Dybala posting alien-level Serie A statistics in record-breaking start to season

Midfielder Alessandro Romano, on loan at Cagliari from Roma's academy, has earned a senior Italy national team call-up for the upcoming three matches after an impressive start to the 2026-27 season. Romano has appeared in close to 500 minutes of Serie A football with Cagliari, scoring once, in what is his first full campaign in the Italian top flight. Cagliari hold an obligation to buy him permanently. Romano came through the Roma academy and moved to Cagliari on an initial loan deal. Of Swiss origins, he represented Switzerland during his youth career before switching to Italy. The teenager's breakthrough has come after spells at Roma and Spezia in Serie B, where he gained experience in senior football. Speaking to Rai about the call-up, Romano said: "It happened very quickly. I definitely wasn't expecting such a good start to the season, but I worked hard. Then came the goal, the great start to the season with Cagliari, and then the call-up. I still can't believe it." On choosing Italy, he added: "I always played my youth career with Switzerland. Then this unexpected call came, but it was a heartfelt decision. As I said, it wasn't a choice against Switzerland, but for Italy. I felt it inside me, and I think it was the right decision." Romano also reflected on his development: "A lot happened between the ages of 18 and 20. I grew a lot, moving from the youth teams to senior football. First at Roma, then at Spezia in Serie B, and now at Cagliari, where I'm finding consistency. I'm very happy and I also thank the coach. When you gain experience and play a lot, you grow, and this helps me keep working and improving."

AS Roma have decided against releasing Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina for Lionel Messi's farewell Argentina match on 6 October, despite the striker and defender being among the 2022 World Cup winners Messi has requested for the special fixture against Benin. Three Roma players—Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro—are already officially called up by Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni and will attend the event. Roma's caution stems from the timing and physical toll of the trip. The club faces a demanding fixture schedule immediately after Messi's game, beginning with a crucial away match at Como on 11 October that opens a stretch of nine fixtures in 27 days—a critical block of the season in which coach Gian Piero Gasperini intends to rely on Dybala at full fitness. The striker has made an impressive start to the campaign. The participation would require both Dybala and Molina to undertake two long transatlantic flights around the Serie A matchday, bringing inevitable consequences from jet lag, recovery times and tactical preparation. Although evaluations are officially ongoing, Roma's position is clear: players not included in Scaloni's official squad list will remain at the club's Trigoria training base to prepare for the resumption of Serie A.

Paulo Dybala is at the centre of a selection standoff as Argentina prepare for Lionel Messi's final international appearance on 6 October against Benin. Roma have signalled they do not want Dybala and fellow World Cup 2022 winner Nahuel Molina to travel for the match, despite calls from coach Scaloni to include them alongside the three Roma players already convoked — Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro. The club's reluctance stems from the fixture congestion that follows. Roma return to action on 11 October for an away trip to Como, only five days after Messi's farewell and the start of a demanding run of nine matches in 27 days. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini wants to deploy Dybala at full capacity during this critical period, and the dual intercontinental journeys would impose recovery, jet lag and preparation penalties ahead of the Lake Como fixture. The evaluation is ongoing, but Roma's position is clear: Argentine players not selected by Scaloni could genuinely remain at Trigoria.

Gianluca Mancini is poised to lead Italy's defence in the upcoming match against Belgium, with the Roma centre-back a permanent fixture in Roberto Mancini's tactical drills at Coverciano. The Italian technical staff have been working primarily in a 4-3-3 formation, and the Roma defender has featured consistently alongside Di Lorenzo, Calafiori and Coppola in recent training sessions. Mancini's presence offers the squad stability, experience and continuity as the final preparations continue ahead of the team's departure for Rome. Meanwhile, Roma are monitoring Giorgi Kvernadze, the Frosinone winger, according to reports from Nicolò Schira and confirmed by Il Tempo. The 2003-born Georgian has produced five goals and two assists across Serie A and Coppa Italia in recent matches observed by Roma scouts. Napoli are also tracking the situation. In his early Roma career, Rodrigo Mora has spoken of his experience since arriving. On the adjustment to Italian football, he said: "It was a different change. I lived 19 years in Porto and played for Porto for 10 years. It's a different culture. But I'm happy with the change. It will be a positive change." Regarding his goal against Lecce in his second Roma appearance, Mora added: "I like scoring very much. Scoring for Roma was beautiful, but I want to score again at the Olimpico. It's special and I can't wait to score at the Olimpico. I'm happy with my journey so far. The atmosphere at the Olimpico is something really special and beautiful and it makes you want to play and score for Roma." Mora also reflected on his relationship with Paulo Dybala: "He's someone I admired as a child, now being able to play and train with him…seeing the things he does, that few do…He's a humble person and he's helped me a lot at the start of my Roma career. I like him as a player and as a person. I'm grateful to be able to play at his side."

