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

Bryan Cristante has been ruled out of Italy's upcoming international fixtures after sustaining a muscle fatigue injury in Roma's match against Inter on 19 September. The Italy national team has called up Samuele Ricci of Como as his replacement. The national federation confirmed in a statement: "Following the league match against Inter played yesterday, Roma's midfielder Bryan Cristante is unavailable due to a physical problem and will be unable to respond to the call-up. The Ct Roberto Mancini has consequently arranged the call-up of Como midfielder Samuele Ricci, who will join the group in the coming hours." Cristante joins Wesley among Roma players sidelined during the international break. The midfielder will remain in Rome during the break and undergo instrumental examinations in the coming hours to assess the extent of the injury.

Alessandro Romano, a Roma academy product sold to Cagliari this summer, is attracting significant attention after an impressive start to the season. Cagliari manager Fabio Pisacane has drawn a striking parallel with Kevin Strootman following the club's victory over Udinese, saying of the 20-year-old midfielder: "I think he doesn't even know how strong he is. He's a complete player — if I'm to make a comparison, he's a player like Strootman, with even greater physical impact." Pisacane added: "Perhaps Strootman had a more educated left foot, but Romano has game understanding, sacrifice, dedication, knows how to play football. He's a complete player. He needs to play a lot, even if he makes mistakes." The comparison resonates sharply in Rome because Strootman, before a serious knee injury derailed his trajectory, was one of the most accomplished and well-rounded midfielders to play for Roma in recent years. Romano has found at Cagliari what he would have struggled to obtain immediately at Roma under Gasperini: regular playing time, confidence, and the freedom to learn through mistakes. The academy prospect has progressed rapidly enough to earn his first senior national team call-up. The tension is that Romano did not leave on a simple loan: Cagliari acquired him with an obligation to buy for approximately €6 million upon the completion of unspecified sporting conditions. If those conditions are met, he will be contracted to Cagliari until 2032. Roma's problem is both tactical and structural. Romano was regarded as one of the most promising prospects from the Giallorossi youth academy and had already sampled Serie A football under Gasperini. At only twenty, he is now demonstrating the ability to handle a significant role in the top flight, combining technical quality with a tactical maturity that impressed Pisacane: "He seems like a player much older than his age." The club does need revenue from its academy, and not every young player can find immediate space in a side chasing Champions League qualification and the Serie A summit. Yet when a Trigoria-developed player begins to establish himself elsewhere within months of departure, questions become unavoidable — especially when his daily coach invokes the name of Strootman.

Santiago Castro used Roma's scheduled rest day to train alone at home, refusing to sit idle after being left unused in the bench on the previous day's match against Inter. Head coach Gasperini opted to bring on defenders and midfielders instead of the Argentine striker. Castro remains confident that the fixture congestion in the coming months will offer plenty of opportunities to prove his value, and has documented his solo session—featuring weights and athletic drills—through a photo his fitness coach shared on social media. The 21-year-old's determination underscores his hunger for minutes despite limited opportunities so far. Castro will now link up with Leonardo Balerdi and Matías Soulé to join Argentina's national team for friendly matches against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin.

Bryan Cristante has been ruled out of Italy's upcoming international fixtures after sustaining a muscle fatigue injury in Roma's match against Inter on 19 September. The Italy national team has called up Samuele Ricci of Como as his replacement. The national federation confirmed in a statement: "Following the league match against Inter played yesterday, Roma's midfielder Bryan Cristante is unavailable due to a physical problem and will be unable to respond to the call-up. The Ct Roberto Mancini has consequently arranged the call-up of Como midfielder Samuele Ricci, who will join the group in the coming hours." Cristante joins Wesley among Roma players sidelined during the international break. The midfielder will remain in Rome during the break and undergo instrumental examinations in the coming hours to assess the extent of the injury.

Konstantinos Koulierakis has been called up by Greece coach Ivan Jovanovic for the start of the national team's Nations League A campaign, following his appearance against Inter yesterday when he came on in the second half. The Roma defender will feature in four upcoming matches against Serbia, Germany (twice) and the Netherlands as Greece enters a significant test of their progress. With Wesley reportedly unavailable due to a muscle complaint and unable to answer Brazil's call, Koulierakis will start for Roma in the coming period. The former Wolfsburg player is now a regular starter for the Giallorossi, making the Nations League fixtures an important opportunity to demonstrate his form at international level.

