Five Roma players confirmed for 2026 World Cup; Soulé awaits Argentina decision

Roma face a mounting injury crisis following their 3–4 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League. Manu Koné suffered the most serious blow, limping off after just 17 minutes with a muscular problem to his thigh. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini confirmed the injury and indicated it would be the more severe of two fresh concerns. Paulo Dybala also departed at half-time with what Gasperini described as a calf strain and tightness in the soleus muscle, though the initial assessment suggests a shorter absence than Koné's. Instrumental tests on both players were scheduled for today to establish the precise nature and extent of their injuries. The fear surrounding Koné is a right-leg bicep femoris strain with potential recovery taking roughly a month, meaning he could miss matches until after the international break in mid-November. The worst-case scenario would rule him out for several weeks. Dybala's presence against Genoa on Saturday appears heavily compromised, though Roma hope for a swift recovery in time for subsequent fixtures, particularly the crucial clash against Napoli. This crisis compounds existing absences. Mile Svilar will remain sidelined at least until November's international break owing to a stress fracture of the fifth toe, while Bryan Cristante is unavailable with knee inflammation and no confirmed return date. The midfield emergency has become particularly acute: without Cristante and, in all likelihood, without Koné for multiple matches, Gasperini has only Marten de Roon and Niccolò Pisilli as natural options for the two central midfield spots. Lorenzo Pellegrini would become the primary alternative to drop deeper into midfield if required, leaving the squad perilously thin in reserve. The timing is delicate given Roma's fixture schedule and the demands of balancing Serie A and Champions League football. Genoa, managed by Daniele De Rossi, visit the Olimpico on Saturday. The coming hours will determine how heavily the Champions League night weighs on Roma's resources.

Wesley has revealed how Gasperini asked him to mark Vinicius in Roma's recent match against Real Madrid, describing the specific tactical instruction and the confidence the coach showed in him. Speaking to TNT Sports, the Brazilian defender explained that he expected Nahuel Molina to take the assignment on the left, noting that Molina has faced Vinicius many times before and shares a natural competitive edge with him as an Argentine against a Brazilian. However, Gasperini chose Wesley for the role, telling him: "I'm going to put you on Vini, I trust you." Wesley accepted the challenge, saying: "I thought, 'Let's go, let's see what happens'." Wesley was satisfied with his individual performance despite Roma's 3–4 defeat. He acknowledged that the result left a bitter taste, stating: "I was prepared and I liked my match. I still need to improve many things, but I'm happy with my individual performance. For the loss, though, I'm not satisfied, because we deserved to win." He also outlined Roma's tactical approach: the team attacked more heavily on the right because Gasperini knew that Real Madrid's left flank required a defender of Wesley's profile. On the specific duel with Vinicius, Wesley reflected: "Fortunately I managed to stop Vini. At one point I thought, 'Today it's me here, go to the other side and let's see what you can do there'." The arrival of Endrick as a substitute changed the dynamic, however. Wesley said: "He came on and got an assist and a goal. Total respect for him—that guy is brilliant and I'm a fan of his. But today I wasn't rooting for him."

José Mourinho praised Wesley after Real Madrid's match against Roma, saying he was struck by the Brazilian's quality up close. "I knew he was strong already, but seeing him in person was the first time," Mourinho told TNT Sports. The Portuguese manager, overseeing a squad filled with talent from Mbappé to Diomandé, noted that Real Madrid's eleven is formidable and capable of turning matches around within five minutes, even from two goals down—as they demonstrated against Roma. However, Wesley remains focused on Roma. Mourinho will have to be content watching him from a distance for now.

José Mourinho encountered three of his former Roma players after the 3–4 draw between Roma and Real Madrid on Thursday, 15 October 2026. Gianluca Mancini, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala spoke with Mourinho in the plaza outside Stadio Olimpico near the team coaches at the end of a particularly significant evening for the Special One, who returned to the capital as an opponent. The meeting underscored the enduring connection between Mourinho and the club he managed during his time in Rome. The encounter took place in the immediate aftermath of a dramatic fixture that delivered plenty for both sides to reflect on. In the ratings published by five daily newspapers covering the match, Donyell Malen emerged as Roma's highest-rated performer with an average of 7.60. Matías Soulé followed with 7.10 and Wesley with 7.00, while Marten de Roon closed at 6.80. Leonardo Balerdi received the lowest average rating at 5.10. Among the starting players, Nahuel Molina posted the lowest average mark at 5.20, followed by Mario Hermoso at 5.30 and Pierluigi Gollini at 5.50.

