Wesley unharmed in training; Koulierakis joins squad immediately

Donyell Malen has silenced doubters with a stunning display at Roma after joining from Aston Villa. Last season he dragged the Giallorossi into the Champions League through goals alone, before a dip at international level under Koeman—a downturn the Dutch coach's tactical setup was responsible for, not Malen's form. This season he has picked up where he left off, scoring six goals in four matches and recording an assist in the Champions League. His performances have caught the attention of English media, with several at Aston Villa regretting his departure. The BBC analysed what has changed, and the answer centres on position. At Aston Villa he played as a centre-forward in 52% of his league minutes; at Roma under Gasperini, that figure has climbed to 99%. The impact is measurable: at Villa he scored once every 149.8 minutes; at Roma it is once every 96.7 minutes. Since 18 January he has 20 goals—more than any other player in Europe. Gasperini has found the role that unlocks the Dutch forward's talents. The early promise of a flash in the pan has given way to something far more serious: at Roma, Malen has become an inferno.

Gianluca Mancini rejected Inter's advances this summer and signed a contract renewal with Roma despite being offered more lucrative terms elsewhere. The defender's agent Giuseppe Riso, as Corriere dello Sport reported, actively pushed for a move to Milan, where Chivu was prepared to welcome him, but Mancini showed no hesitation about remaining in the capital despite childhood admiration for Inter's side under Materazzi. Mancini chose to extend his deal on reduced financial terms. His fixed salary fell from €2.5 million in the previous season, and he accepted a structure built around performance bonuses and seasonal objectives shared with Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Bryan Cristante. The decision reinforces Roma's commitment to players willing to align compensation with team success. The 1996-born defender now aims to increase his goal tally against Inter, where he has already scored four times. Three of those goals came in a Roma shirt, though only one has so far yielded points for his side.

Gianluca Mancini turned down Inter's advances this summer despite the Milan club offering him higher wages, choosing instead to sign a contract renewal with Roma on revised terms. His agent Giuseppe Riso pushed for the move to Inter, where Chivu was ready to welcome him, but Mancini had no doubts about staying at the capital club despite childhood fondness for Materazzi's Inter. Mancini agreed fresh terms at lower figures than his previous salary. His fixed wage dropped from €2.5 million a season ago. The new deal follows the structure accepted by Dybala, Pellegrini and Cristante: players receive a base salary plus performance bonuses tied to appearances and the squad's seasonal objectives. The renewal underscores Roma's commitment to retaining a cornerstone defender while adapting to the club's financial framework. The 1996-born defender has now set his sights on increasing his goal tally against Inter. He already has four goals to his name, three wearing Roma's shirt but only one that delivered points so far.

Pierluigi Massa has been appointed to referee Roma's upcoming match against Inter, a decision that has drawn scrutiny from former referee Graziano Cesari. Roma have failed to win in ten matches in which Massa has officiated, a record that has fuelled concern among supporters. The frustration stems partly from the recent Como–Roma fixture, where Wesley was sent off in a controversial decision. Cesari, now a commentator, spoke to Sportmediaset about the appointment, calling it a "conservative" choice by Giancarlo Orsato, who made the designation. "I expected one of either Massa or Marco Guida," Cesari said. "He is an arbitrator of great experience, with excellent knowledge of the players and their characteristics. If the match becomes more intense at an agonistic level, he could face difficulty in managing it. Experience, character and clarity can certainly help him, but that too is an aspect to keep in mind."

