Transfers unlock: Roma pursue wingers on both flanks

Roma have made contact with free agent Matteo Darmian as they explore defensive reinforcements during an extended fixture break. The 36-year-old has fielded approaches from smaller clubs during the summer with no result, but would prioritise Roma over potential moves to Parma or Torino. He has also received lucrative proposals to move to Dubai and may not wait long for a decision. The Giallorossi created space after sending Anass Salah-Eddine on loan to Panathinaikos with a €7 million option to buy, despite his solid spell at PSV and a Morocco World Cup call-up. While Roma's wingback options are in reasonable condition—with Emanuele Lulli emerging as an early revelation—Gian Piero Gasperini favours adding experienced players to manage demanding roles. A left-sided defender would be the preference. The former Inter man was not retained by the Nerazzurri after six years and over 200 appearances, starting only nine times in 2025-26 owing to competition and a serious calf injury. Darmian, a Milan academy product, began his career at Palermo before flourishing at Torino. He later moved to Manchester United and returned to Italy through Parma before joining Inter. His veteran status and experience align with Gasperini's preferences, though questions remain about his physical condition after a difficult previous season.

Roma's radio shows dissected Saturday's 2–2 draw with Inter, with commentators praising the first-half performance but questioning the manager's tactical decisions in the second. Gianluca Piacentini argued that Roma should have converted more of their chances and that Gasperini erred in removing Manu Koné, saying: "For me Gasperini was wrong to take off Koné. If we're looking at who doesn't have 90 minutes in them, Dybala doesn't have it more than Koné does." Mario Corsi defended Koné's role in midfield, remarking: "The Frenchman holds the entire midfield on his own—at one point he seemed like Gullit." Roberto Pruzzo expressed disappointment at the substitutions, noting that Rodrigo Mora "cost an absolute fortune and the manager doesn't even bring him on," and citing Koné's missed opportunities as a turning point: "When you see Koné take two shots and score two goals instead of sending it into the corner, that's a moment you can't waste." Roma dominated the opening 45 minutes, creating numerous chances and holding Inter scoreless at the interval, but conceded almost immediately after the restart—a pattern of weakness several analysts highlighted. Alessio Nardo drew a stark contrast to Roma's 5–2 loss at San Siro on 5 April, saying: "Only a few months have passed, and whilst playing away is different, Roma not only didn't lose, they drew and are also disappointed. The real signal is that." Lorenzo Pes pinpointed the problem: "The goals conceded and the lapses at the start of the second half are the issue to solve." Piero Torri suggested Roma are pursuing left-winger Kvernadze, saying: "I have the impression that Roma are looking for him—and as it happens, he's a left-sided player with a right foot. He seems like an interesting player to me. You're short numerically on that type of player there." Checco Oddo Casano noted that Dybala has scored zero goals this season but provides one assist per match, whilst admitting he has squandered at least three goalscoring chances. Francesca Ferrazza warned of the fixture congestion ahead, stressing Roma need ready players before January. Fabio Petruzzi and David Rossi were among those who felt Roma had matched Inter's intensity, with Petruzzi declaring Roma and Inter "the two strongest teams in the league and will fight it out until the end." The consensus was that Roma's first-half dominance and the narrow scoreline represented real progress, though the defensive vulnerability in the second half must be corrected.

Roma will not pursue free-agent signings during the international break, despite rumours around players such as Darmian, Sancho and Guerreiro. Gasperini prefers to work with his current squad rather than add names for their own sake. The club's transfer strategy will shift in January, when Roma will target the two positions that remained unfilled in the summer window: a left-back and an attacking winger. Oosterwolde, a Dutch defender from Parma, is Roma's primary left-back target. He had already begun his move to Roma but was halted by a thigh tendon injury and subsequently underwent surgery. He will be ready for selection in January. Fenerbahçe intends to loan him out, and the position at Roma—filling a gap alongside Molina, Wesley, Lulli and Rensch—suits Gasperini well. The greater priority remains an attacking winger. After missing out on Leweling and Summerville, Roma's attention has shifted to two players reportedly unhappy at their current clubs: Endrick and Gittens, from Real Madrid and Chelsea respectively. Both clubs could be persuaded to loan their players out. Roma are also monitoring new names, particularly Kvernadze of Frosinone. Tony D'Amico had previously said, "We'll see further ahead" regarding free-agent acquisitions to bolster the summer market. The plan to strengthen an incomplete squad will take concrete shape when the January window opens.

