Dybala targets Parma return as Svilar undergoes fresh tests

Gianluca Mancini's start to the season has not gone to plan, and the break in Serie A gives the Roma vice-captain a chance to reset. A dip in form and a muscular problem in his right hamstring forced him to miss the match against Sassuolo and his recent call-up to the national team. Now the pause offers him the chance to switch off, recharge physically and mentally, and return to full condition before the league resumes. At Trigoria, the coaching staff are waiting for the defender's return. He is regarded as a fundamental point of reference, not only for his technical and tactical qualities but above all for the charismatic leadership that is essential in the most delicate moments. Mancini's recent performances have fallen short of his usual standards: he was on the bench against Genoa and played only the last thirteen minutes against Slovan Bratislava. Reduced playing time and a physical condition not yet at its peak have also weighed on him. The dual defensive and offensive contribution remains the trademark of the number 23, who has scored 23 goals for Roma so far. That includes five decisive goals last season, among them a brace in the derby that helped secure third place and a place in the Champions League. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini needs Mancini to rediscover the form that lets him ignite his team-mates and make an impact in the matches that count. The break arrives at the ideal moment: rest to recover, targeted work at Trigoria and renewed momentum to become Roma's defensive leader again.

Lorenzo Pellegrini has decided against surgery on his fresh muscle injury, choosing to risk a further setback in order to try to be available for the second half of the season. The midfielder suffered the injury only two days after his last football post, which came on 18 October following Roma's win over Genoa, in which he wrote: "Vittoria importante per il nostro cammino e...minuti fondamentali in campo per il mio cammino." The setback came with the Slovan fixture, and it halts a comeback that had been building. The injury is more serious than his previous muscle problem. Pellegrini faced two options: recovery, which would take around three months and would not protect him from relapses, or surgery, which might solve the problem but would effectively end his season. He has opted against the operation. Roma's midfielder has been without fresh public comment, and the silence reflects his disappointment at stopping again at the start of his road back to fitness. Pellegrini has played 72 minutes in Serie A and 78 in the Champions League this season. His contract expires again in June, and this time there are very few chances of a renewal. He accepted a one-year deal with a sharply reduced salary, and he is keen to help silence critics and to convince the Friedkin Group that he can still be useful in the future. Reports suggest a move away at the end of the year is highly likely, and Besiktas and Juventus knocked on the door last summer, but he did not entertain those offers then and is not considering them now. For now, he will cheer on his team before making one last attempt to return.

Former Roma player Vincent Candela has urged the club not to settle for less, backing Gian Piero Gasperini's approach and insisting the side can push Inter until the end of the Serie A title race. Speaking to Il Messaggero, Candela praised Gasperini's work, the progress of Matías Soulé and the solidity of the midfield, while also highlighting the impact of Donyell Malen. He also sent a message to the transfer market: "If a couple of missing pieces arrive, we can have even more fun." Roma return to training at Trigoria tomorrow afternoon, and Gasperini is set to gradually bring back Paulo Dybala and Mile Svilar. Svilar, recovering from a stress fracture in the fifth toe of his foot, will undergo a new check-up. Koné and Nahuel Molina will remain at Trigoria during the break. Molina's recall to the national squad has been halted by the club, a call-up that would have meant returning to the capital just two days before the league resumes. Gasperini's side have set a new record in the club's history, scoring 31 goals in the first 11 Serie A matchdays, a figure never previously reached. The previous best was 28 goals in the 1960-61 season. Roma remain unbeaten in Serie A, as are Lazio, and among the top five European leagues they share this record only with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Roma have also not lost at the Stadio Olimpico for over a year.

