At the Olimpico, a meeting between Roma and Inter became a study in contrasting midfield evenings. Manu Koné took control for Roma, scoring twice against the champions and leaving a clear mark on the contest, while Curtis Jones endured a difficult first start for Inter. One performance strengthened the value Roma placed on keeping their French midfielder; the other was a reminder that Inter’s new project still requires patience.
The coach and the club
Gian Piero Gasperini’s preparation gave Roma a forceful presence in the centre of the pitch. The pressure around Jones was organised and persistent, and Koné benefited from a match played at his rhythm. The former Borussia Mönchengladbach player was influential well beyond his two goals, controlling midfield for much of the evening before his departure was felt by Roma.
Koné had not arrived with a reputation as a regular scorer, which made his first Roma double all the more significant. His two strikes helped shape the occasion and underlined his importance in a side that had already fought to retain him.
Jones, by contrast, struggled to find his place in the match. Inter’s midfielder could not establish the connections or assertiveness he had shown as a substitute against Udinese on the previous Monday, or in his start against Real Madrid. This was an unsuccessful night rather than a verdict on his future, but it was an uncomfortable one in the stadium of a player Inter had once hoped to sign.
A deal that never became reality
Inter had identified Koné as a priority addition in the summer of 2025 and retained that interest into the following summer. The clubs had reached the outline of an agreement that would have taken him to Milan, only for the move to collapse amid a strong reaction from Roma supporters.
The supporters’ response made clear to the Friedkin ownership that selling Koné would be deeply unpopular. Roma kept him, and the Olimpico match offered an emphatic illustration of why his departure had been resisted.
Jones was never a Roma target, so the two players were not close to exchanging shirts in any direct sense. Yet Inter’s pursuit of the Englishman followed their failure to bring Koné to San Siro. Cristian Chivu has long admired Jones and sees him as a player capable of supplying qualities missing from Inter’s central department.
Inter’s faith in Jones remains
Inter committed heavily to Jones even while making choices elsewhere in the squad. The club were prepared to limit spending in other areas, including goalkeeping after Pepo Martinez was installed as first choice, in order to strengthen the midfield with a profile Chivu values.
For that reason, one difficult performance in Rome will not alter the club’s conviction. Koné won this particular confrontation with authority, while Jones was unable to influence it. Across a long Serie A season, however, Inter believe their new midfielder has time and full backing to recover his footing.
