Balerdi: I'm very happy at Roma, want to stay calm and humble

Matías Soulé has backed Lionel Messi as the leading candidate for the 2026 Ballon d'Or after being called up to Argentina's squad during the international break. The Roma forward was intercepted by journalists upon his arrival in South America and asked for his assessment of Messi's candidacy for the award. Soulé told ESPN: "He deserves it for everything he did at the World Cup. The truth is he's a phenomenon. I don't know if he'll win it or not, but while he plays he will always be the number one candidate." Soulé has made an impressive start to the 2026-27 season with Roma and earned his place among Argentina's latest international call-ups.

Leonardo Balerdi has reclaimed his place in the Argentina national squad after being forced to miss the last World Cup through injury. The Roma centre-back, who has made a strong start to the season with the club, spoke to reporters on his arrival in his home country, saying: "I had a huge desire to come back. That's why returning here represents a new challenge for me and I have to face it in the right way." His comments underscored his disappointment at the absence from the World Cup, which he was unable to attend due to a calf injury to his right leg. The 25-year-old has impressed Roma during the opening weeks of the 2026–27 campaign. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has drawn comparisons between Balerdi and Franco Baresi, though Balerdi was quick to clarify the context of those remarks. Balerdi said: "They changed the sense of the words a bit. He was referring mainly to the characteristics that Baresi had. I stay calm, humble and continue with my path." He also praised his integration at Roma, noting the presence of fellow Argentine players has aided his transition. "Rome welcomed me very well. There are Argentine lads, which has helped me a lot. The truth is I'm very happy—I really wanted to play in Serie A," he said. Bareldi expressed enthusiasm about Messi's final appearance for Argentina, saying: "I wanted to be here for this too. To be here, at an important moment for Leo. For us he's the maximum example, being here is the best thing that could have happened to me." He also paid tribute to Otamendi's influence as a senior defender and reflected on a recent match against Lautaro: "I already knew him, so I knew it would be complicated and it was, but it was a great match."

Roma's players on loan across Europe experienced a mixed week of midweek and league fixtures. Neil El Aynaoui performed well for RB Leipzig despite a 2–0 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, completing 31 of 34 passes and winning 8 of 14 duels while receiving a yellow card in the 74th minute. His statistical rating reached 7.2, among Leipzig's best performances. Anass Salah-Eddine made a convincing debut for Panathinaikos in a Greek Cup tie against Kifisia, playing all 90 minutes on the left flank in a 2–0 victory. FotMob rated him 7.3 for a clean display as Panathinaikos dominated with 71 per cent possession in the first half. By contrast, Angeliño's week at Deportivo La Coruña ended disastrously: he was sent off for a challenge on Miguel Sierra in the 59th minute of a midweek fixture against Sevilla—initially given a yellow card before the VAR review led to a direct red—leaving his side to lose 1–0 already down in the scoreline. Statistical ratings gave him just 5.7, and Deportivo manager Hidalgo noted how the expulsion undermined the team's comeback effort. Angeliño subsequently missed the following 1–1 draw against Betis through suspension. Mohamed Seck at Foggia produced sharply contrasting displays within days. Playing 90 minutes in a goalless midweek draw against Savoia, he was identified as Foggia's best performer, winning nearly every duel against opposing attackers. Coach Auteri retained him for the next match against Inter U23, but this time his form dipped noticeably. Foggia lost 2–1, and a careless passing error by Seck enabled the decisive goal from Fumagalli. Foggiacalciomania rated him 5.5, noting good physical condition but a costly mistake. The week illustrated the growth trajectory of a defender aged just 20, with evident talent and physicality that must be coupled with fewer lapses in concentration. Elsewhere, Federico Nardin at Pescara played the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 midweek draw against Gubbio, earning ratings of 6 and 6.9 for personality and reliability despite some refinements needed, but sat out the subsequent 1–0 win at Vado. Filippo Reale completed 90 minutes for Carrarese in a 1–0 home defeat to Benevento, earning 6 and 6.7 ratings for an orderly display, while Luigi Cherubini entered at the 77th minute for Benevento and struck the post with a close chance in the 83rd. Radoslaw Zelezny, Perugia's goalkeeper, conceded five goals across two matches but received ratings of 6 in both a 3–0 home loss to Spezia and a 2–0 away defeat at Grosseto, with no clear responsibility on most goals. Robinio Vaz at Hull City entered off the bench in the 78th minute during a 2–1 loss at Newcastle after more than ten minutes without notable incident, marking his second consecutive Premier League appearance. Marash Kumbulla remained unused at Rayo Vallecano despite being named in squads for a 2–1 win against Espanyol and a 1–1 draw at Osasuna. Jan Ziolkowski has not returned to action for Monza, continuing recovery from plantar fasciitis. Artem Dovbyk spent another week without playing time at Bologna.

