Torri questions El Aynaoui's future as Roma radio panel assesses derby performance

Ivan Zazzaroni, director of Corriere dello Sport, has given an exclusive interview reflecting on recent meetings with key Roma figures. He revealed that when José Mourinho spoke about Roma, he became visibly emotional. "When he talked about it he got emotional… you could see it in his eyes, you understand that at Roma he found something important, a connection such that people understood it," Zazzaroni said. He also described encounters with Francesco Totti and Donyell Malen, noting that both told him "We had fun", while Malen made "a very good impression". Zazzaroni added that Mourinho's affection from Roma supporters is justified, and that visiting Madrid had shown him it was Mourinho's home—yet the connection Roma had forged with him ran deep. On Gian Piero Gasperini's appointment, Zazzaroni stated that the coach came to Roma specifically to win the Serie A title. "When he was still at Bergamo and was about to transfer to Roma he confessed his intention to me not to warm the bench or play beautiful football but to win the championship in three years," he explained. Zazzaroni acknowledged that Roma's squad is not yet complete and that Inter have an edge, but suggested that nothing is certain if Roma continue on their current trajectory. Zazzaroni also addressed the Friedkin Group's decision not to pursue the Everton acquisition, calling it good news for Roma given the club's important stadium construction project. He expressed concern about Premier League spending, suggesting clubs "have circulated money that doesn't exist."

Ivan Zazzaroni, editor of Corriere dello Sport, discussed his recent interviews with Francesco Totti, José Mourinho and Donyell Malen during an appearance on Retesport. He praised the Friedkin Group's decision to step back from Everton involvement, saying it is good news because they retain Roma and have an important project for stadium construction. Zazzaroni expressed confidence that Premier League clubs will face difficulties having circulated money they do not possess. Zazzaroni reflected on his meetings with the three figures. Totti and Malen both told him "We had fun", though Totti was notably intimate in tone. Of Mourinho, Zazzaroni recalled embracing him at Real Madrid's training ground, which he described as "his kingdom". Mourinho gifted him a tracksuit. Zazzaroni and Mourinho share the same birthday; in the past Mourinho has arrived at their birthday dinner with a gift, and once brought a bottle of wine from 1963, his birth year. Speaking of Mourinho's connection to Roma, Zazzaroni said: "When he spoke about it he got emotional. You could see it in his eyes. He found something important at Roma, a connection so strong that people understood it." On Gian Piero Gasperini's appointment, Zazzaroni stated: "Gasperini came here to win the Serie A title." He revealed that when Gasperini was still at Bergamo and preparing to move to Roma, he confessed his intention "not to warm the bench or play nice football but to win the championship in three years". Zazzaroni acknowledged the Roma squad is not complete and Inter have something more, "but continuing like this, you never know".

Dan Friedkin has decided to sell Everton, a move that has delighted Roma supporters who now hope the ownership will concentrate its efforts entirely on the Giallorossi. Roma fans have responded positively on social media, with one writing: "Egoistically and above all as a fan, I say it's better this way—let them focus more on Roma, which in my view is their priority on the sporting side, with their own stadium now close to completion and an increasingly upward sporting path. It's certainly not Cannes, while Everton could have become a real distraction." Others fear the Friedkins may treat Roma as they have Everton, arguing: "Build the stadium. The company increases in value. Resell the company and profit on the initial investment. They are entrepreneurs and that's how they operate. They will do the same with us—the signs are there and have been evident for years. They are not Franco Sensi. They are not Dino Viola. Love for a team is something else." The hope is that this will not be the case. The relationship between Everton supporters and the Friedkin Group has never truly taken root. News of their arrival in 2024 was initially welcomed, but after two years the story is already winding down. This summer there were numerous criticisms of their transfer activity, and following the club's announcement, many on social media have attacked Dan Friedkin over the decision to sell: "They never wanted to be part of our club—they just wanted easy money and to sell as many players as possible. They never spoke to the manager or the fans." The Roma president has never been seen at the new stadium built in 2025, an absence that has pleased no one. One post on X states: "It would have been better to have an owner whose sole focus was Everton." Some defend the Friedkins, noting: "It's not entirely their fault. The PSR has ruined every possibility of investing." The PSR—the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules—is the financial regulation established to ensure clubs spend within their limits.

