The Future Takes Shape: How Ryan Friedkin is Building Roma Beyond Gasperini

AS Roma paid tribute to Giorgio Rossi on the eighth anniversary of his death on 23 September 2018. Rossi was the club's historic masseur who served Roma for 55 years, from 1957 to 2012, making him the person with the longest tenure in the club's history. The club released a statement honouring his extraordinary legacy. Former Roma president Franco Sensi once brought the legend Aldair to Rossi and told him with a smile: "You see, this is the true owner of Roma." Manager Luciano Spalletti later gave Rossi the affectionate title of "president of the dressing room", reflecting the deep respect he commanded across the organisation. The statement emphasised that Rossi was far more than a masseur: "He was father, friend, confidant, accomplice—everything. Giorgio did not only massage the muscles of Roma's players, but also caressed their hearts."

Roma are using the international break to work away from the spotlight, with experienced midfielders Marten de Roon and Lorenzo Pellegrini among the senior figures remaining at Trigoria to strengthen their position in the pecking order ahead of the squad's return to action. The Giallorossi want to maintain their strong form when fixtures resume, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini central to Roma's resurgence both on and off the pitch. The club has returned to Champions League football for the first time in seven years, and the financial picture has improved alongside sporting progress. Gasperini has been instrumental in this turnaround, replicating the sustained success he achieved during his nine-year spell at Atalanta. Roma's squad is now valued approximately €150 million higher than it was a year ago, reflecting both the quality of recruitment and the effectiveness of the coaching environment. The improvement comes despite the competitive demands of the current season. The break gives Roma's players the chance to work in concentrated fashion on the training ground without the pressure of immediate fixtures, positioning the club well for the demanding schedule ahead.

AS Roma unveiled the new 'The Ground' game mode for EA Sports FC 27 through a social media video featuring the squad members in elaborate disguises, false moustaches and wigs. The players immersed themselves in the spirit of the game while wearing bizarre glasses and unlikely accessories, creating a humorous moment and showcasing camaraderie among teammates for the club's supporters.

Nahuel Molina has emerged as a key figure in Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma side, playing on the left flank—a position he had rarely occupied in his career. After an initial trial at Torino, Gasperini deployed the Argentine right-back on the opposite flank against Inter, a role Molina has played only nine times overall. The experiment paid off: Molina delivered the assist for Manu Koné's opening goal and impressed enough to convince his manager that the system works. The fullback has since regained ground on his positional rivals, closing a physical gap that had left him sidelined at the start of the season. Gasperini's tactical flexibility is his trademark—the previous season he had shifted Wesley to the left with similar success. Molina possesses greater attacking instinct than Zeki Çelik, and his contributions came through continuous overlaps, off-the-ball movement and crosses from the byline. According to reporting by Niccolò Maurelli in La Repubblica, the Argentine has found the right notes to satisfy Gasperini's demands. Training resumed today with the full squad and continues through Friday, followed by two rest days over the weekend. In the three weeks before Roma face Como, Gasperini plans to arrange friendly matches, possibly against the club's Primavera side, to restore match fitness for those still awaiting playing time. Lorenzo Pellegrini is among those available again after returning from an injury sustained in the final league matches of last season.

Nahuel Molina, signed to play on the right, is earning regular minutes on the opposite flank under Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical redesign. In the match against Inter, Molina operated on the left wing for the second time in quick succession, and his performance yielded immediate reward: his cross set up Manu Koné's opening goal. The position remains almost foreign to Molina's career—he has played on the left just nine times in his entire playing history—yet Gasperini appears increasingly convinced it can become a stable part of his tactical arsenal. Gasperini had signalled this ambition before the season began, describing Molina as a player capable of "playing anywhere". The Argentine world champion brings greater offensive propensity than Zeki Çelik, his predecessor on the right, and offers Roma added tactical flexibility. Molina's early weeks were complicated by fitness demands—he arrived behind in pre-season preparation and had to chase his teammates' conditioning—but that gap has narrowed substantially in recent matches. Against Inter, his movement revealed overlaps, off-the-ball runs and renewed conviction in attacking the byline, the cross for Koné's goal a visible symbol of his growing confidence. Gasperini is retracing a path already worn by Wesley, the Brazilian left-back who also arrived with traits suited to the right before discovering fresh offensive possibilities on the opposite flank. Wesley now operates on both flanks; Molina is heading the same way. Emanuele Lulli continues to press for minutes as well, creating depth in the fullback positions. Gasperini's repeated assertion—that no first-team hierarchy of starters and reserves exists—finds its clearest proof in Molina's trajectory: initially overlooked, he waited, adapted to an almost unknown role, and is now returning forcefully into rotation. The direction may have seemed wrong on paper. The results, so far, appear correct.

