The Malen Factor

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 top a ranking of European pressing intensity across the continent's five major leagues, according to analysis by SofaScore. Gasperini's side record a PPDA (Passes Allowed Per Defensive Action) of 8.54, a metric that measures how many passes opponents complete before Roma win the ball back through defensive action. Frosinone rank second with 8.55. A PPDA between 8 and 9 indicates very aggressive, high-intensity pressing that severely restricts opposition possession. Barcelona (8.72), Brighton (8.92) and Hoffenheim (8.96) also fall into this elite band across Europe's top five leagues. Roma's pressing approach represents a hallmark of Gasperini's tactical system and underscores the intensity required at the highest level of European competition. The metric highlights how the club's defensive structure is operating at championship standard even in this early phase of the 2026-27 campaign. Among other Italian sides, Venezia rank 17th with 10.77, Como 24th with 11.08, Milan and Inter occupy 29th and 30th with 11.25 and 11.26 respectively, and Lazio are 65th with 13.48. Bologna and Juventus rank lower still, while Atalanta are last in Europe with 18.18. Real Madrid, managed by Mourinho, sit 88th with 15.49 and will face Roma at the Olimpico on 14 October at 21:00 in the Champions League.

Roma top Serie A after five matches with 13 points, drawing 2–2 against Inter at the Olimpico last Saturday, yet rank only fifth in squad value among Italian clubs according to Transfermarkt's latest assessment on 15 September. The gap between league position and market valuation reflects the squad's youth and short contract lengths, though Roma have shown significant growth: their squad value stands at approximately €498 million, up 27.9 per cent from €390 million on 15 September 2025. Manu Koné and Donyell Malen have emerged as standout performers this season. The French midfielder, who remained at Roma despite summer transfer speculation, has seen his market value rise by €10 million to €60 million, placing him fifth among Serie A players. Malen, the Dutch forward with six Serie A goals already, gained the same €10 million increase to reach €55 million and sits seventh. Both have impressed under Gasperini, who has won over supporters and observers alike. Ahead of Roma in the overall squad value rankings are Inter (over €738 million), Juventus (nearly €613 million), Como (€568 million) and Milan (approximately €503 million). Koné and Malen rank fifth and seventh in individual player values across the league; Lautaro Martínez leads at €85 million, followed by Nico Paz (€80 million) and Yildiz (€75 million), with Bastoni fourth at €65 million. Other Roma players have seen their valuations shift. Emanuele Lulli, a young squad member, has risen dramatically from €500,000 during his Primavera spell to €8 million. Defensively, Konstantinos Koulierakis, who made his debut last Saturday, dropped from €25 million to €20 million, while goalkeeper Vasquez fell by €700,000 to €800,000. The disparities in squad value reflect contract duration and player age—factors that significantly influence market assessments. De Roon and Dybala, for instance, each have only one year remaining on their current deals, a constraint that depresses their recorded valuations despite their on-field contributions.

Roma top Serie A after five matches with 13 points, drawing 2–2 against Inter at the Olimpico last Saturday, yet rank only fifth in squad value among Italian clubs according to Transfermarkt's latest assessment on 15 September. The gap between league position and market valuation reflects the squad's youth and short contract lengths, though Roma have shown significant growth: their squad value stands at approximately €498 million, up 27.9 per cent from €390 million on 15 September 2025. Manu Koné and Donyell Malen have emerged as standout performers this season. The French midfielder, who remained at Roma despite summer transfer speculation, has seen his market value rise by €10 million to €60 million, placing him fifth among Serie A players. Malen, the Dutch forward with six Serie A goals already, gained the same €10 million increase to reach €55 million and sits seventh. Both have impressed under Gasperini, who has won over supporters and observers alike. Ahead of Roma in the overall squad value rankings are Inter (over €738 million), Juventus (nearly €613 million), Como (€568 million) and Milan (approximately €503 million). Koné and Malen rank fifth and seventh in individual player values across the league; Lautaro Martínez leads at €85 million, followed by Nico Paz (€80 million) and Yildiz (€75 million), with Bastoni fourth at €65 million. Other Roma players have seen their valuations shift. Emanuele Lulli, a young squad member, has risen dramatically from €500,000 during his Primavera spell to €8 million. Defensively, Konstantinos Koulierakis, who made his debut last Saturday, dropped from €25 million to €20 million, while goalkeeper Vasquez fell by €700,000 to €800,000. The disparities in squad value reflect contract duration and player age—factors that significantly influence market assessments. De Roon and Dybala, for instance, each have only one year remaining on their current deals, a constraint that depresses their recorded valuations despite their on-field contributions.

Roma's opening five matches of the 2026-27 season have dominated discussion on Italian radio, with pundits divided between optimism about the squad's quality and caution about expectations. Nando Orsi declared that Roma were constructed to win the Scudetto, saying: "This year it was built to win the Scudetto, but nobody says it out of fear and superstition, yet in their hearts they know it can stand up to Inter. Roma is strong, it just needs to manage its forces a bit during the match: you can't start at full throttle and then fade." Orsi added: "Roma was built to win the Scudetto, and whoever says otherwise says it out of superstition." He highlighted the depth available, noting that Castro can replace Malen, De Roon can come in for Cristante, and Ndícka can take Balerdi's place, and argued that Saturday's match proved Roma and Inter are the strongest teams, with Juventus, Milan and Napoli appearing less ready. However, Piero Torri urged restraint, warning that media pressure was being applied strategically: "The media operation for a Scudetto-winning Roma has already begun; they want to load Roma with responsibility. I'm watching all this with some diffidence." He acknowledged Balerdi as "certainly an extra trump card for Roma" but resisted linking his arrival to title ambitions. Roberto Pruzzo offered a measured assessment of the defence, describing Balerdi as "an old-school centre-back from the 70s, very practical, very reactive, and he doesn't take risks" — an "excellent impact" and "a value added to a defensive squad that is numerically sound." Pruzzo cautioned that Scudetto distances remain tight and that the picture will become clearer after 8–10 matches and some direct clashes. Fabio Petruzzi gave Roma maximum marks, saying: "I see perfection in this squad. If Malen hadn't taken Martinez in the face, you would have won the match; unfortunately that episode changed the game. Roma has done so much, the maximum — doing more seems difficult." Francesca Ferrazza noted that Dybala had not played consecutive minutes like this since 2016, exactly ten years ago, and explained her willingness to accept fewer goals in exchange for his constant presence: "His presence is too important; I'd rather give up a few more goals than see him off the field." Daniele Lo Monaco discussed Gasperini's training approach, noting that some teams had granted eight days of rest while Gasperini wanted everyone working, and commented on Juventus fans turning away during the minute's silence for Mazzola: "If you want to make a protest, that technically was a civil protest. I don't think it was against Mazzola, but against a hypocritical sense of certain celebrations." Gianluca Piacentini praised consistency in refereeing standards across the five matchdays, and Lorenzo Pes suggested Balerdi's defensive positioning — at 40 metres from goal — reflected his Marseille habits and that a season-long rotation between him and Ndícka was likely. The radio consensus acknowledged Roma's competitive strength while debating how far expectations should be allowed to climb.

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."