Mendes Pushing Balde Move to Roma as Barcelona and Juventus Deals Take Shape

Paulo Dybala's comeback has been pushed back again, and the article suggests the long-term answer to his repeated absences lies in the transfer market. The Argentine was not called up for Roma's most recent match and, according to Gian Piero Gasperini's words, will probably also miss the trip to Udine next Saturday. His return could slip as far as 7 November, against Sassuolo, the last league match before the international break. The delay is especially awkward because Roma face a demanding Champions League trip to Manchester United on 3 November, and the chances of Dybala being available for that match now look significantly reduced. The article notes that a return that seemed imminent has become a concrete risk of missing three more matches, a considerable difference for a Roma side already fighting on several fronts and already dealing with heavy absences. After the 4-2 win over Cagliari, Gasperini was candid about the situation. He said: "Paulo always takes a little more time to recover from injuries", admitting that the optimism of recent days had not been confirmed on the pitch. He pointed to Sassuolo as a possible return date, without offering certainty. The injury was initially described as a strain to the calf's twin muscle, before a small muscle tear was detected. The article stresses that a small tear does not necessarily mean a quick recovery, particularly when the aim is to avoid a relapse in a high-intensity match, and that the medical staff's caution is understandable. The article argues that when Dybala is fit he remains hard to replace, praising his ability to read the game, find passes invisible to others, create assists and give quality to the attacking play. It recalls the early weeks of the season, when he was playing at a very high level and had become one of the team's technical reference points. He has not yet scored his first goal of the season, but his contribution to creating chances and handling the ball in the final thirty metres has been decisive. Without him, Roma lose something that cannot be replaced simply by changing a player. Soulé has talent and creativity but different characteristics, and Rodrigo Mora is growing and decided a match against Cagliari with his own moves, yet he is still very young and cannot be asked to shoulder the responsibility of a technical leader every time. The article's conclusion is that the Dybala question is now a matter of squad building rather than only a medical one. Roma should not give up on the Joya but should build a team that can afford to wait for him. Dybala's contract runs until June 2027, and the club must decide in the coming months whether to continue together, a judgement that will weigh his performance, the economic cost and his real availability over the season. Gasperini has already stressed the need to widen the options available, especially in attack, and the coming January could offer an important chance to act. The article says the aim is not a Dybala clone but another player of real standing who can offer solutions between the lines, create numerical superiority and increase the team's danger.

Chelsea remain interested in Roma midfielder Manu Koné, according to Ben Jacobs, with the Premier League club reportedly wanting to add a midfielder in January. Koné is currently out with an injury and is expected to return after the international break, but he remains closely watched by top clubs across Europe. Koné joined Roma from Borussia Mönchengladbach in August 2024 on a loan with an obligation to buy, a deal worth €18m. His continued appeal to Chelsea underlines the attention his performances have attracted from elite clubs. Chelsea's interest is not the only pressure on the club's midfield situation, as the London side are also linked with other targets. Chelsea's other reported midfield targets include Scott of Bournemouth and Camara of Monaco.

Manu Koné remains one of Roma's most sought-after players, with Premier League clubs monitoring the French midfielder. He is currently sidelined with a first-degree injury picked up in the Champions League clash with Real Madrid, but his strong start to the season has not gone unnoticed at Chelsea. According to Ben Jacobs of GiveMeSport and TalkSport, the Blues consider him one of their main targets to strengthen their squad. Koné is not the only name on Chelsea's list. Camara of Monaco is also included, and most notably Scott of Bournemouth, who is reportedly Xabi Alonso's preferred option but is valued at around €100 million. After Chelsea's pressure this summer, a fresh attempt in January is not ruled out. Roma, however, have no intention of letting Koné go midway through the season, particularly in a campaign full of ambition and prospects.

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini is calling on Emanuele Lulli, Niccolò Pisilli and Rodrigo Mora to cover a squad emergency. The three young players are drawn from the bench and the Trigoria academy. Pisilli is a Roma academy product. Gasperini has consistently found the right options from both the bench and the youth ranks to meet the crisis.

Roma have turned a long-standing weakness into a strength: when they fall behind, they now fight back rather than fold. Writing after the Cagliari match, the commentary argues the side is hungry and no longer accepts defeat, with a fierce pressing approach now a clear instruction. Roma were below their best in the latest game, which the piece puts down to a natural dip after six matches in sixteen days. The real point, it argues, is how the team responded when it went behind. The same pattern was seen against Atalanta and confirmed against Napoli and Cagliari. As soon as they concede, Roma change their approach, refusing to accept the deficit, running, creating and above all scoring. Last season the points tally was the same, but the team was open to criticism for its almost helpless reaction to going behind. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, the side no longer fears falling behind; instead it becomes more determined, pressing, creating and turning games around within minutes. Last season the only Roma win from a losing position came at the Franchi against Fiorentina, where Soulé and Cristante overturned Kean's opening goal. Otherwise there was little: in Serie A only two draws, against Atalanta and Milan, and in the Europa League two more, against Panathinaikos and Bologna. That was too little for a side aiming at the top, and the problem was more mental than physical. Gasperini has taken that weakness and turned it into a strength. This time Nzola's goal could have hurt Roma, but it did not. Within ten minutes Lulli and Pisilli had erased it and restored the smile that Gasperini shows when he sees his side play. So far this season Roma have earned seven points from losing positions, against Atalanta, Cagliari and Napoli, matching their entire total from last season. They have played only 12 matches in that situation, and the piece concludes that the best is yet to come.

