International break minutes: Roma among Serie A's big clubs with fewest players in action

Roma's squad completed a training session at Trigoria on 8 October ahead of Sunday's 12:30 kickoff against Como at the Sinigaglia. Donyell Malen and Wesley trained fully with the group and are set to start, while Manu Koné and Rodrigo Mora have just returned from international duty and participated in the session. The Argentine players Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro underwent a recovery session. The Roma squad was bolstered by the return of Koné and Mora after their national team commitments. Malen and Wesley's availability is a significant boost for Sunday's fixture. The training included a friendly match against Sorianese, a team from Italy's top regional division.

Rome's radio stations offered contrasting assessments of Lorenzo Pellegrini's role as Roma prepare for a match against Como. Lorenzo Pes of Tele Radio Stereo expressed concern about Pellegrini's fit in the current squad. "I struggle to imagine him in this Roma team," Pes said. "It's a side playing at a very high tempo, and he seems a player a long way from that shape. He limited the damage in a Roma that wasn't operating at this pace, but honestly I find it difficult to see him playing this kind of football. I think he needs to take steps to play in a Roma that operates this way." Piero Torri of Radio Manà Manà offered a more positive view, noting that Pellegrini had delivered strong performances during Roma's Conference League campaign and should not be underestimated. Torri suggested that Pellegrini could start ahead of competing midfielders Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora, both of whom had been on international duty. Simone Valdarchi cautioned against drawing early conclusions about the title race, remarking that Como could provide greater conviction but that judging the season this soon was premature. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio focused on Como's tactical threat, highlighting Nico Paz and Paulo Dybala as crucial to the contest. He emphasized that Niccolò Pisilli's current form offered a dynamic midfield alternative to Marten de Roon, whose inclusion could make Roma's approach too predictable against Como's quality-based approach. Pruzzo noted the importance of whether Dybala's ability to unlock Donyell Malen could prove decisive, given the spaces Como typically concedes.

Rome's radio stations dissected Lorenzo Pellegrini's prospects and Santiago Castro's playing time in depth on 8 October, with studio hosts split on whether the midfielder can justify his renewed contract under Gasperini's high-tempo system. Mario Corsi stated bluntly: "Pellegrini knows inside himself that this is the moment where he either succeeds or fails. This is his last chance, because if he has another opaque season I don't think he'll stay at Roma. From a player like Pellegrini it isn't enough to have one good match — he was Roma's captain, and people expect him to make a difference." Lorenzo Pes offered a contrasting view of the tactical fit: "I'm very curious to see how Pellegrini will slot into a Roma going at full speed. He seems a player who is a bit removed from how this team is shaped. He managed the damage in a Roma that wasn't playing at this rhythm, but honestly I struggle to imagine him in this squad." Paolo Cosenza countered that Pellegrini's ability to play vertically and his vision suited Gasperini's approach. Alessio Nardo framed the renewal as a high-stakes gamble: "The society has placed this squad and its fate in Gasperini's hands. All the players were approved by the coach — he and D'Amico are jointly responsible for the players signed, sold and renewed. Dybala has proved he deserved his renewal 100 per cent. Now we will evaluate Pellegrini on the pitch. If Pellegrini doesn't deliver, we will have to hold Gasperini to account for it, because he has always defended him." CCastro's limited first-team action also drew comment. Checco Oddo Casano explained the transfer fee: "Castro cost 35 million partly because Bologna was the only club willing to take Dovbyk, a player with continuous physical problems, absorbing his entire wage and including a purchase option. When a young but promising player has a low wage, he often costs you more in transfer fee." Gianluca Piacentini observed that Donyell Malen was scoring a goal per game, making him a regular starter, but argued Castro deserved playing time to develop. David Rossi advocated for Castro's inclusion: "He's an ambitious player, and you can see it when he takes the pitch. If at the end of the season Malen plays 38 times as a starter and Castro comes on 38 times for five minutes, he'll tell you he made a mistake, because he wants to be the main man." Roberto Pruzzo highlighted the tactical duel in the upcoming Como match: "Think of Nico Paz and Dybala — that could be the key to the game. Pisilli is in form and can give you a midfield alternative in a very static situation, because if De Roon plays, it becomes very readable against Como, who make their quality their best weapon." Nando Orsi predicted Paz would be benched, saying Fabregas uses the bench to punish occasional indolence. The match is scheduled for 12:30, with Orsi defending the early kickoff as standard in English football for years.

Roma's squad completed a training session at Trigoria on 8 October ahead of Sunday's 12:30 kickoff against Como at the Sinigaglia. Donyell Malen and Wesley trained fully with the group and are set to start, while Manu Koné and Rodrigo Mora have just returned from international duty and participated in the session. The Argentine players Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro underwent a recovery session. The Roma squad was bolstered by the return of Koné and Mora after their national team commitments. Malen and Wesley's availability is a significant boost for Sunday's fixture. The training included a friendly match against Sorianese, a team from Italy's top regional division.

