Gasperini plans Balerdi start as N'Dicka ruled out by intestinal virus ahead of Torino

Roma winger Wesley has spoken about the injury that ended his hopes of playing at the World Cup, describing the moment he was forced off during the friendly against Egypt in preparation for the tournament. Speaking to Espn, the Brazilian said he knew immediately how serious the problem was. The injury also cost him his opening matches of the new season, and he has returned to the national team with the aim of earning a place at the next World Cup. He is now rebuilding his fitness after a series of setbacks that left him sidelined from the tournament itself. Wesley recounted the moment in detail: "Nel momento in cui c'è stato l'infortunio, ricordo perfettamente l'azione." In English: "When the injury happened, I remember the action perfectly. I realised straight away how serious it was, because the pain was too strong. Before crossing the ball I had already felt the tear, but then I went back to running to get my position back, telling myself it was not possible that the muscle had torn." He added: "On the bench I started to cry, because I felt a lot of pain and above all I knew it was a second-degree tear and that I would be out of the Cup. It was a dream that ended among the rubbish." He went on: "I had reached the top, to play a World Cup, and instead... Now I have to rebuild everything again. I am capable of building, because I have already been through many difficulties. I deserve to be at the next World Cup, no more than others, but I will work at my maximum to be there and perhaps bring joy to the Brazilian people."

Paulo Dybala is set to miss Roma's upcoming match against Udinese, with the medical staff choosing not to accelerate his recovery after a personalised training session. The Argentine is aiming to be available for the following fixture against Sassuolo, while Manu Koné is also working to recover in time for that same game. Mile Svilar will also have to wait: no early return is planned for the goalkeeper, and his comeback is set for after the international break. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini is expected to keep faith with the players who have delivered important performances in recent weeks. Among the most impressive is Pierluigi Gollini, who was also outstanding against Cagliari. The relationship between Gollini and Gasperini appears to have been repaired, and the goalkeeper is responding with convincing displays. Roma face a period of key absences that the coaching staff must manage carefully. Dybala and Koné are targeting the Sassuolo fixture, while Svilar's return is pencilled in for after the break, leaving Gasperini to rely on the men currently in form.

Roma full-back Wesley has been called up by Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti for friendlies against Japan and Singapore on 14 and 17 November. The call-up confirms the 2003-born defender has become an established figure in the Selecao, and he has missed no World Cup other than through injury. Wesley was recently at the centre of social media attention following a turbulent separation from his wife. Sharing the news on Instagram, he wrote: "May the new winds bring new chapters, new conquests and even more reasons to be grateful. Another call-up. The same pride. The same desire. I love you, my Brazil." The post was shared from his W43 account, @wesleyfranca03_.

Roma travel to the Bluenergy Stadium to face Udinese on Saturday 31 October at 18:00 in Serie A matchday 10, just days after a 4-2 win over Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico. It is Roma's fourth match in a few days, and Gian Piero Gasperini must manage a number of absences while the fixture list stays tight. Udinese, coached by Kosta Runjaic, are coming off a 0-0 draw at Parma. Gasperini may rotate several players again. Gollini is set to keep his place in goal, while Svilar has not been cleared to return early and will only come back after the international break, after the medical staff chose not to rush his recovery from a foot problem. Hermoso remains one of the main candidates to start from the first minute. Mancini, who did not look at his best against Cagliari, could make way for Ghilardi, and the battle between N'Dicka and Balerdi is still open, with Balerdi gaining ground after scoring a brace against Napoli. Wesley should return to the starting line-up on the left, while Lulli and Molina are competing for the right-back spot. Lulli, born in 2007, came off a strong performance against Cagliari, which ended with a goal and an assist. Cristante is expected to keep his place in midfield, with De Roon and Pisilli in contention to partner him, and Pisilli could also be deployed a few metres further forward. Soulé remains a fixed starter, while Mora is set to play slightly ahead to complete the line behind Malen. Pisilli is also an option to add intensity and runs into the box. Udinese are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1. Okoye, who saved a penalty against Parma, is in goal, with Palma, Kabasele and Abankwah in defence. Kamara and Bertola are set for the wing-back roles, and Karlstrom should partner Chakvetadze in midfield. In the number 10 role is former Roma player Zaniolo, who has recovered from injury and is a candidate to start alongside Ekkelenkamp behind Davis. Karlstrom is suspended after a caution. Udinese are without Solet, Zanoli, Bayo, Gueye and Alaba. Roma are also missing several important players. Svilar will miss the match after recent foot checks, and Paulo Dybala has not yet recovered fully from his injury, with his return being managed more cautiously than initially expected. The aim is to have him back for Roma's next Champions League trip against Manchester United. Manu Koné remains unavailable, and Lorenzo Pellegrini continues his recovery from a serious muscle problem. Roma have no players suspended or doubtful for the match. The historical record leans towards Roma overall, but Udinese won the last meeting at the Bluenergy Stadium, beating them 1-0 on 2 February 2026. In the first leg of that same season, Roma won 2-0 at the Olimpico. Across the last five Serie A meetings, Roma have won four and Udinese one. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN. Official line-ups will be confirmed about an hour before kickoff.

