Wesley no longer alone: Molina gains fitness, Roma secure on the flanks

AS Roma are increasingly determined to make Leonardo Balerdi's loan from Marseille permanent, and the club's stance has not changed despite his costly error at Old Trafford. A missed ball gave Cunha the opening for Manchester United's 2-2 equaliser. According to Fabrizio Romano, Roma are fully satisfied with the Argentina defender's performances, and he is happy in the capital. The intention, barring surprises, is to turn the loan into a permanent deal for a fee that should range between €11 million and €14 million, depending on the number of appearances of at least 45 minutes over the season. The mechanism reportedly sets the buy-back fee at €14 million if Balerdi plays at least 55% of matches, falling to €11 million if his share of appearances is between 40% and 55%. Romano also revealed that Inter had sounded out Balerdi last summer but did not pursue contacts with Marseille. Juventus had also considered the Argentine on several occasions between 2024 and 2025 without making their interest concrete. In the end, Roma came out on top, having found in the 1999-born defender a player particularly suited to Gian Piero Gasperini's style of football. His pace, aggression and personality allowed him to win the coach's trust quickly, culminating in a splendid brace against Napoli. The slip that led to Manchester United's comeback remains a heavy stain on an otherwise very high-level performance up to that point. Roma's assessment, however, does not change because of a single mistake. Balerdi has convinced both Gasperini and the club's management, and his future appears set to remain in giallorosso. Roma's plan is to keep the defender for the long term, with the difference between the two buy-back thresholds not expected to alter that commitment.

Roma lost 3-2 at Manchester United's Old Trafford in a group-stage match. Rodrigo Mora was one of the Giallorossi's standout players, producing an excellent first half and providing an assist for Soulé before being replaced by Pisilli at the start of the second half. After the final whistle, Mora spoke to TNT Sports Brasil about his relationship with Wesley in the dressing room. He was asked whether he and his team-mate talk often, language considered, and what he thinks of Wesley as a player. Mora said the two of them share a common interest in Brazil and Brazilian football, which they both follow closely, and that the shared language helps them a great deal. Mora said: "Yes, I think today Wesley played another great match. He is a great player and he will reach the highest levels of football. We talk mostly about Brazil and Brazilian football, which we both follow. The language, of course, helps us a lot. He has given me a great hand in this welcome to Roma and I am really grateful to him for that."

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini has left uncertainty over the return of goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, who has a back problem, ahead of Saturday's match against Sassuolo. Asked about his return, Gasperini replied: "Non lo so, vediamo" ("I don't know, we'll see"). The injury that kept Gollini out of the game against Manchester United could also affect the next fixture. Yesterday Devis Vásquez took his place in goal, making his first appearance in the Roma shirt. His performance is hard to judge. He made no serious mistakes, and his only fault came on Cunha's goal that made it 3-2. He also saved Fernandes's penalty, but the referee denied him the chance to enter Roma's history books. Vásquez could now be asked to play again on Saturday, with Gollini still uncertain and Mile Svilar also in the picture. The game against Sassuolo is on Saturday. Gasperini's cautious comments leave the starting goalkeeper choice open, and Vásquez's debut performance means he is in line for another start if Gollini is not fit.

Rodrigo Mora has spoken highly of Brazilian defender Wesley after Roma's 3-2 defeat at Manchester United, saying the 22-year-old will reach the highest level of the game. Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Mora said Wesley had produced another excellent performance. Mora was asked whether he and Wesley talk often, partly because of the language link. He said they share the same language, which helps them communicate, and that they both follow Brazil and Brazilian football closely. Mora said: "Yes, I think today Wesley played another great match. He is a great player and he will reach the highest level of football. We mainly talk about Brazil and Brazilian football, which we both follow. The language, of course, helps us a lot. He has given me a great hand in this welcome to Roma and I am really grateful to him for that."

Roma lost 3-2 at Manchester United's Old Trafford in a group-stage match. Rodrigo Mora was one of the Giallorossi's standout players, producing an excellent first half and providing an assist for Soulé before being replaced by Pisilli at the start of the second half. After the final whistle, Mora spoke to TNT Sports Brasil about his relationship with Wesley in the dressing room. He was asked whether he and his team-mate talk often, language considered, and what he thinks of Wesley as a player. Mora said the two of them share a common interest in Brazil and Brazilian football, which they both follow closely, and that the shared language helps them a great deal. Mora said: "Yes, I think today Wesley played another great match. He is a great player and he will reach the highest levels of football. We talk mostly about Brazil and Brazilian football, which we both follow. The language, of course, helps us a lot. He has given me a great hand in this welcome to Roma and I am really grateful to him for that."

