he said. "I really like him a lot. The same with Malen—he was scoring lots of goals as soon as he arrived and he keeps doing it. Svilar as well. Maybe these three, apart from Dybala, have impressed me especially." On his style of play, Balerdi said he prefers a central defensive role: "By my characteristics I can play better as a centre-back. I like playing in open field as we saw in Turin. At Marseille it was the same; I'm used to it." He acknowledged areas for development: "I still need to understand the defence's movements better. I want to grow mentally too. I'm not setting any limits." He is also thriving under Gasperini's coaching methods. "I get on well with his instructions. I feel that physically I improve day by day. His way of training is an advantage for me because in matches I feel strong." Looking ahead, Balerdi framed the Inter fixture as pivotal: "We must win without looking at who we have in front of us. A match that can give us the decisive click for the rest of the season." He concluded with his personal aims: "I want to do everything to stay here for a long time. Both in the national team and at Roma I want to win a trophy."

Roma host Inter on Saturday in a high-profile fixture drawing extraordinary media attention: 61 photographers, over 250 journalists, more than 50 outlets and 8 foreign broadcasters are accredited, with coverage expected from China, the United States, Brazil, Argentina and major European nations. Ed Shipley, Dan Friedkin's right-hand man, has arrived at Trigoria, and a surprise visit from Ryan Friedkin is not ruled out. Former Roma striker Marco Delvecchio has weighed in on the matchup between Roma's Donyell Malen and Inter's Lautaro Martinez ahead of the Olimpico encounter. Delvecchio said: "In the final twenty metres, today, I see Malen a step above Lautaro." He praised the Dutchman for his speed of execution and quality of first touch, while acknowledging Lautaro's superiority in aerial play. On output, Delvecchio predicted: "I say 25 goals for Malen and 20 for Lautaro." Inter's interest in Roma players stretches back years. In summer 2025, the Nerazzurri considered Mile Svilar before his contract renewal; in 2024 they came close to signing Mario Hermoso but pulled out. More recently they assessed Evan N'Dicka and Gianluca Mancini, and Nahuel Molina as a possible alternative to Dumfries. The most significant detail involves Manu Koné: in August 2025, Inter's Ausilio reportedly reached an agreement worth 40 million euros before Roma's ownership blocked the deal. In 2022, Dybala's agent also reached an understanding with Inter, which ultimately pivoted to Lukaku's return. Gasperini faces two key selection decisions before Saturday. In defence, Leonardo Balerdi, standout performer against Torino, threatens Evan N'Dicka's place, while on the right flank Emanuele Lulli could start ahead of Molina. Mario Hermoso is fit, Wesley returns at left-back, and Matías Soulé is favoured over Rodrigo Mora in the attacking midfield role. Gasperini and Inter's Chivu will meet as opponents after both having served the club they face on Saturday. Chivu once called Gasperini "an example, an innovator," and Gasperini reciprocated: "I have always held great regard for him." Gasperini carries a painful memory of his Inter spell, which ended after just five matches.