Roma have lost their place as the best defence in Europe's top five leagues and in Serie A, after conceding three goals at Napoli and two against Cagliari. Yet the back line remains the team's most reliable unit and its main source of solutions, with all six centre-backs largely available throughout the season. Gian Piero Gasperini's starters are Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso, who have played 793, 807 and 727 minutes respectively across Serie A and the Champions League. Daniele Aloisi, writing in Il Messaggero, highlights the backups too. Balerdi has become a fixed point in a matter of weeks, with 468 minutes played and a decisive brace at the Maradona. He missed the last match after a knock suffered on Saturday, but he will be available for the trip to Udine. Balerdi said: "It feels like I've been here for two or three years," adding that he hopes to stay for as long as possible. His buyout clause is close to being triggered. If he plays 55% of matches (at least 45 minutes each), it will activate at 14 million, while playing between 40% and 55% would lower the figure by three million. Ghilardi has improved the most compared with last season. Last year it took him three months to make his first start, but he is now a valid alternative. Mancini has not made a positive start, and he is responsible for the goal by Maldini. What is most surprising is the attacking contribution of the defenders, with eight goals coming from Gasperini's formidable centre-backs.

Former Roma player Zibi Boniek believes Lazio's strong start to the season is helping to keep Roma sharp, given the rivalry between the two Rome clubs. Roma and Lazio are both sitting high in the table after the opening stretch of the league season, something that has not happened for several years. Speaking to 'Rete Sport', Boniek said: "The stronger Lazio go, the more Roma will maintain their level of concentration to do just as well, given the city rivalry." The Polish former player, a Serie A champion with Roma, praised Lazio's head coach Gattuso: "I adore him, because he is a real person who doesn't hide and says what he thinks: he is a good coach. If he gets too many points he becomes unpleasant (laughs)." On Lazio's play, Boniek added: "Lazio play well. I saw them yesterday against Sassuolo. They are a very fast team that always goes vertical with lots of overlaps, and they don't play any tiki-taka." Turning to Roma, Boniek described a match that looked closed before a late goal from Mora, whom he said had shown little before. "The Portuguese is a player with good individual technique, but his physical structure had not helped him. I hope this goal can raise his level of self-esteem." He said Roma started well but slowed in the second half, believing they could hold on, and conceded to Maldini. The immediate response from the giallorossi, he said, shows that players on the bench can make a difference. He praised Ghilardi for a cross and an overlap, despite playing little. Boniek noted that the first-choice defensive trio is Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso, but said that former Verona player Balerdi is a player of real calibre. He asked whether Mancini might move to the bench for Balerdi, adding that he has almost become the first striker. He also said there is much of Mancini in Pisilli's second goal, with Mancini's pass setting up Lulli, whose cross found Niccolò. On the team selection, Boniek said: "Yesterday he was tricked by Fadera, but I am not sending anyone to the bench. Clearly if there are 20 players of equal level, you have to assess who is tired, but Gasperini does this very well. He then brought on Ghilardi, who passed a decisive ball to Mora." Finally, Boniek spoke about Soulé, a 2003-born player: "He is changing. When you train with a good coach, you improve. He is also more resilient now. Players grow at 26-27, let alone at his age. Yesterday I liked him very much."