Rodrigo Mora has spoken warmly about team-mate Wesley after Roma's defeat at Manchester United, where Mora was among the Giallorossi's best players in the first half. Mora said: "Today he played another great match. He is a great player and he will reach the highest levels of football." The Portuguese midfielder also described their relationship: "We talk mostly about Brazil and Brazilian football. The language helps us a lot. He gave me a big hand when I joined Roma and I am really grateful to him." Mora's comments were reported by TNT Sports. Manchester United celebrated the win on social media with a post recalling their previous meetings with Roma, from a 7-1 result through to the comeback of last night. The caption, "Absolute cinema", referred to a contest in which Roma, under Gasperini, had dominated the first half and gone two goals ahead before the Red Devils turned the game around. Newspaper ratings favoured Soulé, who earned a 7.00 as Roma's best player thanks to a very strong first half that included a goal and a penalty won. Mora followed on 6.75, while Cristante and Wesley received generally positive marks of 6.25. At the bottom of the ratings, Balerdi scored 4.42, penalised for the error that started United's comeback. Pisilli (4.83) and Lulli (5.08) also struggled, while Vasquez and Ghilardi, both on 5.50, remained below the pass mark. Rensch left the Manchester United match early with a muscle problem in his right adductor and was replaced by Lulli. The Dutchman will undergo further assessments in the coming hours by the Roma medical staff to establish the extent of the problem. Rensch is a serious doubt for the Saturday fixture against Sassuolo.

Emanuele Lulli has been one of the surprises of the season, and Gian Piero Gasperini is the coach who insisted on keeping him at Roma and turning him into one of the most interesting wingers in Serie A. After just seven matches in the giallorossi shirt, Lulli has already shown he has what it takes to establish himself: he runs, he fights, he scores and he creates goals for team-mates. He is a complete winger who makes an impact in both phases of play, giving Gasperini exactly what he was looking for. For the coach, it is a return to familiar ground. At Roma he has found the wide players he likes, the same kind that allowed him to build a side capable of making the difference at Bergamo. The greatest credit, though, goes to Gasperini for believing in Lulli when others might have let him go. Looking back shows how much has changed. Turkish full-back Zeki Çelik, who played in that role, collected two goals in 151 appearances for Roma. Lulli needed just seven matches to match that tally. The article describes that gap as enormous, and it says it reflects the weight of this new bet on the young player. Çelik's departure to Juventus, which initially looked hard to swallow, now takes on a different meaning, described as a genuine sliding door moment for the giallorossi season. Roma have found a new protagonist, Gasperini has another winger to back, and the fans have a young player to cherish. Lulli comes from Palestrina, is a 2007-born player and has a world of opportunity ahead of him. Above all, the article concludes, he has already found his place: at Roma, his team.

Roma lost Celik in the transfer market, a departure that many considered painful, but the positive side has been the emergence of Pierluigi Lulli, who has moved from the Primavera to scoring his first Serie A goal. The development has been described as the defining 'sliding door' of the window. The Italian coverage frames Lulli's breakthrough as the positive counterweight to losing Zeki Çelik, whose exit was widely viewed as a painful one for the club. Lulli's first league goal marks a significant step for a player who has come through the youth ranks to the first team. The report was published on 19 October 2026 and is headlined around the idea that Lulli is the key figure to emerge from the market, as Roma look to build on his progress.

Roma's full-backs have become a cornerstone of Gian Piero Gasperini's push to the top of Serie A, a marked shift from last season when they proved problematic. Wesley and Nahuel Molina are now among the club's key strengths, and both will start when Roma resume the league campaign against Como, where they will face manager Fabregas. The turnaround reflects Gasperini's tactical evolution since arriving at the club: in his first season, Wesley was the only defender fully convincing on the flanks, while Zeki Çelik had to make do elsewhere. Now the picture is entirely different. Gasperini has uncovered Emanuele Lulli in the course of the season, and Molina has gradually built his fitness, delivering quality and assists to Roma's attacking phase. For the Como fixture, Gasperini plans to deploy Molina on the right and Wesley on the left. The selection reflects not just Roma's attacking ambitions but also Gasperini's defensive strategy: by using two attacking full-backs, he aims to stretch Como's wide players—Baturina on one flank and Diao on the other—and occupy them throughout the match. Wesley, the more naturally offensive of the pair, will be tasked with driving forward and supporting the build-up play. Molina is likely to carry greater defensive responsibility, balancing his own contributions with the need to contain Como's threats on the wing.

Roma's problems after half-time are showing up in the numbers: 83% of their goals conceded this season have come in the second half. In their 14 official matches they have conceded three goals in first halves against 15 in second halves, while scoring 19 goals in each half. The issue is defensive resilience rather than attacking output. Roma have now lost a lead again after the comeback against Real Madrid. At Old Trafford they dominated the first half before fading after the restart. Mora's withdrawal at half-time and the introduction of Lulli for Rensch have both drawn debate, and the squad has few quality alternatives. Gasperini is under scrutiny, and an editorial asks why this Roma is not yet ready for the Champions League. On the transfer front, Balerdi's place is secure despite his error on United's equaliser. According to Fabrizio Romano, the club is satisfied with the Argentine and intends to buy him outright from Marseille. The fee is reported at between 11 and 14 million euros, depending on his seasonal appearances. Inter and Juventus showed interest in the defender this summer. Spanish referee Gil Manzano received heavy ratings: 4 from Gazzetta and Corriere dello Sport and 3 from Romanista. The penalty awarded for the Mancini-Cunha contact was criticised, as was the failure to send off Maguire for a second yellow card. The retake of the penalty for Cristante's early entry into the box was judged correct. Roma supporters have also made serious accusations against English police after the tensions at Old Trafford. Some fans describe long waits, aggressive treatment and medical emergencies on entry and exit, and one fan was reportedly immobilised by officers before receiving medical assistance. On Radio Roma, Ferrazza suggested focusing on the league, Corsi criticised some of Gasperini's assessments, and Torri blamed the officiating. In the transfer market, Roma's clear priority is to strengthen the attack, with Endrick at the top of the list. In midfield, Issa Doumbia of Sporting Lisbon and Gabriel Sara of Galatasaray are also attracting interest. Roma's next fixture is the Rome derby's rival-free home test against Sassuolo, a match in the eleventh round at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday 7 November at 20:45. Marco Di Bello will referee, assisted by Peretti and Scatragli, with Pezzuto at VAR and Guida as AVAR.

