Tsimikas paradox: Roma flop becomes Liverpool captain

Leonardo Balerdi was the standout performer on Saturday 24 October, when he scored twice in Roma's clash with Napoli at the Maradona and also secured a decisive point for the Giallorossi. His teammates left plenty of praise under his post on social media, but the most heartfelt message came from his partner, Giulia Ciancio, who wrote: "Vederti felice è la mia gioia. Vamos siempre amore." Balerdi's situation at the club is also in focus. His purchase option, or riscatto, is not in question at present. The deal is structured so that the obligation to buy becomes mandatory if the defender, born in 1999, plays at least 55% of the season's matches across all competitions, with at least 45 minutes on the pitch in each. The obligation would then be set at the same figure as the option. A variable mechanism has also been agreed. If Balerdi plays between 40% and 55% of the matches, the obligation is fixed at €11 million. A final clause protects Marseille from any attempt to keep the player out of the team to secure a discount: just 20% of matches played in the second half of the season would trigger the obligation at €9 million.

Roma have stepped up their interest in Olympiacos centre-back Lorenzo Pirola, sending scouts to Greece to assess the Italian defender up close, according to Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur. Roma representatives reportedly attended several Olympiacos matches at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, including the derby on 11 October against Panathinaikos, which Olympiacos won 1-0 and in which Pirola played the entire match. The Giallorossi are said to be following the 24-year-old's development with the next transfer windows in mind. Pirola is a left-sided centre-back who came through the Inter youth sector and has already featured in Serie A for Salernitana. He moved to Olympiacos in the summer of 2024 and has since extended his contract until June 2028. Described as a young player with solid international experience, he could, given his technical qualities, be an interesting option for the defence of Gian Piero Gasperini. The interest is not new. Konur first reported Roma's interest in Pirola in December 2025, when he said the Greek club were then asking more than 15 million euros to open negotiations. The latest update suggests the monitoring has not stopped, although no official offers or negotiations have been reported so far. Source: Ekrem Konur (X).

Roma have a concrete chance of signing Real Madrid forward Endrick in January, according to transfer journalist Matteo Moretto, who spoke on Radio MARCA. Moretto said: "Roma and Milan are very interested. Above all Roma, it is a real possibility for January." The key issue is the playing time José Mourinho will give Endrick in the coming weeks. Despite the Portuguese coach's stated wish to keep him, the striker's future at Madrid is far from guaranteed. The Brazilian continues to find little space in the side and, if nothing changes, a loan move in the winter window could become a concrete option. Roma had already tried to bring Endrick to the capital during the summer and had reopened contacts for the player in recent weeks. Milan remain a significant rival, but Moretto believes the Giallorossi represent a particularly concrete lead. Much will depend on Mourinho's choices and on how much space the 20-year-old can carve out for himself between now and January.

Nahuel Molina has become one of Gasperini's most dangerous players in Roma's opening Serie A fixtures, proving to be a decisive summer acquisition for €13 million. The Argentine has demonstrated his impact through aggressive ball recovery in advanced positions—notably helping create Manu Koné's opening goal—and his consistent threat from distance. After five league matches, Molina ranks among Serie A's best for chances created (2.9 per 90 minutes, behind only Dybala and Wesley in giallorosso), ball recoveries (5.04 per 90), and possessions won in the opponent's third (0.78 per 90), according to Sofascore data. Roma have finally secured a right-sided threat matching Gasperini's tactical demands, addressing a weakness from last season when the club saw only sporadic contributions from a combination of Zeki Çelik and Kostas Tsimikas on that flank. Alongside other key acquisitions—Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala and Leonardo Balerdi—Molina is reshaping the team's profile. Some observers outside Rome had already suggested he represented a downgrade compared to Çelik, but offensive and defensive statistics offer no room for interpretation. Molina's record through early September demonstrates substantial improvement across all phases: key passes, dribbling, expected assists, ball recoveries and possessions won in the advanced third all favour the Argentine over his predecessor.

Roma hold first place in Serie A ahead of Saturday's fixture against Inter. The side has conceded only one goal in the league this season—Ederson's effort in Atalanta's limited attempts—a defensive record matched among Europe's top five leagues only by Arsenal, the Europa League runners-up. In Germany, Freiburg lead with one goal conceded in three matches; in Spain, Real Madrid and Barcelona both have four; in France, four clubs have conceded two. Gasperini has overhauled Roma's defence compared to last season. Out are N'Dicka, Wesley and Koné; in are Balerdi, Molina and Pisilli. Balerdi and Molina have just arrived—Argentine internationals of substance, neither a routine acquisition. Balerdi missed the World Cup through injury; Molina was Copa América runner-up alongside Paulo Dybala after winning the World Cup in Qatar. The contrast with last season is stark. A year ago, Gasperini would have replaced N'Dicka and Wesley with Ziolkowski and Tsimikas, neither of whom remain at the club. Similarly, El Aynaoui would have started in place of Koné, but he too was moved on after just one season.

