The curious case of Soulé: on the market but still central to Roma

Roman radio stations aired opinions on three key Roma stories on 28 September 2026. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport (90.9) predicted that a new stadium would transform the club's finances. 'Today could be an important day for Roma's stadium,' Torri said. 'There should be final approval, then it will be up to Roma to build it and deliver it quickly. It would be a guarantee of revenue growth that would bring you closer to the elite of European football. There is an absolute need for the stadium, otherwise everything becomes complicated. For starters, you would no longer pay the rent on the stadium, which is several million euros. Plus there will be around a hundred suites that cost a lot of money to purchase for a year, and those can guarantee you 10–20 million euros a year. You could increase revenue by 30–40%.' Other commentators assessed Roma's recent decisions. Lorenzo Pes of Tele Radio Stereo (92.7) discussed the transfer of Gianluca Romano and a potential return for Francesco Totti at the 2027 centenary. 'On Romano, things have turned around: from a phenomenon he has become a flop,' Pes said. 'I hope the policy of rejuvenation continues, even if it means tough evenings like the one the other night. The road is long and uphill, but at least it is a road to travel. Totti? There is certainly coolness in relations with Roma, but I will leave a small door open for the centenary.' Francesca Ferrazza of Tele Radio Stereo (92.7) addressed a report about Francesco Totti's image rights and Roma's sale of shirts bearing his number 10. 'Roma has put the proceeds of shirts sold with the 10 in the accounts,' Ferrazza explained, 'and at that point Totti's legal team contacted Roma to discuss it. That is a different issue, because presented that way it looks as though Totti is obsessed with money.' Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio (104.5) praised Emanuele Lulli's display in a friendly match in England, saying the defender 'seems like a lad who deserves it' in Roma's context. Nando Orsi of Radio Radio (104.5) defended the loan of Romano to Spezia, noting that player development often takes time and that scouting errors must be minimised.

Francesco Totti's path to a formal return to Roma remains blocked after three meetings between the club and his representatives failed to reach agreement. The most recent discussion, less than a month ago and attended by the new chief executive Galantic on Roma's side, did not produce the breakthrough both parties had hoped for. With the club's centenary celebrations approaching and events already being organised with the Circo Massimo set to play a central role, Totti's participation has not yet been confirmed. A range of issues divide the two sides. Economic questions remain unresolved, as does the definition of any structural, operational role Totti might hold at the club beyond a purely ceremonial function at the centenary events. The negotiations have also surfaced a specific commercial dispute: Roma has continued to sell replica shirts bearing Totti's name and the number 10 since his retirement, generating substantial revenue that Totti says he has not received in royalties. According to the figures cited, approximately 15,000 such shirts were sold in the 2025–26 season alone, with the total from 2018 to the present day running to hundreds of thousands of pieces. This issue will need to be resolved as part of any new agreement. Totti's ambition extends beyond a ceremonial centenary role; he is seeking a structured, operational executive position within the club—a demand that, like the others, remains outstanding.

Roma are tracking Ruben Van Bommel, a 22-year-old left winger from PSV Eindhoven, as a potential summer target. Van Bommel, son of former AC Milan and Bayern Munich midfielder Mark van Bommel, has recently been called up to the Netherlands national team and started the 2026–27 season in explosive form at PSV, scoring 2 goals and delivering 4 assists in seven league matches. The winger is naturally left-footed, capable of playing both flanks, and is described as effective across the pitch and particularly dangerous in front of goal. Gasperini's coaching style appears to suit Van Bommel's profile, and Roma's scouts have been monitoring him for several weeks. The player was sidelined for nearly a year with a serious knee injury but has since recovered and demonstrated the quality he previously showed during his time at AZ Alkmaar. His current market value stands at approximately €25 million, though this is expected to rise in the coming months. Roma could attempt an approach as early as January. Represented by the Raiola agency, Van Bommel is one of several left-wing candidates under consideration. Gittens has been ruled out due to a severe ankle injury. Endrick and Luiz Henrique remain in contention, while Kvernadze is viewed primarily as a potential acquisition for the following season.

Santiago Castro is preparing for a key phase of his Roma career after the international break, armed with encouragement from Francesco Totti and a fresh Argentina call-up. The 21-year-old Argentine forward has made an immediate impression since joining the club, hitting two posts and building strong rapport with the dressing room, though he has yet to open his account in giallorosso. Castro is now with Argentina, where he has returned following his sole previous call-up in March 2025, during which he did not take the field. His manager Gasperini will hope to deploy him as an additional attacking option alongside Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala, who are considered undroppable. Castro deliberately chose Roma despite knowing the calibre of the competition for places, and the intensity of October's fixture list may provide his breakthrough moment. Last autumn at Bologna, he scored three goals and supplied one assist across a 30-day span at the start of the season, establishing a template for what is possible. He will miss Argentina's friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin in the coming days but will return only three days before Roma's trip to Como alongside fellow squad members Leonardo Balerdi and Matías Soulé. Castro, who was recommended by Totti, faces competition from Lautaro at international level but shows no sign of being daunted by it. The premature nature of his return will limit his recovery time, though the calendar's demands may force Gasperini's hand in rotating his forward line.

