Gasperini wants Roma strengthened before the season begins

Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini has warned that his squad still needs two additions if the club is to compete across Serie A and the Champions League this season.

Roma finished third last term after winning their final five league matches, edging AC Milan and Juventus to a Champions League place. Their return to UEFA’s premier competition will be their first since the 2018-19 campaign.

Roma have already added Rodrigo Mora, Nahuel Molina and Santiago Castro, while Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini have signed new contracts. Manu Kone has also remained with the club so far, but Gasperini believes further depth is needed to handle the additional fixtures.

“Purely in terms of numbers, we still need another two to complete the squad, especially in the Champions League,” Gasperini said.

“We are still missing another wide striker on the left, and an understudy for Wesley. We’ll see what can be done in the last 10 days of the transfer window, but we don’t want to sign players just for the sake of it. We need someone who can raise the level of the squad.”

Roma face Fiorentina with expectations tempered

Roma begin their campaign against Fiorentina, who finished 15th last season after recovering from a difficult start and ending the year eight points clear of relegation.

Gasperini stressed that last season’s 73-point haul offers no guarantee in the new campaign. “You start from zero every year,” he said. “What we achieved was hugely positive, and I think everyone was happy with it. When the season restarts, everyone starts from zero and those 73 points from last season have to be replayed.”

The Roma coach added that the starting team has been consolidated but warned there had been “nothing particularly new” in terms of tactical development.

Head-to-head record favors Roma

Roma have won their last three Serie A meetings with Fiorentina and have lost only three of their last 52 home league matches against them. Fiorentina’s last league victory at the Stadio Olimpico came in April 2018.

Roma have also lost just once in their last 14 Serie A opening fixtures, while they enter this match on a five-game winning run in the competition, scoring 13 goals and keeping four clean sheets.

Opta gives Roma a 57.1% chance of victory, compared with 23.6% for a draw and 19.3% for a Fiorentina win.

Players to watch

Roma – Santiago Castro: The forward arrives after producing a notable scoring record with both feet and his head since making his senior debut in March 2024. Gasperini will hope the young signing can make an immediate impact.

Fiorentina – Moise Kean: Kean has scored four Serie A goals against Roma, although he has never scored at the Stadio Olimpico despite making 10 league appearances there and playing 538 minutes.