Ivan Zazzaroni, director of Corriere dello Sport, has given an exclusive interview reflecting on recent meetings with key Roma figures. He revealed that when José Mourinho spoke about Roma, he became visibly emotional. "When he talked about it he got emotional… you could see it in his eyes, you understand that at Roma he found something important, a connection such that people understood it," Zazzaroni said. He also described encounters with Francesco Totti and Donyell Malen, noting that both told him "We had fun", while Malen made "a very good impression". Zazzaroni added that Mourinho's affection from Roma supporters is justified, and that visiting Madrid had shown him it was Mourinho's home—yet the connection Roma had forged with him ran deep. On Gian Piero Gasperini's appointment, Zazzaroni stated that the coach came to Roma specifically to win the Serie A title. "When he was still at Bergamo and was about to transfer to Roma he confessed his intention to me not to warm the bench or play beautiful football but to win the championship in three years," he explained. Zazzaroni acknowledged that Roma's squad is not yet complete and that Inter have an edge, but suggested that nothing is certain if Roma continue on their current trajectory. Zazzaroni also addressed the Friedkin Group's decision not to pursue the Everton acquisition, calling it good news for Roma given the club's important stadium construction project. He expressed concern about Premier League spending, suggesting clubs "have circulated money that doesn't exist."

Ivan Zazzaroni, editor of Corriere dello Sport, discussed his recent interviews with Francesco Totti, José Mourinho and Donyell Malen during an appearance on Retesport. He praised the Friedkin Group's decision to step back from Everton involvement, saying it is good news because they retain Roma and have an important project for stadium construction. Zazzaroni expressed confidence that Premier League clubs will face difficulties having circulated money they do not possess. Zazzaroni reflected on his meetings with the three figures. Totti and Malen both told him "We had fun", though Totti was notably intimate in tone. Of Mourinho, Zazzaroni recalled embracing him at Real Madrid's training ground, which he described as "his kingdom". Mourinho gifted him a tracksuit. Zazzaroni and Mourinho share the same birthday; in the past Mourinho has arrived at their birthday dinner with a gift, and once brought a bottle of wine from 1963, his birth year. Speaking of Mourinho's connection to Roma, Zazzaroni said: "When he spoke about it he got emotional. You could see it in his eyes. He found something important at Roma, a connection so strong that people understood it." On Gian Piero Gasperini's appointment, Zazzaroni stated: "Gasperini came here to win the Serie A title." He revealed that when Gasperini was still at Bergamo and preparing to move to Roma, he confessed his intention "not to warm the bench or play nice football but to win the championship in three years". Zazzaroni acknowledged the Roma squad is not complete and Inter have something more, "but continuing like this, you never know".

Roma travel to Como on Sunday at 12:30 for a top-of-the-table clash, with the Giallorossi level on points with Inter and Lazio at the summit. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has opted to hand a starting place to Portuguese midfielder Rodrigo Mora, class of 2007, in what appears a tactical gamble to break one of Roma's most stubborn curses: the club has not won at the Como ground overlooking Lake Como since 30 April 1989, when Manfredonia headed home at the second minute. Nearly 38 years have passed since that day. The three subsequent visits to Lario have all ended in defeat, most recently when Donyell Malen converted a seventh-minute penalty to put Roma ahead, only for Wesley's red card to leave the ten-men Giallorossi vulnerable to a Cesc Fabregas comeback. Gasperini tested new tactical solutions in a friendly against Sorianese (20-0), settling on a 3-4-1-2 shape designed to counter Fabregas's four-man defence and contain the opposing full-backs' central positioning. Mora, operating as a midfielder, offers the crucial link between midfield and attack through his quality in the final pass and the threat of distance shooting—both weapons aimed at unlocking Como's defensive block. Roma must also overturn a troubling pattern after international breaks: across the last two seasons, they have managed only two wins, one draw and five defeats in eight matches following national-team pauses. In the 2024-25 campaign, after drawing 1-1 at Genoa and losing 1-0 at home to both Inter and Napoli, Roma found victory only in spring under Claudio Ranieri with a 1-0 win at Lecce. Under Gasperini this season, home losses to Torino (0-1) and Inter (0-1) were sandwiched around a 3-1 victory over Cremonese, followed by a heavy 5-2 defeat at San Siro in April—a setback later overcome during the final push to third place and Champions League qualification.

Roma will play Como in the sixth Serie A matchday on Sunday at 12:30. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will hold a press conference tomorrow at 13:30 ahead of the fixture. Selection uncertainty surrounds Roma's attacking setup, with one player among Rodrigo Mora, Matías Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini set to support Paulo Dybala behind Donyell Malen.

Gian Piero Gasperini will address the media on 10 October at 13:30 at Trigoria ahead of Roma's fixture at Como's Sinigaglia stadium. The head coach will field questions on team selection and player fitness as Roma prepare for the match. Bryan Cristante is ruled out with a knee problem. In midfield, Rodrigo Mora is expected to start as the attacking midfielder behind the strike pairing of Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala. At the back, there remains competition between Leonardo Balerdi and Evan N'Dicka for a defensive place.

