Mancini included in Italy squad for Belgium, Ghilardi omitted

Roberto Mancini has named his 23-man squad for Italy's Nations League opener against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico on 25 September, with AS Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi among those excluded. The match marks the official start of Mancini's new cycle as Italy manager. Ghilardi was omitted alongside Matteo Pessina, Alessandro Bastoni (muscle fatigue), Ruggeri, Ricci, Fagioli, Vergara, Nicolò Zaniolo, Sebastiano Esposito, Kouadio and Inácio.

Donyell Malen's condition is improving after a left knee problem sustained during Roma's match against Inter forced him to withdraw from the Netherlands' first squad call-up following the World Cup. Medical tests ruled out serious damage but advised caution, prompting Malen to skip the international break and use the time to recover fully. Malen has trained separately from his Roma teammates in recent days, focusing on individual work and physiotherapy to reduce discomfort and avoid overloading the knee. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini granted the squad four days' rest, with training resuming Tuesday afternoon. Malen is expected to continue his personalised programme initially before being gradually reintegrated into group sessions. Roma are in no rush to accelerate his return, prioritising a complete recovery ahead of the demanding fixture list that awaits after the break. Netherlands manager Xavi offered reassurance on Malen's status, saying: "It's a shame because Donyell is in excellent form. He had to say no at the last moment, but that's football. In my opinion he's fine, I don't know how much time it will take him to recover, but the injury is not serious."

Roman radio stations have weighed in on whether Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina should attend Lionel Messi's farewell match in Argentina, with most commentators backing head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's decision to prevent the journey ahead of Roma's fixture against Como. The debate reflects wider discussion of player welfare and club priorities during a congested fixture schedule. Gasperini has kept Dybala and Molina in Rome, citing the physical demands of his tactical system and the recovery time needed between matches. Other Roma players—Donyell Malen, Bryan Cristante and Wesley—have also been unavailable for selection due to what commentators described as "tactical" injury concerns. The Argentina national team coach has already raised questions about the club's handling of Malen's absence, adding external pressure to Roma's management. Most radio voices acknowledged the emotional pull of attending Messi's retirement event—a once-in-a-lifetime occasion for players who competed alongside him—but sided with Gasperini's assertion that club duty must come first. Stefano Agresti said: "Dybala and Molina think of Roma, they are professionals, but they are tempted by this trip, by this almost national party. They would gladly go, he is a teammate, a point of reference. But I believe that respect also for a club that pays your contract, for which you work, imposes a different decision and they will greet Messi on another occasion. I believe Gasperini is right. Already Wesley, Malen and Cristante did not go because they were not well; making trips like this for a party is a distraction to avoid. If Dybala doesn't touch the ball with Como or is tired, what happens?" Roberto Pruzzo took a middle ground: "If you can avoid sending Dybala and Molina to Argentina it is better, but it is also true that it is a unique opportunity. I believe common sense will prevail in the end." Nando Orsi disagreed, stating: "I understand the intercontinental trip, the matches, that the coach makes his interests but it is only once. It seems exaggerated that Dybala and Molina are not sent to Messi's farewell match." Piero Torri critiqued Roma's transfer strategy separately, observing: "It seems a bit exaggerated this exaltation of Romano. Certainly Roma made a mistake in not putting a buy-back clause on this player: they did not leave themselves a safety valve." The question of whether Dybala and Molina will travel remains officially unresolved, though Simone Valdarchi suggested it was "more probable" they would stay.

Roberto Mancini has named his 23-man squad for Italy's Nations League opener against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico on 25 September, with AS Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi among those excluded. The match marks the official start of Mancini's new cycle as Italy manager. Ghilardi was omitted alongside Matteo Pessina, Alessandro Bastoni (muscle fatigue), Ruggeri, Ricci, Fagioli, Vergara, Nicolò Zaniolo, Sebastiano Esposito, Kouadio and Inácio.

Amantino Mancini, former Roma and Inter player, has analysed Saturday's 2–2 draw between the clubs at the Olimpico, telling Tribuna.com that the result was fair and that the title race will stretch beyond just Roma and Inter. "It was undoubtedly the most just result; Roma played well in the first half, while Inter played better in the second," he said. Mancini believes five teams will contest the Scudetto this season. "There will be other squads fighting for the title; I believe Napoli, Juventus and Milan can compete for it alongside Roma and Inter. It's a long championship and there is still a lot of football to be played, but I think these five teams will battle for the title." He acknowledged Roma's improvement over the past year but said Inter still hold a slight edge. "Roma have strengthened well and are a more competitive squad, but I still see Inter slightly ahead because they have been playing together as a group for longer. That said, Roma have improved considerably from last year." On Paulo Dybala, Mancini offered high praise: "We know Dybala's quality and technical gifts. When he is in physical condition and plays with continuity, he is a world-class talent. Fortunately for Roma and for him, this year he has not suffered injuries and is playing really well. He is at the peak of his career." Mancini also highlighted a defensive problem for Inter, noting: "Inter are struggling in defence; the numbers confirm it. They concede too many goals and must fix the back line. Chivu knows it well; he knows how to solve the situation." On Inter striker Lautaro, Mancini rated him highly: "Lautaro pleases me; he is a very strong player, both physically and technically, and he knows how to score. For me he ranks among the five best strikers in the world."

