Dybala on track for Cagliari return after calf scare

Roma are reportedly preparing to strengthen the January transfer window after a severe injury crisis left Gian Piero Gasperini with a severely depleted squad ahead of the trip to Napoli. Il Messaggero reports that the absences of Pellegrini and Dybala, along with Svilar and Koné, have created a genuine emergency at the club, and the club is expected to spend heavily to give the coach at least two reinforcements between attack and the flanks. Gasperini is being forced to reshape the attacking midfield with only Mora and Soulé behind Malen, and has even considered moving Cristante forward. Gittens and Leweling remain on the club's shortlist, without ruling out the appealing but complicated pursuit of Endrick. On the left flank, Barcelona full-back Alejandro Balde has emerged as a major new name. He has been finding limited game time under Flick, and has been put forward by agent Jorge Mendes. His name joins that of Oosterwolde, and Roma hope to conclude signings of real quality to stay competitive and keep their season ambitions alive.

Paulo Dybala's right calf has shown a clear improvement and the discomfort has almost disappeared, good news for Gian Piero Gasperini. The Argentine could return to the bench as early as Tuesday against Cagliari, possibly for a late cameo. The initial target had been the Udinese-Roma fixture, but the recovery could therefore be brought forward. Gasperini is hoping to have him back as soon as possible following the injury to Lorenzo Pellegrini. Roma are also being talked up as genuine title contenders. Former defender Zago believes the club are fully in the race for the Scudetto, saying: "It is a strong team in every department and, together with Inter, it is the favourite for the Scudetto." He has also praised Gasperini, saying: "He has brought a winning mentality. I consider him one of the three best coaches of recent years." Zago's view is that the side can get something from the trip to Napoli, where Roma face a Napoli side in the league, given the way they have been playing recently: "If Roma play the way they have been lately, they can pull it off." The flash column, which gathers short news items, rumours, anecdotes and behind-the-scenes details from across the Giallorossi world, is published on Friday 23 October 2026. The report on Dybala's fitness comes from Corriere dello Sport, while Zago's comments were reported by Il Tempo.

Roma's squad depth and the fitness of key players dominated the club's radio debate, after Lorenzo Pellegrini picked up a new injury that will keep him out for a long spell. Carina, speaking on Radio Radio, said Pellegrini had been back at a high level and that the injury was a real blow. "Gasperini had talked about 20 days for Pellegrini: this injury is a real setback. He had come on very well, he played a very good half hour at Como and also against Slovan. Now the problem is that Roma have a squad that is qualitatively important, but numerically it is missing something. Roma arrive in Napoli with 16 outfield players: 11 plus 5 substitutions, and they play every three days. And you know you have a coach like Gasperini who brings these muscle injury problems with him. If you know he is that type of coach, the squad must be 22, not 20." Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio, focused on the attack. He said Matías Soulé was improving but needed to step up his level, and asked what role Santiago Castro could play, as he could now be the alternative. He felt Rodrigo Mora was too far behind, and said Roma had to hope Donyell Malen did not catch a cold, otherwise things would become difficult. Pes, on Teleradio Stereo, said a wider debate had opened about the length of Pellegrini's contract and how fragile players could change the shape of the squad. He named Paulo Dybala, Pellegrini and Manu Koné as players who often stop, adding that Roma were going to Napoli with 17 outfield players, which he called very few. Mattioli, also on Radio Radio, questioned whether every club should turn to the market whenever a player is injured, asking what would happen when the regular starters returned. "Every club should take refuge in the market every time it has an injury? What happens when you recover the starters? They should have foreseen that Gasperini's training sessions were not what Roma were used to. Roma now train with a capital "A", before it was not like that." Di Giovambattista, also on Radio Radio, offered a comparison with the past: "Roma with Mourinho and Ranieri trained less: Ranieri trained the mind." Pes also said Gasperini had probably intended to skip some press conferences given the number of matches, and that the coach had wanted to keep the group together, believing it could improve this season. "On Dybala and Pellegrini he has strongly wanted to keep them." The immediate test is the trip to Napoli, where Roma will be short of outfield options. Pruzzo said the priority was to reach January still in the race, and then to sign players in the market.

Roma are reportedly preparing to strengthen the January transfer window after a severe injury crisis left Gian Piero Gasperini with a severely depleted squad ahead of the trip to Napoli. Il Messaggero reports that the absences of Pellegrini and Dybala, along with Svilar and Koné, have created a genuine emergency at the club, and the club is expected to spend heavily to give the coach at least two reinforcements between attack and the flanks. Gasperini is being forced to reshape the attacking midfield with only Mora and Soulé behind Malen, and has even considered moving Cristante forward. Gittens and Leweling remain on the club's shortlist, without ruling out the appealing but complicated pursuit of Endrick. On the left flank, Barcelona full-back Alejandro Balde has emerged as a major new name. He has been finding limited game time under Flick, and has been put forward by agent Jorge Mendes. His name joins that of Oosterwolde, and Roma hope to conclude signings of real quality to stay competitive and keep their season ambitions alive.

Former Roma defender Antonio Carlos Zago has said Roma would have been certain winners against Napoli had the match been played at the Stadio Olimpico. Speaking to Il Tempo ahead of the trip to the Stadio Maradona, he said: "If the match had been at the Olimpico, I would have told you Roma would win 100%. At the Maradona it will be a bit more difficult, as Napoli will do everything to get out of this difficult situation. For them it could be the match that turns things around." Zago praised head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who he said has brought a winning mentality to the club. He said: "Gasperini works tremendously hard and bases his game on intensity and triangular passing. I consider him one of the three best coaches of recent years." Zago also judged Roma's summer transfer business to have been excellent. Asked whether Gasperini should keep trusting Mora even in Naples, Zago replied: "I believe Mora can be the ideal replacement for Dybala. He has started well, showing he is a strong player." On Endrick, Zago said: "He still has to fully prove his value and find his ideal role on the pitch. He would be useful to Roma, and I have no doubt he would grow a lot working with Gasperini."

