Molina called up by Argentina too late as Roma and Gasperini object

Roma have 13 players called up by their national teams for the November break, a total that places them level with AC Milan and Como in the chasing pack behind Inter, Torino and Frosinone, who lead on 14. The squad list was drawn from the official call-ups for the November fixtures and is subject to changes before the matches. The Roma contingent includes goalkeepers Devis Vásquez and Giorgio De Marzi; forwards Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé; defenders Leonardo Balerdi, Daniele Ghilardi, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Emanuele Lulli, Evan N'Dicka and Wesley; and midfielder Niccolò Pisilli. Behind the leaders, Atalanta and Udinese are on 12, Juventus have 11, and Napoli and Lazio have eight, with the two Lazio absentees excluded from that count. The total could have been higher, potentially reaching or exceeding 17, had several physical issues or technical decisions by the national coaches gone differently. Gianluca Mancini was initially called up by Italy but had to withdraw with a muscle problem that has also kept him out of the recent match against Sassuolo. Italy coach also left Bryan Cristante out of the squad, although the coach explained he had no need to test him at this stage. Manu Koné, who returned and started against Sassuolo, was left out of France's squad by coach Zidane to avoid a possible physical setback. Nahuel Molina had been called up late by Argentina, but a one-match suspension still to be served, together with opposition from Roma and Gian Piero Gasperini, blocked his departure.

Roma goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini has become a father, with the birth of his first child, a son named Loen, to him and his wife Ariel Serra. The baby was born in the past few hours. The couple married on 30 May 2025 and announced the pregnancy in mid-August with a sweet message on social media: "Life, at times, gives you what you have always dreamed of, we have been very lucky. I LOVE YOU." The birth was announced by Top Player Agency, the agency that manages the goalkeeper's interests, with a post captioned: "A new Top Player has arrived. Welcome Loen." The news comes at the end of a particularly positive period for Gollini, who in recent weeks, helped by the injury to Mile Svilar, has won the starting shirt for Roma.

AS Roma have blocked a last-minute call-up for right-back Nahuel Molina to join Argentina's squad, despite the player's suspension being cut from seven matches to four. Argentina coach Scaloni had decided on the evening of the previous day to add Molina in extremis, which would have seen him join fellow Roma players Balerdi, Soulé and Castro in the national squad. The club of Trigoria stepped in and opposed the late call-up. Molina had been due to play the friendly against Costa Rica on 17 November before returning to Rome ahead of the league fixture against Parma. Gasperini and the club said no, and the full-back will remain in Rome to train with the other players not selected by their national teams. The suspension stemmed from a brawl in the World Cup final against Spain, and Molina had obtained the reduction from seven games to four before the call-up was made. Roma's refusal means the defender stays with the Giallorossi squad while Argentina play Costa Rica without him.

Roma have 13 players called up by their national teams for the November break, a total that places them level with AC Milan and Como in the chasing pack behind Inter, Torino and Frosinone, who lead on 14. The squad list was drawn from the official call-ups for the November fixtures and is subject to changes before the matches. The Roma contingent includes goalkeepers Devis Vásquez and Giorgio De Marzi; forwards Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé; defenders Leonardo Balerdi, Daniele Ghilardi, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Emanuele Lulli, Evan N'Dicka and Wesley; and midfielder Niccolò Pisilli. Behind the leaders, Atalanta and Udinese are on 12, Juventus have 11, and Napoli and Lazio have eight, with the two Lazio absentees excluded from that count. The total could have been higher, potentially reaching or exceeding 17, had several physical issues or technical decisions by the national coaches gone differently. Gianluca Mancini was initially called up by Italy but had to withdraw with a muscle problem that has also kept him out of the recent match against Sassuolo. Italy coach also left Bryan Cristante out of the squad, although the coach explained he had no need to test him at this stage. Manu Koné, who returned and started against Sassuolo, was left out of France's squad by coach Zidane to avoid a possible physical setback. Nahuel Molina had been called up late by Argentina, but a one-match suspension still to be served, together with opposition from Roma and Gian Piero Gasperini, blocked his departure.

AS Roma have blocked a last-minute call-up for right-back Nahuel Molina to join Argentina's squad, despite the player's suspension being cut from seven matches to four. Argentina coach Scaloni had decided on the evening of the previous day to add Molina in extremis, which would have seen him join fellow Roma players Balerdi, Soulé and Castro in the national squad. The club of Trigoria stepped in and opposed the late call-up. Molina had been due to play the friendly against Costa Rica on 17 November before returning to Rome ahead of the league fixture against Parma. Gasperini and the club said no, and the full-back will remain in Rome to train with the other players not selected by their national teams. The suspension stemmed from a brawl in the World Cup final against Spain, and Molina had obtained the reduction from seven games to four before the call-up was made. Roma's refusal means the defender stays with the Giallorossi squad while Argentina play Costa Rica without him.

Roma have refused to release Nahuel Molina for Argentina's upcoming friendlies, keeping the defender at Trigoria despite a reduction in his FIFA suspension. The club has informed the Argentine federation (AFA) that it will not authorise the intercontinental trip. According to Il Messaggero, FIFA partially accepted the AFA's appeal and cut Molina's ban from seven matchdays to four. That ruling would have allowed the full-back to take part in one of the two friendlies against Uruguay and Costa Rica. The problem was timing: Argentina's call-up arrived only on Saturday, while Roma were playing Sassuolo at the Olimpico. Roma judged the request too late and will keep Molina in the capital, where he will train under Gian Piero Gasperini during the break rather than make a long trip for, at most, one match. It is not the first time Roma have blocked a departure of this kind. In September the club denied Molina and Paulo Dybala permission to play in the match organised for Lionel Messi's farewell to the national team, citing sporting and logistical reasons. This time, however, the decisive factor was the AFA's late communication. Molina will remain available to Gasperini to prepare for the resumption of Serie A, while Matías Soulé, Leonardo Balerdi and Santiago Castro will travel to join Argentina as scheduled.