Former Roma defender Vincent Candela has said that a return of Francesco Totti to the club's management would make Roma even stronger, and that Gian Piero Gasperini can bring the Scudetto back to Trigoria. Speaking to La Repubblica, Candela said: "Ormai io e Francesco siamo anche compagni di penna. Spero di rivederlo presto nel club, che quest'anno lotterà per lo scudetto fino alla fine. Con Totti, sono sicuro che la Roma diventerebbe ancora più forte." Candela refused to accept that Roma should settle for second place. He praised Gasperini as a "special" coach and said he was convinced the manager could deliver the title, but he stressed that the race would go to the end against Inter, whom he described as a stronger and better-balanced side than Roma. Asked whether he would play for Roma again if he could, Candela said: "Giocare nella Roma di Gasperini sarebbe un sogno. Sono convinto che farei il titolare." On Roma's recurring problem of late collapses, especially in Europe, he said: "Come dice il tecnico, è importante allargare la rosa, ma è fisiologico perdere contro Real Madrid e Manchester United. La Roma non è ancora pronta per fronteggiare alla pari le grandi del calcio europeo." Finally, asked which player brings back his memories of playing, Candela pointed to Paulo Dybala: "Ogni volta che Dybala tocca il pallone mi batte il cuore e ringiovanisco. Paulo andrebbe proclamato patrimonio mondiale del calcio."

Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico is already working on January moves, with the winter window opening early on 28 December and the aim of adding two attacking players. The club's priority is to strengthen the attack while keeping to the owners' sustainable line, with wage demands not exceeding 4 million euros a season, and while monitoring a UEFA ruling expected between late November and early December. The top name on the list remains Endrick, who has been pursued for months and returned to the spotlight after comments at the Brazil national team camp, where the forward stressed his need for more playing time. He has played only 141 minutes so far across La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid, including a goal and an assist against Roma. Talks between officials ahead of the European fixture reportedly included Roberto Carlos for the Madrid side, and the player is keen to leave, although José Mourinho prefers to keep him. Milan, who are in the Premier League in the article's wording, and Sporting CP, coached by former Roma boss Paulo Fonseca, are also reportedly moving for the 2006-born striker. Beyond the Brazilian, Trigoria's list includes several wide attacking options and left-sided players. Jamie Gittens of Chelsea is among them; he was a summer target who slipped away in the final hours of the window and is currently out of Xabi Alonso's plans. Other names include van Bommel of PSV Eindhoven and Leweling, whose move to Roma was reportedly close before repeated second thoughts. For the left flank, Balde of Barcelona has been offered, although that lead is currently frozen. In Germany, Stuttgart would reportedly demand no less than 30 million for Kvernadze, a player being tracked but not seen as a January priority. Gasperini expects two signings up front and is willing to give up a backup for Wesley in the summer by blocking the sale of Rensch, who remains as the fourth winger in the squad. Training resumes at Trigoria this afternoon, with Paulo Dybala among those most eagerly awaited as he shakes off a knock and aims for the trip to Parma. Mile Svilar has a medical check to have the protective boot removed from his right foot after a fifth-finger injury that forced him to miss the last match and a national team call-up. His availability for Parma remains in doubt, with a definitive verdict due in the coming days. Ticket sales for the Tardini trip are temporarily suspended pending decisions from the authorities.

Gian Piero Gasperini regards Paulo Dybala as Roma's strongest player, saying: "Paulo è la chiave per puntare più in alto" — Paulo is the key to aiming higher. The coach added that at 32 the Argentine is in the prime of his maturity and is among the very best, if not the best, in Serie A today. Yet Dybala's involvement has been shrinking. He has made 6 Serie A appearances out of 11 this season, against 22 last season and 24 two seasons ago. The minutes tell the same story. Dybala played 1,417 Serie A minutes in 2024-25 (the equivalent of 15.7 matches), 1,354 minutes last season (15 matches), and 492 minutes so far this season (5.4 matches). Writing in Il Messaggero, Stefano Carina notes that for the first time in four years Roma no longer depend on the Joya in attack. Without Paulo, the team have scored 23 goals in 7 matches, including cup games, against 16 in 8 with him. Dybala's last goal came on 18 January. The absence has given more room to Rodrigo Mora. The Portuguese plays regularly on the left, with Matías Soulé on the right. He first came on as a substitute against Real and Genoa, and has now started against Manchester and Sassuolo. He already has 4 Serie A goals. Carina says the comparison with Dybala is both unfair and unavoidable, but the numbers can cut both ways. In just six matches Dybala has become the league's top player for expected assists (3.42), second for big chances created (8) and third for key passes (4).

Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico is already working on January moves, with the winter window opening early on 28 December and the aim of adding two attacking players. The club's priority is to strengthen the attack while keeping to the owners' sustainable line, with wage demands not exceeding 4 million euros a season, and while monitoring a UEFA ruling expected between late November and early December. The top name on the list remains Endrick, who has been pursued for months and returned to the spotlight after comments at the Brazil national team camp, where the forward stressed his need for more playing time. He has played only 141 minutes so far across La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid, including a goal and an assist against Roma. Talks between officials ahead of the European fixture reportedly included Roberto Carlos for the Madrid side, and the player is keen to leave, although José Mourinho prefers to keep him. Milan, who are in the Premier League in the article's wording, and Sporting CP, coached by former Roma boss Paulo Fonseca, are also reportedly moving for the 2006-born striker. Beyond the Brazilian, Trigoria's list includes several wide attacking options and left-sided players. Jamie Gittens of Chelsea is among them; he was a summer target who slipped away in the final hours of the window and is currently out of Xabi Alonso's plans. Other names include van Bommel of PSV Eindhoven and Leweling, whose move to Roma was reportedly close before repeated second thoughts. For the left flank, Balde of Barcelona has been offered, although that lead is currently frozen. In Germany, Stuttgart would reportedly demand no less than 30 million for Kvernadze, a player being tracked but not seen as a January priority. Gasperini expects two signings up front and is willing to give up a backup for Wesley in the summer by blocking the sale of Rensch, who remains as the fourth winger in the squad. Training resumes at Trigoria this afternoon, with Paulo Dybala among those most eagerly awaited as he shakes off a knock and aims for the trip to Parma. Mile Svilar has a medical check to have the protective boot removed from his right foot after a fifth-finger injury that forced him to miss the last match and a national team call-up. His availability for Parma remains in doubt, with a definitive verdict due in the coming days. Ticket sales for the Tardini trip are temporarily suspended pending decisions from the authorities.

Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma are scoring far more goals than a year ago, with 19 more in their first eleven matches of the season and 12 different scorers, compared with eight last season. The comparison, drawn during the international break, shows a clear improvement across the board. Last year at this stage Roma sat first in the table alongside Inter, but with fewer points: 24 then, against 27 today. The attack has changed most noticeably, moving from the pairing of Dovbyk and Ferguson to Malen and Castro. Roma are also creating more. They are taking 19.4 shots per game against 13.2 last season, with 6.5 on target against 4.7, and they are getting into the opposition box more often, with 37.2 touches per game against 26.2. Their expected goals (xG) have nearly doubled, rising from 1.32 to 2.38 per match. The one negative is goals conceded, which have risen from 5 to 10. Gasperini is willing to accept that cost. The figure is also affected by the absences of Svilar and Koné. When both are on the pitch, Roma's average is lower than it was a year ago. The numbers point to a team that is both more potent and more consistent than the one that finished last season, with the new attacking set-up at the heart of the gains.

Former Roma player Vincent Candela has urged the club not to settle for less, backing Gian Piero Gasperini's approach and insisting the side can push Inter until the end of the Serie A title race. Speaking to Il Messaggero, Candela praised Gasperini's work, the progress of Matías Soulé and the solidity of the midfield, while also highlighting the impact of Donyell Malen. He also sent a message to the transfer market: "If a couple of missing pieces arrive, we can have even more fun." Roma return to training at Trigoria tomorrow afternoon, and Gasperini is set to gradually bring back Paulo Dybala and Mile Svilar. Svilar, recovering from a stress fracture in the fifth toe of his foot, will undergo a new check-up. Koné and Nahuel Molina will remain at Trigoria during the break. Molina's recall to the national squad has been halted by the club, a call-up that would have meant returning to the capital just two days before the league resumes. Gasperini's side have set a new record in the club's history, scoring 31 goals in the first 11 Serie A matchdays, a figure never previously reached. The previous best was 28 goals in the 1960-61 season. Roma remain unbeaten in Serie A, as are Lazio, and among the top five European leagues they share this record only with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Roma have also not lost at the Stadio Olimpico for over a year.