Roma's wing positions are now secure. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini no longer faces the tactical problem that troubled him last season: the absence of a quick, technical player on the opposite flank from Wesley. Last year, with Wesley as one of Serie A's strongest defenders on one side, Gasperini had to adapt by repositioning Zeki Çelik elsewhere. That constraint has lifted. Emanuele Lulli, young and rapid, is already providing assurances and proves ready for this campaign. But Roma have also landed another signing that drew less attention yet showed its value yesterday: Nahuel Molina. The Argentine is rising in fitness; the residual effects of the World Cup are passing. In the match against Inter, he was perfect. He contained Diouf, supported the attack, and was decisive in the final third with an assist for Manu Koné's first-half goal. Molina's skillset is there; consistency is the next step. He does not yet have 90 minutes in his legs, but the flanks now have valid masters. Wesley leads them, followed by the former Udinese player and Lulli. Gasperini can rely on all three without losing quality. The improvement from last season is enormous. The Piedmont-born coach plays through the flanks, favouring attacking football with pushing players who can contribute in front of goal. Now he has them on both sides. Molina is a top-level player. Lulli will be. The flanks have an owner on each side, and Gasperini can only be pleased.

Roma are using the international break to work away from the spotlight, with experienced midfielders Marten de Roon and Lorenzo Pellegrini among the senior figures remaining at Trigoria to strengthen their position in the pecking order ahead of the squad's return to action. The Giallorossi want to maintain their strong form when fixtures resume, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini central to Roma's resurgence both on and off the pitch. The club has returned to Champions League football for the first time in seven years, and the financial picture has improved alongside sporting progress. Gasperini has been instrumental in this turnaround, replicating the sustained success he achieved during his nine-year spell at Atalanta. Roma's squad is now valued approximately €150 million higher than it was a year ago, reflecting both the quality of recruitment and the effectiveness of the coaching environment. The improvement comes despite the competitive demands of the current season. The break gives Roma's players the chance to work in concentrated fashion on the training ground without the pressure of immediate fixtures, positioning the club well for the demanding schedule ahead.

Gian Piero Gasperini is using the international break strategically at Trigoria, with 12 Roma players away on international duty. Rather than pause, the club's training ground remains the headquarters for squad members to press claims for selection, and two experienced midfielders are positioned to make an impact on their return: Marten de Roon and Lorenzo Pellegrini. De Roon arrived on 30 August in the final hours of the transfer window with a reputation as "Gasperini's soldier". The 35-year-old Dutch midfielder made his debut the day after in Lecce, appeared briefly against Fenerbahce, and demonstrated his worth against Torino with 4 interceptions in the final 26 minutes as Roma pushed for a second goal. His qualities of interception, intensity and tactical reading vindicated Gasperini's decision to bring him to the capital. De Roon was ready to enter against Inter but had to wait when Balerdi's cramps forced Koulierakis into his debut instead. This break now offers ideal opportunity to build fitness after spending the summer on the fringes at Atalanta. With a demanding October and November schedule of nine matches in 27 days ahead, De Roon will deserve regular midfield time, alternating with Cristante alongside either Koné or Pisilli. Pellegrini, Roma's number 7, offers versatility as attacking midfielder and box-to-box option given Gasperini's midfielders' constant attacking runs. After signing a contract renewal last summer, his target is to fully recover from the injury that has sidelined him in recent months. Working at Trigoria without international travel fatigue will restore sharpness to his legs ahead of the fixture congestion. Pellegrini's experience and leadership, combined with the attachment to the Roma shirt he has never hidden, will give Gasperini another weapon to rotate the attacking midfield and deeper positions alike.

Roma's radio pundits have delivered their verdicts on the club's title credentials and recent form, with particular focus on goalkeeper Mile Svilar's importance, Leonardo Balerdi's unexpected impact, and concerns over player availability. Nando Orsi told Radio Radio Mattino that Roma were constructed this season to compete for the Serie A title, though he noted few say so openly for superstitious reasons. "The Inter have calculative deficiencies that need to be fixed," he said. "Roma is strong and capable; it just needs to manage its forces. Those who say otherwise do so out of superstition. Roma has a strong squad—Saturday's match confirmed they are among the strongest. Juventus, Milan and Napoli don't seem like teams that can compete: they are too inconsistent. Roma and Inter instead are more ready at a technical and squad level." Orsi added that despite Inter's perceived weakness, Roma remain genuine contenders. Lorenzo Pes highlighted Svilar as a decisive factor for Roma's defence. "Compared to several competitors, including Inter and Como, Roma can boast an element that gives security to the defence and to those watching," he said. "A goalkeeper who brings points is additional help. If Roma's squad can increase goals, it will become interesting, because so far most goals have come from Malen, Soulé and Pisilli." On the squad's recuperation, Simone Valdarchi noted that Lorenzo Pellegrini, despite fully recovering from injury, must still regain match rhythm through work at Trigoria in the coming weeks. Roberto Pruzzo called Leonardo Balerdi a positive surprise: "He is reactive, very practical and does not take unnecessary risks. On the defensive phase he is numerically sound and is added value." Mario Mattioli described Balerdi as an experienced player who made 200 appearances in the French league and is demonstrating his worth in Italy. Both Valdarchi and Piero Torri flagged concerns over the potential absence of Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina for Argentina's farewell tribute to Lionel Messi, with fixtures against Como imminent. Torri stated: "The fact that Roma doesn't view the possible departure of Dybala and Molina for Argentina's party favourably seems right to me. Facing two long trips hours before Como–Roma cannot be well regarded."