Leonardo Balerdi has reclaimed his place in the Argentina national squad after being forced to miss the last World Cup through injury. The Roma centre-back, who has made a strong start to the season with the club, spoke to reporters on his arrival in his home country, saying: "I had a huge desire to come back. That's why returning here represents a new challenge for me and I have to face it in the right way." His comments underscored his disappointment at the absence from the World Cup, which he was unable to attend due to a calf injury to his right leg. The 25-year-old has impressed Roma during the opening weeks of the 2026–27 campaign. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has drawn comparisons between Balerdi and Franco Baresi, though Balerdi was quick to clarify the context of those remarks. Balerdi said: "They changed the sense of the words a bit. He was referring mainly to the characteristics that Baresi had. I stay calm, humble and continue with my path." He also praised his integration at Roma, noting the presence of fellow Argentine players has aided his transition. "Rome welcomed me very well. There are Argentine lads, which has helped me a lot. The truth is I'm very happy—I really wanted to play in Serie A," he said. Bareldi expressed enthusiasm about Messi's final appearance for Argentina, saying: "I wanted to be here for this too. To be here, at an important moment for Leo. For us he's the maximum example, being here is the best thing that could have happened to me." He also paid tribute to Otamendi's influence as a senior defender and reflected on a recent match against Lautaro: "I already knew him, so I knew it would be complicated and it was, but it was a great match."

Gianluca Mancini has become the subject of fierce criticism on social media after losing possession 50 metres from goal in Roma's recent match against Inter, a mistake that led to Lautaro Martinez scoring to reopen the contest. The backlash has been swift and unforgiving, with supporters on social networks reversing their judgment of a player they had celebrated for his derby heroics, his displays of the Roma flag to the Curva Sud, and his willingness to cut his salary to remain at the club. The shift in sentiment mirrors a broader contemporary football phenomenon: judgement rendered from the armchair, divorced from the physical realities of elite sport. The article notes that Mancini's mistake, while real, did not directly assist Inter's goal—the team had to develop the play further before Martinez finished with a technical strike. Beyond that single error, his display against Inter was not disastrous. A week earlier, at Turin, Mancini had been among Roma's best performers; in the 93rd minute, with the team defending a narrow advantage and several players exhausted, he fought on the sideline and contributed the decisive work in the build-up to Niccolò Pisilli's goal that made it 2–0. In seven days, he has moved from catalyst to liability in the court of online opinion. The article invokes a point made by Daniele De Rossi: "From the armchair everyone is good. Because from the armchair there is no tiredness, pressure, preventive marking, seventy metres covered in transition, heavy legs or opponents earning millions precisely because they know how to exploit mistakes." Mancini may indeed be fatigued; recent displays have offered subtle signs. With the arrival of Leonardo Balerdi and Konstantinos Koulierakis, coach Gian Piero Gasperini now has defensive alternatives and the freedom to rotate. The article emphasises that Gasperini, not social media, must decide whether Mancini plays less—and that decision should come from observing him in training and matches, not from a frozen frame posted on social media. The difference between critiquing an error and declaring a player suddenly incapable remains meaningful, the article concludes, "at least until the next match."

Twelve Roma players have been called up to their respective national teams during the international break, leaving Trigoria semi-empty: Ghilardi, Mancini, Balerdi, Soulé, Castro, Mora, Pisilli, Lulli, De Marzi, Koné, N'Dicka and Koulierakis will join their countries. Bryan Cristante, Donyell Malen and Wesley will remain in Rome, though their physical problems are not causing concern and they are expected to be available for the return fixture against Como. The extended pause—roughly twenty days of useful preparation—will allow many players to recover and recharge before a demanding run of fixtures begins. Marten de Roon, who arrived at the club in the closing stages of the transfer window, stands to benefit significantly from the break. The midfielder is not yet at full fitness and has yet to start a match under Gasperini, partly due to the coach's reluctance to rotate and partly because he accumulated zero minutes in his first two appearances under Sarri at Bergamo over the summer. De Roon is an established Gasperini player who understands the manager's tactical demands, and he is gradually carving out space in the Roma squad. The upcoming international break will provide crucial recovery time before the club faces an intense fixture schedule after the Como match, when the depth of the full squad will be needed.