Weekly Ratings: Dybala's touch and Rensch's impact amid racism in Udine

Giuseppe Giannini remains one of Roma's greatest captains, a midfielder whose technical brilliance and unwavering commitment to the club were overshadowed by the collective misfortune that defined much of his era in giallorosso. Though never blessed with the silverware his talent merited, Giannini became a symbol of Roma's identity through moments of pure emotional resonance—none more vivid than his left-footed goal on 20 March 1994 at the Zaccheria stadium in Foggia, which helped rescue the club from the brink of relegation. That afternoon, under Carlo Mazzone, Roma faced oblivion: the team had not won a Serie A match in three and a half months, and news that Reggiana was beating Torino elsewhere had plunged the atmosphere into despair. With fifteen minutes remaining, a loose ball fell to Giannini at the edge of the area. He controlled the rebound and struck a left-footed shot that struck the post before crossing the line—a strike born of desperation and defiance. The Principe collapsed to the grass in tears, overwhelmed by teammates, weeping not just with joy but with the raw fury of vindication after two weeks of humiliation. His earlier missed penalty in the derby on 6 March, which the young Francesco Totti had won, had haunted him. Giannini bridged the eras of Agostino Di Bartolomei and Francesco Totti, guiding a Roma side built on heart and determination rather than technical parity with Europe's elite. Though he captained the club through near-misses—a Coppa Italia final return leg against Torino, a quarter-final collapse against Slavia Praga in the UEFA Cup—his legacy transcends trophies, residing instead in the vivid memories and bittersweet longing his presence continues to inspire.

Radio pundits debated Roma's transfer strategy on 20 August, with analyst Sabatini arguing the season depends on how many goals Malen scores and how many matches Dybala can play. "It is difficult to think that they can play more than 20 matches as regular starters," Sabatini said on Radio Radio. Commentator Carina added that Roma has spent heavily but must make outgoings to balance the books, noting that Soulé's agent has guaranteed offers will arrive at Trigoria in the coming days. Carina also highlighted Roma's failure to sign a left-footed right winger despite it being a stated priority: "We are on 20 August and Roma has bought everything except that player." Marcacci suggested Fofana would have been a more useful acquisition than Mora for Roma's midfield needs, while Pes called for Roma to strengthen the attack with additional physicality and athleticism. Torri reported that an agreement exists between Lyon and Fofana, with conditions in place to close the deal. He also underlined Roma's two-year absence of a right-footed left winger despite spending over 10 million euros in that market. Speculation mounted around Koné's future, with Pes noting Manchester City interest but estimating Roma would demand 60 million euros for the midfielder.

Roma radio pundits have weighed in on the club's transfer strategy as the summer window enters its final stretch. Piero Torri of Radio Manà Manà stated: "Selling Koné today would be suicide, unless I already have the replacement in hand. In my ideal formation, I put Koné and then choose the other midfielder. Either a crazy offer arrives or I keep him. Even if the need to raise funds remains. Fofana is well advanced, there is agreement with both Lyon and the player. I would understand a sale of Soulé." Simone Valdarchi noted that Roma's squad lacks numerical depth and the club will make at least one more signing. Fofana remains a possibility but is unlikely to be completed before the Champions League preliminary round returns. Roma are also monitoring wingers including Cacciamani and Luis Henrique, who can play further forward. Lorenzo Pes highlighted the financial constraints affecting Roma's planning. The Friedkin Group's €25 million investment for Mora and exploratory talks over Fofana at Lyon—who currently regard him as surplus to requirements—are significant factors. The key question is whether the ownership will commit €30 million to close Fofana's deal. Without such investment, Roma may need to explore alternative targets or generate funds through player sales.

Radio pundits debated Roma's transfer strategy on 20 August, with analyst Sabatini arguing the season depends on how many goals Malen scores and how many matches Dybala can play. "It is difficult to think that they can play more than 20 matches as regular starters," Sabatini said on Radio Radio. Commentator Carina added that Roma has spent heavily but must make outgoings to balance the books, noting that Soulé's agent has guaranteed offers will arrive at Trigoria in the coming days. Carina also highlighted Roma's failure to sign a left-footed right winger despite it being a stated priority: "We are on 20 August and Roma has bought everything except that player." Marcacci suggested Fofana would have been a more useful acquisition than Mora for Roma's midfield needs, while Pes called for Roma to strengthen the attack with additional physicality and athleticism. Torri reported that an agreement exists between Lyon and Fofana, with conditions in place to close the deal. He also underlined Roma's two-year absence of a right-footed left winger despite spending over 10 million euros in that market. Speculation mounted around Koné's future, with Pes noting Manchester City interest but estimating Roma would demand 60 million euros for the midfielder.