Radja Nainggolan, the former Roma and Inter midfielder, reflected on his time in giallorosso colours during an interview with Radio Bruno Roma, touching on Sunday's Roma–Inter fixture and the club's summer recruitment. The big match remains Inter's to lose, he suggested: "I think Inter stay favourites to win the Scudetto. The Nerazzurri have built a strong squad, reached the Champions League final and have important reserves. The Scudetto Naples won last year, in my view, Inter lost. It will be a difficult match: Dybala can make the difference, he is a fantastic player." On Roma's transfer business, Nainggolan praised the early impact of defender Balerdi's personality and forward Santiago Castro's entry against Atalanta, though he noted Castro's latest display was less sharp. He believes Roma's new signings suit the team's current form. Back at the Olimpico for a match, he found the sold-out atmosphere striking: "When I was here it was different. If I have to thank Mourinho for one thing, it is that he brought people back to the stadium. The atmosphere is full, you see everyone singing: Roma is something else. It made an impression on me, it was a lovely experience." Asked whether Roma should attack or show more respect to Inter, Nainggolan insisted respect does not mean abandoning the offensive approach. "Roma has an identity, it has improved from last year. There is Mancini throwing himself forward too: these are things you notice. A team that wants to win must have its identity." On the goalkeeping contest, he rated Svilar's form: "Svilar played really well last year and he is confirming it. Martínez, on the other hand, is in his first year as starter: you feel the pressure. In the second goal against Udinese you see his error, but a goalkeeper has to make mistakes to learn." Pressed on defence, he would choose stability over the physical presence of N'Dicka or Balerdi for such a clash: "For a match like this, putting Balerdi in can be risky. I don't know what Gasperini will choose, but I would play with the more stable ones." On his departure from Roma itself, Nainggolan was candid. He said: "The first chance to play in Serie A was Roma: I would never have left, I did everything for Roma. The people respected me. But my personality is what it is: I hate falseness and false people, and when something goes against my values, I go. If you had asked me back then if I was happy to go to Inter or sad to leave Roma, I would have said I was sadder to leave Roma. I turned down offers from Chelsea and China to stay." He added that in today's Roma, with Malen's depth runs and the team's attacking philosophy, he would have thrived: "In this Roma I would have been well, I would have enjoyed myself. But unfortunately the era is different."

Leonardo Balerdi has opened up on his early weeks at Roma, revealing that he made the transfer non-negotiable after years at Marseille. In an interview with Il Tempo, the Argentine defender said he felt settled already: "I feel as if I've been here for at least three months. I've been welcomed brilliantly by everyone." He was adamant about his destination, telling the club: "There were other teams but at that point I said that if I didn't come here I would have stayed at Marseille." Balerdi described his Roma shirt as destiny. He explained: "When I had Strootman as a teammate I asked him to get me a Roma shirt, which I still keep at home. It was meant to be that I would wear it one day." He has also quickly built connections with his new teammates, singling out Manu Koné as particularly impressive. "Koné is an animal," he said. "I really like him a lot. The same with Malen—he was scoring lots of goals as soon as he arrived and he keeps doing it. Svilar as well. Maybe these three, apart from Dybala, have impressed me especially." On his style of play, Balerdi said he prefers a central defensive role: "By my characteristics I can play better as a centre-back. I like playing in open field as we saw in Turin. At Marseille it was the same; I'm used to it." He acknowledged areas for development: "I still need to understand the defence's movements better. I want to grow mentally too. I'm not setting any limits." He is also thriving under Gasperini's coaching methods. "I get on well with his instructions. I feel that physically I improve day by day. His way of training is an advantage for me because in matches I feel strong." Looking ahead, Balerdi framed the Inter fixture as pivotal: "We must win without looking at who we have in front of us. A match that can give us the decisive click for the rest of the season." He concluded with his personal aims: "I want to do everything to stay here for a long time. Both in the national team and at Roma I want to win a trophy."

Roma face Inter in a fixture pitting Paulo Dybala against Lautaro Martínez, two Argentine World Cup winners from 2022 who now stand as symbols of their respective clubs. The match arrives at a decisive point in the season, with Gasperini describing it as a genuine test of maturity despite his usual caution about title talk before matchday twenty. Dybala, who joined Roma in summer 2022 after a long wait for Inter's interest that ultimately did not materialise, embodies the elegance and playmaking that recalls Francesco Totti's grandeur. The Joya has not scored since January, partly through injury and some restraint in his shooting, but Dybala remains Roma's creative reference point. His value to the team is evident in his influence on teammates: forward Donyell Malen, revitalised by Gasperini, carries 20 goals in 21 matches and frequently thanks Dybala for the technical "blessing" he provides, a connection underlined during the warm-up before a recent Turin fixture. Martínez stands as Inter captain and their total point of reference, with 177 goals across 380 appearances—an impressive consistency. Both players represent the revival of a two-striker system championed by Gasperini and Chivu, with Dybala moving freely alongside his forward partner. Beyond the rivalry on the pitch, a strong friendship forged in the Argentina national team remains between them.