Malen out of Dutch squad but injury not serious; Roma squad thins as 12 nationals depart

Donyell Malen, Wesley and Bryan Cristante will remain at Trigoria during the international break after withdrawing from their national team commitments due to minor injuries, with no serious alarm felt over their condition. Malen has been ruled out of the Netherlands squad with a physical problem that emerged in recent days, Wesley has suffered a right thigh muscle strain that forced him to withdraw from Brazil's call-up, and Cristante is unavailable for Italy's fixtures. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini aims to have all three available again when the league resumes. Roma have released twelve players to their respective national teams following the 2–2 draw against Inter. The departing squad members, including youth representatives, are Gianluca Mancini, Daniele Ghilardi, Evan N'Dicka, Emanuele Lulli, Niccolò Pisilli, Manu Koné, Leonardo Balerdi, Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Rodrigo Mora and Giorgio De Marzi. A fixture to watch closely is France versus Italy in the Nations League on 2 October, which will pit Koné against squad-mates Mancini and Ghilardi. Off the pitch, Jason Morrow has departed his position as Chief Financial Officer of AS Roma to return to the United States within the Friedkin Group, as previously agreed with the ownership. The club has decided not to appoint an immediate replacement, with a successor arriving later. John Galantic will consolidate his role as a point of reference for both the administrative and technical spheres, maintaining the strong working relationship he has built with Gasperini and D'Amico.

Donyell Malen, Wesley and Bryan Cristante have withdrawn from their respective national team commitments due to physical problems, but Roma do not view their conditions as a cause for serious concern. All three will remain at Trigoria during the international break to recover without being forced to accelerate their rehabilitation. The aim is to have them available again for Gian Piero Gasperini when the league campaign resumes. Malen will not join the Netherlands squad owing to a physical issue that emerged in recent days. Wesley is dealing with a muscle strain in his right thigh that forced him to withdraw from Brazil's call-up, while Cristante is unavailable for Italy's fixtures. The positive news for Roma is that none of the three is expected to need a prolonged absence. The international break will allow them to work at Trigoria and clear their respective problems, giving Gasperini the chance to have them fully fit again. Malen, Wesley and Cristante are expected to return to full training after the pause.

Donyell Malen will miss the Netherlands' upcoming Nations League matches after withdrawing from the squad due to a left knee problem. The Roma forward pulled out at the last moment, but there is no serious cause for concern. Netherlands coach Xavi addressed the situation in a press conference, saying: "It's a shame because Donyell is in excellent form. He had to withdraw at the last moment, but that's football. In my view Donyell is fine, I don't know how long it will take him to recover, but the injury is not serious." Malen, who wears the number 14 shirt for Roma, will remain at Trigoria during the international window.

Donyell Malen, Wesley and Bryan Cristante will remain at Trigoria during the international break after withdrawing from their national team commitments due to minor injuries, with no serious alarm felt over their condition. Malen has been ruled out of the Netherlands squad with a physical problem that emerged in recent days, Wesley has suffered a right thigh muscle strain that forced him to withdraw from Brazil's call-up, and Cristante is unavailable for Italy's fixtures. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini aims to have all three available again when the league resumes. Roma have released twelve players to their respective national teams following the 2–2 draw against Inter. The departing squad members, including youth representatives, are Gianluca Mancini, Daniele Ghilardi, Evan N'Dicka, Emanuele Lulli, Niccolò Pisilli, Manu Koné, Leonardo Balerdi, Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Rodrigo Mora and Giorgio De Marzi. A fixture to watch closely is France versus Italy in the Nations League on 2 October, which will pit Koné against squad-mates Mancini and Ghilardi. Off the pitch, Jason Morrow has departed his position as Chief Financial Officer of AS Roma to return to the United States within the Friedkin Group, as previously agreed with the ownership. The club has decided not to appoint an immediate replacement, with a successor arriving later. John Galantic will consolidate his role as a point of reference for both the administrative and technical spheres, maintaining the strong working relationship he has built with Gasperini and D'Amico.

