Roma injury update ahead of Verona clash: Koné targets return, Pellegrini doubt

AS Roma has five days to prepare for a crucial Champions League qualification match against Hellas Verona on Sunday at 20:45. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is working to get midfielder Manu Koné fit in time after the French player completed individual field work during training on Tuesday. Koné is considered the injury concern with the best chance of returning for the Verona fixture. However, Gasperini will definitely be without Wesley, who is suspended following a red card in the derby, and Ndicka, who is unavailable for at least a month due to injury. Pellegrini, Venturino, and Zaragoza remain absent from group training and their participation in the away trip to Verona is very unlikely. The injuries have depleted Roma's options as the team pursues the points needed to secure European football next season. Koné's personal training regimen suggests he is being carefully managed ahead of what could be a decisive final match of the campaign.

AS Roma face mounting injury and suspension concerns ahead of their match at Verona. Ndicka has suffered a second-degree right hamstring injury with a recovery timeline of approximately one month, ruling him out of the Verona fixture and raising doubts about his participation in the World Cup. Wesley is suspended and risks a two-match ban following the derby, forcing head coach Gasperini to restructure the defence. Celik will cover the right flank while Rensch operates on the opposite side, with Ghilardi—recently returned from a season at Hellas Verona—competing to replace Ndicka alongside Mancini and Hermoso. The injury toll extends further into Roma's midfield. Koné missed the derby due to a muscular problem and trained separately as the squad resumed work, with low odds of starting at Bentegodi. Pellegrini remained sidelined from the derby because of inflammation around his biceps scar and is listed as doubtful, though he is determined to feature given World Cup considerations. Venturino also carries injury risk with knee inflammation. Paulo Dybala is confirmed to lead the attack alongside Malen, with Bryan Cristante and Niccolò Pisilli providing midfield stability. If Koné cannot feature, either El Aynaoui or Matías Soulé will step into the lineup.

Gian Piero Gasperini has achieved a rare milestone in Roma's recent history by winning both of his first two derby matches against SS Lazio in his inaugural season. The victories—a 1–0 win with a goal from Lorenzo Pellegrini in the first meeting and a recent match featuring a double from Gianluca Mancini—make Gasperini only the second coach to accomplish this feat in Roma's last 50 years, following Claudio Ranieri (2009–10). Across all of Roma's history, only six other managers have matched this achievement. The accomplishment represents a dramatic turnaround for Gasperini's standing at the club. A year after facing significant criticism and a controversial banner from supporters, the coach has now won over the Roma fanbase. The city has rallied behind him, particularly following recent off-field turbulence. Gasperini has evolved from the combative figure known during his time at Bergamo into a composed manager conscious of the pressures and expectations that come with managing one of Italian football's biggest clubs. In separate squad news, defender Ndicka has suffered a muscle injury and will miss the upcoming match against Verona, which is scheduled for Sunday at 20:45. The fixture marks Roma's final game of the season.

Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract situation at Roma continues to be a sensitive issue for the club. The midfielder's deal is set to expire, leaving his future uncertain. Al-Hilal, managed by Inzaghi, is reportedly considering a move for Pellegrini as a free agent, viewing the opportunity to acquire him without a transfer fee. Pellegrini remains a key figure in Roma's midfield plans, but the expiring contract creates a window for interested clubs. The potential interest from Saudi Arabia adds another dimension to contract negotiations at the Giallorossi, with the coming months likely to prove decisive in determining whether the Rome-born midfielder extends his stay or moves elsewhere.

AS Roma has five days to prepare for a crucial Champions League qualification match against Hellas Verona on Sunday at 20:45. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is working to get midfielder Manu Koné fit in time after the French player completed individual field work during training on Tuesday. Koné is considered the injury concern with the best chance of returning for the Verona fixture. However, Gasperini will definitely be without Wesley, who is suspended following a red card in the derby, and Ndicka, who is unavailable for at least a month due to injury. Pellegrini, Venturino, and Zaragoza remain absent from group training and their participation in the away trip to Verona is very unlikely. The injuries have depleted Roma's options as the team pursues the points needed to secure European football next season. Koné's personal training regimen suggests he is being carefully managed ahead of what could be a decisive final match of the campaign.

AS Roma face mounting injury and suspension concerns ahead of their match at Verona. Ndicka has suffered a second-degree right hamstring injury with a recovery timeline of approximately one month, ruling him out of the Verona fixture and raising doubts about his participation in the World Cup. Wesley is suspended and risks a two-match ban following the derby, forcing head coach Gasperini to restructure the defence. Celik will cover the right flank while Rensch operates on the opposite side, with Ghilardi—recently returned from a season at Hellas Verona—competing to replace Ndicka alongside Mancini and Hermoso. The injury toll extends further into Roma's midfield. Koné missed the derby due to a muscular problem and trained separately as the squad resumed work, with low odds of starting at Bentegodi. Pellegrini remained sidelined from the derby because of inflammation around his biceps scar and is listed as doubtful, though he is determined to feature given World Cup considerations. Venturino also carries injury risk with knee inflammation. Paulo Dybala is confirmed to lead the attack alongside Malen, with Bryan Cristante and Niccolò Pisilli providing midfield stability. If Koné cannot feature, either El Aynaoui or Matías Soulé will step into the lineup.