Rome's radio stations offered contrasting assessments of Lorenzo Pellegrini's role as Roma prepare for a match against Como. Lorenzo Pes of Tele Radio Stereo expressed concern about Pellegrini's fit in the current squad. "I struggle to imagine him in this Roma team," Pes said. "It's a side playing at a very high tempo, and he seems a player a long way from that shape. He limited the damage in a Roma that wasn't operating at this pace, but honestly I find it difficult to see him playing this kind of football. I think he needs to take steps to play in a Roma that operates this way." Piero Torri of Radio Manà Manà offered a more positive view, noting that Pellegrini had delivered strong performances during Roma's Conference League campaign and should not be underestimated. Torri suggested that Pellegrini could start ahead of competing midfielders Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora, both of whom had been on international duty. Simone Valdarchi cautioned against drawing early conclusions about the title race, remarking that Como could provide greater conviction but that judging the season this soon was premature. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio focused on Como's tactical threat, highlighting Nico Paz and Paulo Dybala as crucial to the contest. He emphasized that Niccolò Pisilli's current form offered a dynamic midfield alternative to Marten de Roon, whose inclusion could make Roma's approach too predictable against Como's quality-based approach. Pruzzo noted the importance of whether Dybala's ability to unlock Donyell Malen could prove decisive, given the spaces Como typically concedes.

Como and Roma meet on Sunday in a fixture that spotlights two clubs most actively invested in youth development. The pair have the lowest average squad ages in Serie A: Como at 24.5 years and Roma at 25.8 years, ahead of Milan (26.5) and Juventus (26.8). Napoli lag furthest behind at 28.5 years. Both clubs field multiple players under 23 in prominent roles, with Como deploying Diao, Paz, Liberali, Ramon, Valle, Rodriguez and Baturina, while Roma call on Pisilli, Mora, Lulli, Wesley, Castro, Soulé and Ghilardi. The matchup represents a broader strategic commitment to the future across both squads. Roma and Como have both made future-focused recruitment a priority and plan to continue doing so in the next transfer window whilst maintaining experienced depth. Roma blend youth with senior players including Paulo Dybala, Bryan Cristante and Mario Hermoso. Como similarly pair development with established figures such as Milla, Butez and Douvikas under Fabregas. The contrast in playing styles is notable—both clubs seek to dominate opponents and entertain—yet they share this generational philosophy. Monza and Frosinone currently lead the league's average age table at 23.8 years, having reached matchday five. However, the quality of young talent matters as much as the statistical average. Neither Roma nor Como lack for that calibre of prospect, positioning the two clubs as genuine title contenders built on youth rather than veteran squads.

Gianluca Mancini faces a crucial opportunity to revive his campaign in the coming matches, with the midfielder's armband at Como likely to fall to either Lorenzo Pellegrini or Mancini himself in the absence of Bryan Cristante. The defender has endured a subdued start to 2026-27, standing out for the wrong reasons in Roma's defeats to Fenerbahçe and Inter, where he was caught out for goals by Lautaro Martínez. A poor showing for the Italian national team has compounded his struggles. Mancini remains a trusted lieutenant of head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, but the statistics underline his difficult period. His defensive output lags behind teammates: he averages 1.2 tackles per match compared to Mario Hermoso's 2.6 and Evan N'Dicka's 3.3. He is similarly behind in interceptions and challenges. A performance at Torino offered a rare positive, but as Daniele Aloisi writes in Il Messaggero, football can be cruel in how it magnifies the errors of defenders. However, the sport offers swift chances at redemption, and few fixtures carry greater weight than the double challenge against Como and Real Madrid ahead.

Wesley has recovered from a muscular strain to his right thigh and is nearing a return to action. Malen is also ready to feature again as Roma's squad moves closer to full availability following the international break. At Trigoria on 7 October, midfielders Manu Koné and Rodrigo Mora completed recovery work. The pair's contributions during the break underlined their importance: Mora, born in 2007, accumulated the most minutes of any Roma player during the international window with 225 appearances and scored a bicycle kick for Portugal's Under-21 side. On 8 October, three Argentine players—Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro—returned to training after being unused by Alfredo Scaloni during Argentina's farewell match for Lionel Messi. Of the three, Soulé appears to have the strongest chance of starting the next fixture. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini may deploy Evan N'Dicka at centre-back instead of Balerdi, with the Ivorian defender having trained at Trigoria since the start of the week. Bryan Cristante remains sidelined with a lateral knee ligament issue, creating a potential opportunity for Marten de Roon in midfield.

