Ziółkowski attracts Saudi interest; Salah-Eddine awaits departure

Giuseppe Cionci, an agent and intermediary who participated in Ante Coric's transfer to Roma in 2018, has returned to working on club operations in recent months, including involvement in the signings of Konstantinos Koulierakis and Donyell Malen. The reappearance is striking because a protracted legal battle between Corner Sport Management—the company to which Cionci is attached—and Roma remains unresolved over the Coric transaction. Cionici was among the intermediaries involved in last summer's transfer of Koulierakis from Wolfsburg to Roma for €16.5 million. He also took part in negotiations for Malen's arrival in January. His return marks a sharp reversal after years in which his name had essentially disappeared from Roma's radar at Trigoria following the Coric deal, which brought the Croatian midfielder to the capital with high expectations but quickly unravelled into a sporting failure. The legal dispute centres on two separate claims by Corner Sport Management. The first involves an injunction for €216,550 in intermediation fees related to the Coric deal. In January 2024 the Rome Court annulled the representation contract and ordered Roma to recover approximately €800,000 already paid. Corner appealed, and the Court of Appeal suspended the ruling's enforcement. The decisive hearing is scheduled for 13 November. A second legal action, stemming from a further €200,000 injunction from Corner over the same Coric operation, remains open. The rapprochement between Cionci and Roma has been facilitated by his longstanding relationship with Pietro Leonardi, a figure in Roman football since the 1990s. A 2020 Financial Police report identified Cionci as Corner Sport Management's representative and linked Leonardi to the same company. The paradox is complete: even as the judicial matter born from Coric's purchase awaits resolution, Cionci has become operational in Roma's market dealings again. Eight years after the Coric case, a door that appeared permanently closed has reopened.

Giuseppe Cionci, the agent and intermediary who disappeared from Roma's orbit in 2018 after brokering the ill-fated signing of Ante Coric, has returned to work with the club under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Cionci's comeback is notable because Roma is still entangled in an active legal dispute with Corner Sport Management, the agency that represented Coric's transfer, even as that same intermediary plays a role in the club's current operations. The parallel proceedings underscore an unusual situation: the agent remains involved in fresh Roma dealings while contractual and financial disputes from his previous work remain unresolved in court. Coric, a Croatian prospect signed from Dinamo Zagreb in 2018 for over six million euros, failed to develop as expected and became the subject of competing legal claims. In January 2024, Rome's tribunal revoked an initial injunction for €216,550 obtained by Corner, declared the representation contract void, and ordered the agency to return €800,000 already paid by Roma. Corner appealed; the appeals court suspended the decision's enforceability. A second separate lawsuit over a €200,000 injunction sought by Corner in connection with the Coric deal also remains open, with the tribunal having suspended its provisional enforceability. Roma had previously severed ties with the agent over that contention. Cionci's reintegration began with the club's recent transfers. He was involved in the deal that brought Konstantinos Koulierakis to Roma from Wolfsburg on 31 July for €16.5 million, and had participated in the January signing of Donyell Malen. Pietro Leonardi, a long-standing business partner of Cionci's dating to their shared involvement in Monterotondo football in the early 1990s and later at Lodigiani, is credited with facilitating his return. A 2020 Guardia di Finanza report identified Cionci as representative of Corner Sport Management, the entity of which Leonardi is also part. The final hearing on the Koulierakis-era appeal is scheduled for 13 November.

Endrick's future remains uncertain as the Brazilian forward prepares to leave Real Madrid in January after receiving minimal playing time this season, despite José Mourinho blocking his departure in summer. Roma remain strongly interested in the 20-year-old, though multiple obstacles must be resolved. The attacker is weighing several options, and according to Cadena Ser, competition for his signature is intense. Beyond Roma, Lyon are also ready to welcome Endrick — repeating their interest from January last year — but Aston Villa's bid is gaining momentum. Emery's side have set their sights on the forward, and the prospect of Champions League football could sway him toward the Premier League club if Villa maintain their promise in that regard.