Emanuele Lulli has gone from a young player to be assessed to a concrete solution on the flank in just seven appearances, and Gian Piero Gasperini had seen this coming before anyone else. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the full-back, born in 2007, has scored two goals for the first team, the same number Zeki Celik scored in 151 matches for Roma. Gasperini had pushed to keep Lulli at the club last summer and give him space. The article notes that Lulli runs, supports the attack, defends, gets into the box and above all produces numbers. Gasperini has long built a significant part of his success on wide players, including during his years at Bergamo. He wanted players capable of covering the whole flank and contributing in both phases, and Lulli is offering exactly that, while also adding a finishing ability in that position that had been missing in recent seasons. Celik's move to Juventus initially looked hard to compensate for. A few weeks on, that decision looks very different. Roma have opened a door for a player raised in their own youth sector, and Gasperini has found a solution that could become far more than an alternative. Lulli, from Palestrina, is still only 19 and has an entire career ahead of him.

Roma's unbeaten run has reached 16 matches following their win over Cagliari, a streak that began after the 5-0 defeat by Inter. Coach Gasperini has equalled Garcia's mark and now has his sights set on the club's historic records. Ahead of the other stories in the round-up, former striker Marco Borriello, speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, offered a measured view of Donyell Malen, who has scored 10 goals this season. He said: "He has quality, Gasperini brings it out of him, but Serie A today has more mediocrity than in my time. If you put him in a big Spanish or English club, he sits on the bench." Borriello was far warmer about Daniele De Rossi, saying: "He is a predestined one. He is proving to be a competent and intelligent coach, the 'Smart One'. If I were the president of Genoa, I would hold on to him tightly." The unbeaten run is now 16 matches, and Gasperini has matched Garcia's figure. Roma's historic benchmarks lie ahead, with runs of 19, 20, 24 and 25 matches all above them. The most significant mark is the 30 consecutive unbeaten league results set by Liedholm, a record that has stood since the 1980-81 season. In the player ratings, Lulli was named the best player on the pitch unanimously by the newspapers, with a 7.50. Mora followed on 7.25, a standout performance after coming off the bench. Gollini (7.08) and Malen (6.92) also earned praise, while Ghilardi and Soulé (both 6.75) received positive reviews. At the bottom, Mancini was rated 5.08, clearly the worst, followed by Rensch (5.58) and Castro (5.75).

Roma came from behind-the-scenes adversity to beat Cagliari 4-2, with goals from Lulli, Pisilli, Mora and Malen. Reported newspaper ratings praised the young side's courage and energy, with Roma fielding a makeshift line-up. Lulli was the standout performer, receiving a 7.5 rating from the majority of outlets and his goal helped set the tone for the win. Gollini earned 7s in the goal, while Soulé was another bright spark in attack. Gasperini's side were given ratings between 6 and 7 for his tactical approach, with the Italian boss rated 6 by some and 7 by others. Mancini drew criticism for a below-par display, rated between 4.5 and 5.5 across the reports, with Ghilardi entering to earn ratings of 6.5 to 7. Mora came on and was rated 7 or 7.5, while Malen, who replaced Castro, was rated between 6.5 and 7 by most outlets. Rensch, brought on for Lulli, was marked between 5 and 6, and Wesley, who replaced Molina at half-time, received ratings of 5.5 to 6. Pisilli was rated 6 to 6.5 in midfield, with Cristante at 6 or 6.5 alongside him.

Roma came from behind to beat Cagliari 4-2 at the Stadio Olimpico, with goals from Lulli, Pisilli, Mora and Malen. Italian newspapers have handed out their player ratings for a side that was patched up for the match, and the Giallorossi showed plenty of youthful boldness along the way. Emanuele Lulli was the standout performer, rated 7.5 by most of the papers, while Gollini earned 7 across the board for his goalkeeping. Pisilli and Mora both found the net, and Mora came off the bench to earn strong marks in midfield. Malen also scored after replacing Castro and was rated 6.5 to 7 by the papers. Soulé was another bright spark, rated 6.5 to 7 in the attack. Gian Piero Gasperini was rated between 6 and 7 for his side's performance. Mancini was the disappointment in defence, with ratings ranging from 4.5 to 6, and Ghilardi came on to earn a 7 from some of the newspapers. Wesley replaced Molina at half-time, with his marks ranging from 5.5 to 6. Rensch was given a 5 or 6 after coming on for Lulli. Castro had a quiet afternoon and was rated between 5 and 6 before being replaced by Malen. The ratings reflect a match in which Roma's depleted squad showed resilience and attacking spirit, with the goals coming from both established players and those who came off the bench.