Roma squandered a dominant 82-minute display against Real Madrid at the Olimpico to suffer a heavy defeat in the Champions League. After controlling the match with high-quality football and commanding Real Madrid for the opening phase, Roma's discipline collapsed in the final eight minutes as three goals — all conceded from corner kicks — left the Stadio Olimpico in despair. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini received a rating of 6.5 across the Italian press for his tactical setup, but his side's defensive frailties in set pieces proved fatal. The match saw several substitutions: Manu Koné was withdrawn after just 16 minutes for Niccolò Pisilli, while Gianluca Mancini departed at the 63-minute mark for Leonardo Balerdi. Daniele Ghilardi and Nahuel Molina both entered late in the contest. Among the five major Italian outlets' player ratings, Donyell Malen emerged as Roma's standout performer, earning marks of 7.5 to 8 across the press box. Pierluigi Gollini and Balerdi drew the harshest assessments, with ratings ranging from 4.5 to 6 for the goalkeeper and 5 to 6 for the defender. Wesley drew consistent praise for a solid defensive showing, rated 6.5 to 7.5, while Matías Soulé and Evan N'Dicka also featured prominently in the squad across the 90 minutes.

Radio commentators analysed Roma's 2–3 defeat to Real Madrid, with debate centring on whether to focus on the loss or the quality of the performance that preceded it. Carina on Radio Radio said: "It is difficult to explain Roma's collapse. Roma played a spectacular match, dominated, but matches last until the 90th minute and beyond. There were certainly individual errors: on Endrick's goal there is a marking error by Balerdi, on Rüdiger's by Molina. But it would be unfair to blame them entirely: it was a general collapse. Then Madrid put on the pitch players who, at Roma, would play with the captain's armband." He added: "I fear Koné will be out for three or four weeks, and Dybala is a question mark: it is a bad injury. Gasperini must certainly look at the final eight minutes, but he must make the 82 previous minutes count, because they played an extraordinary match." Pruzzo on Radio Radio observed that the squad has "a starting rhythm that is too high to maintain for the whole match" and noted the defensive control shown before the late collapse. Orsi argued the loss came "from a lack of ability to hold on" rather than poor play by Roma: "Real scored on a corner kick. It was Roma's demerit." Mattiolo called it "a remediable defeat that teaches you something." Pedrelli on Radio Bruno 101.5 took a longer view: "I do not look at the result, but the performance. A great match by Roma despite the many absences, against one of the strongest teams in the world. It is not far to a real great leap. Gasperini is the manager I wanted." Ferri on the same station argued that supporters must "have the clarity needed to realise how much good was done in the face of Real Madrid, a squad that should have won far more easily." Verdenelli added: "I know it is not simple, I know it hurts and the stomach burns, but you must believe in the path. Roma is there, Roma is strong and proved it." Carina noted absences for Roma's next fixture, against Genoa: Svilar, Cristante, Koné, Dybala and Malen will all be absent.

Roma lost 3-4 to Real Madrid in a Champions League match at the Olimpico, despite delivering what the article describes as an impressive performance with high tempo, quality and dominance for over 80 minutes. Wesley was among Roma's standout performers, putting in a display that caught the attention of Real Madrid manager José Mourinho. After the match, Mourinho spoke to TNT Sports and offered public praise for the Brazilian defender. "I knew already that he was strong, but seeing him up close was the first time," Mourinho said, highlighting Wesley's impact during the fixture.

José Mourinho encountered three of his former Roma players after the 3–4 draw between Roma and Real Madrid on Thursday, 15 October 2026. Gianluca Mancini, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala spoke with Mourinho in the plaza outside Stadio Olimpico near the team coaches at the end of a particularly significant evening for the Special One, who returned to the capital as an opponent. The meeting underscored the enduring connection between Mourinho and the club he managed during his time in Rome. The encounter took place in the immediate aftermath of a dramatic fixture that delivered plenty for both sides to reflect on. In the ratings published by five daily newspapers covering the match, Donyell Malen emerged as Roma's highest-rated performer with an average of 7.60. Matías Soulé followed with 7.10 and Wesley with 7.00, while Marten de Roon closed at 6.80. Leonardo Balerdi received the lowest average rating at 5.10. Among the starting players, Nahuel Molina posted the lowest average mark at 5.20, followed by Mario Hermoso at 5.30 and Pierluigi Gollini at 5.50.

Roma squandered a dominant 82-minute display against Real Madrid at the Olimpico to suffer a heavy defeat in the Champions League. After controlling the match with high-quality football and commanding Real Madrid for the opening phase, Roma's discipline collapsed in the final eight minutes as three goals — all conceded from corner kicks — left the Stadio Olimpico in despair. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini received a rating of 6.5 across the Italian press for his tactical setup, but his side's defensive frailties in set pieces proved fatal. The match saw several substitutions: Manu Koné was withdrawn after just 16 minutes for Niccolò Pisilli, while Gianluca Mancini departed at the 63-minute mark for Leonardo Balerdi. Daniele Ghilardi and Nahuel Molina both entered late in the contest. Among the five major Italian outlets' player ratings, Donyell Malen emerged as Roma's standout performer, earning marks of 7.5 to 8 across the press box. Pierluigi Gollini and Balerdi drew the harshest assessments, with ratings ranging from 4.5 to 6 for the goalkeeper and 5 to 6 for the defender. Wesley drew consistent praise for a solid defensive showing, rated 6.5 to 7.5, while Matías Soulé and Evan N'Dicka also featured prominently in the squad across the 90 minutes.