Fulvio Collovati, a former defender who played for both Roma and Inter, has previewed Saturday's 18:00 kickoff at the Olimpico between the two clubs. Speaking to Il Giorno, Collovati highlighted Roma's transformation under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, singling out the team's improved defensive record and attacking threat. "A totally different squad," Collovati said of Roma. "It has the league's top scorer in Malen and concedes fewer goals. It plays one-on-one pressing, attacks you aggressively and certainly doesn't give up attacking. In defence the hierarchy looks well-defined, but then against Torino Balerdi played and did very well. Perhaps the Baresi comparison Gasperini made was a bit exaggerated, though I don't know the player so well." Roma currently have the best defence in Serie A. Collovati identified the flanks as crucial to the contest, noting: "I see a very interesting battle on the wings: Dimarco and Diouf on one side, Wesley and Molina or the young Lulli, who is very interesting, on the other. Inter especially relies heavily on the wing corridors, also having Bastoni." Collovati recalled that Roma-Inter matches have historically been high-scoring affairs. When asked if Roma's position at the top is a surprise, he replied: "Perhaps for those who don't know Gasperini. He took Atalanta to win the Europa League. The squad is back in the Champions League and for me this year it is destined to do more. Already the third place achieved in his first year with this manager was an exceptional achievement."

Fulvio Collovati, who played for both Roma and Inter, has analysed the sides' meeting on Saturday at 18:00 at the Olimpico. Speaking to Il Giorno, the former defender praised Roma's defensive solidity this season while highlighting the tactical battle likely to unfold on the wings. Collovati noted Roma's transformation under Gasperini, pointing to Malen as the league's top scorer and the team's improved defensive record. He observed that "the squad is totally different. It has the league's leading goalscorer, Malen, and concedes fewer goals. It plays one-on-one pressing, it harries you and certainly does not give up attacking. The defensive hierarchies also seem well defined, though Balerdi played against Torino and did very well. Perhaps the comparison Gasperini made with Baresi was a bit exaggerated, although I don't know the player that well." On the match's key battle, Collovati identified the flanks as decisive: "I see a very interesting clash on the wings: Dimarco and Diouf on one side, Wesley and Molina or the young Lulli, who is very interesting, on the other. Above all, Inter rely heavily on the flanks, also having Bastoni. Generally, in my two years at Roma, I noticed that matches against Inter were often characterised by many goals, and in subsequent years it seemed the same happened." Collovati added that Gasperini's pedigree—leading Atalanta to win the Europa League—dispels any surprise at Roma's league position, describing third place in the coach's first season as "an exceptional achievement."

Andrea Stramaccioni, now a DAZN commentator, has analysed Roma's position after their match against Inter, arguing that the gap between the two clubs has narrowed significantly despite Inter remaining the stronger side overall. Speaking on Teleradiostereo, he attributed the improvement to a shift in mentality rather than marquee recruitment, pointing to Gasperini's second season at the club as the turning point. "It's not that a champion arrived who changes your eleven, but we're already in Gasperini's second year and you can see it," Stramaccioni said. "The way you recovered the match against Atalanta is a fundamental leap forward, but also how you managed the Turin game. You've increased your resources, found a fourth starting defender in Balerdi. In this I see the gap reduced." Stramaccioni explained that Gasperini struggles specifically against Inter's 3-5-2 formation because of how Inter's attacking shape is structured. "I'm not speaking in general—I'm talking about Inter's 3-5-2," he said. "Usually he inverts the attacking fulcrum in these cases, probably one player will deal with Zielinski and he could do it with Soulé or Mora. But also by advancing Pisilli. Usually Gasperini suffers in Inter's attacking quadrilateral. Because if you lose track of those four, they hurt you." He cited last season's away match where Ndicka struggled marking opposition players and was caught out for a goal. On Roma's own strengths, Stramaccioni identified their low build-up play as a potential weapon. "The biggest problem for Chivu is in Roma's construction from the back, because Inter rarely uses three players to press. The structure of Gasp's construction can cause more problems to a team like Inter than to Como," he explained. "If Dybala starts to move well across the pitch you take away a centre-back like Bastoni. Gasperini won't change his approach—he'll play it open-faced. If you have a chance you take it with maximum intensity. The important thing is not to come away empty because Inter's strikers don't forgive mistakes." Stramaccioni also assessed Rodrigo Mora's potential at the club. "Gasperini wants someone with a low centre of gravity like Papu Gomez was, he tried it with Zaragoza but it went very badly. He exalts him because he sees those characteristics he needs," he said. "He hasn't had the impact Malen has, but he's also 19. There have been other short players who strengthened the physical bulk—Di Natale and Sneijder. He'll improve too; he has enormous room for growth." Finally, Stramaccioni identified Roma's lack of a ball-carrier in midfield as a key weakness. "This is Gasperini's great frustration. Roma is missing a player who in moments of tiredness attacks the depth—that player the coach expected from the transfer market. There's no one who breaks lines; they're all players you have to feed the ball to. Then you'll have to become more speculative in that sense."