Marten de Roon has arrived at Roma as Gian Piero Gasperini's most trusted lieutenant. The 35-year-old Dutch midfielder transferred to the club on the final day of the summer window after nine seasons at Atalanta, where he became Gasperini's preferred embodiment of his football — a tireless engine and tempo-setter. De Roon did not play a minute for Atalanta under Maurizio Sarri, which explains why Gasperini has used him sparingly since arrival. Now, with the international break providing crucial recovery time, de Roon is settling into the rhythms of Roma and preparing to make his mark on the supporters. For Gasperini, de Roon represents a tactical guarantee: an experienced, complete midfielder capable of rotating with Bryan Cristante as Roma face a congested schedule from October onwards — seven matches in eighteen days. De Roon's game rests on incessant running (averaging 11 kilometres per match), winning duels, launching counter-attacks and timely box incursions that occasionally yield goals. He has already earned the respect of his teammates and younger players, who regard him as a reference point. His knowledge of Gasperini's requirements and the dressing-room dynamics, forged over nearly a decade together, positions him as a guarantee of tactical equilibrium. De Roon has already made 43 appearances for Roma — third-most on the club's appearance list behind Paulo Dybala (53) and ahead of Nahuel Molina (37), Donyell Malen and Mario Hermoso (31 each). His experience will be essential as Roma prepare to face Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico on 14 October.

Paulo Dybala is dazzling Roma early in the 2026-27 season, with the Argentine leading the club to first place in Serie A thanks to his incisive performances. Dybala has already provided 4 assists—more than any other player in the division so far—and according to Squawka data, he holds the top spot across multiple statistical categories: most big chances created (8), most chances created overall (22), and most successful passes on the attacking third (125). His only shortcoming remains a goal—his last Serie A strike came in January against Torino. Roma face Como on the next matchday, an opportunity for Dybala to end his goal drought. The 33-year-old's creative brilliance has been central to Roma's strong league position. His eight big chances created and 22 total chances put him well clear of the competition in playmaking, while his 125 passes on the attacking third demonstrate his consistent involvement in Roma's attacking build-up.

Gianluca Mancini is poised to lead Italy's defence in the upcoming match against Belgium, with the Roma centre-back a permanent fixture in Roberto Mancini's tactical drills at Coverciano. The Italian technical staff have been working primarily in a 4-3-3 formation, and the Roma defender has featured consistently alongside Di Lorenzo, Calafiori and Coppola in recent training sessions. Mancini's presence offers the squad stability, experience and continuity as the final preparations continue ahead of the team's departure for Rome. Meanwhile, Roma are monitoring Giorgi Kvernadze, the Frosinone winger, according to reports from Nicolò Schira and confirmed by Il Tempo. The 2003-born Georgian has produced five goals and two assists across Serie A and Coppa Italia in recent matches observed by Roma scouts. Napoli are also tracking the situation. In his early Roma career, Rodrigo Mora has spoken of his experience since arriving. On the adjustment to Italian football, he said: "It was a different change. I lived 19 years in Porto and played for Porto for 10 years. It's a different culture. But I'm happy with the change. It will be a positive change." Regarding his goal against Lecce in his second Roma appearance, Mora added: "I like scoring very much. Scoring for Roma was beautiful, but I want to score again at the Olimpico. It's special and I can't wait to score at the Olimpico. I'm happy with my journey so far. The atmosphere at the Olimpico is something really special and beautiful and it makes you want to play and score for Roma." Mora also reflected on his relationship with Paulo Dybala: "He's someone I admired as a child, now being able to play and train with him…seeing the things he does, that few do…He's a humble person and he's helped me a lot at the start of my Roma career. I like him as a player and as a person. I'm grateful to be able to play at his side."