Roma face Como in a tactical battle between Fabregas and Gasperini, two coaches with contrasting philosophies seeking to dictate play. Gasperini is considering deploying Rodrigo Mora on the trequarti in support of Dybala and Malen, a move with both technical and tactical significance. Against Como's four-man defence, this setup would allow Mora to exploit space between the lines and combine quickly with two players whose strengths complement each other: Dybala's ability to read situations others miss and Malen's capacity to attack space immediately. Marten de Roon is expected to anchor midfield, providing equilibrium and tactical knowledge of Gasperini's systems crucial against Como's possession-based approach. Evan N'Dicka is favoured over Leonardo Balerdi in defence, with Nahuel Molina and Wesley operating on the flanks. The match's decisive factor may lie on the wings. Como build superiority through passing and draw pressure to free players in space; Roma counterpress through individual aggression and advanced recovery. The fullbacks will be fundamental, needing to support attacking play without leaving the corridors Como exploits. Molina and Wesley could prove decisive both in pressing and by forcing Como's wingers to defend, preventing Fabregas's side from developing their game with continuity. The sides have met twice previously in contrasting circumstances. At the Olimpico, Roma imposed themselves through intense pressing, with Wesley scoring the decisive goal. In the return fixture, a side lacking clear attacking reference points gradually lost shape and ceded initiative to Como. However, this Roma present different offensive possibilities. The presence of Malen, Dybala's talent and Mora's potential deployment offer Gasperini solutions capable of troubling a well-organised team like Fabregas's. Roma must start aggressively, press immediately and prevent Como from gaining confidence in their passing patterns.

Porto president André Villas-Boas has said the club would have closed its 2025-26 accounts with a profit if Rodrigo Mora's transfer to Roma had been completed before 30 June. Speaking at a press conference where he presented the club's financial results, Villas-Boas noted that Porto instead posted a loss of approximately €21 million for the season. Mora moved to Roma for €25 million plus 50 per cent of any future resale fee, but the timing of the deal meant it fell outside the financial year that would have swung the balance into the black. The transfer underscores the importance of window deadlines in club accounting, with even major deals capable of shifting a significant deficit into profit territory when registered at the right moment.

Porto president André Villas-Boas has reignited debate over Rodrigo Mora's transfer to Roma, stating that selling the Portuguese midfielder earlier would have prevented the club's financial losses. Mora joined Roma in the summer of 2026 for €25 million, but Villas-Boas said the timing proved costly for Porto's accounts. Speaking at a press conference to present the club's 2025-26 results, Villas-Boas said: "If the sale of Rodrigo Mora had been completed before 30 June, the economic result of the season would have been positive." Porto closed the 2025-26 financial year with losses of approximately €21 million, a shortfall partly attributed to the club's failure to qualify for the Champions League before the start of the Farioli era. The late completion of Mora's sale meant the transfer fee could not be counted in the accounting period that would have offset other losses, leaving Porto's books in the red despite the substantial fee received from Roma.

Roma travel to Como on Sunday at 12:30 for a top-of-the-table clash, with the Giallorossi level on points with Inter and Lazio at the summit. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has opted to hand a starting place to Portuguese midfielder Rodrigo Mora, class of 2007, in what appears a tactical gamble to break one of Roma's most stubborn curses: the club has not won at the Como ground overlooking Lake Como since 30 April 1989, when Manfredonia headed home at the second minute. Nearly 38 years have passed since that day. The three subsequent visits to Lario have all ended in defeat, most recently when Donyell Malen converted a seventh-minute penalty to put Roma ahead, only for Wesley's red card to leave the ten-men Giallorossi vulnerable to a Cesc Fabregas comeback. Gasperini tested new tactical solutions in a friendly against Sorianese (20-0), settling on a 3-4-1-2 shape designed to counter Fabregas's four-man defence and contain the opposing full-backs' central positioning. Mora, operating as a midfielder, offers the crucial link between midfield and attack through his quality in the final pass and the threat of distance shooting—both weapons aimed at unlocking Como's defensive block. Roma must also overturn a troubling pattern after international breaks: across the last two seasons, they have managed only two wins, one draw and five defeats in eight matches following national-team pauses. In the 2024-25 campaign, after drawing 1-1 at Genoa and losing 1-0 at home to both Inter and Napoli, Roma found victory only in spring under Claudio Ranieri with a 1-0 win at Lecce. Under Gasperini this season, home losses to Torino (0-1) and Inter (0-1) were sandwiched around a 3-1 victory over Cremonese, followed by a heavy 5-2 defeat at San Siro in April—a setback later overcome during the final push to third place and Champions League qualification.