Como hopeful Kean will be fit for Roma clash

Donyell Malen and Wesley have recovered from injury and will be available for Roma's trip to Como on Sunday, bringing a significant boost to Gian Piero Gasperini's squad as the campaign resumes after the international break. Both players showed positive signs in training on 6 October, taking part in sessions alongside their teammates, and are now considered fit for selection. Malen's return is particularly important for Gasperini, who will be able to rely on his attacking reference point after the physical problem that sidelined him before the break. The forward is heading towards a central attacking role in the Sinigaglia fixture. Wesley, the Brazilian defender, has used the pause to recover and is also back in full availability for the coach as the league campaign restarts.

Bryan Cristante will miss Roma's trip to Como, marking an unusual absence under Gasperini who has not previously done without the midfielder through injury since his arrival. Cristante is sidelined with a knee problem but spoke at an Adidas event on Via del Corso about his recovery hopes: "I hope to get back as soon as possible. I'd like to be there from the next one but it's difficult." The target is to return for the match against Genoa and Daniele De Rossi on 17 October. Cristante, who became Roma captain last season, reflected on his role and ambitions. "It's good to wear the armband, it means I've built something important," he said. "I've learned to manage certain situations, I know the city and I move better through difficulties. In managing all moments I feel better." He added: "I hope to win more with Roma," though the word scudetto was notably absent from his remarks despite the scale of the club's aspirations.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is available again and in contention to start in the attack alongside Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala for Roma's match against Como, a fixture that could reinforce the club's title ambitions. Gasperini now has the midfielder fully recovered after positive signs during training on 6 October. Pellegrini holds an advantage over Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora because he is the only one of the three who has had no international commitments; Soulé will return just 48 hours before the Como match following Argentina's post-Messi celebration fixture, while Mora returns to Rome on 7 October afternoon after Under-21 duty. Pellegrini's availability also offers tactical flexibility to support a midfield left without Bryan Cristante. The rotation between the three attacking midfielders will be necessary given Roma's fixture schedule—Real Madrid (managed by Mourinho) and Genoa (managed by De Rossi) will arrive at the Olimpico within four days. Pellegrini's return, awaited since April following injury and a protracted contract dispute, represents a significant moment. For two months he was a free agent but chose to honour his commitment to Gasperini, halve his salary and reject offers from Juventus and Besiktas to remain in the capital. In defence, Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi compete for a place, while Marten de Roon will substitute for Cristante in midfield.

Evan N'Dicka is no longer an automatic pick at Roma, a shift underlined by competition from Leonardo Balerdi since the Argentine's arrival at Trigoria this season. The Ivorian defender, previously relied upon across multiple coaching regimes from José Mourinho to Gian Piero Gasperini, faces a genuine rival for his place — a change entirely new to his Roma experience. The two have never started together so far this season, though they have appeared in the same match during Roma's games against Fenerbahçe and Inter. Against Fenerbahçe, N'Dicka started while Balerdi entered at the 74th minute; against Inter, Balerdi started and was replaced at the 66th minute, with N'Dicka coming on at the 60th. The shift reflects both Balerdi's rapid impact with the club and the improved defensive depth now available to Gasperini — something previous coaches lacked, forcing them to stretch N'Dicka repeatedly. Though the defender has responded well overall with only occasional dips in form, this season brings a structural change. Roma have a four-day window before facing Como, who sit three points behind the Giallorossi in the table, but standings matter less than Gasperini's stated priority: finding consistency, confirming performance quality, and cementing the entire squad's ability to operate at the required level. The head coach has made clear there are no fixed hierarchies and no automatic starters, which has allowed him to rotate the defence more freely than his predecessor could — particularly when Roma attack, he can modify the back line without severely compromising the team. N'Dicka's position has not been helped by what the article describes as a condition not yet optimal and occasional minor errors. The numbers tell the story: the starting berth he held as untouchable throughout his Roma career is now genuinely contested. With Balerdi not yet back from continental travel, N'Dicka will look to the Como match to regain top form and reassert himself in Gasperini's plans, aiming to reclaim the indispensable role he has always held at the club.