Lorenzo Pellegrini will use the international break to complete his recovery from injury and build on his return to the squad, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini planning to deploy him as an additional offensive weapon during the season's intense period ahead. Pellegrini rejoined the group approximately 15 days ago and was called up for the fixtures against Turin and Inter. Gasperini intends to put him through a mini pre-season programme during the break and test him in at least one friendly, while also stimulating him athletically to replicate the successful recovery work already done with Paulo Dybala. The midfielder chose to remain at Roma at all costs this summer, cutting his salary by more than half and rejecting approaches from Juventus and Besiktas to honour an agreement with Gasperini to keep the squad's senior figures. Pellegrini can play as a trequartista, left winger or midfielder, giving the boss tactical flexibility in a squad that Gasperini believes still needs a couple more arrivals to match Inter's level. His return addresses a gap in the attacking department while he works towards extending a contract that is again set to expire despite a recent renewal. The former captain is motivated by a desire to repay Gasperini's faith and secure his future at the club. Gasperini deliberately retained all the squad's senior players, and Pellegrini is eager to deliver a redemptive performance that justifies that backing and prolongs his time at Roma.

Roma have earned promotion to the tier of big clubs following their performance against Inter, demonstrating that the gap between the two squads is far from insurmountable. Gian Piero Gasperini's side showed ferocity and clear identity in their approach, with the Inter fixture serving as proof that the tactical framework is working. The crucial shift the Piedmont coach has instilled concerns mentality in direct matches against top Serie A sides—a historical limitation that has undermined Roma's recent past. Roma take the field without deference, fielding three attacking players and maintaining constant control of play. The numbers validate Gasperini's work: four consecutive victories and a spectacular draw with Inter have delivered 13 points from 15 available. This run begins Roma's autumn schedule in earnest, with the fixture list intensifying rapidly. Rotation will become essential for the technical staff in the weeks ahead, bringing second-string players into the action more frequently. The international break will be valuable for Lorenzo Pellegrini's full recovery. Gasperini will continue developing young talent Rodrigo Mora, who arrived in the summer and is ready to claim greater playing time. Roma travel to Como on Sunday, 11 October for a 12:30 kickoff.

Roma have begun the 2026-27 season strongly, scoring freely and proving they can match Serie A's leading sides—but head coach Gian Piero Gasperini sees room to unlock quality in a specific area without returning to the transfer market. The key zone is the left-sided attacking midfield, where two very different players can become important: Rodrigo Mora and Lorenzo Pellegrini. Mora arrived in summer carrying the label of an elite young talent and made an immediate impression at Roma, including scoring against Lecce. The 19-year-old, born in 2007, started brightly but recent weeks have revealed the uneven path young prospects travel. His recent appearances have been less incisive; at Turin he came on in the second half without making a particular mark, and against Inter he remained on the bench for the entire match despite Roma's need for fresh attacking quality, especially in the second half. Gasperini has continued to speak of Mora as a player with great talent but has been clear about the work still required. "He needs to complete himself physically above all, and also tactically," Gasperini said. The club invested heavily in the Portuguese midfielder and nobody at Trigoria sees the present moment as an endpoint. Mora must learn to be decisive when space narrows, tempo increases and time to think diminishes. Pellegrini's summer has been almost the opposite. Rather than fighting immediately for a starting place, he underwent lengthy work to rebuild his body and sort his contract future. After an injury that kept him sidelined in the final stages of last season, Pellegrini renewed his Roma deal through 2027 and has only recently returned to regular availability. Gasperini is not rushing his reintegration: the midfielder has not played an official match in months. The international break presents an opportunity Gasperini is considering carefully—he is evaluating the organisation of friendly matches to allow players remaining at Trigoria to accumulate minutes and match rhythm. For Pellegrini this pause can become a platform for restart. After weeks split between recovery and contract renewal, the goal is to become a genuine solution rather than merely a name on the team sheet. While not the pure attacking winger Gasperini sought in summer, he can offer a different answer to that same need, particularly in matches where Roma require additional passing quality and creativity near Dybala and Malen. Pellegrini, who hoped for a longer contract extension, has only a few months to prove himself worthy of both the manager's and the club's faith. After the break, nine matches arrive in twenty-eight days, and Roma cannot always depend on Dybala, Malen or Soulé to produce the decisive moment.

