Roma Lead Serie A After Five Rounds as Juventus Move for Free Agent Goalkeeper Neto
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Roma sit top of Serie A on 13 points after five rounds, level with Inter and Lazio, following a 2-2 draw at Inter in which Manu Kone scored twice before Lautaro Martinez replied with a brace of his own. Gian Piero Gasperini's side had opened the season with four straight wins, including a victory over Torino, and Corriere dello Sport reports the head coach has told his squad the table "counts after twenty matches" rather than five.
Juventus are finalising the signing of free agent goalkeeper Neto on a one-year contract, according to Gianluca Di Marzio, brought in to cover for the injured Filip Grabara. The 37-year-old Brazilian returns to Turin nine years after leaving for Valencia in 2017, having previously served as Gianluigi Buffon's back-up and won five trophies during his first spell at the club.
Fiorentina drew 1-1 with Napoli at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on 20 September, taking a point off a Napoli side still working through a heavy run of injuries under Antonio Conte's successor. The result continued the recovery under new head coach Paolo Vanoli after his side's disastrous start to the campaign.
AC Milan want midfielder Adrien Rabiot to commit to a new long-term contract that could see him finish his career at San Siro, according to Football Italia.
Transfer and squad notes
Italy have called up Alessandro Romano for his senior international debut against Belgium in the Nations League on Friday, a reward for his form in Serie A this season.
What it means for the league
Roma's position at the summit, built on Gasperini's insistence on squad continuity after past disagreements with players such as Cristante, Wesley and Malen, gives the club its strongest start in years even as the coach downplays the significance of an early lead. Juventus' move for Neto reflects a squad still patching over goalkeeping injuries rather than pursuing marquee reinforcements, while Fiorentina's point against Napoli suggests Vanoli's rebuild is gradually taking hold after a chaotic opening month to the season.