Messi invites Dybala to Argentina farewell match, but Gasperini's approval is not yet confirmed

Lionel Messi has contacted Paulo Dybala to invite him to a special celebratory match marking his official farewell to the Argentina national team, with the Roma forward keen to accept. Messi also wants Nahuel Molina alongside Dybala for the fixture, which will reunite players from Argentina's triumphant 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar. However, the invitation requires approval from Gian Piero Gasperini, Roma's head coach, who must sign off on both players' participation. According to reports, Gasperini is expected to grant clearance for the pair to attend. Molina has made a strong start to the season and has put behind him the uncertainties of the past, while Dybala represents the highest quality in Roma's tactical setup. Any permission from the coach will come with a strict instruction: intelligent management of their fitness and avoidance of any physical strain. Roma face a challenging away trip to Como as they resume their league campaign, followed by a dense block of fixtures. Gasperini is intent on preserving the sharpness of his best players ahead of that demanding schedule.

Marten de Roon has arrived at Roma as Gasperini's trusted tactical lieutenant, and the international break is proving a crucial period for the midfielder to regain full match fitness. The Dutch midfielder joined on the final day of the transfer window after nine seasons at Atalanta, where he became Gasperini's go-to figure on the pitch. De Roon came to the capital with little playing time under his belt from his previous spell at Atalanta, and Gasperini has managed his minutes carefully in the opening weeks of the season to allow him to build back to peak condition. The technical staff regard him as a player of absolute quality—Gasperini described him as far from a "worn-out shoe"—and de Roon will alternate with Bryan Cristante in midfield as Roma face seven matches in eighteen days during October. De Roon has quickly made an impression since arriving at Trigoria, becoming a point of reference for the club's younger players thanks to his understanding of dressing-room dynamics. His game is built on relentless running, winning duels, launching counterattacks and making effective late runs into the penalty box. He averages 11 kilometres covered per match, providing a substantial contribution of experience that guarantees stability and tactical continuity to the team from the resumption of the league campaign onwards. The midfielder's playing style and accumulated know-how represent added value of the highest order for Gasperini's project.

Donyell Malen has become Roma's ideal centre-forward under Gian Piero Gasperini's guidance this season. The 27-year-old Dutch forward, now operating centrally rather than from the wing as he did at Aston Villa, has formed a complementary partnership with Paulo Dybala that echoes Roma's great attacking pairings of the past—Pruzzo with Falcao, Conti, and Totti with Batistuta. While shy and reserved away from the pitch, Malen transforms into an unstoppable force once play begins, combining precise coordination, a devastating first step, and clinical finishing. Gasperini deserves credit for identifying Malen's finishing potential and repositioning him closer to goal. The repositioning from the wing to a more advanced attacking role has made him the driving force of Roma's offensive system. Malen's statistics underline his impact: he is averaging a goal every 58 minutes played and maintains a frequency of at least two shots on target per match. This efficiency demonstrates the effectiveness of Gasperini's tactical adjustment and the quality Malen brings to the Giallorossi attack.

Francesco Totti has disclosed in his autobiography *Oltre* that AS Roma attempted to persuade him to present Paulo Dybala with the number 10 shirt during the Argentine's official unveiling. In the summer when Dybala arrived at the club, Roma conveyed the request indirectly to Totti, but he rejected it firmly. "The response was blunt: 'Are you all mad?'" Totti explained. "If you have the courage, give it to him yourselves. Nothing against the player—I like him very much, as a person too. He's a fine lad. If you have this intention, go ahead, without dragging me into it." Rather than expose himself to comparisons with Totti's legacy, Dybala chose the number 21 instead. Totti reiterated his respect for the player, saying "Dybala, for me, if he is fit, can make the difference." He also outlined his philosophy on the number 10, Roma's most iconic shirt. "The number 10 jersey of Roma, I would never retire it permanently—that would be like denying a wonderful dream to children. Every day I hope another Totti appears. One born in Rome, raised in Rome, who chooses Roma for life." He drew a distinction between such a candidate and a player arriving from elsewhere: "It would be a different matter to assign that shirt to someone coming from the other side of the world, who stays for a limited period and then leaves. It is a symbol that should be entrusted only to someone who, at least potentially, can play for Roma for fifteen or twenty years."

