3) Daniele De Rossi – The veteran midfielder was linked with a move away from Roma throughout the summer but he decided to stay on. Roma fans will be glad he did for his impact in the middle of the park is still quality. He does most of the defensive dirty work: intercepting passes, putting in blocks, breaking up opposition attacks. His ball distribution and offensive play also cannot be faulted, even though his end product is minimal; he has only scored one Serie A goal this season. But his game isn’t about scoring goals or notching up assists. It’s about doing the defensive work in midfield; and he has done that perfectly.
4) Mehdi Benatia – The Moroccan defender was brought in during the the summer transfer window and has proved to be an excellent signing. Roma have only conceded one goal in nine games so far this season and a lot of that is down to the displays that Benatia has put in at the heart of their defence. His excellent reading of the game as well as his ability to put in tackles as well as winning balls in the air have seen him quickly become an important player for Roma.