D’Amico: ‘Roma happy Kone stayed with us’ despite late Chelsea bid

D’Amico: ‘Roma happy Kone stayed with us’ despite late Chelsea bid Roma director Tony D’Amico explains why they rejected the late Chelsea approach for Manu Koné and tactical plans for Rodrigo Mora. ‘We’re happy he remained with us.’ The match with Atalanta kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST). You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s three Serie A games on the Liveblog. The Giallorossi have had the perfect start to this season, winning both matches 4-0 so far against Fiorentina and Lecce. D’Amico overview of Roma strategy Official: Tony D’Amico joins Roma as the club’s new sporting director following four seasons with Atalanta (@ASRoma via X) Now that the transfer window has closed, they can also begin to prepare for the opening Champions League fixture against Fenerbahce on Thursday, even if they were unable to secure that wide attacking player that Gian Piero Gasperini wanted. “Rodrigo Mora can take that role with time, we are convinced with work that he can then be able to play wide,” D’Amico told Sky Sport Italia. Official: Rodrigo Mora joins Roma on a permanent transfer from FC Porto (via www.asroma.com) Roma youth team player Emanuele Lulli starts again rather than new signing Nahuel Molina, an impressive discovery from the academy. “We are very proud of Lulli, who is dealing with the situation with great calm, and that makes the difference to be able to do that in this atmosphere. We are very happy, he spent his entire career in our youth academy, the coach doesn’t look at age, he picks whoever is in the best condition to play.” LECCE, ITALY – AUGUST 31: Emanuele Lulli of AS Roma during the Serie A match between US Lecce and AS Roma at Stadio Via del Mare on August 31, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images) Chelsea had made a big offer for France international midfielder Koné on deadline day, but it was rejected, reportedly due to a veto from coach Gasperini. “Before the Fiorentina match, I said it would be difficult for us to deprive ourselves of important players so near to the end of the transfer session, and that proved to be the case,” noted D’Amico. “Koné is an important player, we’re happy that he remained with us, and are confident that he will give his contribution during the season.” ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 10: Manu Kone with his teammates of AS Roma celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and US Sassuolo Calcio at Stadio Olimpico on January 10, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) There were concerns for Paulo Dybala and Evan Ndicka, the defender pulling out in the warm-up against Lecce, but both have shaken off muscular issues to start this evening.