Argentina appeals to FIFA for reduction in Molina's suspension

Radio Roma commentators weighed in on Bryan Cristante's fitness and Roma's upcoming fixtures. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said Cristante has inflammation of the knee that he has been managing for several days and believes the midfielder will be carefully managed ahead of a demanding run of matches. Torri predicted Matías Soulé will play against Como, Rodrigo Mora will start in the Real Madrid fixture, and Lorenzo Pellegrini should begin to regain match sharpness after time out, adding that Como is a more important match than Real Madrid. Marco Valerio Rossomando, also of Manà Manà Sport, echoed the concern: if Cristante does not play against Como it will be because he is genuinely unwell. With matches coming in quick succession, there is a risk of him missing several games. Rossomando noted that throughout his career Cristante has never suffered a prolonged absence, describing him as "like a machine that has 300,000 kilometres on it". Alessandro Antinelli of Tele Radio Stereo commented separately on Roma's potential new stadium, saying the ground is a strong candidate to host matches at Euro 2032 if construction begins in spring, and praised the project for its potential to regenerate an area of Rome and create jobs.

Bryan Cristante has been ruled out for approximately two to three weeks after sustaining a knee injury during the international break, leaving Roma without a key midfielder for the upcoming Serie A fixture and threatening his availability for the Champions League clash against Real Madrid. Cristante had remained at Roma's training ground during the international break due to a lower back problem, but developed a fresh injury this week. What initially appeared to be simple inflammation proved more serious upon further assessment. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will be without the midfielder for Como's visit on Sunday, 11 October at 12:30, and his recovery timeline casts serious doubt over his participation in Roma's Champions League meeting with Real Madrid on Wednesday, 14 October at 21:00 at the Olimpico. Roma's medical staff will monitor and re-evaluate Cristante's condition in the coming days. The injury compounds Roma's injury concerns during a critical period of the season, with back-to-back fixtures in Serie A and Europe requiring full squad depth.

With a long international break giving Roma players downtime, the squad has been pursuing a diverse range of hobbies away from the pitch. Wesley has garnered attention for his collection of luxury cars stored in his garage, a sight that prompted teammate Soulé to make a quip about his fellow defender's automotive passion. The Brazilian is far from alone in his interests: Manu Koné, the French midfielder, describes himself as a homebody who loves spending his days resting at home, driven by an unconditional passion for French rap and trap music. His dancing and musical performances have become iconic within the group. Mario Hermoso prefers to listen to music by the pool and at the beach, his two great loves, and has recently become involved in the social ritual of mate preparation alongside Argentine players Dybala, Soulé, Balerdi, Castro and Molina. The traditional infusion travels everywhere with them, from long team bus journeys to sessions at Trigoria, serving not simply as a beverage but as a way to unwind and chat. Evan N'Dicka has revealed a strong attraction to architecture and art, appreciating Rome's historical richness during his leisure time and regularly reading history books at home. Marten de Roon curates his social media and seeks out food and wine experiences, while Mile Svilar dedicates considerable time to work with his mental coach before matches, regularly practising visualisation and breathing exercises to train self-control.

With a long international break giving Roma players downtime, the squad has been pursuing a diverse range of hobbies away from the pitch. Wesley has garnered attention for his collection of luxury cars stored in his garage, a sight that prompted teammate Soulé to make a quip about his fellow defender's automotive passion. The Brazilian is far from alone in his interests: Manu Koné, the French midfielder, describes himself as a homebody who loves spending his days resting at home, driven by an unconditional passion for French rap and trap music. His dancing and musical performances have become iconic within the group. Mario Hermoso prefers to listen to music by the pool and at the beach, his two great loves, and has recently become involved in the social ritual of mate preparation alongside Argentine players Dybala, Soulé, Balerdi, Castro and Molina. The traditional infusion travels everywhere with them, from long team bus journeys to sessions at Trigoria, serving not simply as a beverage but as a way to unwind and chat. Evan N'Dicka has revealed a strong attraction to architecture and art, appreciating Rome's historical richness during his leisure time and regularly reading history books at home. Marten de Roon curates his social media and seeks out food and wine experiences, while Mile Svilar dedicates considerable time to work with his mental coach before matches, regularly practising visualisation and breathing exercises to train self-control.

The Argentine Football Association has reportedly filed an appeal to reduce Nahuel Molina's suspension from seven matches to three following the fracas at the end of the World Cup. If successful, the Roma defender could return to Scaloni's squad as early as the November international break. Molina and Paulo Dybala did not travel for Argentina's final match with Messi, with Roma citing sporting and logistical reasons ahead of the Como away fixture. Former Roma academy product Riccardo Pagano, now at Cesena, reflected on his years at Trigoria. "I entered as a child. It wasn't easy to leave, but the moment had come," he said. Pagano recalled a key moment under José Mourinho: "After my retirement he called me into his office and told me: 'From now on you'll be permanently in the first team, you'll be one of us. I really liked you.'" He also spoke warmly of his bond with Luigi Cherubini: "We practically grew up together; we speak every day." Meanwhile, Rome's City Assessor for Urban Planning Maurizio Veloccia provided an update on Roma's new stadium project. He described it as "one of the most beautiful projects ever built in Italy, with sustainable materials and innovations linked to energy and the recovery of natural resources." Public works to ensure safe access and egress will cost approximately €100 million, entirely borne by the club. In total, "Roma will invest €1.5 billion," while the municipality will reinvest several tens of millions in the area and approximately €180 million on Line B metro signalling systems.

Paulo Dybala has reflected on September with an Instagram carousel celebrating family moments, gym work, and his bond with AS Roma. The number 21 featured pictures of his family alongside two gym shots and a candid photo of Nahuel Molina holding a grape in Trigoria's dining room. Molina responded with humour: "Grazie per l'uva amico" (Thanks for the grape, friend), while teammate Santiago Castro joked in the comments, "Uvita Molina" (little grape Molina). The final post captured the spirit of Dybala's month—a banner unfurled by the Curva Sud before Roma's match against Inter, reading: "Chi ha al suo fianco un intero popolo non può temere alcun ostacolo. Non esitate davanti a niente, forza ragazzi, combattete per la vostra gente" (Whoever has an entire people at his side need not fear any obstacle. Do not hesitate before anything, come on boys, fight for your people). Dybala has started every match in September under Gasperini, underscoring his importance to the squad. The photograph of the Curva Sud's message revealed the Argentine's leadership role and his personal identification with Roma's supporters. His September posts demonstrate both his commitment to physical preparation and his deep emotional connection to the club and its fanbase.