Roma travel to the Olimpico on Saturday with a perfect record—twelve points from four matches plus a draw in Istanbul—but face one of the season's sternest examinations against Inter and Chivu, a side that has historically troubled Gasperini. The head coach has the full squad available and must resolve three significant lineup decisions. At centre-back, Evan N'Dicka has returned to full fitness but Leonardo Balerdi is in outstanding form; the Ivorian holds a slight edge. On the right flank, Emanuele Lulli and Nahuel Molina are competing for one spot, with Lulli's superior defensive cover making him the favourite alongside Wesley on the left. In attack, Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are guaranteed starts. Matías Soulé leads Rodrigo Mora for the third forward slot, though a surprise could emerge through the possible advancement of either Niccolò Pisilli or Bryan Cristante to bolster midfield cover.

Niccolò Pisilli is putting together a strong start to the season and could make another appearance in Roma's upcoming match against Inter, potentially in a different role. The midfielder has impressed with his work rate, physical commitment and attacking participation—precisely what Gasperini demands from a player capable of executing both phases with intelligence and decisiveness. In midfield, Koné is expected to return to the starting lineup alongside Cristante, with de Roon ready to come off the bench. However, to counter Inter's 3-5-2 formation under Chivu, Gasperini may deploy Pisilli as a trequartista behind Dybala and Malen. At Trigoria today the squad was complete in training, with one notable exception: Mario Hermoso. The Spanish defender is sidelined by a mild ankle contusion but the injury is not considered serious, and he is expected to recover without significant issues. Wesley and Evan N'Dicka both returned positive updates from the session, signalling they are available for selection.

Roma and Inter will meet on the pitch this Saturday as the Serie A leaders, but behind the fixture lies a stark contrast in how their respective owners build and sustain their projects. Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma have invested €211 million in player acquisitions since his arrival, while Cristian Chivu's Inter have spent €186 million—a gap of €25 million that illustrates the Friedkin Group's commitment to backing the sporting project despite UEFA financial fair play constraints. By contrast, Inter's ownership under Oaktree has prioritised economic and financial stability. The €211 million Roma figure spans the campaigns that began with Gasperini's appointment. In the 2025–26 season, Roma spent €86.5 million, with Wesley arriving for €25 million and Neil El Aynaoui for €23 million, alongside Robinio Vaz (€20 million), Jan Ziółkowski (€6.5 million), and several expensive loans including Donyell Malen, Bailey, Evan Ferguson, Daniele Ghilardi and Zaragoza. The acceleration came this summer: the Friedkin Group approved €124.5 million for 2026–27, comprising Santiago Castro (€35 million), Rodrigo Mora (€25 million), Malen's permanent transfer (€25 million), Konstantinos Koulierakis (€16.5 million), Nahuel Molina (€13 million), Ghilardi's purchase (€8 million), Marten de Roon (€1 million) and Leonardo Balerdi's loan (€1 million). The Porto agreement for Mora includes a further €25 million for 2027 or 50 per cent of any future sale. The contrast deepens when examining the wider impact on club finances. Since summer 2025, Roma's squad costs—including salaries, depreciation and loan fees—have risen by approximately €15 million, while Inter's have fallen by approximately €10 million. The Friedkin Group has covered losses through fresh capital injections, accepting red accounts to sustain sporting growth; Roma has not closed a profitable financial year since their 2020 arrival, with 2025–26 expected to end in loss. Oaktree delivered a €35 million profit in its first Inter season and is preparing to close the next year in the black. Both approaches remain valid: Chivu inherited a structured squad already competing at the highest level, while Gasperini was tasked with rebuilding after Roma's seven-year absence from the Champions League. Saturday's direct clash will test both strategies on the pitch. One club has chosen acceleration to close the gap; the other is maintaining competitiveness while reducing the squad's economic burden.

