Fonseca: Roma can push Inter all the way, and Malen is a force of nature

Roman radio pundits have split over the photo Wesley posted, with David Rossi of Rete Sport saying he would sell the Brazilian in January if he were Roma's sporting director. Speaking on Rete Sport, Rossi said: "On all this Wesley business, it seems clear to me that private matters are private, even if they did little to keep them private. Moreover, she committed a crime by transferring her husband's phone data onto her own. That said, it certainly wasn't an afternoon of very high cultural and social standing. The worst thing was perhaps the photo of the watches and the money. It looked like those TG reports on drug dens seized by the Guardia di Finanza... frankly we could have done without it. I've seen a few things, having been inside, and if I were Roma's sporting director, a player who publishes that photo I would sell in January. Someone who does something like that shows poor sensitivity, and doesn't have football as the priority in his life. I'd already be looking for him a club in January, and I'd be working to find his replacement..." Gianluca Piacentini, also on Rete Sport, urged a clear separation between what happens on the pitch and private life. He said: "I would make the effort to keep what happens on the field separate from what happens in private life, without necessarily linking them. Nainggolan and Maicon had particular situations, but we judged what we saw on the pitch, and I would do the same with Wesley. And I wouldn't say that if he plays badly, it's because he separated from his wife..." Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo was blunter about the spending on show. He said: "Wesley should think a moment before putting all that money up there. It's the only thing that can irritate, the rest are his private matters, I don't care. There are people who have to collect money to go and watch matches at the stadium, throwing all that money around like that is ridiculous... And the other thing that interests me is when the wife says 'when he gets drunk he can do anything'. So, drink less, in general. For the rest, he plays, runs, is good and we love him. He's a likeable lad. But let's try to go less to the newspapers... It was stupid to do all this, because now as soon as he plays badly they'll say he's been drinking, when a player can make mistakes in matches..." Francesca Ferrazza, also of Tele Radio Stereo, said Roma and Gasperini always keep a close eye on their players, especially young ones from modest backgrounds who suddenly find fame and are surrounded by people who may take advantage. Lorenzo Pes, also on Tele Radio Stereo, turned to the Ballon d'Or, saying Kane deserved it for his career, with his goalscoring numbers last year being "monstrous". He added that Yamal could have been in contention for the title but had a poor World Cup, and that he would have rewarded someone from PSG, probably Kvaratskhelia. On Dybala, Pes said: "If he said yes to the call-up, it's because he can play, and I expect him on the pitch tonight for twenty minutes or so." The match occupied the rest of the debate. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said: "Tonight's game worries me like all of them, and Cagliari come off two consecutive defeats, which I don't like at all. But they have 13 points in the table, they're very calm and can play with a certain serenity. The worry is that we are in the sixth match of a nine-game cycle, and the physical and mental fatigue, and the thought of the next ones, may in some way affect us. Roma tonight must win to add further confidence, I hope they manage it without struggling too much. If football were mathematics Roma would win without too many problems, but matches are strange. I hope this Roma is ever more Argentine in the spirit with which it goes on the pitch..." Nando Orsi of Radio Radio gave a sharper verdict on the Wesley affair, calling the intelligence level on both sides "very low", but said he would keep Wesley in the team. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio said Cagliari were in freefall, having lost ground to ten points above the relegation zone after a fast start. He said: "Cagliari are in freefall. Roma must take advantage. Find out what kind of match you can put together, and then thanks to the quality of your players you should be able to get on top of it. Winning tonight with minimal effort and bringing home points..."

Fabio Capello has said Inter remain the favourites for the Serie A title, while admitting he enjoys seeing both Rome and Milan at the top of the table. The former Roma manager spoke in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I have always argued that Inter were the favourites, the best-equipped squad for the Scudetto, and at the moment I have no reasons to convince me otherwise. Seeing all of Milan and all of Rome up there, however, pleases me and takes me back to my past," Capello said. Capello also compared Roma with AC Milan, and he gave Gian Piero Gasperini's side the edge. "I see Roma in better shape, because they have an established way of playing, while the Rossoneri are still searching for their definitive identity. It is not a criticism: Gasperini has been working with his players for a year, while Amorim has only just arrived, and the difference on the pitch is noticeable." His comments point to the advantage of continuity at the Giallorossi, with Gasperini's methods now bedded in across the squad. For Roma, the praise from a former coach who knows the club well is a boost as the side keeps pace with the leaders. Capello's view is that the team are playing well, even though Inter are still the team he expects to win the title.

Several Roman radio pundits have weighed in on Roma's forward options ahead of the match against Cagliari, with former striker Roberto Pruzzo calling for a new attacker in January to replace Rodrigo Mora. Francesco Balzani of Teleradiostereo said he has long admired Matías Soulé, though he was disappointed by the Argentine last year. He said Soulé is now making the step he had hoped for, and added: "Sta concludendo un mese incredibile. Sarà la serata di Mora? Mi auguro di sì." Balzani said that if Soulé can produce around 15 or 20 matches like his display against Napoli by the end of the season, he will become the player he had hoped for. He added: "Poi non è l'ultima spiaggia perché è un ragazzo giovane, però è una chance importante. Questa dev'essere la partita in cui fa vedere qualcosa in più." Balzani was not sure Donyell Malen would start and said Santiago Castro could play instead. He pointed to a busy schedule ahead, with Udine, Manchester and Sassuolo still to come, saying: "devi capire qual è la sfida in cui puoi far riposare qualcuno e credo che questa sia la più adatta." Roma therefore need to pick the right game to rest players, and Balzani believes this fixture is the right one. Pruzzo said Cagliari are in freefall and in difficulty, and that Roma must take advantage. "È importante trovare i tre punti e con la qualità dei giocatori può farcela," he said. He also stressed that Roma must start picking up points in the Champions League against Manchester United. "La Roma a gennaio deve prendere un attaccante al posto di Mora." Piero Torri of Radio Manà Manà said Roma are in the sixth match of a run of nine and he feared the physical and mental fatigue of the previous games could be felt. "La Roma deve vincere per continuare ad aggiungere consapevolezza ed autostima e spero ci riesca senza faticare troppo."