Roma's loan contingent produced mixed results across European and domestic competitions this week, with midfielder Luigi Cherubini and midfielder Neil El Aynaoui delivering attacking contributions while others awaited their chance. Cherubini, on loan at Benevento with a right of option and obligation to buy, scored in the 93rd minute of Benevento's 2–0 win over Cesena. Introduced from the bench in the 79th minute, the 2004-born winger capitalized on a defensive error by Ilic, rounded the goalkeeper and finished to seal victory. He was booked in the 81st minute and initially had a goal ruled out for offside before his late winner. The performance earned him a rating of 7 from BeneventoNews24 and PianetaSerieB as Benevento secured a third consecutive victory. El Aynaoui, a midfielder on loan at RB Lipsia with a right of rescission, provided the assist for Banzuzi's opening goal after just one minute in a 6–0 Bundesliga demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt. Deployed in the starting lineup by Demichelis, El Aynaoui contributed to a dominant first half that saw Lipsia lead 4–0 at the interval, including a hat-trick from Nkunku. He was booked in the 27th minute and substituted in the 58th when the scoreline already stood at 5–0. Elsewhere, defender Filippo Reale (Carrarese, on loan with option and counter-option) played the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 away win over Padova, maintaining a clean sheet. Young defender Mohamed Seck (Foggia, on loan) completed all 90 minutes in a 3–1 home defeat to Potenza and received a rating of 5, criticized for poor positioning during the opposition's counter-attacks. Forward Artem Dovbyk (Bologna, on loan with right of rescission) returned to the squad after a muscular injury to his flexors but remained unused on the bench in Bologna's 2–1 away win at Lecce. Forward Robinio Vaz (Hull City) was named in the squad for a 2–2 Premier League draw against Everton but played no part, remaining on the bench for the full 90 minutes.

Roma's loanees made their mark during the international break, with Mohamed Seck delivering a commanding defensive display, Luigi Cherubini scoring for Italy's Under-21s, and Neil El Aynaoui clocking over 240 minutes for Morocco across three matches. Seck, a 2007-born defender, started the full 90 minutes in Foggia's 2-0 victory at Cosenza, keeping a clean sheet and earning praise from local media. The Corriere della Calabria awarded him 6.5, while Foggiacalciomania highlighted an almost flawless performance. He picked up a yellow card in the 28th minute but remained unaffected. Radoslaw Zelezny continued his fine form between the sticks for Perugia, playing all 90 minutes in a 3-1 derby win over Gubbio; he conceded little that was preventable and earned a 6.5 rating for his security in possession and distribution. Federico Nardin also impressed at Pescara, completing the full match in a 1-0 win at Livorno achieved by a late Sardo goal, and has now been called up to Italy's Under-19 squad for friendlies against Scotland on 10 and 13 October. Cherubini made the most impact during the break. After coming off the bench in the 79th minute of Italy U21's 1-0 win in Armenia, he was introduced again at the same stage against Poland on 4 October and scored just seven minutes later to seal a 6-2 victory and confirm Italy's direct qualification to the Under-21 European Championship final tournament. El Aynaoui started all three of Morocco's matches—a 2-0 win over Gabon (90 minutes), a 2-0 victory against Lesotho (67 minutes), and a 1-1 draw with Mali on 4 October (full 90)—demonstrating his standing with the national team. Anass Salah-Eddine also featured for Morocco, starting the full 90 minutes at left-back in the Mali friendly. Marash Kumbulla entered Albania's 3-0 Nations League win over San Marino at half-time and played the full second half. Artem Dovbyk, on loan at Bologna, skipped his Ukraine convocation to continue recovering from a muscular problem affecting his hamstring and has already resumed full training with the Bolognese squad ahead of the league's resumption.

Roma have made a strong start to the 2026-27 season with 13 points from five matches, matching Inter and Lazio at the top of Serie A but ahead on goal difference. A second-half goal by Lautaro in a direct clash with Inter prevented a perfect record, but the squad's overall level remains high. The arrival of summer players has been central to the club's early form. Nahuel Molina is still building fitness but establishing himself in the team, while Rodrigo Mora has made an immediate impact with a goal already on his account. Leonardo Balerdi has already won over the supporters and claimed a starting berth, and Konstantinos Koulierakis, Marten de Roon and Santiago Castro are all expected to become important resources as the fixture list intensifies through October and November, though some have yet to feature heavily. The squad recruitment was balanced by significant outgoings managed by director Tony D'Amico, which allowed Roma to fund their incomings. With the first international break now reached, a review of Roma's players still on loan across Europe becomes timely. Neil El Aynaoui and other loan-out players carry combined recall obligations of €95 million, making their performances and development over the coming months a matter of considerable financial consequence for the club.