Ghilardi on pressure, discipline and the value of a quiet leader

Gianluca Mancini made his 250th Serie A appearance for Roma in the 9th matchday fixture against Cagliari. The milestone makes him the first defender to reach 250 Serie A appearances in the giallorossi shirt in the three-points-for-a-win era, which began in 1994-95. Mancini, a Tuscan centre-back, has been with the club since July 2019, as per the club's squad records. Reaching the mark on home soil against Cagliari underlines his long service and consistency in the Roma defence under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The record is the club's own benchmark for defenders in the modern league format, and it places Mancini at the top of that list for the Roman side. Roma remain focused on building momentum in the domestic campaign.

Actor Marco Giallini, a well-known Roma fan, has described how he juggled filming commitments with his club's matches, telling the podcast Nonlofaccioxmoda that when Roma were playing, filming simply did not happen. Asked by interviewer Giulia Salemi how he managed to reconcile set commitments with Giallorossi fixtures, he answered without hesitation: "No, e chi gira!" ("No way, who's filming?"). Giallini recalled an episode during the shooting of the film Perfetti sconosciuti. Several members of the crew were rival supporters, including the director of photography and Paolo Genovese. Giallini and Mastandrea were watching the match, but their friends were ahead by 30 seconds because they were watching on television, while Giallini and Mastandrea were following it on a computer. The film needed a goal to progress, and the rivalry on set became heated. Giallini said: "Ao, aspetta un attimo!" when the crew called them back to shoot. He then continued: "Dovevamo fare un gol per passare il turno e a un certo punto sento uno dei due amici dire: 'No, fagliela guardare'." The remark immediately told him how the match would end. "E lì ho pensato: 'Non vengo più, me ne vado'. Me ne volevo andare. Io e Mastandrea ce ne siamo andati. È stata la cosa più brutta che ho ricevuto da due amici fraterni." The episode ended with the crew calling them back: "Ma dove andate? Stiamo girando un filmone!" ("Where are you going? We're shooting a great film!").

Il Messaggero has published a further look at the social media habits of Roma winger Wesley, focusing on displays of wealth, luxury cars and controversial episodes from his time at Flamengo, days after his wife Amanda Martins announced their separation on social media and accused him of repeated infidelity. The newspaper highlights one of the player's recent TikTok posts, showing stacks of 50-euro banknotes and two luxury watches placed in front of a gaming setup. The images drew attention from users and raised questions about publicly displaying high-value items. Il Messaggero notes that it is not known whether the banknotes shown are genuine or replicas. The newspaper also points to the security risks such displays could carry. In September 2025, thieves reportedly tried to break into the player's villa. In early October, Wesley showed his car collection on social media, and a few days later he was photographed behind the wheel of his Lamborghini at Ponte Milvio. Earlier content had also drawn interest over the summer, including a July video in which the Brazilian showed his wife virtual accessories he had bought for a video game, among them a digital knife costing more than 2,000 euros. Il Messaggero also revisits earlier incidents from his time in Brazil. In March 2024, while playing for Flamengo, Wesley was reported to police by a businessman over an alleged assault at a beach kiosk. The player rejected the accusation and gave a different account of the episode. In August of the same year, a video showing him at a nightclub after a defeat to Botafogo caused controversy. The report comes the day after Amanda Martins's harsh outburst on social media, in which she announced the separation and accused her husband of repeated infidelity. Those accusations are her version of events and have not been established as fact. The newspaper's main question is whether these off-pitch matters could in future affect Wesley's performances on the field. That remains a concern rather than an established consequence, as the Brazilian continues to be an important asset for Gasperini's Roma.

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.

Roma came away from Cagliari with the three points, but it was a night of frustration for Gian Piero Gasperini, who spent much of the match berating his players. Cagliari, who had been in a dip for a couple of weeks, proved a difficult opponent, and from the first minutes it was clear Roma could afford very few mistakes at the back. Gasperini's side made more slips than allowed against the likes of Mina and Fadera, and the rebukes came thick and fast: at Mancini himself, at Lulli, and at Koulierakis, among others. The result was secured in a match that was pulled through with teeth and claws, and the criticism came with more calm once the points were in the bag. Gasperini had to put much of his side right because Roma looked a little tired after a run of closely spaced fixtures, and when Maldini equalised it was clear the Sardinians had more fuel and more horsepower. Roma found the winner at the moment least suited to their performance, which could prove an important signal. Players never fully switched off, with Gasperini's instructions constant and the push of the Sud behind them. The match also featured Mora rising to win a header that seemed to add around twenty centimetres to his reach. Ghilardi was due to come on about ten minutes earlier than he did. Gasperini's message throughout was relentless, and the Curva Sud's support carried his team through a night that was far from convincing.

Roma came from behind to beat Cagliari 4-2 at the Stadio Olimpico in their ninth Serie A match of the season, with Lulli, Pisilli, Mora and Malen on the scoresheet. The result was made to look harder than it was by a performance that Giallorossi.net's player ratings describe as one of the least convincing of the season. Gollini, standing in for the injured Svilar, was named the best Roma player despite conceding twice, rated 7.5 for a string of saves, including a decisive stop on Adopo in the first half and another in the second half, mainly against Mendy. Mancini was given a 5, the lowest mark in the Roma side, after being repeatedly troubled by Fadera's acceleration. Ndicka (6) struggled against Nzola and Mendy, while Koulierakis (6) was solid without standing out. Lulli was the standout of the first half, rated 7.5. He headed in the equaliser and then supplied the pass that set up Pisilli for the go-ahead goal. Pisilli (6) was a mix of error and reward: his handball gave Cagliari a penalty, before he struck a powerful right-foot shot past Caprile to put Roma back in front. The match had been levelled by Obert, who beat Rensch in the move that brought the equaliser, after Rensch (5.5) came on in the 76th minute. De Roon (5.5) had a quiet game and was replaced by Rodrigo Mora in the 56th minute. Mora's introduction changed the match. He was rated 7 after starting on the right, a position that appeared to limit him, before Gasperini moved him to the left. He first scored with a towering header, then played the ball to Malen for the 4-2. Malen, who had wasted a clear chance set up by Mora, came on in the 56th minute and was rated 7 after firing a second right-foot effort past Caprile to seal the win. Molina (6.5) had a good first half, providing the right-foot cross for Lulli's goal, and Wesley (6) was rated 6 after coming on at half-time. Soulé (6) faded after a bright start, and Cristante (5.5) and Castro (5) both had poor games. Ghilardi (7) came on in the 83rd minute and delivered the cross for Mora's winner. Gasperini was rated 6.5. The article says Roma suffered against a strong Cagliari side and often looked close to conceding, but the coach's substitutions turned the game. Its concern was his decision to start Mora on the right and Soulé on the left, which Gasperini reversed at the break, after which Mora changed the match. The reviewer concluded: "Non sarà stata una bella Roma, ma proprio per questo i tre punti valgono ancora di più."