Wesley will miss Brazil's upcoming fixtures after sustaining a right thigh muscle strain in recent days. The Brazilian Football Federation confirmed his exclusion from Carlo Ancelotti's squad, with Monaco's Vanderson called up as his replacement. The Roma defender will remain in Rome during the international break, where the club's medical staff can monitor his condition and assess his recovery. The coming days will clarify the severity of the strain and the timeline for full recovery. This marks Wesley's second muscle injury with Brazil in recent months. He previously suffered a left thigh strain in June that forced him to leave the squad during the World Cup. This time the problem affects his right thigh instead. He will stay with Roma's medical team rather than join the Seleçao at their training camp.

Roma have strengthened their squad depth considerably this summer, moving beyond a reliance on a fixed starting eleven. Leonardo Balerdi has replaced Jan Ziółkowski as a key defender, Nahuel Molina has taken over from Zeki Çelik, and Marten de Roon has arrived to displace concerns about midfield depth. The arrivals of Emanuele Lulli and Konstantinos Koulierakis add further options across the back line. Gasperini, who last season was forced to deploy makeshift solutions—using Baldanzi as a centre-forward and reluctantly fielding Kostas Tsimikas and Zaragoza—now has genuine alternatives. In the match against Torino, Roma demonstrated they possess not eleven starters but at least sixteen capable players. Balerdi showed himself to be a commanding defender and leader in brief outings against Atalanta and Fenerbahce, confirming his qualities across all dimensions of play. De Roon's entrance in yesterday's fixture at Torino displayed the right attitude and the unconditional backing of Gasperini, who brought him to the club; his experience and assurance offset any reservations some may hold. Molina's addition means Roma can rotate their full-back options without sacrifice. Marten Lulli's emergence has made the remaining transfer market gap feel less troubling. Santiago Castro has yet to score but showed his capabilities against Atalanta and a goal will come; Gasperini is pleased with his on-field conduct. The club still awaits a final piece—possibly Rodrigo Mora—but the summer business by director D'Amico and Gasperini has been purposeful, securing functional players with the correct character rather than marquee names.

Zeki Çelik's departure this summer has proven beneficial for Roma, with the Turkish defender struggling at his new club while the Giallorossi have found capable alternatives. Çelik, who had agreed a renewal with Roma before changing his mind to join another side, has posted uninspiring numbers in his opening matches. Against Milan yesterday he recorded zero successful crosses, matching the same figure across his previous two outings against Parma and Frosinone. Social media criticism has already mounted, with fans questioning the absence of a 'Çelik cam'—a reference to a video DAZN produced weeks earlier following his first friendly appearance. His exit has cleared the path for Emanuele Lulli, who has become integral to Gasperini's setup. Initially withdrawn from the transfer market, Lulli started in all three of Roma's opening matches and has impressed the coaching staff considerably. Equally significant is the emergence of Nahuel Molina, the Argentine fullback who is continuing to build his fitness following Argentina's run to the World Cup final. Against Atalanta, Molina made a decisive 36-minute appearance, creating multiple dangerous situations and setting up a header from Santiago Castro that struck the crossbar. He recorded 100 per cent of tackles won and 90 per cent pass accuracy. Roma's first Champions League fixture arrives Thursday against Feyenoord, with Molina and Lulli in direct competition for the fullback berth. Molina's experience in high-pressure stadiums should serve him well as Roma prepare for what the article describes as an extremely hostile environment.

Roma are flying this season, and Gian Piero Gasperini has been central to building a unity across the club that extends from the pitch to the boardroom. The coach has overseen a start to the campaign that may rival even the magical 2000–01 season. After comfortable victories over Fiorentina and Lecce, Roma faced a severe test against Atalanta on Saturday and managed not only to win but to overturn the flow of the match—playing what the commentary describes as "winning in the Mourinho way while playing Gasperini football." The side showed genuine compactness in that contest, particularly during difficult moments when they could have faltered; instead, the entire Roma family—players, management, staff and supporters—rallied together. Gasperini has also brought D'Amico onto the coaching staff to ensure everyone speaks the same language, an approach likened to a well-coordinated naval fleet where no one rows against the current. The appointment of the right people and the absence of internal division have created an environment where squad, leadership and fanbase all pull in the same direction. On the pitch, Roma deployed what appeared to be 13 players rather than 11 against Atalanta, a testament to the collective spirit that has taken root. The article contrasts Roma's current harmony with the pattern of internal factions that has plagued the club in the past, noting that some external commentators have already prepared critiques—whether about Zeki Çelik's non-renewal, spending on Rodrigo Mora or Santiago Castro, or other decisions—but results are rendering those arguments moot. The article frames Roma's trajectory as one where polemica (internal dispute) is being actively rejected in favour of unified purpose, suggesting the club is moving in a markedly different direction from its historical tendency toward division.