Roma's loanees made their mark during the international break, with Mohamed Seck delivering a commanding defensive display, Luigi Cherubini scoring for Italy's Under-21s, and Neil El Aynaoui clocking over 240 minutes for Morocco across three matches. Seck, a 2007-born defender, started the full 90 minutes in Foggia's 2-0 victory at Cosenza, keeping a clean sheet and earning praise from local media. The Corriere della Calabria awarded him 6.5, while Foggiacalciomania highlighted an almost flawless performance. He picked up a yellow card in the 28th minute but remained unaffected. Radoslaw Zelezny continued his fine form between the sticks for Perugia, playing all 90 minutes in a 3-1 derby win over Gubbio; he conceded little that was preventable and earned a 6.5 rating for his security in possession and distribution. Federico Nardin also impressed at Pescara, completing the full match in a 1-0 win at Livorno achieved by a late Sardo goal, and has now been called up to Italy's Under-19 squad for friendlies against Scotland on 10 and 13 October. Cherubini made the most impact during the break. After coming off the bench in the 79th minute of Italy U21's 1-0 win in Armenia, he was introduced again at the same stage against Poland on 4 October and scored just seven minutes later to seal a 6-2 victory and confirm Italy's direct qualification to the Under-21 European Championship final tournament. El Aynaoui started all three of Morocco's matches—a 2-0 win over Gabon (90 minutes), a 2-0 victory against Lesotho (67 minutes), and a 1-1 draw with Mali on 4 October (full 90)—demonstrating his standing with the national team. Anass Salah-Eddine also featured for Morocco, starting the full 90 minutes at left-back in the Mali friendly. Marash Kumbulla entered Albania's 3-0 Nations League win over San Marino at half-time and played the full second half. Artem Dovbyk, on loan at Bologna, skipped his Ukraine convocation to continue recovering from a muscular problem affecting his hamstring and has already resumed full training with the Bolognese squad ahead of the league's resumption.

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.

Roma have made contact with free agent Matteo Darmian as they explore defensive reinforcements during an extended fixture break. The 36-year-old has fielded approaches from smaller clubs during the summer with no result, but would prioritise Roma over potential moves to Parma or Torino. He has also received lucrative proposals to move to Dubai and may not wait long for a decision. The Giallorossi created space after sending Anass Salah-Eddine on loan to Panathinaikos with a €7 million option to buy, despite his solid spell at PSV and a Morocco World Cup call-up. While Roma's wingback options are in reasonable condition—with Emanuele Lulli emerging as an early revelation—Gian Piero Gasperini favours adding experienced players to manage demanding roles. A left-sided defender would be the preference. The former Inter man was not retained by the Nerazzurri after six years and over 200 appearances, starting only nine times in 2025-26 owing to competition and a serious calf injury. Darmian, a Milan academy product, began his career at Palermo before flourishing at Torino. He later moved to Manchester United and returned to Italy through Parma before joining Inter. His veteran status and experience align with Gasperini's preferences, though questions remain about his physical condition after a difficult previous season.

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.