Radio studios across Rome aired debate on stadium plans, player valuations and squad rotation as Roma prepare for the weekend's fixture. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said today could bring final approval for Roma's new stadium project. He outlined the financial case: "With the stadium, there would be around 50–70 million euros of extra revenue per year, or more if you're good at it. You could increase turnover by 30–40 percent." The gains would come from ending rental payments on the Stadio Olimpico, roughly a million euros annually; roughly one hundred suites yielding 10–20 million yearly; concerts and a museum. Torri cautioned on ticket pricing: "Apart from the Curva Sud, the rest of the stadium will cost money, and it will cost a lot." On the pitch, Gianluca Piacentini of Rete Sport defended Roma's decision to block Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina from travelling to attend Lionel Messi's farewell match with Argentina. With a Serie A fixture scheduled for Sunday, Piacentini said: "Messi, go and greet him when you're on holiday." He emphasized that ownership must set the terms with players: "The owner pays you and you serve here." Fabio Petruzzi countered that honouring invitations from great players was a professional honour, though he acknowledged the fixture clash made avoidance reasonable. Nando Orsi of Radio Radio warned that Mile Svilar will attract serious interest. "Svilar is now a finished goalkeeper with great qualities who will bring points to Roma. He's one of the best keepers in this league, and Roma must hold him tight because soon someone will arrive with 50–60 million." On transfers, Simone Tiribocchi discussed potential January signings, naming Kvernadze as a candidate but cautioning that Gasperini's system demands midfielders who move infield rather than stay wide. He praised Matías Soulé as a quality operator who gives everything when called upon. Roberto Pruzzo noted Emanuele Lulli impressed in a recent friendly in England and merits consideration as a squad alternative. Mario Corsi flagged wing depth as Roma's primary gap, saying external quality would unlock the scudetto. Riccardo Cotumaccio expressed faith that Roma's moment is near, though he stopped short of naming this season. Lorenzo Pes left open a door for Francesco Totti's potential involvement in Roma's 2027 centenary, despite current coolness in their relationship.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is being considered as a new option on the left wing for Gasperini after regaining form over the past week. The midfielder is targeting a starting place against Como when training resumes, and will be trialled in the role that has lacked a settled incumbent. So far, Matías Soulé has been the primary choice with 353 minutes played, while Rodrigo Mora has featured for 187 minutes. Vincenzo Pincolini, the historic athletic trainer under Arrigo Sacchi at Milan, identified insufficient intensity as a key problem in Italian football. He cited Roma–Inter as a rare positive example of the standard required: "A match the likes of which you see only a couple of times in the entire season in our league. The intensity was extremely high." Pincolini referenced Paulo Dybala's performance with specific praise: "When did you last see him run like that? It is no accident that one of the two teams is coached by Gasperini." The trainer argued that narrowing the gap with foreign football depends above all on "training more". Francesco Totti received special tributes from friends, former teammates, supporters and sports figures. Roma released a video celebrating some of his greatest moments, while messages arrived from Roberto Gualtieri and Gianni Infantino. Former player Zago recalled an amusing detail: "In the middle of the night he started shouting, 'Give me the ball, give me the ball'. Then they explained to me that he often talked in his sleep."

Simone Tiribocchi assessed Roma's prospects and squad makeup in an interview on Retesport, offering a nuanced outlook on the giallorossi's season under Gasperini. He credited Roma's transformation from last season, when they produced little and scored sparingly, into a team that now generates chances and operates fully in line with Gasperini's rhythm and approach. However, Tiribocchi maintains that Inter remain favourites and superior overall, echoing Gasperini's view that Roma lack sufficient depth in the squad. The demands of the Champions League will consume considerable energy, particularly in matches against sides like Real Madrid where rotation is impossible, but Tiribocchi believes Roma can compete in the short term—only if Inter were to falter as they have in recent years could Roma capitalize and challenge for the title. On Roma's attacking pair, Tiribocchi highlighted both Santiago Castro's and Donyell Malen's qualities and suggested they could flourish together. Castro, who recently joined Roma, "deserves a big club," Tiribocchi said, and while he still has room to improve, he "moves well, senses and sees the goal, and is quick over the first few steps." Malen is stronger in his overall play, Tiribocchi noted, though Castro "is perhaps better at linking with the team." Tiribocchi would like to see them paired together "with a trequartista more midfielder-like, such as Pellegrini." On the question of whether Roma fans should realistically expect satisfaction this season, Tiribocchi replied: "If Roma maintains Champions League football, it needs to establish this standard consistently. An important league campaign and Champions League qualification no longer as a surprise could be a further step in the development of Gasperini's project, giving you extra resources to complete the squad with quality additions." Kvernadze was also discussed, with Tiribocchi cautious about his fit: "He plays very wide at Frosinone, but Gasperini wants more central movements and different positioning—you'd need to see if he's more adaptable centrally."