Roma's start to the 2026-27 season has revealed a strong squad across multiple facets of play, according to analysis published today. Few regrets and considerable self-awareness characterize the early weeks, with the club showing it has already reached a level of maturity and quality. The task now is to sustain and deepen that performance—to complete what has been begun. Donyell Malen suffered only minor knee discomfort in recent action; Netherlands coach Xavi reported his assessment that the player is fit. Roma have 12 players currently on international duty, including Manu Koné, Evan N'Dicka, and Emanuele Lulli among others engaged in national team matches. Commentator Luca Adani praised Roma's opening period of their recent fixture, calling it "clamorific" and highlighting a strong defensive display, though he noted a lapse from Gianluca Mancini on a goal conceded. Radio Pensieri's Felici drew a striking comparison, saying the Roma team in the first half "looked like Klopp's Liverpool."

Donyell Malen, Wesley and Bryan Cristante have withdrawn from their respective national team commitments due to physical problems, but Roma do not view their conditions as a cause for serious concern. All three will remain at Trigoria during the international break to recover without being forced to accelerate their rehabilitation. The aim is to have them available again for Gian Piero Gasperini when the league campaign resumes. Malen will not join the Netherlands squad owing to a physical issue that emerged in recent days. Wesley is dealing with a muscle strain in his right thigh that forced him to withdraw from Brazil's call-up, while Cristante is unavailable for Italy's fixtures. The positive news for Roma is that none of the three is expected to need a prolonged absence. The international break will allow them to work at Trigoria and clear their respective problems, giving Gasperini the chance to have them fully fit again. Malen, Wesley and Cristante are expected to return to full training after the pause.

Paulo Dybala has opened up about his role within Roma's squad during an interview for the video game FC27's 'The Grounds' mode. When asked whether he feels he is now a mentor to his teammates, Dybala deflected personal credit. "I think that's something the lads should say," he replied. "I simply try to help everyone and I hope my teammates are proud of me." Dybala discussed his earliest influences in football, crediting his father as his first mentor. "It was him who got me playing football for the first time, together with my brothers. I believe therefore that, on a human level, they are my source of inspiration," he said. As a child, Dybala played in his home country with friends in informal settings. "I started in my country. With my friends we played anywhere," he explained. "The goals were backpacks or trees." When asked about his footballing idol, Dybala named Ronaldinho, and also highlighted Juan Román Riquelme. "I liked Riquelme very much, especially his celebrations," he noted. For a hypothetical two-on-two game, Dybala chose his Roma teammate Matías Soulé as his partner. On the subject of who controls the music in Roma's dressing room, Dybala credited Soulé again: "Soulé. Every now and then he plays strange music, but mostly reggaeton."

Paulo Dybala has featured in an interview for FC27's new video game mode, 'The Grounds', discussing his upbringing, football influences and life at Roma. When asked whether he now serves as a mentor to the squad, Dybala said: 'I think the lads should say that. I simply try to help everyone and hope my teammates are proud of me.' Dybala traced his football journey to his childhood. His father introduced him and his brothers to the game, and he credits his family as his main source of human inspiration rather than a formal mentor. He began playing in his home country with friends, using makeshift pitches where goals were marked by backpacks or trees. Among his early role models were Ronaldinho and Juan Román Riquelme, whose celebrations particularly impressed him. In lighter squad dynamics, Dybala named Matías Soulé as his choice for a two-on-two partner. He also revealed that Soulé controls the dressing room music: 'Every now and then he plays strange music, but mainly reggaeton.' The interview covered nostalgic memories of casual football and his relationship with his Roma teammates.

Paulo Dybala has featured in a video game interview for FC27's new "The Grounds" mode, discussing his football journey and his role at Roma. On whether he sees himself as a mentor to his teammates, Dybala said: "I think that's for the lads to say. I simply try to help everyone and I hope my teammates are proud of me." He credited his father as his first mentor, saying: "Obviously my dad. He was the one who got me playing football for the first time, along with my brothers. I believe, on a human level, they are my source of inspiration." Dybala revealed his childhood football took place in informal settings. "I started in my country. With my friends we played anywhere," he explained. "The goals were backpacks or trees." On his playing idols, Dybala named Ronaldinho as his hero: "Ronaldinho. I also really liked Riquelme, especially his celebrations." Asked who he would pick for a two-versus-two match, he chose teammate Matías Soulé. Soulé is also the squad's music man in the dressing room: "Soulé. He puts on strange music sometimes, but mainly reggaeton."