Roma return from international duty with most players available for Sunday's trip to Como, the first of two fixtures that will test Gasperini's squad before Real Madrid arrive at the Olimpico four days later. Manu Koné and Rodrigo Mora returned yesterday, while Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro rejoin today after their commitments with Argentina's national team. Bryan Cristante remains sidelined by a knee ligament problem, opening the door for Marten de Roon to make his Roma debut from the start alongside Koné in midfield. The selection puzzle centres on the third attacking option alongside Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala. Lorenzo Pellegrini, fully recovered after a long absence, is favoured by some outlets after training throughout the break at Trigoria. Others back Soulé despite his late return from Argentina, while Rodrigo Mora retains a genuine chance after being the most used Roma player during the international window, clocking 225 minutes and scoring an overhead kick for Portugal Under 21. Gasperini has three very different solutions competing for one shirt, with Real Madrid's proximity potentially influencing Sunday's starting lineup. Malen and Wesley have both cleared their respective injury problems and are expected to feature against Como without concern. The Brazilian should return as a starter on the flank, though a contest remains between Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli for the opposite side. In defence, Evan N'Dicka appears to have a slight edge over Balerdi, having resumed regular training at Trigoria while Balerdi only returns today. Malen has scored six goals in the first five matches and carries a significant objective into the resumption: approaching the 36-goal records of Higuain and Immobile. He scored 20 Serie A goals in 2026 alone—more than any other player—and had found the net at the Sinigaglia last season before Como's comeback. Dybala has seized the break to work without interruption, transforming physically and delivering greater consistency: 497 minutes played, four assists and three goals created so far, though his own goal drought stretches back to 18 January. The technical duel between Dybala and Como's Nico Paz will be one of the match's most compelling threads. Gasperini and Como manager Cesc Fabregas represent opposite generations and contrasting approaches to attacking football. Fabregas seeks to control rhythm and possession; Gasperini favours intensity, pressure and direct play. They have nearly thirty years between them, stand respectively as Serie A's youngest and oldest managers, and have won two matches each in four previous meetings. Their recent encounters have produced friction—Gasperini objected to Fabregas's use of the goalkeeper in Como's build-up, while Fabregas criticised Gasperini's failure to greet him after one fixture. Sunday's fixture, arriving at only the sixth matchday, already carries weight in gauging both teams' ambitions.

Gianluca Mancini faces a crucial opportunity to revive his campaign in the coming matches, with the midfielder's armband at Como likely to fall to either Lorenzo Pellegrini or Mancini himself in the absence of Bryan Cristante. The defender has endured a subdued start to 2026-27, standing out for the wrong reasons in Roma's defeats to Fenerbahçe and Inter, where he was caught out for goals by Lautaro Martínez. A poor showing for the Italian national team has compounded his struggles. Mancini remains a trusted lieutenant of head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, but the statistics underline his difficult period. His defensive output lags behind teammates: he averages 1.2 tackles per match compared to Mario Hermoso's 2.6 and Evan N'Dicka's 3.3. He is similarly behind in interceptions and challenges. A performance at Torino offered a rare positive, but as Daniele Aloisi writes in Il Messaggero, football can be cruel in how it magnifies the errors of defenders. However, the sport offers swift chances at redemption, and few fixtures carry greater weight than the double challenge against Como and Real Madrid ahead.

The international break has ended and Roma players have returned to Trigoria, with Matías Soulé, Santiago Castro and Leonardo Balerdi due back in the capital today and available to Gasperini from tomorrow. The three Argentina internationals saw limited action across friendly matches against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin. Balerdi played the most among them with 79 minutes, followed by Soulé (45 minutes) and Castro (21 minutes). They watched Argentina's farewell to Lionel Messi from the bench and are now set for the upcoming Como fixture. Rodrigo Mora emerged as Roma's most-used player during the international window, accumulating 225 minutes with Portugal Under-21. The 2007-born midfielder scored a bicycle kick and provided an assist. Evan N'Dicka (187 minutes), Gianluca Mancini and Niccolò Pisilli (both 180 minutes) followed him. Manu Koné featured in three of France's four matches, totalling 151 minutes, though he was absent against Italy and came off the bench only late in the fixture against Belgium. Emanuele Lulli and Konstantinos Koulierakis saw less action, playing 45 and 90 minutes respectively. Gasperini began formation drills today and reunited with Wesley and Donyell Malen, both of whom remained in Rome due to minor injuries that have now been resolved.

Roma have renewed their interest in Issa Doumbia following his maiden start for Italy against Turkey on Sunday, which the Giallorossi won 3–1. The 22-year-old Sporting CP midfielder impressed Roma and Juventus during the match, according to Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur. Doumbia played the full 90 minutes and was involved in the build-up to Italy's first and third goals, a display that has brought fresh attention to a player Roma were already monitoring during the summer transfer window. Doumbia moved from Venezia to Sporting in June and signed a contract until 2031 with the Portuguese club. His agreement includes a €80 million release clause, officially confirmed by Sporting at the time of his transfer. That figure does not necessarily represent Sporting's asking price for any negotiation, but demonstrates the club's confidence in the player and the difficulty of engineering a move in the near term. For now, Roma's stance appears to be one of interest and observation rather than active pursuit. The midfielder's performance in the Stadio Olimpico victory gave him a significant platform at international level. His involvement in two of Italy's goals under Roberto Mancini underlined the quality that has drawn Roma's eye previously, and the display has intensified Italian clubs' focus on a prospect already known to the Giallorossi.