Manu Koné’s night began with a call from Zinédine Zidane and, for 45 minutes in Rome, seemed to be turning into the finest performance of his career. The France midfielder struck twice against Inter on Saturday, only for Roma’s early command to dissolve in a 2-2 draw that left the two sides level at the top of Serie A.
Koné had been named in Zidane’s first France squad a day earlier and carried that confidence into one of the season’s biggest domestic fixtures. Inter had pursued the 24-year-old in each of the previous two summer transfer windows, but Roma again refused to sell him.
He answered emphatically in a first half in which Roma controlled the midfield and repeatedly found room behind the Inter defence. Koné opened the scoring after six minutes, arriving to convert Nahuel Molina’s headed lay-off with his right foot.
The second arrived in the 37th minute. Paulo Dybala’s cross travelled through the area and Koné appeared at the far post to make it 2-0, completing the first brace of his senior career.
A new attacking role under Gasperini
Koné had scored only four times across his first two seasons in the Italian capital, making his role as Roma’s leading scorer in the opening half particularly striking. Donyell Malen had entered the contest in far more prolific form, with six Serie A goals in four matches.
But Gian Piero Gasperini has encouraged his midfielders to break forward and attack open spaces, and Koné’s movement into the penalty area reflected that approach. Beyond his goals, the Frenchman impressed with his control of possession, decision-making and technical accuracy in central areas.
Roma could not maintain the same authority after the interval. Lautaro Martinez pulled one back shortly after the restart before scoring again in the 79th minute to complete Inter’s comeback.
Koné was withdrawn around the hour mark, a change that weakened Roma as Inter increased the pressure. Former Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi nevertheless produced a strong individual display against Marcus Thuram.
No fresh knee concern
Koné had experienced knee discomfort 10 days earlier during Roma’s 1-1 Champions League draw with Fenerbahçe, but there was no new injury issue against Inter.
Gasperini said the substitution was a tactical and physical management decision rather than a medical concern.
“It was my decision to take him off,” the Roma coach said. “He had begun to fade a little. He is not yet ready for 90 minutes, having gone all the way through the World Cup, and he does not yet have the physical volume he showed last season.”
Even with the late disappointment, Koné’s display offered a timely reminder of why Roma resisted Inter’s interest. His return to full rhythm could also give Zidane another option in the France midfield after a breakthrough evening under the lights at the Stadio Olimpico.