Angeliño, loaned to Deportivo La Coruña this summer with a buy option, made his first start in a year in the sixth matchday of Liga between Deportivo and Seville on 17 September 2026. The move brought no luck. After sitting on the bench for the opening four rounds, Angeliño was fielded in the starting XI but lasted only until the 60th minute, when he was sent off for a hard challenge on Miguel Sierra. The referee initially showed yellow but upgraded it to red after consulting the VAR. The dismissal came at the worst moment for Deportivo, who were already trailing 0–1 following Sierra's goal in the 52nd minute. Seville held on to win 0–1, leaving Angeliño's long-awaited return to competitive action marked by a straight red card.

Roma players out on loan delivered mixed results across a busy weekend of football, with Alessandro Romano continuing to impress in Serie A while others made their debuts for their temporary clubs. Romano played all 90 minutes as Cagliari defeated Atalanta 2–1 at Bergamo, and created a chance for Mendy early in the second half that was ruled out for marginal offside. The 20-year-old also fired from distance in the 15th minute, forcing a corner from Carnesecchi. Under coach Pisacane, Romano has become an established starter and is at Cagliari on a loan with an obligation to buy should certain sporting conditions be met. Neil El Aynaoui experienced a contrasting week at RB Leipzig. The Moroccan midfielder played the full match in the Bundesliga club's 4–1 Champions League defeat away at Como on Thursday, then returned to the starting XI in Bundesliga action on Sunday, playing 74 minutes in a 5–0 victory over Hamburg without scoring or assisting. He remains on loan with a right of redemption. Robinio Vaz made his Premier League debut for Hull City, entering at the 82nd minute in place of McBurnie during an away fixture at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea. Hull secured a 2–2 draw, and Vaz, born in 2007, now has his first minutes in English football under his belt. He too is on loan with a right of redemption. Other Roma loanees had quieter weekends. Mattia Mannini made his Benevento debut off the bench, replacing Siatounis in the 74th minute of a 3–1 win against Hellas Verona—his first appearance after being unused at Ascoli. Filippo Reale played 90 minutes at left centre-back in Carrarese's 1–0 home defeat to Catanzaro, the goal coming from Iemmello in the 83rd minute. Radoslaw Zelezny started in goal for Perugia away at Ravenna but saw his side lose 3–0 after being reduced to ten men when Kabashi was sent off late in the first half. He had kept a clean sheet in a win against Pineto the previous week. Luigi Cherubini sat unused on Benevento's bench in their 3–1 success, a reversal of his playing status from Ascoli. Angeliño made a second consecutive unused substitute appearance for Deportivo La Coruña in a 1–1 draw at Getafe. Marash Kumbulla returned to the squad list for Rayo Vallecano but did not play in a 4–1 defeat at Real Madrid's Bernabeu. Jan Ziolkowski remained unavailable with a foot problem that had already kept him out the week prior; Monza lost 3–2 to Lecce without him. Artem Dovbyk was held out of Bologna's trip to Napoli after sustaining a minor groin issue in the 91st minute of a prior victory; Bologna lost 1–0 at the Maradona, with manager Tedesco calling the precaution sensible rather than a serious injury. Anass Salah-Eddine is nearing a loan move to Panathinaikos; Roma has agreed terms and the winger has arrived in Athens for medicals, though an official announcement had not yet been published at the time of writing.