Roma's evolution under coach Gian Piero Gasperini has taken shape across two decisive fixtures—the Champions League debut against Fenerbahce in Istanbul on Thursday and a four-day-later trip to Turin against Torino—that showcase the impact of the summer transfer market overhaul steered by new sporting director D'Amico. In the first match, Roma's return to Europe's elite competition after a seven-year absence saw Gasperini field performers who had earned third place in Serie A. Against Torino, however, two summer signings started, with three more introduced during play as Roma secured a fourth consecutive league win. Despite missing three key players—Evan N'Dicka, Wesley, and Manu Koné—Roma maintained tactical identity and attacking threat at Turin, underlining how the summer reinforcements have strengthened the squad's reliability compared to the previous season. The shift in personnel tells the story plainly. A year ago, Gasperini would have replaced N'Dicka and Wesley with Kostas Tsimikas and Jan Ziółkowski; neither remains at Trigoria. Manu Koné's role would have gone to Neil El Aynaoui, who has been moved on after one season, as have Tsimikas and Ziółkowski. In their place came Leonardo Balerdi and Nahuel Molina, both Argentine internationals—Balerdi absent from last year's World Cup only through injury, Molina a Qatar winner alongside Paulo Dybala and recently a World Cup runner-up. Niccolò Pisilli, grown into his role at the start of 2026 and a national team player, has inherited Koné's midfield spot. Gasperini paired Balerdi immediately with Marten de Roon, who arrived from Bergamo in the final moments of the window and played more than half the second half against Torino. Lorenzo Pellegrini, called up after five months out, extended Gasperini's roster of captains—the coach has made clear he possesses multiple leaders beyond Bryan Cristante and Gianluca Mancini. Gasperini operates what he calls the "law of sixteen," seeking to deploy the same core of players in every match to guarantee brilliance, intensity and competitive edge. He refuses publicly to divide his squad into starters and substitutes; there is no difference between a player who begins and one who enters in progress. New sporting director D'Amico's tenure has produced a squad numerically smaller than its predecessor, as D'Amico himself acknowledged, yet Gasperini presented it at full strength in Turin. The article notes that one or two adjustments in January may be needed to perfect the squad further.

Roma's loan contingent produced mixed results across European and domestic competitions this week, with midfielder Luigi Cherubini and midfielder Neil El Aynaoui delivering attacking contributions while others awaited their chance. Cherubini, on loan at Benevento with a right of option and obligation to buy, scored in the 93rd minute of Benevento's 2–0 win over Cesena. Introduced from the bench in the 79th minute, the 2004-born winger capitalized on a defensive error by Ilic, rounded the goalkeeper and finished to seal victory. He was booked in the 81st minute and initially had a goal ruled out for offside before his late winner. The performance earned him a rating of 7 from BeneventoNews24 and PianetaSerieB as Benevento secured a third consecutive victory. El Aynaoui, a midfielder on loan at RB Lipsia with a right of rescission, provided the assist for Banzuzi's opening goal after just one minute in a 6–0 Bundesliga demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt. Deployed in the starting lineup by Demichelis, El Aynaoui contributed to a dominant first half that saw Lipsia lead 4–0 at the interval, including a hat-trick from Nkunku. He was booked in the 27th minute and substituted in the 58th when the scoreline already stood at 5–0. Elsewhere, defender Filippo Reale (Carrarese, on loan with option and counter-option) played the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 away win over Padova, maintaining a clean sheet. Young defender Mohamed Seck (Foggia, on loan) completed all 90 minutes in a 3–1 home defeat to Potenza and received a rating of 5, criticized for poor positioning during the opposition's counter-attacks. Forward Artem Dovbyk (Bologna, on loan with right of rescission) returned to the squad after a muscular injury to his flexors but remained unused on the bench in Bologna's 2–1 away win at Lecce. Forward Robinio Vaz (Hull City) was named in the squad for a 2–2 Premier League draw against Everton but played no part, remaining on the bench for the full 90 minutes.