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 radio commentators dissected yesterday's victory in the context of the title race and squad depth, with particular focus on Leonardo Balerdi's impact and Rodrigo Mora's early form. Mario Corsi declared that only Roma, Inter and Como are serious contenders: "I'm not saying we win the Scudetto tomorrow, but it's real that there are Roma, Inter and Como. Full stop. But where do the others go…" David Rossi highlighted Balerdi's performance against the established order, saying: "I said this would take the place from N'Dicka, and yesterday he took it from him. How can Balerdi not be the starter on Saturday?…" Roma's campaign statistics drew praise—12 goals scored and just 1 conceded in the league so far—with Gianluca Piacentini observing that Roma have the best defence in Serie A, while Francesca Ferrazza identified European football as the decisive factor: "The discriminant for the Scudetto will be the Champions League. Roma, Inter and Como all play it—that's the key." Bareldi's defensive prowess dominated discussion. Piacentini described him as "maestro" and confessed: "I'm totally in love with Balerdi, and I'm developing a crush on Lulli." Mario Corsi compared him to Samuel, while Piero Torri acknowledged the central-back dilemma: "I believe Roma will buy him outright. He has everything: he's quick, strong in the air, elegant…the problem is he seems like a proper centre-back, and there's N'Dicka there." Sandro Sabatini expressed surprise at the overall squad calibre, asking rhetorically: "Is Balerdi, Roma's fourth defender, this strong? Is Pisilli, the fourth midfielder, this strong? And Lulli, unknown until mid-August, this strong? Roma are sending very important signals, both collectively and from individuals." Alessio Nardo noted the squad's transformation over the past year: "If a year ago you were missing N'Dicka, Wesley and Koné, you'd have played with a far less developed Pisilli, Tsimikas and Ziółkowski. Today you have new starters whom you now struggle to exclude." Roberto Pruzzo offered a critical take on Mora's play: "If he plays 20 metres from goal he can be decisive, but at 40–50 metres from goal it seems like a mess to me." Corsi defended the midfielder's early contribution: "Now I read a lot of criticism of Mora, but he arrived the day before yesterday…enough, let's wait. We need him a lot." Niccolò Pisilli drew praise for his performance in an unfamiliar role, while Marten de Roon impressed Lorenzo Pes: "He knows everything by heart, he's brought order and is an added value. He shouldn't be a starter, but at the right moments he knows how to manage traffic." Nando Orsi confirmed Roma's merit in yesterday's win but tempered expectations: "Roma clearly deserved to win, didn't thrill me like other matches, but that was predictable. We're only at the fifth game; I'd wait for the tenth, but if one of the two wins on Saturday there would already be a hierarchy." Gasperini was credited with instilling tactical intensity, with Corsi stating: "Gasperini has put a sporting nastiness into the players, and now they all run in a remarkable way." Roma face Inter in what multiple commentators framed as a title-defining fixture within weeks of the season's start. The squad's depth and injury management were identified as potential deciding factors in the campaign ahead.

Roma have resumed training at Trigoria following a three-day break granted by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with preparations underway for Sunday's big match against Como. Gasperini has welcomed back most of the squad's international players. Italian internationals Gianluca Mancini, Daniele Ghilardi, Niccolò Pisilli and Emanuele Lulli, along with Evan N'Dicka, Konstantinos Koulierakis and young goalkeeper Giorgio De Marzi, completed recovery work. Manu Koné was expected to rejoin training today, with Rodrigo Mora to follow. Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro attended Lionel Messi's farewell celebration with the Argentine national team during the night. The three Argentina internationals are due back in Rome tomorrow, though Gasperini is likely to see them on the pitch on Friday.

Roma returned to training at Trigoria on 6 October in preparation for Sunday's away fixture against Como. After the international break, Gian Piero Gasperini found a larger squad available: Wesley and Malen completed part of the session with their teammates, marking an early stage in their recovery. Seven internationals — Mancini, Ghilardi, Lulli, Pisilli, N'Dicka, Koulierakis and De Marzi — also returned, while Koné is expected back on Wednesday. Bryan Cristante confirmed he remains sidelined by a knee issue that will keep him out of the Como and Real Madrid matches, though he is targeting a return as soon as possible. Cristante spoke at an Adidas event on Via del Corso, emphasizing the importance of continuity within the group and the shared determination to build something more solid. He described Roma as a more conscious squad, capable of competing steadily in the top positions of a long league campaign. He expressed emotion at the prospect of facing Mourinho and backed the new direction of the Italy national team, leaving open the possibility of a future call-up: "We'll see how the season goes." Gasperini told La Stampa he is in "a good period" but stressed the need for continuity and determination to sustain a high level. He spoke of natural cycles in a team—rising and falling—and the importance of having the strength to rebuild during difficult moments. The coach employed what he called a "vineyard metaphor" to describe his vision: building an important path requires daily work, professionalism, quality players, a solid club and an enthusiastic environment—elements Roma is now putting into place.

Rodrigo Mora started for Portugal's Under-21 side in their UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier against the Czech Republic on 6 October, playing 74 minutes in a 2–0 victory. The match was the opening fixture of Group B in the qualifying campaign. Mora's international commitment comes as Roma resumed training at Trigoria ahead of their Serie A fixture against Como. The club welcomed back Evan N'Dicka, Gianluca Mancini and Daniele Ghilardi after their own national-team duties.