Lionel Messi said goodbye to international football on the night of 7 October 2026 in an emotional ceremony at the Mas Monumental, with Argentina defeating Benin 3–0. Three Roma players were part of the Argentina squad: Leonardo Balerdi appeared on the bench, while Santiago Castro and Matías Soulé were not included in the matchday squad, though all three felt the weight of the historic moment. Castro, who has cited Messi as a direct inspiration for his love of football, posted on Instagram: "Thank you for every moment you gave us with this shirt, thank you for bringing the colours of Argentina to the highest level, thank you for never abandoning this country and for putting yourself on the front line for millions of people, thank you for making me fall in love with football and the national team, thank you for BEING ARGENTINIAN!!" Soulé, whose playing style has been shaped by studying Messi, recalled meeting his childhood idol in recent days during the national team gathering. When Soulé was 17 and had not yet made his professional debut, he met Messi and said: "I was so nervous, meeting him was a dream. I didn't want to wash my hand after shaking his." Now, six years later, Soulé has made his senior international debut — a full-circle moment for both young players who grew up watching Messi's first World Cup in 2006 as children and have now closed that chapter alongside him. Balerdi, the defender, shared a longer dressing-room history with Messi and had more opportunities to exchange words and gestures with the legend of Rosario. Nahuel Molina, who experienced football's greatest joy alongside Messi by winning the World Cup together, wrote from home: "Thank you eternally captain, you deserve all of this and much more, thank you for everything you gave Argentinians, it was a pleasure to share so many beautiful moments with you." Paulo Dybala marked the occasion more simply on social media, posting a photograph of Messi alongside the infinity symbol and the Argentina flag.

Roma have resumed training at Trigoria following a three-day break granted by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with preparations underway for Sunday's big match against Como. Gasperini has welcomed back most of the squad's international players. Italian internationals Gianluca Mancini, Daniele Ghilardi, Niccolò Pisilli and Emanuele Lulli, along with Evan N'Dicka, Konstantinos Koulierakis and young goalkeeper Giorgio De Marzi, completed recovery work. Manu Koné was expected to rejoin training today, with Rodrigo Mora to follow. Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro attended Lionel Messi's farewell celebration with the Argentine national team during the night. The three Argentina internationals are due back in Rome tomorrow, though Gasperini is likely to see them on the pitch on Friday.

Lionel Messi said goodbye to international football on the night of 7 October 2026 in an emotional ceremony at the Mas Monumental, with Argentina defeating Benin 3–0. Three Roma players were part of the Argentina squad: Leonardo Balerdi appeared on the bench, while Santiago Castro and Matías Soulé were not included in the matchday squad, though all three felt the weight of the historic moment. Castro, who has cited Messi as a direct inspiration for his love of football, posted on Instagram: "Thank you for every moment you gave us with this shirt, thank you for bringing the colours of Argentina to the highest level, thank you for never abandoning this country and for putting yourself on the front line for millions of people, thank you for making me fall in love with football and the national team, thank you for BEING ARGENTINIAN!!" Soulé, whose playing style has been shaped by studying Messi, recalled meeting his childhood idol in recent days during the national team gathering. When Soulé was 17 and had not yet made his professional debut, he met Messi and said: "I was so nervous, meeting him was a dream. I didn't want to wash my hand after shaking his." Now, six years later, Soulé has made his senior international debut — a full-circle moment for both young players who grew up watching Messi's first World Cup in 2006 as children and have now closed that chapter alongside him. Balerdi, the defender, shared a longer dressing-room history with Messi and had more opportunities to exchange words and gestures with the legend of Rosario. Nahuel Molina, who experienced football's greatest joy alongside Messi by winning the World Cup together, wrote from home: "Thank you eternally captain, you deserve all of this and much more, thank you for everything you gave Argentinians, it was a pleasure to share so many beautiful moments with you." Paulo Dybala marked the occasion more simply on social media, posting a photograph of Messi alongside the infinity symbol and the Argentina flag.

Roma have resumed training at Trigoria following a three-day break granted by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with preparations underway for Sunday's big match against Como. Gasperini has welcomed back most of the squad's international players. Italian internationals Gianluca Mancini, Daniele Ghilardi, Niccolò Pisilli and Emanuele Lulli, along with Evan N'Dicka, Konstantinos Koulierakis and young goalkeeper Giorgio De Marzi, completed recovery work. Manu Koné was expected to rejoin training today, with Rodrigo Mora to follow. Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro attended Lionel Messi's farewell celebration with the Argentine national team during the night. The three Argentina internationals are due back in Rome tomorrow, though Gasperini is likely to see them on the pitch on Friday.

Lionel Messi scored and provided two assists as Argentina closed out his 21-year international career with a 3–0 friendly victory over Benin at the Monumental stadium in front of over 85,000 supporters. Messi was visibly moved during the celebrations. Nicolás Otamendi opened the scoring at 48 minutes from a Messi assist, Nico Paz doubled the lead at 61 minutes also from the captain's pass, and Messi himself converted a penalty at 71 minutes—his 126th and final goal for the Selección. The match ended his playing journey that included victory at the 2022 World Cup and two Copa América titles across 208 appearances. Three AS Roma players took no part in Messi's farewell. Leonardo Balerdi remained on the bench for the full 90 minutes, while Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro were not included in the squad at all. Both Soulé and Castro had made their senior debuts for Argentina in the earlier friendly against Burkina Faso. The international break now concludes for the Roma trio, and they return to Trigoria ahead of the squad's trip to Como on Sunday. Gian Piero Gasperini will prepare them for that fixture. For Soulé and Castro, the break marked the realisation of a significant milestone—their first appearances for the national team.