Roma's players on loan across Europe experienced a mixed week of midweek and league fixtures. Neil El Aynaoui performed well for RB Leipzig despite a 2–0 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, completing 31 of 34 passes and winning 8 of 14 duels while receiving a yellow card in the 74th minute. His statistical rating reached 7.2, among Leipzig's best performances. Anass Salah-Eddine made a convincing debut for Panathinaikos in a Greek Cup tie against Kifisia, playing all 90 minutes on the left flank in a 2–0 victory. FotMob rated him 7.3 for a clean display as Panathinaikos dominated with 71 per cent possession in the first half. By contrast, Angeliño's week at Deportivo La Coruña ended disastrously: he was sent off for a challenge on Miguel Sierra in the 59th minute of a midweek fixture against Sevilla—initially given a yellow card before the VAR review led to a direct red—leaving his side to lose 1–0 already down in the scoreline. Statistical ratings gave him just 5.7, and Deportivo manager Hidalgo noted how the expulsion undermined the team's comeback effort. Angeliño subsequently missed the following 1–1 draw against Betis through suspension. Mohamed Seck at Foggia produced sharply contrasting displays within days. Playing 90 minutes in a goalless midweek draw against Savoia, he was identified as Foggia's best performer, winning nearly every duel against opposing attackers. Coach Auteri retained him for the next match against Inter U23, but this time his form dipped noticeably. Foggia lost 2–1, and a careless passing error by Seck enabled the decisive goal from Fumagalli. Foggiacalciomania rated him 5.5, noting good physical condition but a costly mistake. The week illustrated the growth trajectory of a defender aged just 20, with evident talent and physicality that must be coupled with fewer lapses in concentration. Elsewhere, Federico Nardin at Pescara played the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 midweek draw against Gubbio, earning ratings of 6 and 6.9 for personality and reliability despite some refinements needed, but sat out the subsequent 1–0 win at Vado. Filippo Reale completed 90 minutes for Carrarese in a 1–0 home defeat to Benevento, earning 6 and 6.7 ratings for an orderly display, while Luigi Cherubini entered at the 77th minute for Benevento and struck the post with a close chance in the 83rd. Radoslaw Zelezny, Perugia's goalkeeper, conceded five goals across two matches but received ratings of 6 in both a 3–0 home loss to Spezia and a 2–0 away defeat at Grosseto, with no clear responsibility on most goals. Robinio Vaz at Hull City entered off the bench in the 78th minute during a 2–1 loss at Newcastle after more than ten minutes without notable incident, marking his second consecutive Premier League appearance. Marash Kumbulla remained unused at Rayo Vallecano despite being named in squads for a 2–1 win against Espanyol and a 1–1 draw at Osasuna. Jan Ziolkowski has not returned to action for Monza, continuing recovery from plantar fasciitis. Artem Dovbyk spent another week without playing time at Bologna.

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.

Gian Piero Gasperini takes Roma to the Maradona on Napoli-Roma, a fixture the article describes as never ordinary, with the Roma boss dealing with a real injury emergency. He is also keen to break several long-running head-to-head tabs against Massimiliano Allegri. One player Gasperini can count on is Donyell Malen, who returned on Tuesday against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League but was suspended for last weekend's league match against Genoa. For Napoli, the attacking burden falls on Rasmus Hojlund, a former pupil of Gasperini. Gasperini coached Hojlund at Atalanta in 2022-23, the season the Danish striker broke through by terrorising defences with his physical runs and his aggressive movement into space. After a campaign with 34 appearances, 10 goals and 4 assists, Hojlund was sold to Manchester United for a total cost of 85 million. Expectations rose sharply with that fee, and they were not met in England. He then returned to Italy, joining Napoli with the aim of rediscovering his best form after several seasons with more shadows than lights at Old Trafford. Today he is Napoli's main offensive reference point and the first threat Roma's defence must handle. Napoli supporters, however, have been critical of his performances and of the team's style under Allegri. The last meeting at the Maradona, a 2-2 draw in February, did not show Hojlund at his best. Malen took centre stage instead. He opened the scoring after 7 minutes from an assist by Zaragoza, and restored Roma's lead from the penalty spot in the 71st minute. Malen, nicknamed Bobby, wants to repeat that performance in Fuorigrotta, where he could have been playing little more than a year ago. As Il Mattino revealed, Napoli targeted the Dutch forward last January, but the interest never developed into a concrete offer. Gasperini's call, Malen's impact in Rome and the love of the Roma fans have since made the story a Giallorossi one.