Mile Svilar will not return before the international break, with doctors refusing to clear the goalkeeper early despite new instrumental tests on his foot injury, which had been examined with a view to a return for the Champions League clash with Manchester United. He will miss the trips to Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo, with a probable comeback after the break in the match on 21 November at Parma. Roma continue a demanding run of fixtures, and they travel to Udinese on Saturday 31 October at 18:00 with further important absences. Paulo Dybala will not be available for the match at the Bluenergy Arena. Despite Gasperini's optimism and his partial return to group training, the Argentine has been held back as a precaution. He has suffered no setback and the injury has fully healed, but he had felt a slight discomfort before the Cagliari game and the medical staff preferred not to take a risk. The goal is his availability for the Champions League match against Manchester United on 3 November. Roma's attack remains a target in the market, with Endrick, the Brazilian talent of Real Madrid, a name of interest. Despite Mourinho's wish to keep him, the player is weighing offers received in recent weeks, and Serie A would be a welcome destination. AC Milan and Roma remain among the interested clubs, and the player's camp does not rule anything out for January. Michael Yormack, president of Roc Nation Sports International, said: "It is an evolving process. We will see how things go until the end of the year. Endrick is very talented and wants to play. He loves Madrid and his teammates, but a career is short and he wants to make the most of it." With the winter window approaching, further names linked to Roma are circulating. German reports revive interest in Federico Chiesa, who is finding little space at Liverpool and is now willing to sell him for around 15 million euros. The winger is reportedly unhappy with the limited minutes given to him by the new coach Iraola and has begun looking at the Italian market. Initial contacts with Inter were reportedly made without reaching an agreement. Atalanta, Lazio and Milan are also interested alongside Roma. On Rome radio, Alessandro Vocalelli praised the way the substitutes have come on. He said: "I like the way the players coming off the bench enter. The latest was Gollini, who seemed not up to it and instead came on and did very well, as did Balerdi and Mora. It is a Roma that is confirming what was said on the eve of the match." Luigi Ferrajolo added: "On an individual level I really like Lulli: he is growing and deserves to play all the time. Against Cagliari Roma played with fire, not only in terms of the result but also in terms of the game they played."

Roma returned to training this afternoon after a rest day granted by Gasperini, with the team two days away from the trip to Udinese. Paulo Dybala is set to miss the match at the Dacia Arena and is doing individual training. The Argentine is hoping to be fit for the Manchester United game, but the calf pain has not fully gone away. Manu Koné is working on the pitch with the aim of being available for the Sassuolo fixture, the last match before the international break. The Frenchman has increased his workload and his condition is improving. Mile Svilar is out and will return directly for the away trip to Parma, scheduled for 21 November. Nahuel Molina's teammate Leonardo Balerdi trained with the group after missing Tuesday's match against Cagliari, which followed a heavy blow he suffered in Naples. Gasperini will not speak at the press conference on the eve of the match tomorrow.