Donyell Malen, Wesley and Bryan Cristante will remain at Trigoria during the international break after withdrawing from their national team commitments due to minor injuries, with no serious alarm felt over their condition. Malen has been ruled out of the Netherlands squad with a physical problem that emerged in recent days, Wesley has suffered a right thigh muscle strain that forced him to withdraw from Brazil's call-up, and Cristante is unavailable for Italy's fixtures. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini aims to have all three available again when the league resumes. Roma have released twelve players to their respective national teams following the 2–2 draw against Inter. The departing squad members, including youth representatives, are Gianluca Mancini, Daniele Ghilardi, Evan N'Dicka, Emanuele Lulli, Niccolò Pisilli, Manu Koné, Leonardo Balerdi, Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Rodrigo Mora and Giorgio De Marzi. A fixture to watch closely is France versus Italy in the Nations League on 2 October, which will pit Koné against squad-mates Mancini and Ghilardi. Off the pitch, Jason Morrow has departed his position as Chief Financial Officer of AS Roma to return to the United States within the Friedkin Group, as previously agreed with the ownership. The club has decided not to appoint an immediate replacement, with a successor arriving later. John Galantic will consolidate his role as a point of reference for both the administrative and technical spheres, maintaining the strong working relationship he has built with Gasperini and D'Amico.

Roberto Mancini held a press conference at Coverciano on the eve of Italy's Nations League matches, outlining his selection philosophy and squad-building approach. Among the 23 players called up are Roma defenders Gianluca Mancini and Daniele Ghilardi, while Bryan Cristante withdrew due to a physical problem. Mancini opted for an unusually large squad to assess young players and lay foundations for future campaigns. The Italy manager justified broadening his group, saying: "If I had called players who are getting on in years there would have been criticism. I've called young players because it's right to get to know them directly in order to have a strong squad in the future. I've called more players than usual because I want to see them directly on the pitch." He emphasised a blend of experience and youth: "I expect experienced players to help young players settle in. From young players, I expect them to give everything they have—young players often play relaxed and carefree." Mancini outlined his tactical ambitions: "I'm starting out to have a squad that dominates, that plays well, that always gives its maximum. You can't always win but we'll start out to do this, to win. We're all positive." He added that no formation would be treated as untouchable: "We're open to any tactical situation: we can play with two strikers, with a 4-3-3, but also in other ways. The players are capable of doing many things." Mancini addressed the relationship with supporters following his return to the Italy bench: "If a fan feels betrayed they can get angry, it's understandable. To win them back we must do things properly and bring the national team back where it deserves to be, and maybe things will calm down." On his ambitions for this second spell: "I'm here to win as quickly as possible. I'm curious to see the younger lads, to build a squad with these lads. I'm certain we'll have some fine satisfactions. Over the next four years we'll definitely bring something home, I'm sure of it. Some of the players I know—they just need to play." Mancini praised the new refereeing standards in Italy, noting that reduced stoppages for minor fouls would allow faster play. On Kean and Pio Esposito: "They haven't played in the last match but they'll play further on, because they're good. The fact that 0-0 draws have disappeared is more fun for viewers, and those players will come along later too."

Donyell Malen, Wesley and Bryan Cristante have withdrawn from their respective national team commitments due to physical problems, but Roma do not view their conditions as a cause for serious concern. All three will remain at Trigoria during the international break to recover without being forced to accelerate their rehabilitation. The aim is to have them available again for Gian Piero Gasperini when the league campaign resumes. Malen will not join the Netherlands squad owing to a physical issue that emerged in recent days. Wesley is dealing with a muscle strain in his right thigh that forced him to withdraw from Brazil's call-up, while Cristante is unavailable for Italy's fixtures. The positive news for Roma is that none of the three is expected to need a prolonged absence. The international break will allow them to work at Trigoria and clear their respective problems, giving Gasperini the chance to have them fully fit again. Malen, Wesley and Cristante are expected to return to full training after the pause.