Amantino Mancini, a former player at both Roma and Inter, analysed Saturday's 2–2 draw between the clubs at the Olimpico, calling it the correct result. "It was undoubtedly the fairest outcome; Roma played well in the first half, while Inter performed better in the second," he said. Mancini expects the Serie A title race to extend beyond Roma and Inter. "There will be other teams fighting for the Scudetto; I believe Napoli, Juventus and Milan can compete for the title alongside Roma and Inter. It's a long season and there's still plenty of football to be played, but I think these five teams will be battling for the title." He acknowledged Roma's improvement but maintained Inter's slight edge. "Roma have strengthened well and are a more competitive team, but I still see Inter slightly ahead because they've been playing together as a group for longer. That said, Roma have improved considerably compared to last year." On Paulo Dybala, Mancini was emphatic: "We know Dybala's quality and technical gifts. When he's physically fit and playing regularly, he is a world-class talent. Fortunately for Roma and for him, this year he has suffered no injuries and is playing really well. He is at the peak of his career." Regarding Inter's defensive vulnerabilities—having fallen two goals behind in three consecutive league matches before recovering—Mancini identified structural issues. "Inter are struggling in defence; the numbers confirm it. They concede too many goals and must fix the backline. Chivu knows this well; he knows how to resolve it. This isn't the first time it's happened: the team has serious defensive problems." Mancini also rated Lautaro among the world's top five strikers and praised fellow Brazilian Carlos Augusto, suggesting he deserves a call-up to the national team despite not being a regular starter.

Roberto Mancini has named his 23-man squad for Italy's Nations League opener against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico on 25 September, with AS Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi among those excluded. The match marks the official start of Mancini's new cycle as Italy manager. Ghilardi was omitted alongside Matteo Pessina, Alessandro Bastoni (muscle fatigue), Ruggeri, Ricci, Fagioli, Vergara, Nicolò Zaniolo, Sebastiano Esposito, Kouadio and Inácio.

Donyell Malen has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad due to left-knee discomfort sustained in Roma's match against Inter. Medical tests have ruled out serious damage, and the forward has been undergoing targeted work and physiotherapy in recent days. When training resumes on Tuesday, he will initially continue on an individual programme before gradually returning to group work. Roma are taking a cautious approach and aim to have him fully fit when the season resumes. Francesco Totti will take on a role within the new Maxima Roma structure, though not in player recruitment. Instead, he will work to grow the club's fan base. Totti has reiterated his enduring attachment to the club, saying: "Roma remains always magical for me. That is my first skin." Despite two recent meetings with Ryan Friedkin over recent months, a return to Trigoria has not materialised. Among the tactical strengths of Gasperini's Roma is one-on-one play. The club has improved dramatically from a 39.2 per cent successful dribbling rate last season to 61.73 per cent so far this campaign, climbing from 19th place to the top of that category. Malen and Soulé lead with 2.6 successful dribbles per match, followed by Mora at 2.1 and Ghilardi at 1.9. Dybala trails at 0.9.

Roma's league-leading position rests not only on 14 goals scored—six of them by Donyell Malen and four assists from Paulo Dybala—but fundamentally on their command of dribbling, a technical foundation where the club struggled badly last season. Roma's successful dribbling rate has soared from 39.2% in the 2025–26 campaign to 61.73% in this opening stretch of Serie A, precisely the area Gasperini identified for improvement. The coach hopes to accelerate that progress further in January, when sporting director D'Amico will attempt to secure a left-footed attacking midfielder playing on the right side. The scale of the transformation is stark. Last season Roma ranked 19th overall in dribbling completion; they now lead the league. This tactical shift reflects Gasperini's complete commitment to an attacking-minded approach, beginning with high pressure and ball recovery, and relying on instinct, pure technique and creative play rather than conventional structure. Malen and Soulé top Roma's individual dribbling charts with 2.6 completed dribbles per match apiece. Rodrigo Mora ranks third with 2.1 per match, and Daniele Ghilardi—a defender—sits fourth with 1.9. Dybala, despite his four assists, ranks eighth in the Roma squad with a modest 0.9 dribbles completed per match, converting only 30.8% of his attempts.