Roma travel to the Bluenergy Stadium to face Udinese on Saturday 31 October at 18:00 in Serie A matchday 10, just days after a 4-2 win over Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico. It is Roma's fourth match in a few days, and Gian Piero Gasperini must manage a number of absences while the fixture list stays tight. Udinese, coached by Kosta Runjaic, are coming off a 0-0 draw at Parma. Gasperini may rotate several players again. Gollini is set to keep his place in goal, while Svilar has not been cleared to return early and will only come back after the international break, after the medical staff chose not to rush his recovery from a foot problem. Hermoso remains one of the main candidates to start from the first minute. Mancini, who did not look at his best against Cagliari, could make way for Ghilardi, and the battle between N'Dicka and Balerdi is still open, with Balerdi gaining ground after scoring a brace against Napoli. Wesley should return to the starting line-up on the left, while Lulli and Molina are competing for the right-back spot. Lulli, born in 2007, came off a strong performance against Cagliari, which ended with a goal and an assist. Cristante is expected to keep his place in midfield, with De Roon and Pisilli in contention to partner him, and Pisilli could also be deployed a few metres further forward. Soulé remains a fixed starter, while Mora is set to play slightly ahead to complete the line behind Malen. Pisilli is also an option to add intensity and runs into the box. Udinese are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1. Okoye, who saved a penalty against Parma, is in goal, with Palma, Kabasele and Abankwah in defence. Kamara and Bertola are set for the wing-back roles, and Karlstrom should partner Chakvetadze in midfield. In the number 10 role is former Roma player Zaniolo, who has recovered from injury and is a candidate to start alongside Ekkelenkamp behind Davis. Karlstrom is suspended after a caution. Udinese are without Solet, Zanoli, Bayo, Gueye and Alaba. Roma are also missing several important players. Svilar will miss the match after recent foot checks, and Paulo Dybala has not yet recovered fully from his injury, with his return being managed more cautiously than initially expected. The aim is to have him back for Roma's next Champions League trip against Manchester United. Manu Koné remains unavailable, and Lorenzo Pellegrini continues his recovery from a serious muscle problem. Roma have no players suspended or doubtful for the match. The historical record leans towards Roma overall, but Udinese won the last meeting at the Bluenergy Stadium, beating them 1-0 on 2 February 2026. In the first leg of that same season, Roma won 2-0 at the Olimpico. Across the last five Serie A meetings, Roma have won four and Udinese one. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN. Official line-ups will be confirmed about an hour before kickoff.

Roma winger Wesley has spoken about the injury that ended his hopes of playing at the World Cup, describing the moment he was forced off during the friendly against Egypt in preparation for the tournament. Speaking to Espn, the Brazilian said he knew immediately how serious the problem was. The injury also cost him his opening matches of the new season, and he has returned to the national team with the aim of earning a place at the next World Cup. He is now rebuilding his fitness after a series of setbacks that left him sidelined from the tournament itself. Wesley recounted the moment in detail: "Nel momento in cui c'è stato l'infortunio, ricordo perfettamente l'azione." In English: "When the injury happened, I remember the action perfectly. I realised straight away how serious it was, because the pain was too strong. Before crossing the ball I had already felt the tear, but then I went back to running to get my position back, telling myself it was not possible that the muscle had torn." He added: "On the bench I started to cry, because I felt a lot of pain and above all I knew it was a second-degree tear and that I would be out of the Cup. It was a dream that ended among the rubbish." He went on: "I had reached the top, to play a World Cup, and instead... Now I have to rebuild everything again. I am capable of building, because I have already been through many difficulties. I deserve to be at the next World Cup, no more than others, but I will work at my maximum to be there and perhaps bring joy to the Brazilian people."

Roma full-back Wesley has been called up by Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti for friendlies against Japan and Singapore on 14 and 17 November. The call-up confirms the 2003-born defender has become an established figure in the Selecao, and he has missed no World Cup other than through injury. Wesley was recently at the centre of social media attention following a turbulent separation from his wife. Sharing the news on Instagram, he wrote: "May the new winds bring new chapters, new conquests and even more reasons to be grateful. Another call-up. The same pride. The same desire. I love you, my Brazil." The post was shared from his W43 account, @wesleyfranca03_.

Roma winger Wesley has been called back into the Brazil squad by coach Carlo Ancelotti for friendlies against Japan and Singapore on 14 and 17 November. The Brazilian had missed the early fixtures of the new season through injury, having also been absent from the World Cup. The call-up marks a return to the national side for the Roma player, who is determined to feature in the yellow-and-green shirt once again. The Brazilian's availability for the two matches comes after a period on the sidelines that kept him out of the club's opening commitments. Wesley celebrated the selection on social media with a message to his country: "May the new winds bring new chapters, new conquests and even more reasons to be grateful. Another call-up. The same pride. The same desire. I love you, my Brazil."