Gasperini: ‘Roma improvement, Balerdi like Baresi, now for best Inter test’

TURIN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 14: Gian Piero Gasperini, Manager of AS Roma, looks on during the Serie A match between Torino FC and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on September 14, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Gian Piero Gasperini hails Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala and Leonardo Balerdi, comparing the Argentine to Franco Baresi, as Roma ‘can measure up against the best’ with Inter next week.

The Giallorossi maintained their perfect start to the Serie A season with four wins out of four, making up for the midweek Champions League 1-1 draw away to Fenerbahce.

Donyell Malen was again on target for six goals in the opening four league matches, before Niccolò Pisilli made sure in stoppages when collapsing with cramp for the 2-0 victory away to Torino.

“It is wonderful for the fans and anyone who loves football seeing champions like Malen and Dybala working together, creating situations out of nowhere in practically every game,” Gasperini told DAZN Italia.

“Clearly, these are two players who are very talented individually, but they also complete each other as a pair. They combine beautifully to create goals in many games.”

However, it raised eyebrows when Malen was substituted quite early into the second half when it was still hanging in the balance at 1-0.

“We need to get everyone in this squad stepping up a level, it was our third game in eight days, and you can’t have players with 90 minutes that regularly,” noted Gasperini.

“If we manage to give them 20-30 minutes off, it can make a difference in the long run. We also need to get those in the wake of champions like Dybala and Malen to step up, ready to be protagonists. If we manage to do that, the whole team becomes stronger.”

There were quite a few changes to the starting XI from Istanbul, including the first starts for summer signings Leonardo Balerdi and Nahuel Molina.

“I thought we had a very good first half, even if we could’ve had more quality in the final third. Torino also introduced some fresh legs, so sometimes we must try to be a bit less attractive with our football, but more effective. That is a fundamental aspect, being able to do both,” noted the Roma coach.

“Balerdi is a very strong, modern defender, physically powerful and quick. The greatest defender of all was Franco Baresi, and I am not making comparisons here, but the way he interprets the role and participates in the game, he has those characteristics. Obviously, nobody touches Baresi, but it’s that type of defender.”

Roma are now in a strong position going into Saturday’s Serie A showdown with Champions of Italy Inter, which is already being seen as a Scudetto battle.

“We have a few days to prepare. There was a big gap between the teams last season, especially when we got hammered in the return meeting, but that was where the real Roma was born, with an escalation after that in terms of results, attitude and mentality.

“Clearly, Inter are the reference point for this league, a strong team indicated by everyone as the best in Italy, even if I think Como are getting close,” concluded Gasperini.

“It is an opportunity for us to measure up against the best and show we can do better than in recent performances.”