Roma closing in on returns of Koné and Dovbyk

Fiorentina have announced that striker Moise Kean will miss the Serie A match against Roma at the Olimpico on Monday 4 May. The club's leading scorer will be absent due to a combination of a tibia injury and family reasons. Fiorentina granted Kean permission to be away from the squad between 1 and 4 May. Kean's absence represents a significant blow to Fiorentina's attacking options for the fixture against Roma. The striker had already been considered doubtful due to his ongoing physical problem. During his time away, Kean will continue his rehabilitation programme in Florence, with therapeutic treatment scheduled to resume on Tuesday 5 May at 10:30. Fiorentina's official statement confirmed: "ACF Fiorentina announces that player Moise Kean has been granted permission by the club for family reasons. The player will be absent from 1 to 4 May and, during his absence, will continue his rehabilitation process to recover from his current physical issue. Kean will continue his therapeutic programme in Florence on Tuesday 5 May at 10:30."

Bryan Zaragoza will miss Roma's upcoming match against Fiorentina after sustaining a knee inflammation during Wednesday's training session. The Spanish winger, on loan from Bayern Munich, has been used sparingly by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini this season. His absence means Manu Koné, who returned to group training yesterday, is expected to be available for the fixture on Monday evening against the Viola. Roma has already decided not to exercise the €13 million option to sign Zaragoza permanently, and he will return to Bayern Munich at the end of the season. The decision to forgo the buyout clause reflects his limited impact during his time at the club under Gasperini's management. Meanwhile, the squad has also been dealing with other injury concerns this month, though Koné's return represents a boost to available options for the Fiorentina encounter.

Bryan Zaragoza has suffered an injury issue during training at AS Roma. The winger reported a problem after the day's session, adding to the club's mounting injury concerns. Details of the specific nature and severity of the injury remain unclear at this stage. The setback comes amid a difficult period for Roma, with the squad facing further availability challenges as the season progresses.

In a Copa Sudamericana match between Gremio and Palestino, striker Vinicius missed three consecutive penalties, drawing comparisons to recent Roma failures. The match ended 0–0. The incident echoes the penalty misfortunes Roma experienced in their Europa League match against Lille, where Artem Dovbyk missed two penalties and Matías Soulé missed one, with Roma ultimately losing at home. For Roma fans, the comparison highlights the ongoing challenge of converting penalty opportunities. Dovbyk and Soulé, both current Roma players, struggled with spot-kicks in European competition, while the broader football community has seen similar sequences of missed penalties across different competitions and clubs. Vinicius, a former player at Tottenham, Benfica, and briefly at Napoli, has now joined the list of attackers to miss multiple penalties in succession. The incident underscores how penalty conversion remains a critical factor in competitive matches across different leagues and competitions.

Roma-focused radio commentary has surfaced criticism of striker Artem Dovbyk's recent performances, while observers have directed frustration at ownership decisions by the Friedkin Group. Separately, finding a sporting director for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is described as a complicated mission. One commentator expressed confidence in Gasperini's judgment regarding player recruitment, suggesting trust in potential moves like that of Summerville. The exact details of which departures or arrivals are under discussion remain unclear.

Artem Dovbyk will travel to Finland this weekend for final medical clearance before returning to action following January surgery on his left thigh. The Ukrainian striker has been working separately at Roma's training ground during the team's preparation for upcoming fixtures. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini is targeting Dovbyk's return to the squad for matches against Parma and the Derby della Capitale, though the exact timeline remains under review. Meanwhile, Gasperini has regained midfielder Manu Koné, who returned to full training after six weeks out with injury and will be included in the squad for Roma's match against Fiorentina on Monday at the Olimpico. El Aynaoui is unavailable for that fixture due to suspension. Lorenzo Pellegrini also worked separately during training but is expected to feature in upcoming matches. Defender Çelik underwent tests for a right flexor issue, with details of his availability remaining unclear. Roma's medical staff continue monitoring the squad ahead of the busy fixture schedule.