Serie A Daily Report - 2026-08-25

Roma began their 2026-27 Serie A campaign with a 4-0 victory over Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday. Donyell Malen scored a hat-trick, with Paulo Dybala providing the assist for each of his three goals. Niccolò Pisilli completed the rout late in the match, sending Roma to the top of the early standings. The result was especially emphatic against a Fiorentina side regarded as one of the league’s more intriguing teams after a busy summer. Roma, by contrast, fielded a lineup in which six players had also started their final match of last season, when they secured Champions League qualification.

Malen and Dybala’s understanding was the defining feature of the performance. Gian Piero Gasperini described their partnership as “world-class” after the match, while Dybala led Roma for chances created, final-third passes and crosses. Malen’s treble also carried a notable statistical footnote: the last Serie A hat-trick of assists for the same team-mate came in May 2021, when Bologna’s Emanuel Vignato set up Rodrigo Palacio three times against Fiorentina. Roma could hardly have made a stronger opening statement, although the scale of the win will now raise expectations before the side’s next league assignment.

AC Milan opened their Serie A campaign with a 2-1 victory over Torino at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, giving Ruben Amorim a winning start in his first competitive match as head coach. The game was goalless at half-time before 19-year-old Alphadjo Cisse put Milan ahead in the 64th minute on his competitive Serie A debut. Adrien Rabiot doubled the visitors’ advantage two minutes later after earlier assisting Cisse, with Samuel Chukwueze involved in the second goal. Torino responded in stoppage time through Che Adams, but Milan held on to claim all three points after controlling large periods of the contest.

The result offered Milan an immediate lift following a summer of major change, including the appointment of Amorim and a reshaped club structure. Cisse’s goal was particularly significant because it gave the teenager a first senior league milestone in his opening competitive appearance. Torino threatened to undo Milan’s work late on, with Alieu Njie hitting the post before Adams reduced the deficit, but the visitors retained enough composure to protect their lead. Milan’s next challenge will be converting this narrow away success into sustained momentum, while Torino will take encouragement from the pressure they applied in the closing stages.

Jayden Oosterwolde arrived in Rome after Fenerbahce agreed to loan the 25-year-old defender to Roma with a purchase option, according to Haberler.com. The Dutchman was photographed at Ciampino International Airport before undergoing medical checks and completing the formalities of his move. Oosterwolde had been contracted to Fenerbahce, but the reported agreement gives Roma the opportunity to make the transfer permanent at a later stage. His arrival came as Roma followed up their impressive 4-0 opening-day victory over Fiorentina with further activity in the transfer market. The defender’s immediate involvement will depend on the completion of the medical and contractual process.

Oosterwolde reportedly told Turkish media, “I'm sorry, it was decided that I should leave,” a remark that prompted attention when footage from the airport showed him looking unhappy. The reaction around his arrival has therefore centred as much on his departure from Istanbul as on his move to Serie A. For Roma, the loan structure limits the initial commitment while preserving the option of a longer-term deal if the defender adapts successfully. His arrival would add another defensive choice to a squad that has already made a strong start under Gasperini.

Christopher Nkunku left AC Milan to rejoin RB Leipzig on a season-long loan that includes a purchase option, the German club announced. The 28-year-old forward previously scored 70 goals in 172 appearances during a four-year spell with Leipzig before moving on in 2023. His latest spell in Italy produced seven Serie A goals last season, while Milan missed out on Champions League qualification and entered the Europa League. Nkunku’s time at Chelsea had been disrupted by a serious knee injury, although he collected winner’s medals in the 2025 Club World Cup and Conference League before moving to Milan.

The return gives Nkunku a familiar environment in which to seek greater consistency and restores him to the club where he produced his most prolific football. Leipzig’s Champions League campaign was also a factor in the agreement, offering the France international a prominent European stage. Milan, meanwhile, have chosen to move on from a forward whose league output did not match the expectations surrounding his arrival. The purchase option means the transfer could become permanent, but for now both clubs have settled on a temporary arrangement that gives Nkunku the chance to rebuild his momentum in Germany.

Napoli have offered €16 million for Chelsea striker Marc Guiu, according to Gianluca Di Marzio, as they seek a replacement for Romelu Lukaku following his move to Fenerbahce. The 20-year-old Spaniard has reportedly become Napoli’s leading target, although Chelsea value him closer to €29m. Chelsea signed Guiu from Barcelona’s La Masia in 2024 for €6m, meaning a sale near Napoli’s offer would represent a substantial profit. Guiu made only one league start last season, and his route to regular football at Stamford Bridge has become more difficult after Chelsea added Danny Welbeck and Emmanuel Emegha.

Napoli have also opened talks with Guiu’s representatives, with the proposed move designed to provide depth behind Rasmus Hojlund. The gap between the two clubs’ valuations remains central to the negotiations, so the transfer is still being reported as a developing possibility rather than a completed deal. For Napoli, Guiu would offer a younger option in attack as the club reshapes its forward line. Chelsea must weigh an immediate fee against retaining a striker who has had limited senior opportunities but could still develop beyond his current role.

Aston Villa have entered talks with AC Milan over a possible deal for Rafael Leao, according to reports cited by Gianluca Di Marzio. GiveMeSport separately reported that Villa had made an offer for the Portugal international, while Milan’s valuation had previously been around €60 million. Leao, 27, is reportedly open to a fresh challenge and interested in Premier League football. Villa have been active in the final week of the transfer window and are considering the forward alongside other attacking targets, including Jean-Philippe Mateta. The proposed move remains subject to negotiations over the fee and the structure of any agreement.

Milan’s position could become decisive as the 1 September deadline approaches. The reports suggest their earlier valuation has softened, but Villa still need to convince the Italian club to part with a player who has been one of its principal attacking figures. For Villa, Leao would represent a major addition to a forward line being strengthened for the new campaign. Milan, who began their league season with victory at Torino, would have to assess whether a substantial late-window fee outweighed the sporting cost of losing the winger.