Paulo Dybala's right calf has shown a clear improvement and the discomfort has almost disappeared, good news for Gian Piero Gasperini. The Argentine could return to the bench as early as Tuesday against Cagliari, possibly for a late cameo. The initial target had been the Udinese-Roma fixture, but the recovery could therefore be brought forward. Gasperini is hoping to have him back as soon as possible following the injury to Lorenzo Pellegrini. Roma are also being talked up as genuine title contenders. Former defender Zago believes the club are fully in the race for the Scudetto, saying: "It is a strong team in every department and, together with Inter, it is the favourite for the Scudetto." He has also praised Gasperini, saying: "He has brought a winning mentality. I consider him one of the three best coaches of recent years." Zago's view is that the side can get something from the trip to Napoli, where Roma face a Napoli side in the league, given the way they have been playing recently: "If Roma play the way they have been lately, they can pull it off." The flash column, which gathers short news items, rumours, anecdotes and behind-the-scenes details from across the Giallorossi world, is published on Friday 23 October 2026. The report on Dybala's fitness comes from Corriere dello Sport, while Zago's comments were reported by Il Tempo.

Roma are reportedly preparing to strengthen the January transfer window after a severe injury crisis left Gian Piero Gasperini with a severely depleted squad ahead of the trip to Napoli. Il Messaggero reports that the absences of Pellegrini and Dybala, along with Svilar and Koné, have created a genuine emergency at the club, and the club is expected to spend heavily to give the coach at least two reinforcements between attack and the flanks. Gasperini is being forced to reshape the attacking midfield with only Mora and Soulé behind Malen, and has even considered moving Cristante forward. Gittens and Leweling remain on the club's shortlist, without ruling out the appealing but complicated pursuit of Endrick. On the left flank, Barcelona full-back Alejandro Balde has emerged as a major new name. He has been finding limited game time under Flick, and has been put forward by agent Jorge Mendes. His name joins that of Oosterwolde, and Roma hope to conclude signings of real quality to stay competitive and keep their season ambitions alive.

Paulo Dybala's right calf has shown a clear improvement and the discomfort has almost disappeared, good news for Gian Piero Gasperini. The Argentine could return to the bench as early as Tuesday against Cagliari, possibly for a late cameo. The initial target had been the Udinese-Roma fixture, but the recovery could therefore be brought forward. Gasperini is hoping to have him back as soon as possible following the injury to Lorenzo Pellegrini. Roma are also being talked up as genuine title contenders. Former defender Zago believes the club are fully in the race for the Scudetto, saying: "It is a strong team in every department and, together with Inter, it is the favourite for the Scudetto." He has also praised Gasperini, saying: "He has brought a winning mentality. I consider him one of the three best coaches of recent years." Zago's view is that the side can get something from the trip to Napoli, where Roma face a Napoli side in the league, given the way they have been playing recently: "If Roma play the way they have been lately, they can pull it off." The flash column, which gathers short news items, rumours, anecdotes and behind-the-scenes details from across the Giallorossi world, is published on Friday 23 October 2026. The report on Dybala's fitness comes from Corriere dello Sport, while Zago's comments were reported by Il Tempo.

Roma's squad depth and the fitness of key players dominated the club's radio debate, after Lorenzo Pellegrini picked up a new injury that will keep him out for a long spell. Carina, speaking on Radio Radio, said Pellegrini had been back at a high level and that the injury was a real blow. "Gasperini had talked about 20 days for Pellegrini: this injury is a real setback. He had come on very well, he played a very good half hour at Como and also against Slovan. Now the problem is that Roma have a squad that is qualitatively important, but numerically it is missing something. Roma arrive in Napoli with 16 outfield players: 11 plus 5 substitutions, and they play every three days. And you know you have a coach like Gasperini who brings these muscle injury problems with him. If you know he is that type of coach, the squad must be 22, not 20." Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio, focused on the attack. He said Matías Soulé was improving but needed to step up his level, and asked what role Santiago Castro could play, as he could now be the alternative. He felt Rodrigo Mora was too far behind, and said Roma had to hope Donyell Malen did not catch a cold, otherwise things would become difficult. Pes, on Teleradio Stereo, said a wider debate had opened about the length of Pellegrini's contract and how fragile players could change the shape of the squad. He named Paulo Dybala, Pellegrini and Manu Koné as players who often stop, adding that Roma were going to Napoli with 17 outfield players, which he called very few. Mattioli, also on Radio Radio, questioned whether every club should turn to the market whenever a player is injured, asking what would happen when the regular starters returned. "Every club should take refuge in the market every time it has an injury? What happens when you recover the starters? They should have foreseen that Gasperini's training sessions were not what Roma were used to. Roma now train with a capital "A", before it was not like that." Di Giovambattista, also on Radio Radio, offered a comparison with the past: "Roma with Mourinho and Ranieri trained less: Ranieri trained the mind." Pes also said Gasperini had probably intended to skip some press conferences given the number of matches, and that the coach had wanted to keep the group together, believing it could improve this season. "On Dybala and Pellegrini he has strongly wanted to keep them." The immediate test is the trip to Napoli, where Roma will be short of outfield options. Pruzzo said the priority was to reach January still in the race, and then to sign players in the market.