As Roma and Inter prepare to meet this week, the two clubs' transfer philosophies have diverged sharply over the past two years. The Friedkin Group has committed €211m in investment across two seasons under Gian Piero Gasperini, while Inter's owners Oaktree have adopted a more cautious strategy, spending €186m under Cristian Chivu with an emphasis on youth development and financial stability. In Gasperini's first season at Roma (2025-26), the club invested €86.5m across the transfer window and January. Summer arrivals included Wesley (€25m) and El Aynaoui (€23m), followed by Robinio Vaz (€20m) in January and a costly loan deal for Donyell Malen (€2m). The squad was further bolstered by acquisitions and loans involving Ziolkowski, Bailey, Ferguson, Ghilardi and Zaragoza. The current 2026-27 campaign has seen Roma spend €124.5m, with major moves including the permanent purchase of Malen (€25m), Santiago Castro (€35m), Rodrigo Mora (€25m), Konstantinos Koulierakis (€16.5m), Nahuel Molina (€13m) and Marten de Roon (€1m), plus the redemption of Ghilardi (€8m) and the loan of Leonardo Balerdi (€1m). Over two years, these investments have increased the squad's salary and amortisation costs by approximately €15m. Inter's approach under Oaktree reflects cost containment and team development. During Chivu's first season they acquired younger talent including Luis Henrique (€24.5m), Bonny (€23m), Diouf (€20m) and Sucic (€15.5m), plus Akanji on loan (€1m), totalling €84m. The 2026-27 window has seen just €102m committed to signings, bringing cumulative Chivu-era spending to €186m. Unlike Roma, Inter has cut squad costs by approximately €10m over the same period, inheriting a competitive core that required less overhaul.

AS Roma have spent €211 million on transfers since Gian Piero Gasperini's arrival in summer 2025, significantly more than Inter's €186 million under Cristian Chivu over the same period. The spending patterns reflect differing philosophies between owner Friedkin, who readily invests in quality acquisitions, and Inter's ownership Oaktree, which has prioritised young prospects and financial stability. Gasperini received immediate backing from Friedkin in summer 2025 with two signings over €20 million each: Wesley for €25 million and Neil El Aynaoui for €23 million. That window also brought Ziolkowski for €6.5 million and loans including Bailey (€3m), Evan Ferguson (€3m), Ghilardi (€2m) and Zaragoza (€2m), totalling €86.5 million. The 2026-27 season saw heavier investment: Donyell Malen's loan made permanent for €25 million, Santiago Castro for €35 million, Rodrigo Mora for €25 million, Konstantinos Koulierakis for €16.5 million, and Nahuel Molina for €13 million. Ghilardi was bought out for €8 million, while Leonardo Balerdi joined on loan for €1 million. Marten de Roon arrived for €1 million, bringing the current season's total to €124.5 million. Inter's approach under Chivu has centred on younger profiles. Summer 2025 signings were Luis Henrique (€24.5 million), Bonny (€23 million), Diouf (€20 million) and Sucie (€15.5 million), plus Akanji on loan (€1 million) — €84 million total. This season added Provedel for €3 million, reaching €102 million. The comparison shows stark strategic differences: Roma's squad cost rose by approximately €15 million through wages, amortisation and loan fees since summer 2025, while Inter's squad cost fell by roughly €10 million over the same span, reflecting their contrasting investment and salary philosophies.