Roma's loanees across Italy and Europe made an impact on the weekend. Artem Dovbyk was the standout performer, coming off the bench in the 66th minute for Bologna against Sassuolo and scoring the equaliser in the 91st minute to secure a 2–2 draw and the Rossoblu's first point of the season. The Ukrainian striker's decisive finish came in an Emilia derby on loan with a right of redemption clause. Elsewhere, young goalkeeper Radoslaw Zelezny put in a strong performance for Perugia in their 2–1 victory over Pineto, playing all 90 minutes as the side's first-choice keeper. The 2006-born Zelezny was blameless for the goal conceded and made several crucial saves, including a high-quality intervention in the first half and a decisive stop in the second. He is on loan at the Umbrian club with an option and counter-option attached. Midfield prospect Alessandro Romano again started for Cagliari in Serie A, remaining on the pitch for the full 90 minutes as the Sardinians won 1–0 away at Lecce thanks to a Daniel Maldini goal in the 29th minute. Romano's loan includes an obligation to buy if certain sporting conditions are met. Neil El Aynaoui made an immediate first-team debut for RB Leipzig, starting in the away fixture against Werder Brema and playing until the 75th minute. However, Leipzig suffered a 3–1 defeat. The Moroccan midfielder's move is on loan with a right of redemption. Filippo Reale, a 2006-born defender, played the full 90 minutes for Carrarese on the flank in their 1–0 home loss to Empoli, conceding in the 74th minute; he is on loan with an option and counter-option in Roma's favour. Luigi Cherubini started in attack for Benevento in the first half at Ascoli before being substituted at the interval; Benevento were reduced to ten men in the 41st minute by Prisco's red card and lost 1–0 to a Brunori penalty in the closing stages. Cherubini's loan includes a right of option and obligation to buy. Mattia Mannini received his first call-up after joining Benevento on loan but remained unused from the bench in the same Ascoli defeat. Angeliño was an unused substitute as Deportivo La Coruña won 3–2 away at Villarreal in La Liga. Robinio Vaz was included in a Premier League squad for the first time after a late-market transfer to Hull City but did not feature in a 0–0 draw with Aston Villa. Jan Ziółkowski was unavailable for Monza's away trip to Parma—which ended 1–1—due to a plantar fascia problem requiring monitoring. Marash Kumbulla likewise missed Rayo Vallecano's 3–2 victory over Racing Santander as he continues to deal with a knee issue.

Gian Piero Gasperini has set the goal of playing twenty for Roma, but that requires integrating three significant recruits who have so far received limited playing time. Rodrigo Mora, Santiago Castro and Konstantinos Koulierakis — three players of different ages, characteristics and positions — have collectively cost the club over €100 million in fixed fees and bonuses. Roma invested in them with the expectation they would become key contributors soon, yet in the opening six official matches Gasperini has relied primarily on the group offering him the most certainty. That strategy has worked: four wins and two draws. Among the new arrivals, Leonardo Balerdi and Nahuel Molina have integrated more quickly; Mora, Castro and Koulierakis have had a more gradual path. Mora, the Portuguese midfielder, has had the most exposure. He has accumulated 187 minutes across five appearances at a rate of 37.4 minutes per game, and is the only one of the three to have started — twice, against Fiorentina and Atalanta. After a very promising start, his usage has progressively declined, and Gasperini will need to restore continuity and impact to his offensive rotations. Castro, the Argentine, has managed 105 minutes over four matches, averaging 26.25 per outing. His impact has been hampered by considerable misfortune: he has already struck the woodwork four times. Donyell Malen has inevitably restricted his space so far, but the fixture schedule after the international break will intensify and the Dutch forward will eventually need rest — opening the door for Castro to prove he can inherit his responsibility without lowering the team's attacking level. Koulierakis, the Greek defender, has the most limited minutes of all: just 31 across two appearances, averaging 15.5. Gasperini has used him least of the three, partly because competition in front of him has increased with Balerdi's immediate impact and the reliability of Evan N'Dicka and Gianluca Mancini. The financial figures underline the club's faith in these three. Castro cost €35 million plus €5 million in potential add-ons, Koulierakis €16.5 million plus €1.5 million in add-ons, while Mora's deal can reach €50 million — €25 immediately and another €25 within the next year, or alternatively 50 per cent of any future sale. Gasperini has always reasoned by performance and reliability rather than transfer fee, and these numbers do not obligate him to award minutes by contract right. But they explain why the development of Mora, Castro and Koulierakis is a fundamental next step for the season. Marten de Roon, 35 and familiar with Gasperini, represents a separate case — his value lies in offering experience, leadership and immediate tactical knowledge when required. The international break will limit Gasperini's training opportunities with many players away from Trigoria. When the calendar resumes, Roma will enter a period where fielding the same eleven every match will become impossible. That is when the goal of playing twenty will cease to be theory and demand reality: Gasperini must turn the €100 million that has mostly waited on the bench into three genuine alternatives capable of becoming far more than backups.

Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing to rotate his squad more frequently and give greater playing time to Roma's major summer signings as the season progresses. With a packed fixture list spanning Serie A and Champions League, the coach aims to "play with twenty players" — a necessity given the congested calendar. Until now, Gasperini has relied heavily on the squad from last season to ease the new arrivals in gradually, though Nahuel Molina and Leonardo Balerdi have already settled well. The focus has shifted to the three marquee acquisitions on which Roma invested over 100 million euros combined: Rodrigo Mora, Santiago Castro, and Konstantinos Koulierakis. All three have seen limited action so far. Mora has played the most, accumulating 187 minutes across 5 appearances (averaging 37.4 minutes per game), Castro has managed 105 minutes in 4 matches (a 26.25-minute average), and Koulierakis has collected only 31 minutes across two fixtures. Gasperini has acknowledged that courage will be required to start them from the opening whistle, particularly given Castro's misfortune in hitting the woodwork four times. The manager believes the turning point in his plans is imminent, driven both by the necessity of managing the dense schedule and by the obligation to showcase these premium acquisitions.

Roma have shifted from constant squad overhauls to a philosophy of retaining and building around proven players while adding quality reinforcements—a strategic departure that appears to be delivering real strength. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who took charge in 2025, sought stability rather than permanent revolution: a squad with a solid foundation onto which he could make surgical additions of two to four players at a time, ideally already proven and capable of becoming new cornerstones themselves. The article argues this represents the defining difference between the current Roma and many predecessors, which often leaned too heavily on a handful of elite performers and collapsed when one or two were absent. Mile Svilar has become an absolute certainty in goal. Evan N'Dicka is now a defensive reference point. Gianluca Mancini, despite some early-season errors, remains a squad leader through experience and personality. Wesley has made clear progress. Manu Koné is a player on whom present and future can be built. Paulo Dybala retains the talent to change a match with one moment. Donyell Malen has finally delivered what Roma lacked: a striker who consistently converts offensive output into goals. Alongside these established figures stand young talents with assured ability, to be developed without excessive pressure under Gasperini's direction. The genuine novelty is that Roma are adding fresh certainties to this foundation. Leonardo Balerdi arrived in the final hours of the transfer window and needed little time to explain why Gasperini wanted him: he defends aggressively, works hard off the ball, accepts physical duels, and shows personality in possession. The article cautions that three appearances make no verdict, but the sense is that Roma may have found not simply an alternative but another potential pillar. Nahuel Molina carries the same philosophy from a different angle—not a numerical placeholder but a World Cup winner accustomed to major stages who, after weeks regaining fitness, is demonstrating he can start without being considered an emergency solution. Gasperini has even deployed him on the opposite flank, and he provided an assist for Manu Koné's opening goal against Inter. Marten de Roon similarly represents no attention-grabbing summer window signing, yet he was captain and fundamental leader at Gasperini's Atalanta, understands what the coach demands before explanation, and in a fifty-match season offers another certainty to lean on during fatigue, injury and rotation. The summer transfer window was not flawless. Roma lacked precisely the offensive coup Gasperini pursued for months: a player capable of starting from the left, cutting onto his right foot, creating superiority and adding unpredictability to the attacking third. The club tried until the final moments without closing the deal. That piece remains missing and will likely return as a priority. Yet this itself signals how perspective has changed. There is no longer a squad to rebuild—there is a squad to complete. Future recruitment should consolidate those giving Roma identity, verify whether Balerdi and Molina can sustain that level, and add one or two more of similar calibre: an attacking winger, perhaps later a midfielder, then what the squad's evolution demands. One piece at a time, without dismantling what already holds the structure.