Dybala's Roma contract: base salary cut 72%, but bonuses could make him top earner

Lorenzo Pellegrini marked a historic milestone with his 350th appearance for Roma in the match against Como. The achievement places him among an exclusive group of players in the club's history. Roma celebrated the landmark on social media, posting: "350 times in our colours". Pellegrini's appearance came after a lengthy absence from the pitch. On his return to action, he came close to marking the occasion with a goal, only to be denied by the woodwork.

Donyell Malen has issued a public apology following his red card in Roma's match against Como. The Dutch forward was sent off in the second half for a foul on Kaiki at the Sinigaglia stadium. Malen posted on social media: "I apologise to the squad and the fans." The decision sparked debate, particularly because Roma had protested moments earlier for a foul committed against Malen himself that went unpunished. Rather than seeking justification or blaming others, Malen accepted responsibility for the incident. The gesture carries weight at Roma, especially for a player who has quickly endeared himself to supporters and become one of the main attacking references in Gian Piero Gasperini's squad. The dismissal will carry immediate consequences: Malen will miss Roma's next fixture against Genoa before becoming available again. The incident underlines his importance to the team and the standards the club expects from its key players. Malen's response reflects a direct approach—addressing teammates and supporters without excuses or deflection. He will be suspended for the Genoa match, after which he aims to return and resume the goalscoring form that has already made a significant mark on his Roma career.

Donyell Malen has issued a public apology following his dismissal in Roma's match at Como, where he was sent off in the 55th minute for a foul on Kaiki. The Dutch forward took to social media to address the incident, saying: "I apologise to the squad and the fans." Although the red card came shortly after Kaiki had committed a foul against Malen, the forward chose not to seek excuses or blame the referee, instead accepting full responsibility for his actions. Malen's response has resonated with Roma's supporters, who have backed him since his arrival at the club. His willingness to acknowledge the mistake and face the consequences publicly reflects the standards expected at the club. The incident means Malen will miss Roma's next fixture against Genoa as he serves his suspension. Once available again, the forward will return to his primary role of scoring goals for the Giallorossi.

Roma earned a valuable point at Como despite being affected by a refereeing error, with Gasperini keeping his side compact and organized. For more than 85 minutes, the coach kept Paulo Dybala on the pitch as the focal point of the attack. Shortly after Donyell Malen was sent off, Santiago Castro removed his bib, ready to enter the match in what appeared to be Dybala's replacement. Gasperini changed his mind. "He was attracting the ball, helping us breathe," Gasperini explained after the match. "It was him who convinced me to keep him on." Dybala's ability to win possession cleanly and help Roma escape the press proved crucial at that moment, and the coach recognized the tactical need. Castro will have his opportunity coming up against Genoa, partly due to Malen's absence.

Roma earned a hard-fought point on the road at Como, holding a 0–0 draw on 11 October despite playing most of the second half with ten men after Donyell Malen's dismissal. The Dutch winger was sent off early in the second half by referee Fabbri, a decision the raters found excessive given the overall nature of the play, though Malen was noted as somewhat reckless in the challenge. The result counted toward the sixth matchday of the Serie A season. Pierluigi Gollini deputised in goal and drew particular praise for his work on distribution and his alertness to Como's limited chances, keeping the bench-warmer tag away from Mile Svilar. At centre-back, Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka formed an imposing partnership; Mancini earned a 7 rating for his battling quality and composure in the tackle despite rare lapses, while N'Dicka dominated a physical duel with Como's Douvikas. Mario Hermoso supported the backline with careful defending before Leonardo Balerdi replaced him in the 60th minute. Marten de Roon covered ground reliably in midfield, earning a 7 for consistency with Gasperini's system. Paulo Dybala was handed a 6, his performance marred by a glaring early miss that could have altered the match entirely. Lorenzo Pellegrini made his return to the pitch and was credited with important work and technical quality, including a shot that struck the post from the edge of the area, though his fitness remained not yet sharp. He gave way to Matías Soulé at the 46th minute. Manu Koné was not at his sharpest, rated 6, while defender Nahuel Molina (5.5) struggled with precision; Devyne Rensch entered in the 81st minute and impressed on arrival. Gasperini himself earned a 6.5, praised for keeping Roma organised and tactically sharp after numerical disadvantage forced him to abandon attacking ambitions and deploy personnel with calculated precision through his substitutions. With parity in numbers, Roma had appeared the superior side and more threatening side before the dismissal.

Gian Piero Gasperini defended Roma's 0–0 draw at Como and praised Paulo Dybala's performance after Donyell Malen's dismissal left the team playing more than 30 minutes with ten men. Gasperini said: "Credo che Dybala sia stato straordinario anche una volta in 10 nel secondo tempo a ripulire delle situazioni che non erano facili in inferiorità. Lui come i suoi compagni hanno fatto una gara di grande spessore. Non ricordo palloni persi, forte nello spunto peccato per l'occasione del primo tempo in cui poteva fare gol. Anche oggi prestazione straordinaria." The coach kept Dybala on the pitch rather than introducing Santiago Castro, saying the forward "gave us breathing room" and was "continuous for all 90 minutes." Gasperini disputed the severity of Malen's red card, criticizing the use of frame-by-frame analysis to adjudicate fouls. He argued there was "a foul repeated on him" beforehand and said: "Non c'è di sicuro l'intenzionalità… Questo è stato un episodio che ha imbruttito la partita, così lo è diventato un po' meno." When shown a still image of the incident, Gasperini became animated: "Fermando il fotogramma è facile! Il calcio è fatto di azioni così si può giustificare tutto Non c'è nessuna voglia e di fare male da parte di Malen, è ora di smetterla con i fotogrammi perché falsificano la realtà! Adesso si vede un calcio più vero, non torniamo indietro von questi fotogrammi assurdi." Gasperini also praised goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, saying he "was good with his feet, attentive and precise," adding that "he is a goalkeeper who will know how to replace Svilar very well." Looking ahead, Gasperini acknowledged the difficulty of Roma's next fixture: "Il Real è una squadra di campioni incredibili, sia in campo che in panchina. Affrontiamo una delle squadre più forti in Europa." He reflected on José Mourinho's legacy at the club but noted his current squad is "another type of team" and that "the lads are giving me lots of satisfaction."