Roma came from behind to beat Cagliari on a midweek night at the Stadio Olimpico, with two youth-team products, Emanuele Lulli and Niccolò Pisilli, at the centre of the win. Cagliari took the lead in the 7th minute after Pisilli won a penalty, a handball that went to VAR before referee Feliciani pointed to the spot. Nzola sent the kick past Gollini to make it 0-1. Lulli then equalised, and Pisilli turned from culprit to decisive figure within 11 minutes. Their energy and willingness to take responsibility, from shots to runs to final passes, broke down a stubborn Cagliari side and reignited the crowd during a difficult spell. The match was not a polished performance, and the article describes this Roma side as young in its flaws. Just as it seemed the game was won, Maldini slipped past Mancini and beat Gollini, silencing the Olimpico. Gasperini was seen gesturing from the touchline as the tempo dropped and Mancini struggled. Mora and Malen, both thrown on to add freshness and weight to the final attack, changed the momentum and the scoreboard. Roma won, though more narrowly than expected. The article contrasts this response with the previous match against Real Madrid, where the pride to hit back was missing. Lulli, who recently signed a contract extension until 2031, opened Roma's scoring and was described as having been protected to avoid repeating past mistakes. Pisilli and Lulli together brought a contagious energy to the pitch, with their surges and hunger for loose balls breaking Cagliari's resistance. Their approach to the match, following a difficult game against Napoli, was seen as a sign of personality. The article also notes that the win recalled the phrase 'La Roma di Pisulli', a nod to the two young players who had dreamed of wearing the shirt from the stands or from Trigoria. The article leaves no further fixtures or decisions to report at this stage.

Roma came back to winning ways in Serie A with a 4-2 victory over Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico, a match full of drama that was opened by a penalty from Nzola and decided by a late one-two from Mora and Malen. The win moves Gasperini's side to within four points of league leaders Lazio. The Giallorossi were made to work for the points after Cagliari's early spot-kick. Mora and Malen then combined in the closing stages to restore the three points and keep Roma in touch with the top of the table. The other two goals for Roma were scored by the young Lulli and Pisilli, meaning the squad's younger players also found the net in a result that lifted the mood in the capital. In the player ratings, Soulé was given a 7 for his bright performance, Ghilardi earned a 7 for a decisive assist, Malen a 6.5 and Mora a 7.5 for the goals that sealed victory. Mora and Malen, the two scorers who settled the contest, were the difference between the sides at the end of a match that swung several times.

Rodrigo Mora came off the bench to decide the match, heading a goal and then setting up Donyell Malen, with the result secured after Cagliari had equalised. Speaking to DAZN after the game, the Portuguese midfielder said: "Sogno serate così, voglio essere decisivo." Asked whether it was a win for the young players, he replied: "Sì, è un gruppo davvero giovane ma anche forte. Tutti sono pronti a giocare, giovani o più 'vecchi' che siano. La cosa importante è la squadra. Due settimane fa è stato decisivo Soulé, questa sera io nella stessa posizione. A prescindere dall'età, tutti stiamo dando il meglio e rendendo possibile questo percorso." Mora said that his goal and assist came in a difficult match and that helping the team mattered most to him. On playing on the left, he said: "Per me giocare a sinistra è meglio in modo da andare dentro il campo, lo stesso vale per Soulé che parte da destra per accentrarsi. Ma gioco in ogni posizione per aiutare la squadra." Matías Soulé was the player who had been decisive in the same role two weeks earlier. On his header, Mora said: "Non segno tanto di testa, ma qualche volta gli avversari dimenticano il giocatore più basso. Quindi riesco a trovare lo spazio per segnare di testa." On working under Gian Piero Gasperini, he said: "Il mister vuole che andiamo all'attacco, a volte è difficile ma ci proviamo. E' una cosa positiva, pensare sempre a fare gol è importante per vincere le gare." He added that Gasperini had asked him to play with confidence and to take on opponents without fear, and that he could still improve his physical condition. Mora thanked the supporters who kept singing after Cagliari levelled, saying: "Da quando sono arrivato mi hanno accolto benissimo e avevo voglia di una serata così per ripagarli, sono contento di aver segnato. Nel momento più difficile, quando il Cagliari ha pareggiato, i tifosi hanno continuato a cantare e ci hanno dato la spinta per ribaltarla." On starting, he said: "Tutti i giocatori vorrebbero partire titolari ma quello che più importa e che chiunque giochi anche entrando dalla panchina dia il massimo." He acknowledged that adapting to Italian football is a process: "Continuerò a lavorare per guadagnare più minuti."