Roman radio stations have weighed in on whether Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina should attend Lionel Messi's farewell match in Argentina, with most commentators backing head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's decision to prevent the journey ahead of Roma's fixture against Como. The debate reflects wider discussion of player welfare and club priorities during a congested fixture schedule. Gasperini has kept Dybala and Molina in Rome, citing the physical demands of his tactical system and the recovery time needed between matches. Other Roma players—Donyell Malen, Bryan Cristante and Wesley—have also been unavailable for selection due to what commentators described as "tactical" injury concerns. The Argentina national team coach has already raised questions about the club's handling of Malen's absence, adding external pressure to Roma's management. Most radio voices acknowledged the emotional pull of attending Messi's retirement event—a once-in-a-lifetime occasion for players who competed alongside him—but sided with Gasperini's assertion that club duty must come first. Stefano Agresti said: "Dybala and Molina think of Roma, they are professionals, but they are tempted by this trip, by this almost national party. They would gladly go, he is a teammate, a point of reference. But I believe that respect also for a club that pays your contract, for which you work, imposes a different decision and they will greet Messi on another occasion. I believe Gasperini is right. Already Wesley, Malen and Cristante did not go because they were not well; making trips like this for a party is a distraction to avoid. If Dybala doesn't touch the ball with Como or is tired, what happens?" Roberto Pruzzo took a middle ground: "If you can avoid sending Dybala and Molina to Argentina it is better, but it is also true that it is a unique opportunity. I believe common sense will prevail in the end." Nando Orsi disagreed, stating: "I understand the intercontinental trip, the matches, that the coach makes his interests but it is only once. It seems exaggerated that Dybala and Molina are not sent to Messi's farewell match." Piero Torri critiqued Roma's transfer strategy separately, observing: "It seems a bit exaggerated this exaltation of Romano. Certainly Roma made a mistake in not putting a buy-back clause on this player: they did not leave themselves a safety valve." The question of whether Dybala and Molina will travel remains officially unresolved, though Simone Valdarchi suggested it was "more probable" they would stay.

Bryan Cristante has started this season as a regular fixture in Roma's midfield, and the statistical evidence reinforces head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's conviction—shared by his predecessors—that the number 4 is almost indispensable. The Friuli-born midfielder has long been a subject of discussion in the city, yet every manager to arrive at the Stadio Olimpico has considered him nearly essential. Gasperini knows Cristante well but has found him more mature and complete than before. Cristante's role has evolved considerably. He is no longer asked to function as a classical regista but instead to link the team's departments, win back possession, and play vertical passes that compress the side forward. The data reveals his effectiveness across both phases of play and transitions: across Serie A, he ranks among the best midfielders since the season began. Among all Serie A midfielders, when combined values of ball recoveries and progressive actions—passes and carrying the ball forward—are measured per 90 minutes, Cristante sits in the highest tier. He averages over 12 progressive actions per match, proving fundamental in pushing the team forward and directing play, while adding approximately 9 balls recovered through tackles, interceptions and second-ball situations—a figure well above the league average. His captaincy armband, a recent contract renewal, total command of Gasperini's tactical methodology, and knowledge of his teammates' characteristics, coupled with enviable physical condition, make Cristante vital to Roma's attacking structure. Marten de Roon provides further security as his understudy, capable of maintaining the standard of the coach's principles without leaving a gap.

Gian Piero Gasperini has granted Roma an additional day off, cancelling training and rescheduling the squad's return to Trigoria for Tuesday afternoon. The head coach will spend the intervening days away from Rome. Lorenzo Pellegrini is back fit and ready to feature in the trip to Como on 11 October after sitting out the last two consecutive matches against Torino and Inter. Wesley, Bryan Cristante and Donyell Malen are all available with no fitness concerns. The main talking point, however, centres on a potential trip to Argentina for Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina. Both players have received official invitations from the Argentine Football Association to attend a tribute ceremony for Lionel Messi's international retirement on 6 October at the Monumental stadium, an event open to all members of Argentina's 2022 World Cup-winning squad. Gasperini would prefer to avoid the lengthy intercontinental journey for the pair just days before the Como league fixture, particularly given that neither would feature in that match. Dybala and Molina are both keenly motivated to attend an occasion of profound emotional and historical significance to Argentine supporters. Discussions between the club, coaching staff and players are set to continue in the coming days.