Lionel Messi has contacted Paulo Dybala to invite him to a special celebratory match marking his official farewell to the Argentina national team, with the Roma forward keen to accept. Messi also wants Nahuel Molina alongside Dybala for the fixture, which will reunite players from Argentina's triumphant 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar. However, the invitation requires approval from Gian Piero Gasperini, Roma's head coach, who must sign off on both players' participation. According to reports, Gasperini is expected to grant clearance for the pair to attend. Molina has made a strong start to the season and has put behind him the uncertainties of the past, while Dybala represents the highest quality in Roma's tactical setup. Any permission from the coach will come with a strict instruction: intelligent management of their fitness and avoidance of any physical strain. Roma face a challenging away trip to Como as they resume their league campaign, followed by a dense block of fixtures. Gasperini is intent on preserving the sharpness of his best players ahead of that demanding schedule.

Donyell Malen has become Roma's ideal centre-forward under Gian Piero Gasperini's guidance this season. The 27-year-old Dutch forward, now operating centrally rather than from the wing as he did at Aston Villa, has formed a complementary partnership with Paulo Dybala that echoes Roma's great attacking pairings of the past—Pruzzo with Falcao, Conti, and Totti with Batistuta. While shy and reserved away from the pitch, Malen transforms into an unstoppable force once play begins, combining precise coordination, a devastating first step, and clinical finishing. Gasperini deserves credit for identifying Malen's finishing potential and repositioning him closer to goal. The repositioning from the wing to a more advanced attacking role has made him the driving force of Roma's offensive system. Malen's statistics underline his impact: he is averaging a goal every 58 minutes played and maintains a frequency of at least two shots on target per match. This efficiency demonstrates the effectiveness of Gasperini's tactical adjustment and the quality Malen brings to the Giallorossi attack.

Lionel Messi has contacted Paulo Dybala to invite him to a special celebratory match marking his official farewell to the Argentina national team, with the Roma forward keen to accept. Messi also wants Nahuel Molina alongside Dybala for the fixture, which will reunite players from Argentina's triumphant 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar. However, the invitation requires approval from Gian Piero Gasperini, Roma's head coach, who must sign off on both players' participation. According to reports, Gasperini is expected to grant clearance for the pair to attend. Molina has made a strong start to the season and has put behind him the uncertainties of the past, while Dybala represents the highest quality in Roma's tactical setup. Any permission from the coach will come with a strict instruction: intelligent management of their fitness and avoidance of any physical strain. Roma face a challenging away trip to Como as they resume their league campaign, followed by a dense block of fixtures. Gasperini is intent on preserving the sharpness of his best players ahead of that demanding schedule.

Lionel Messi has invited Paulo Dybala to a farewell match as Messi retires from international football with Argentina. Messi's message to Dybala reportedly recalled their shared World Cup victory and asked if Dybala would attend the goodbye fixture. Dybala, Roma's number 21, wants to go but cannot commit until head coach Gian Piero Gasperini approves his participation. The same applies to Nahuel Molina, another Roma player targeted for the occasion. Dybala has been linked with a return to Argentina and Boca Juniors this summer, reuniting with his former teammate Leandro Paredes. However, the prospect of missing a meeting with Messi appears to have shifted his thinking. The expectation is that Gasperini will ultimately grant permission for both players to take part, though with a caveat: no excessive strain on their fitness or availability. When Serie A resumes, Roma travel to Como to face Nico Paz, an Argentine left-footer who has been mentioned as a potential successor to Dybala in Serie A.

Marten de Roon has arrived at Roma as Gian Piero Gasperini's most trusted lieutenant. The 35-year-old Dutch midfielder transferred to the club on the final day of the summer window after nine seasons at Atalanta, where he became Gasperini's preferred embodiment of his football — a tireless engine and tempo-setter. De Roon did not play a minute for Atalanta under Maurizio Sarri, which explains why Gasperini has used him sparingly since arrival. Now, with the international break providing crucial recovery time, de Roon is settling into the rhythms of Roma and preparing to make his mark on the supporters. For Gasperini, de Roon represents a tactical guarantee: an experienced, complete midfielder capable of rotating with Bryan Cristante as Roma face a congested schedule from October onwards — seven matches in eighteen days. De Roon's game rests on incessant running (averaging 11 kilometres per match), winning duels, launching counter-attacks and timely box incursions that occasionally yield goals. He has already earned the respect of his teammates and younger players, who regard him as a reference point. His knowledge of Gasperini's requirements and the dressing-room dynamics, forged over nearly a decade together, positions him as a guarantee of tactical equilibrium. De Roon has already made 43 appearances for Roma — third-most on the club's appearance list behind Paulo Dybala (53) and ahead of Nahuel Molina (37), Donyell Malen and Mario Hermoso (31 each). His experience will be essential as Roma prepare to face Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico on 14 October.