Rodrigo Mora, who arrived this summer from Porto, has spoken about his early weeks at Roma while on international duty with Portugal's Under-21 squad. The 2007-born midfielder scored in his second appearance for the club against Lecce and has already featured in the Champions League, describing the experience as an important step in his development. Mora reflected on his transition from Porto, where he spent 19 years and played for the club for 10 of them. "It was a different change. I lived 19 years in Porto and played for Porto for 10. It's a different culture. But I'm happy with the change. It will be a positive change," he said. He emphasised his gratitude for Paulo Dybala's influence in his settling-in period: "He's someone I admired as a child, now to be able to play and train with him…to see the things he does, that few do…He's a humble person and has helped me a lot at the start of my Roma journey. I like him as a player and as a person. I'm grateful to be able to play at his side." On his goal against Lecce, Mora stated: "I love scoring. Scoring for Roma was beautiful, but I still want to score at Stadio Olimpico. It's special and I can't wait to score at Stadio Olimpico. I'm happy with my journey so far. The atmosphere at Stadio Olimpico is something really special and beautiful and it makes you want to play and score for Roma." He spoke candidly about leaving Porto, saying: "Farewells are never easy. It was difficult. It was a long period, it was my home. It will always be my home. All cycles close, they can reopen later. I'm leaving with a full heart, I was a champion with my club. I'm leaving as a champion and I'll continue to be another Porto fan, now supporting from Italy. I wish them good luck. I know things are going well, I hope they continue like that and that the second Scudetto arrives. I knew I needed a new challenge in my life. I'm grateful for all these years, but that's what I wanted, a new challenge in a competitive league like the Italian one." Mora also discussed his ambitions at Roma and his international prospects. "Football changes everything very quickly. Now I want to have a good season at Roma. I made my Champions League debut, it was an important step. I hope to win titles at Roma and play the best football possible. We're in a good phase, but it's a very competitive league. We're on the right track," he said. Regarding his Portugal Under-21 ambitions, he added: "It's everyone's dream. I've already been called up twice, I got injured. That's part of the game, we have a dream. Step by step, and continuing to work, one day it will come true."

Rodrigo Mora has spoken about his ambitions at Roma following his summer transfer from Porto, expressing determination to succeed after a positive debut followed by three consecutive appearances on the bench. The midfielder praised Paulo Dybala as a source of inspiration and support during his early days at the club: "He is someone I admired as a child, now to be able to play and train with him…to see the things he does, that few do…He is a humble person and has helped me a lot in this beginning at Roma. I like him as a player and as a person. I am grateful to be able to play at his side." Mora reflected on leaving Porto, where he spent a significant period: "Goodbyes are never easy. It was difficult. It was a long period, it was my home. It will always be my home. All cycles close, they can reopen later. I leave with a full heart, I was a champion with my club. I leave as a champion and will continue to be another Porto fan, now supporting them from Italy. I wish them good luck. I know things are going well, I hope they continue like that and that the second Scudetto arrives." He explained his decision to join Roma this summer as driven by the need for a new challenge in a competitive league: "I knew I needed a new challenge in my life. I am grateful for all these years, but it was what I wanted, a new challenge in a competitive championship like the Italian one." Mora has already made his Champions League debut for Roma, which he called "an important step". He outlined his ambitions: "Now I want to have a good season at Roma. I hope to win titles at Roma and to play the best football possible. We are in a good phase, but it is a very competitive championship. We are on the right path." On his prospects with Portugal's national team, he added: "National Team football is everyone's dream. I have already been called up twice, I got injured. That is part of the game, we have a dream. Step by step, and continuing to work, one day it will be realised."