Totti backs Roma's scudetto credentials despite Inter's edge

Rosario Abisso will referee Roma's Serie A match against Genoa on Saturday 17 October at 20:45 at Stadio Olimpico. The fixture carries extra significance with Daniele De Rossi returning to the capital as Genoa's manager. Abisso will be supported by assistants Tegoni and Miniutti, with Collu as fourth official. Pierpaolo Pairetto will oversee proceedings in the VAR room, with Massimi serving as AVAR. The match is part of a full weekend of Serie A fixtures running from Friday 16 October through Monday 19 October, with refereeing appointments assigned across all ten matches in the round.

Francesco Totti attended the presentation of the 2026–27 Panini football sticker album and used the occasion to assess Roma's prospects this season. The former Roma captain said the club can compete for the Scudetto, acknowledging Inter as a strong rival: "It's a Roma that can compete for the Scudetto. We know Inter has an extra gear, but it's a team that can give them a tough match." Totti also praised head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's impact on the squad. When asked to name Roma's standout player, he responded: "The top player at Roma? There isn't one in particular. Right now I think the whole squad is doing well, but if I have to name someone, I'll mention manager Gasperini because he is creating a great compact group, united, that shows the will to win." The event, held in Lissone in the province of Monza and Brianza, gave Totti the chance to reflect on his childhood collecting Panini stickers. He recalled: "I grew up with Panini. Back then a packet cost 200 lire and they were unforgettable moments. It was hard to finish it quickly. It was fun because you'd spend half the afternoon sticking the stickers in. There was one team though that I used to put upside down. I can't say which one." Totti also announced he will attend Roma's Champions League match against Real Madrid at the Olimpico this evening, his first return to the stadium in two years. On the fixture, he said: "Roma will give Real Madrid a game, though you're always facing a team like Real Madrid. It's not the Real Madrid of our era, but it's a team with character and you have to show respect. It will be a difficult match for both sides, and when you come to play at the Olimpico with 70,000 people it's not easy." He added that José Mourinho deserves a warm welcome on his return as an opponent: "I think they will give him a great reception today, because the manager, as I've always said, gave a lot to this city and this squad. He reached two consecutive European finals, so it's only right that the whole city pays him tribute."

José Mourinho has made clear he has no intention of letting Endrick leave Real Madrid, directly warning rival clubs including Roma that they will have to contend with him to sign the Brazilian forward. Endrick was a long-standing Roma target last summer under Gasperini, and came close to joining the club in August before Mourinho intervened and persuaded him to stay at Madrid, where he has since received minimal playing time. At a press conference on 13 October ahead of Roma's match against Real Madrid, Mourinho was asked directly about Endrick's future and responded bluntly: "I club interessati dovranno lottare con me per ingaggiarlo. Lo adoro, ha un potenziale di altissimo livello ed è molto importante per noi. Non ha bisogno di essere ceduto in prestito, farà grandi cose e avrà un grande successo qui. Giocherà presto." Roma continue to monitor the 21-year-old, who impressed during a six-month spell at Lyon in France, where he scored 8 goals in limited appearances. Milan and Aston Villa are also credited with interest. Roma's sporting director Tony D'Amico is meanwhile evaluating other concrete options to strengthen the club's attack in January.