Gianluca Mancini's start to the season has not gone to plan, and the break in Serie A gives the Roma vice-captain a chance to reset. A dip in form and a muscular problem in his right hamstring forced him to miss the match against Sassuolo and his recent call-up to the national team. Now the pause offers him the chance to switch off, recharge physically and mentally, and return to full condition before the league resumes. At Trigoria, the coaching staff are waiting for the defender's return. He is regarded as a fundamental point of reference, not only for his technical and tactical qualities but above all for the charismatic leadership that is essential in the most delicate moments. Mancini's recent performances have fallen short of his usual standards: he was on the bench against Genoa and played only the last thirteen minutes against Slovan Bratislava. Reduced playing time and a physical condition not yet at its peak have also weighed on him. The dual defensive and offensive contribution remains the trademark of the number 23, who has scored 23 goals for Roma so far. That includes five decisive goals last season, among them a brace in the derby that helped secure third place and a place in the Champions League. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini needs Mancini to rediscover the form that lets him ignite his team-mates and make an impact in the matches that count. The break arrives at the ideal moment: rest to recover, targeted work at Trigoria and renewed momentum to become Roma's defensive leader again.

Thirteen Roma players have left Trigoria for the November international break, a squad-wide exodus that will see the club's men return to Rome only a few days before the match against Parma. Only Inter, Frosinone and Torino have had more players called up by their national teams (14), while Roma sit level with Milan and Como. The number could have been higher, given the less than ideal condition of Mancini and Koné. Daily work at Trigoria under Gasperini was the reason Koné said no to France. Cristante is also out, as explained by Italy coach Mancini: "I didn't need to test him because I know him." Molina will not be going to Argentina; the full-back had been called up at the last minute by coach Scaloni, but Roma and Gasperini opposed the move. Malen is among the most anticipated players, and on his role with the Netherlands, Xavi was clear: "I see him as a centre-forward." The mood around Trigoria is different, with Gasperini wanting to get all his starters back to fight for the Champions League and the derby. The headline also carries a comment from Francesco Totti on the Scudetto: "Something is missing to win the Scudetto." The break brings a mix of departures and returns for Roma, with the squad's fitness and availability becoming the main focus before the next fixture against Parma.

Roma are working on a contract extension for Mario Hermoso, with talks reportedly already under way for a deal running to 2029 with an option for 2030, according to Angelo Mangiante. Three goals this season and increasingly convincing performances have accelerated the process under Gian Piero Gasperini, with the Spaniard described as a pillar of the side. Elsewhere, Paulo Dybala's future may lie in the United States. Piero Torri reports that Inter Miami have already made contact with the Argentinian's entourage, while New York City are reportedly weighing up an offer. No agreement has been reached, but Dybala's contract, which expires in 2027, is fuelling the speculation. Roma are also looking to the January window, with Gasperini hoping for reinforcements. The club's strategy is to target a quick attacking winger, possibly on loan in the mould of Donyell Malen, while Endrick and Gittens remain under observation and Højbjerg has returned as an option for midfield. On the injury front, Mile Svilar and Dybala are aiming to return for the trip to Parma on 21 November, with Gasperini expected to regain two key players during the international break. Bryan Cristante and Gianluca Mancini are also in good shape, while Devyne Rensch remains in doubt. Lorenzo Pellegrini has decided against surgery on his tendon and will continue with conservative therapy, with his return not expected before January. Roma's Argentina international Nahuel Molina has been kept at Trigoria: the club refused Argentina's call-up after his FIFA suspension was reduced, with the invitation arriving only on Saturday during the Roma-Sassuolo match, too late for a long trip for what could be a single friendly. Lorenzo Dattilo, a left-back born in 2010, has signed a three-year contract, turning down Atletico Madrid. The former Under-17 European champion with Italy is already playing for Roma's Under-18 side. In Serie A, Roma sit third, unbeaten in the league and two points behind leaders Lazio, having scored 31 goals and conceded just ten in eleven matchdays. At Frosinone, the club is preparing a move to keep winger Kvernadze, who is being followed by Roma. According to Tuttomercatoweb, a deal worth one million euros a season, five times his current salary, is ready. Behind it sits a four-million-euro release clause, activatable from next summer, which Frosinone could seek to change.