Rodrigo Mora impressed in his first training session and now has four days to convince Gasperini he deserves the starting role in Roma's match against Fiorentina on Monday. The Portuguese forward will compete with Matías Soulé for the trequartista position in a 3-4-1-2 formation that Roma trialled on 19 August. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are set to start as the two strikers, with Mora eyeing an opportunity to stake his claim in the role that suits him best. Soulé's availability for the match remains uncertain as AC Milan continues to press for his signature, alongside English club Sunderland. The competition for places elsewhere in the team appears settled: Molina is ready to make his debut, Wesley will start at left-back, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné will operate in midfield, and the defensive line in front of Mile Svilar will comprise Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso. Gasperini's early feedback on Mora has been positive, giving the forward genuine scope to earn a starting berth.

Roma are in the final stages of their summer transfer business ahead of Monday's Serie A opener against Fiorentina, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini overseeing moves for defensive and attacking reinforcements. The club's attacking setup will centre on Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, supported by Rodrigo Mora, who recently arrived at the club. Gasperini has requested a more physical midfielder, with Malick Fofana of Lyon emerging as the top target. An agreement in principle worth approximately €35 million plus bonuses has been reached, though Lyon wish to retain Fofana until 26 August for their Champions League preliminary round against Fenerbahce. The final decision now rests with the Friedkin Group. Parallel to the Fofana pursuit, Roma are exploring left-back options, with Alessio Cacciamani of Torino identified as the hottest lead. Torino's recent closure of defender Fortini in the same position may prompt owner Cairo to soften his initial demands. Alternative targets Udogie and Luis Henrique are considered more complicated, with formulae and costs regarded as prohibitively high. Roma's incoming activity is contingent on outgoings: the club must resolve the situations of Salah-Eddine, Ziolkowski, and Robinio Vaz, while Matías Soulé, valued at approximately €40 million and attracting Milan's interest, remains under monitoring. Gasperini has Niccolò Pisilli available for selection and is assessing Wesley's fitness ahead of Monday's match. The likely starting XI is expected to mirror last season's shape, with Molina on the flank and the Dybala–Soulé pairing behind Malen, while Mora is poised for a substitute appearance.

Stadio Olimpico will register its first sell-out of the season for Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini working through final selection decisions ahead of the fixture. Paulo Dybala, who impressed in pre-season, will lead the attack alongside Matías Soulé, while Donyell Malen holds a slight advantage over another forward option, though rotation is possible given his current form. Mario Hermoso is favoured to partner Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka in defence, with Nahuel Molina operating on the flank. Wesley is being monitored for a minor ankle sprain; should he be unavailable, Devyne Rensch is ready, with Lulli available as cover. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné are expected to anchor midfield, while Niccolò Pisilli, recently back from a muscular injury, is likely to start on the bench. Mora, who arrived at Ciampino yesterday, will meet Gasperini today but is unlikely to start. The Olimpico atmosphere is already building with 63,000 spectators expected, though the police authority has yet to rule on whether the away section can reopen following incidents in January.

Roma are pursuing three high-profile signings to complete Gian Piero Gasperini's squad, with Rodrigo Mora's arrival imminent. The Portuguese attacking midfielder's transfer from his current club is set at €25 million on a permanent basis, with Roma retaining a 50% sell-on clause that can be cancelled for an additional €25 million within a year. Mora, a 2007-born talent, is expected to arrive in Italy between 18 and 20 August and will earn a rising salary reaching approximately €2.2 million per year. Mendes's agency orchestrated the deal and recently also offered Rafael Leão to Roma, a proposal rejected as outside the club's financial parameters. With Mora secured, Roma have virtually closed negotiations for Malick Fofana on terms of €35 million plus bonuses from Olympique Lyonnais. Initial concerns over Fofana's fitness have been cleared, and Roma are pressing to complete the deal this week despite Lyon's wish to keep him until 26 August for a Champions League playoff return leg against Fenerbahçe. The final piece of Gasperini's rebuilding puzzle is a left-sided full-back to rotate with Wesley, Molina, Rensch and young prospect Lulli. Roma are tracking Cacciamani and Udogie, though Tottenham are unwilling to loan Udogie, while Torino are blocking a sale of their young talent. Roma resume training at Trigoria ahead of Monday's Serie A opener at home against Fiorentina, when Niccolò Pisilli will rejoin the group.

Roma's summer transfer work is far from over, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini signalling his appetite for further additions beyond the arrivals of Castro, Koulierakis and Molina. While the Mora move may defer heavier spending to next summer, the club retains capacity to pursue further signings aligned with Gasperini's tactical requirements, notably Malick Fofana of Olympique Lyonnais. The 21-year-old Belgian attacker remains an active target, with Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca having cleared his departure and the club engaged in talks with Roma. Fofana is valued at 35–40 million euros overall, with his existing salary of approximately 2 million euros fitting Roma's parameters. Gasperini currently has two—and occasionally three—options for most positions, but a significant shortage exists at left-back, where Wesley stands alone. Though Devyne Rensch could theoretically deputise, that scenario is presently ruled out, prompting continued pursuit of alternatives from Tottenham (Udogie), Inter (Luis Henrique) and Torino (Cacciamani). The squad's forward depth across Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé, combined with Donyell Malen and Robinio Vaz—currently viewed as a late-game option pending development—means the Mora signing does not close the conversation on attacking reinforcements.