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Dybala and Molina to attend Messi farewell: Gasperini imposes no veto, but club weighs logistics ahead of Como clash
·26 September 2026·45d ago

Dybala and Molina to attend Messi farewell: Gasperini imposes no veto, but club weighs logistics ahead of Como clash

Source: Roma News

Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina have received special invitations to Lionel Messi's farewell celebration with Argentina at the Monumental in Buenos Aires, joining squad mates Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro who have been officially called up. Roma faces a significant logistical challenge: the journey involves more than 22,000 kilometres, over 26 hours of flight time and a double time-zone adjustment, all to be absorbed within days of the fixture against Como.

Dybala and Molina, as 2022 World Cup winners with Argentina, have been invited to honour Messi's final appearance for the national team. For both players the occasion carries immense personal significance. However, the physical and mental toll of such demanding travel shortly before a Serie A match has prompted serious concern at Roma's headquarters. The situation is complicated further by Molina's seven-match suspension following events from the World Cup final against Spain on 19 July. Coach Giampiero Gasperini has not imposed a veto on the players' attendance, though he shares the club's concerns about the impact on their condition. The final decision will be made in discussions between the club, coaching staff and players in the coming days, with Dybala and Molina expected to return between 8 and 9 October.

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Story Coverage2 sources on this story

AS Roma's Argentine pair Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina face an uncertain future regarding attendance at Lionel Messi's farewell match with Argentina at the Monumental in Buenos Aires. Both players have received special invitations to honour Messi's final appearance, despite neither being included in Argentina manager Scaloni's official squad call-up. The decision carries weight for both 2022 World Cup winners, for whom the occasion holds immense personal significance.

The core obstacle is logistical and sporting. The journey demands more than 22,000 kilometres and over 26 hours of flight time, alongside a double time-zone adjustment—all to be managed within days of Roma's Serie A fixture against Como, scheduled five days after the international fixture window closes. Forza Roma reports that the club has already decided both players will remain at Trigoria training ground rather than travel. However, Roma News indicates the situation remains unresolved, with coach Giampiero Gasperini having imposed no veto but the club weighing serious concerns about physical and mental toll ahead of the Como clash. The outlets differ on whether a final decision has been made. Roma News adds that Molina faces a complicating factor: a seven-match suspension from events following the World Cup final against Spain on 19 July. The players and club are expected to reach a final decision in coming days, with any returnees anticipated between 8 and 9 October.

AI synthesis of all sources below — always check the originals.

Testo Originale / Source Text

“La festa d’addio di Lionel Messi all’Argentina accende l’emozione dei campioni del mondo, ma a Trigoria rischia di trasformarsi in un vero caso logistico e diplomatico. Tra convocazioni ufficiali e inviti speciali per i reduci del Qatar, la Roma è il club italiano più coinvolto, e questo crea più…”

Read the full article in Italian at Roma News.

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