Emanuele Lulli

Roma prepare for Monday's trip to Lecce with three days to go, with Gian Piero Gasperini having almost the full squad available. Devyne Rensch and Lorenzo Pellegrini are out; Rensch did not train today and will attempt to recover for the Atalanta fixture on 5 September at 20:45. Robinio Vaz also missed training as a precaution, with his move to Hull City on an incoming loan (€2 million with a €30 million purchase option) increasingly likely. Nahuel Molina has recovered fully and will compete with Lulli for the right-wing spot, while Wesley is ready on the opposite flank. The midfield sees a duel between Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé for a trequartista role, with Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala paired up front. Roma seek their second consecutive victory.

Gianluca Falsini, who coached Emanuele Lulli at Roma's Under-16 and Primavera levels, gave an exclusive interview to Retesport praising the young forward's character and potential. Falsini described Lulli as "incredible, a Roma fan with Giallorosso blood running through his veins. He is resilient, has the capacity to listen, everyone would want him as a son: he is extraordinary." The former academy coach noted that Lulli's greatest asset is his intensity, combined with a good first touch and ball control, though he still needs to improve his finishing, crossing, shooting and short passing. "He has 19 years, have patience and he applies himself to the work. Certainly he will improve, Gasperini's style of play suits him perfectly: he has to run a lot without the ball, I am happy for him and his family," Falsini said. Falsini emphasised that Lulli's path to the first team was unconventional. Unlike earlier academy products such as Coletta, Di Nunzio and Nardin, who had a certain technical baseline, Lulli lacked that foundation initially. "When I started, he had great physical capacity, strength and power and had problems to the point that he suffered rebalancing his body, but he did it working with dedication every day," Falsini explained. The coach was emotional watching Roma's 4–0 win over Fiorentina, in which Lulli played at the Stadio Olimpico under immense pressure. He remains confident in the player's trajectory: "In silence every year he has improved, so he is a boy who will make it." Falsini also touched on the broader Serie A landscape. He called Roma's result against Fiorentina frightening but cautioned that Inter are "clearly much stronger," while Napoli should fight for a top-three finish. He expressed hope that Como would replicate last season's campaign and predicted Juventus would perform better than they did in 2025–26. "It will be a gripping Serie A; the line will be drawn when the market closes, but the indications are these: it is normal that one match does not prove anything," he said.

Gianluca Falsini, former Roma Under-16 and Primavera coach who developed Emanuele Lulli, praised the 19-year-old's character and potential in an exclusive interview. Falsini stressed Lulli's mentality and work ethic: "He is a boy with giallorosso blood running through his veins. He is resilient, has the ability to listen, everyone would want him as a son—he is extraordinary." Lulli lacked technical foundation when Falsini first trained him, yet improved through daily dedication and now shows great physical capacity and running ability. Falsini highlighted that Lulli's best quality is intensity, coupled with good first touch and ball control, though he still needs to develop his finishing, crossing, shooting, and short passing. At 19, Falsini expressed patience with his development. Crucially, Falsini believes Gasperini's playing style aligns perfectly with Lulli's profile: "The way Gasperini plays suits him to a tee—he has to run a lot without the ball, and I am happy for him and his family." Lulli's path was unconventional; he was never selected for his age-group national teams and suffered illness that prevented him from progressing to Under-17, yet Falsini calls him an example for other academy players. Falsini also reflected on Roma's broader prospects. He noted that Roma impressed with a 4–0 victory over Fiorentina and that Serie A will be competitive, with Inter "markedly stronger" than others. He expects Napoli to challenge for a top-three finish, Como to replicate last season's performance, and Juventus to avoid another mediocre campaign. On the first round of fixtures: "There is good news in that there is more football being played—athletically stronger squads will have an advantage." Falsini cautioned that one match does not define a season but predicted an engaging Serie A campaign.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will address the media on Sunday at 13:30, the day before the club's second Serie A fixture of the season away at Lecce on Monday at 18:30. The appointment comes after Roma's convincing opening victory against Fiorentina. Gasperini faces few selection dilemmas ahead of the Lecce match. Devyne Rensch remains unavailable, but Nahuel Molina has recovered and will compete with Lulli for a place in the squad. On the attacking midfield line, Rodrigo Mora is favoured over Matías Soulé to operate behind forwards Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala.

Fresh details have emerged on the failed transfer of Jayden Oosterwolde to Fenerbahçe. According to journalist Piero Torri, the player and his representatives were even prepared to freeze his salary during his recovery from injury, saying "As long as the player hasn't returned from injury, don't pay us". The deal collapsed over a disagreement on his expected return date: Fenerbahçe projected October, while Roma's medical assessments placed recovery no earlier than January 2027. Meanwhile, Martina Piemonte has spoken about her return to Roma colours after an eight-year absence. She said: "Roma is something unique. I had offers abroad, but in Italy I wanted only and solely Roma." She credited the bond with her teammates Pilgrim, Corelli, Oliviero, Bergamaschi, Giugliano and Greggi, and added: "We are a very great team, the objectives are high." On Roma's Champions League campaign this season, she stated: "Playing it in the Roma shirt gives me enormous drive." Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is expected to field the same squad that defeated Fiorentina, with the likely only change being Nahuel Molina on the right, now fit and in line for his first league start. A contest remains open on the attacking midfield between Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora. Devyne Rensch continues to be doubtful. Gasperini can also count on Lulli, promoted after an excellent display at the Olimpico. The Champions League draw delivered two emotionally charged fixtures: Real Madrid, managed by José Mourinho—the last coach to win a trophy with Roma—will visit the Olimpico, while Paris Saint-Germain, where Luis Enrique managed Roma in the 2011-12 season, will be faced away. Among the most challenging away trips will be Manchester United at Old Trafford, inevitably recalling Roma's historic 7-1 defeat in 2007.

Roma have abandoned their pursuit of Jayden Oosterwolde from Fenerbahce after medical examinations revealed the left-back's recovery time from injury would be longer than initially expected. The club had attempted to renegotiate the terms of an agreement struck the previous week, but Fenerbahce rejected Roma's revised proposal and the deal has collapsed. Oosterwolde will return to Turkey. The situation shifted dramatically on the morning of 27 August when Roma's medical team flagged the severity of the player's physical problems. The club contacted Fenerbahce seeking to fundamentally alter the structure of the transfer, but the Turkish club's response was a refusal. With the deal now dead, Roma must identify a replacement defender capable of playing across the back line. Thilo Kehrer of Monaco has surfaced as an option; the German defender can operate at full-back on either flank. Should Roma pursue Kehrer, Devyne Rensch would partner Wesley on the opposite side of the defence. Roma's defensive depth remains relatively stable despite the Oosterwolde setback. The performances of Lulli provide additional reassurance at centre-back.