Lorenzo Pellegrini is being considered as a new option on the left wing for Gasperini after regaining form over the past week. The midfielder is targeting a starting place against Como when training resumes, and will be trialled in the role that has lacked a settled incumbent. So far, Matías Soulé has been the primary choice with 353 minutes played, while Rodrigo Mora has featured for 187 minutes. Vincenzo Pincolini, the historic athletic trainer under Arrigo Sacchi at Milan, identified insufficient intensity as a key problem in Italian football. He cited Roma–Inter as a rare positive example of the standard required: "A match the likes of which you see only a couple of times in the entire season in our league. The intensity was extremely high." Pincolini referenced Paulo Dybala's performance with specific praise: "When did you last see him run like that? It is no accident that one of the two teams is coached by Gasperini." The trainer argued that narrowing the gap with foreign football depends above all on "training more". Francesco Totti received special tributes from friends, former teammates, supporters and sports figures. Roma released a video celebrating some of his greatest moments, while messages arrived from Roberto Gualtieri and Gianni Infantino. Former player Zago recalled an amusing detail: "In the middle of the night he started shouting, 'Give me the ball, give me the ball'. Then they explained to me that he often talked in his sleep."

Lorenzo Pellegrini has emerged as a third option for Gian Piero Gasperini to fill Roma's left-side vacancy this season, alongside Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé. The midfielder, who recently renewed his contract, has not played since 10 April but has recovered from injury and is targeting a starting place in Roma's first match after the international break away to Como on 11 October. Gasperini has been working through the national team break to find solutions for a position Roma did not adequately address in the transfer market. Pellegrini's return to full fitness during the latest training week opens an additional tactical choice as the club enters a demanding run of fixtures. The midfielder signalled his readiness on Instagram, writing: "The true happiness is being at peace with who you are." He spent the weekend with his family at the seaside and has now regained peak condition. Roma face a sprint month ahead: after the Como trip on 11 October comes three home fixtures—Real Madrid on 14 October, Genoa on 17 October, and Slovan Bratislava on 20 October—followed by the away trip to Napoli on 24 October. Gasperini is preparing to deploy all available resources across this intensive schedule.

Roma and the representatives of Emanuele Lulli are in talks over a contract renewal, with his current deal set to expire on 30 June. Luca Ferri reported the development on Radio Bruno, signalling the club's intention to tie down the defender before the deadline arrives. Andrea Verdenelli, speaking on the same station, expressed his frustration at Niccolò Pisilli's continued absence from Italy's senior national squad, calling it unacceptable given the midfielder's performances for Roma. Roberta Pedrelli also highlighted a significant day for Roma's stadium project, suggesting the administrative process could be completed, clearing the way for construction of the new facility to begin.

Francesco Totti celebrated his 50th birthday on 27 September in Las Vegas, but his milestone resonated across Rome's football community and beyond. The former captain, who spent his entire career at the club and retired in 2017, holds no formal position at AS Roma despite contact and attempts in recent months to bring him back into an official role. He currently serves as an advisor to Maxima Roma, a newly promoted basketball franchise making its Serie A debut, and has recently published an autobiography titled *Oltre*. Despite his absence from the club's structure, Totti embodies the supreme symbol of Roman football identity. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini has recognised and valued a unique asset in the current squad: three players developed in Roma's academy who are visceral supporters of the shirt they wear. Gasperini has demonstrated this understanding through his handling of Lorenzo Pellegrini, whom he has protected and guided through a contract renewal; Niccolò Pisilli's emergence as a significant midfielder; and his immediate block of Matteo Lulli's departure on loan to Avellino. These decisions underscore how the thread of belonging remains a determining factor for the club's present and future.

Francesco Totti celebrates his 50th birthday today, 27 September 2026, surrounded by loved ones in Las Vegas, but his significance to Rome and its football culture transcends the distance. The city's neighbourhoods—Porta Metronia, Trigoria, Casal Palocco, the Eur and Vigna Clara—mark the occasion, and Roma as a whole observes a tradition of birthday wishes that has endured since his playing days. Beyond football, Totti is now an advisor to Maxima Roma, a newly formed basketball club that debuts in Serie A today, and has released a new book, *Oltre*, documenting his life after football. Though he has been linked with a return to Roma's leadership structure, no such appointment has materialised. Gasperini has built something rare: a Roma squad featuring three academy graduates who are genuine supporters of the club they now represent—a strength rather than a limitation. The coach has nurtured this foundation, most notably with Lorenzo Pellegrini, whom he persuaded the board to tie down with a contract renewal, and Niccolò Pisilli, who has carved out a significant role despite limited initial expectations. The third is Emanuele Lulli, whose emergence proved important enough that the club blocked his planned loan move to Avellino. In Serie A's upper tier, few clubs can claim such a cohort of homegrown, emotionally invested players. Totti's enduring presence in Rome's consciousness—despite holding no official role—illustrates a singular bond between player and place. He carries the identity of the city even in his absence from the club structure, much as the academy graduates now do through their performances on the pitch.