Gianluca Piacentini of Rete Sport insisted Roma paid 25 million euros for Mora, not 50 million, in the latest instalment of the Roman radio roundup. He said: "Roma paid 25 million for Mora, then if this year he scores 100 goals and is worth 200 million, Roma have the option of paying 25 million to remove that clause on a future resale. But they did not buy 50% of the player, they bought 100% of the player. If they sell him, they must give 50% of what they receive, which Roma can remove by paying another 25 million. Since you have been insinuating for days that he is rubbish but you do not have the courage to say it, you say he was paid 50 million, but it is not true! If Roma take Mora to the end of his contract, they will have paid 25 million. It is very clear." Rossi, also on Rete Sport, reopened the debate over Pellegrini, saying that some people had doubted Roma's decision to renew Dybala and Pellegrini this summer, citing a history of injuries. He said Dybala has not reached half of his appearances and that Pellegrini had reached his 100th injury. Pellegrini has now re-injured the musculotendinous junction of the flexor, and will take another three months out. Rossi added that the injury was not fixed and that the club paid five million gross for the player, money he said Roma could have spent better. On Tele Radio Stereo, Alessio Nardo asked whether this is Pellegrini's last season with Roma, adding that the speculation should be hedged because "with Pellegrini you never know". He also questioned whether Gasperini chose to speak at his press conference today to avoid questions about possible errors in the transfer market and about underestimating certain aspects. Nardo described a city that remains bitter even after a third-place finish and seven wins in ten matches, saying Mora had become "the new Zaragoza" and had been "destroyed" over the last 48 hours. Lorenzo Pes disagreed, arguing that Gasperini skipped the press conference simply because of a run of closely spaced matches. Valentina Catoni argued that the real problem was not renewing Pellegrini but failing to sign another forward, saying Gasperini had asked for at least one more player up front. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said Roma are playing the season with only 20 outfield players, two of whom, Dybala and Pellegrini, have had a hard few years. He said the club's wage bill problem is the card Roma will play in front of UEFA, and claimed Pellegrini has played only 150 minutes in total. Torri also said he would have signed El Shaarawy at the end of the window, since he could play as a wide attacker or in midfield. Paola Cosenza voiced concern about Cristante, who is returning from a collateral ligament problem, fearing he may force his recovery. Marco Valerio Corsi said he expected Gasperini to protect Mora in the match at Napoli if he delivered another lacklustre performance, and that he doubted Wesley could play as a forward. Roberto Pruzzo said Soulé is growing and that Roma should build around him, and that he sees Santiago Castro as the alternative, adding that Mora looks too far behind the level required for the stage he is being asked to perform on. He said: "We must hope Malen doesn't even have a cold, otherwise it gets tough." Mario Mattioli argued that Pellegrini had only returned from injury two matches earlier and that the club had already lived through a similar situation. Nando Orsi criticised the constant talk of signings and of how Gasperini's training compares with that of previous years. The discussion is set to continue on the same programme, with pundits calling for Roma to reach January in contention for the top places before the club reassesses its options.

Roma's radio pundits offered contrasting views ahead of the midweek fixture against Genoa. Roberto Pruzzo told Radio Radio Mattino that Roma's substitutes are stronger than Genoa's first team, predicting a draw driven by the fatigue of midweek football rather than any shortfall in quality. He expressed reservations about some of the summer market decisions, saying: "The reserves of Roma are superior to Genoa's starters. I expect a draw, not because Genoa are stronger, but because playing mid-week brings difficulties. Molina? From what I've seen in recent matches, perhaps it would have been better to look elsewhere. I didn't understand many of the market choices. You have to understand and accept a market where some decisions, for certain roles, seem questionable." Nando Orsi provided a fuller defence of both the transfer strategy and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's squad management. Orsi argued that Gasperini cannot be blamed for Roma's loss to Real Madrid, and that the club has conducted strong recruitment. He noted the reality of transfer constraints: "If you have to spend too much to buy, then you don't buy. Gasperini shaped the market too: it seems he was satisfied 80%. It's hard for a manager to be satisfied 100%, unless you manage Real Madrid, PSG or even bigger clubs." Orsi highlighted Roma's attacking depth, stating: "Roma has 11 players, nine of whom can be starters. Ahead of Castro, Malen always scores: it's obvious there are difficulties, but there are no doubts about Castro's qualities. Mora reminds me of Zaragoza." Orsi also defended recent signings and Roma's overall market performance this summer.