Roma were beaten 3-2 at Old Trafford after dominating the first half, with Manchester United winning the game after a controversial refereeing decision and a defensive error by Reportedly Balerdi. Roma's first-half display was built on an aggressive 3-4-2-1 press that left United's 4-2-3-1 struggling to cope. The visitors took control with a Soulé goal, assisted by a delicious pass from Mora, and then a penalty converted by Malen after Soulé was fouled. Roma came close to extending their lead in the first half: Soulé came close to scoring, and Malen wasted several chances through poor first touches, while Roma's pressing forced repeated turnovers. Rensch went off injured in the first half and was replaced by Lulli, a role unusual for him. Gasperini made changes at the break, bringing on Pisilli for Mora to seek more balance, and Tielemans replaced Baleba. Roma's control faded late in the match. Several loose passes and too many backpasses from Roma gave United a foothold, and Maguire and De Roon created the danger from corners. Referee Gil Manzano judged a foul by Cunha in the area, awarded a penalty and ordered it retaken, which changed the game. Roma's keeper Vásquez was denied the chance to be the hero, as the penalty was retaken and Vásquez was unable to stop it. Rensch's withdrawal and the switch to a back three of Ghilardi, N'Dicka and Castro for Hermoso, Mancini and Malen came after Roma's defeat to Napoli, Gasperini's team had already faced Real Madrid in a heavy defeat, and the match was another negative result for the club in a big game against a top-level opponent. The article notes that Gasperini remained calm after the match, saying he was learning from the errors without making a drama of it. Roma must now avoid any hangover in Serie A, where the club's ambitions appear more justified.

Italian radio pundits were scathing the morning after Roma lost to Manchester United in the Champions League, with the second half at the centre of the debate. Roma led 2-1 at one stage, and Roberto Pruzzo said the collapse came after the team had been strong. Gianluca Piacentini of Rete Sport said the performance resembled Roma's displays against Real Madrid and Inter: "This is a team with dramatic highs where if the opponent is Udinese or Lecce you hit them for four and then manage, if it's Inter you hit them twice and then draw, but if you play Real or Manchester United at home in the end you lose." He added: "Until January we have to take the good and the bad of this team." The analysis from Rete Sport's Checco Oddo Casano focused on squad depth. He said: "If you'd had another Konè, which you don't have now, and a fast attacker like Gervinho, which you still don't have, you would have rebalanced the match with the substitutions." He added that conceding goals at 2-0 has "now become a trend", linking it to the squad's overall value and shortcomings more than to the coach and players' attitude. Fabio Petruzzi said the first half had been stellar, with Roma conceding nothing, but that the second half changed everything. He said Gasperini "will have to understand the reasons", and that Roma lack "the second weapon" needed to press when they are ahead. Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo was blunt: "Manchester United have won only one league match, in August. After that they have never won again." He said Roma had "not shot once" and had won no corners in the second half. Corsi criticised Balerdi for losing concentration, saying he was the reason Roma conceded two goals, and said young players "can't play in certain fields yet". Francesca Ferrazza said Roma should not be in the competition at all: "You have to leave this Cup, you shouldn't even go to the playoff, it's not your thing." She argued the Champions League drained energy needed for the league, adding: "Roma are an inexperienced side who crumble at the first difficulty." Lorenzo Pes said: "The Roma tempo never slows down, and 8 times out of 10 that works, but when you reach the big matches you never achieve success." Piero Torri said the squad was short, with four players missing, and questioned the substitutions. He said he would have brought on Molina over Lulli, and felt the timing of Mora's change was wrong. Torri also raised a refereeing complaint, saying the referee had invented the penalty and then ordered it retaken: "Is the VAR in some pub in Manchester?" Nando Orsi raised the issue of physical condition, noting Roma's Sunday and Wednesday fixtures, and said Gasperini deserved some criticism. Mario Mattioli said he had expected a heavy win, but the second half "started badly". He said De Roon was left alone at one point, Pisilli was not where he should be, and Maguire led the United comeback. Mattioli said the problem was mainly mental, and that the coach had not prepared his side for United's assault.