Roma have earned 7.5 points in their opening five matches of the 2026-27 season, establishing themselves as serious contenders. Victories over Fiorentina and Atalanta—sides representing the upper-middle tier of Serie A—plus wins against Lecce and Torino, combined with a competitive draw against Inter, paint an encouraging picture despite some regrets about how the Inter result unfolded. Mile Svilar continues as Serie A's strongest goalkeeper, providing constant assurance without being called upon for spectacular saves. Gianluca Mancini has suffered minor technical injuries against Atalanta and Inter but remains too valuable for his leadership and interpretation of the coach's attacking defensive phase, particularly evident in his display during the Torino victory. Evan N'Dicka maintains a regular standard, though he now faces genuine competition for his place. Mario Hermoso has emerged as perhaps Gasperini's most indispensable centre-back, despite occasional lapses; defenders in this system are calculated risk-takers. Leonardo Balerdi has made an instant impression with a handful of interventions, earning fans' affection with his spirit of a great South American defender and securing his status as a regular starter. Konstantinos Koulierakis is gradually introducing himself to the pitch, while Daniele Ghilardi continues his development curve. Emanuele Lulli offers freshness on the flanks, a year after failing to be a regular starter in the Primavera. Wesley, returning from injury and a difficult pre-season, has struggled to regain match sharpness after missing nearly a year; he will return to his previous standards. Bryan Cristante stands as a monument to consistency, never missing a match despite the rotation around him. Manu Koné produced a display in the first half against Inter worthy of his quality, reaching peaks never achieved before, though he lacks Cristante's reliability. Niccolò Pisilli missed much of pre-season and it shows, yet his timing in transitions remains sharp, with two goals from part-time playing. Marten de Roon has seen limited action—unsurprising given Gasperini's habit of recalling him at the last moment when tactical changes demand it. Paulo Dybala lacks goals and the signature shots that made him special, though his assists and unrecognizable fitness levels mean Gasperini receives no questions about his rest requirements. Matías Soulé, who appeared destined for departure and began on the bench, decided the clash with Atalanta and now competes as a more regular starter. Rodrigo Mora started explosively with quality, as the coach highlighted, and will reward patience. Donyell Malen has scored six goals in six matches, giving Roma a one-goal advantage on average; alongside Lautaro, he represents the tournament's finest striker. Santiago Castro, small like Malen, brings unrelenting intensity when introduced and lives for goals—once he finds that breakthrough, added serenity will carry him far.

Roma host Inter at the Olimpico in a top-of-the-table clash, both sides arriving unbeaten after four matches and seeking to reach the first international break in first place. Gasperini has a full squad available with no absences. In defence, the established trio of Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso is confirmed, with no surprise inclusion for Balerdi. Molina and Wesley operate on the flanks, Koné and Cristante patrol midfield, and Soulé lines up in the attacking three behind Malen, with Dybala in support. Roma field a 3-4-2-1 formation: Svilar in goal, Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso at the back, Molina and Wesley as wing-backs, Cristante and Koné in central midfield, Soulé and Dybala in the attacking midfield positions, and Malen as the lead forward. On the bench are Gollini, De Marzi, Ghilardi, Rensch, Koulierakis, Lulli, Pisilli, Pellegrini, de Roon, Castro and Mora. Inter deploy a 3-5-2 with Martinez, Bisseck, Akanji and Bastoni in defence, Diouf, Barella, Zielinski, Jones and Dimarco in midfield, and Lautaro Martinez and Thuram in attack.

Roma face Inter at the Olimpico on 19 September in the fifth round of Serie A, with both teams on maximum points after four matches and level at the summit. The match kicks off at 18:00 and will be shown exclusively on DAZN. It is the last fixture before the league's first international break, which runs until the first week of October. Gasperini selected Evan N'Dicka to start in defence despite pre-match doubt, with Leonardo Balerdi on the bench. Nahuel Molina plays at right-back in place of Emanuele Lulli, while Wesley operates on the left. The midfield comprises Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné, with Matías Soulé, Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen across the attacking line. Roma have no injury concerns, and N'Dicka and Lorenzo Pellegrini are both available after the trip to Turin. The two sides have met 186 times in Serie A, with Roma holding 51 victories to Inter's 81. At the Olimpico, Roma's record shows 34 home wins against 33 Inter successes. However, Roma have not beaten Inter at home for almost a decade—their last victory came 2–1 on 2 October 2016. Since then, Inter have won six times at the stadium and drawn three. Gasperini's overall record against Inter stands at 36 encounters: five wins, nine draws and 22 defeats, with his last victory now 17 matches past. Inter head coach Cristian Chivu won both league meetings against Roma in the previous season, and he has faced Gasperini three times, winning each time.