N'Dicka plays full match as Ivory Coast beats Somalia

Matías Soulé has impressed Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni in training and is being considered for a starting place in Wednesday's friendly against Bolivia, kicking off at 02:00 Italian time on 30 September. The Roma forward is in contention with Mastantuono for a spot in the Argentina XI. Santiago Castro and Leonardo Balerdi, also Roma players on international duty, face different prospects: Castro is expected to start on the bench with Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez confirmed as Argentina's attacking pair, while Balerdi could feature in defence alongside or competing with Lisandro Martínez and Cristian Romero in the starting line-up. Twelve Roma players are currently away on international duty during this break. Manu Koné, Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka have already begun their commitments with their respective nations, while Soulé, Castro and Balerdi are among the Argentina contingent preparing for their upcoming fixtures. Scaloni has indicated he will not simply repeat the World Cup final winning side, creating opportunities for fresh personnel across the squad. The Argentina camp's evaluation of Soulé marks a significant endorsement after his performances in training, with the coaching staff weighing whether to give him immediate playing time. Castro's likely bench role reflects the settled attacking pair already in place, though he remains available for the three matches Argentina will play during this international window. Balerdi's defence situation remains open, with the established pairing of Lisandro Martínez and Cristian Romero holding the primary claim but space potentially available for the Roma centre-back to contribute.

Roma returned to training on the afternoon of 29 September following four days of rest granted by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The squad worked with the players available at Trigoria while awaiting the return of 12 squad members involved with their national teams during the international break. Wesley, Cristante and Malen undertook differentiated training after withdrawing from their respective national team commitments due to physical issues. The rest of the group completed a session split between tactical work and field drills. Roma are preparing for their return to action on 11 October, when they face Como at the Stadio Sinigaglia.

AS Roma have prevented Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina from travelling to Argentina for an event scheduled for 6 October surrounding the Argentina vs Benin match. The club cited sporting and logistical reasons for the decision, specifically the duration of the intercontinental journey and the proximity of Roma's official fixtures. Both players were part of Argentina's 2022 World Cup-winning squad alongside Lionel Messi, and the event carries significance for them. However, Roma's management determined that releasing them would conflict with the club's immediate competitive schedule. The decision reflects the tension between international commitment and domestic club priorities during a congested fixture calendar. The club issued an official statement saying: "AS Roma communicates that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not participate in the event organised in Argentina for the Argentina vs Benin match on 6 October. The Society recognises the value of the appointment for the two players, linked to Lionel Messi and protagonists with him in the 2022 World Cup victory. The Club's choice responds to sporting and logistical reasons, linked to the duration of the intercontinental journey and the proximity of official commitments. AS Roma expresses the utmost respect for Lionel Messi and his extraordinary career, wishing him and the Argentine Federation a special evening."

Matías Soulé has impressed Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni in training and is being considered for a starting place in Wednesday's friendly against Bolivia, kicking off at 02:00 Italian time on 30 September. The Roma forward is in contention with Mastantuono for a spot in the Argentina XI. Santiago Castro and Leonardo Balerdi, also Roma players on international duty, face different prospects: Castro is expected to start on the bench with Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez confirmed as Argentina's attacking pair, while Balerdi could feature in defence alongside or competing with Lisandro Martínez and Cristian Romero in the starting line-up. Twelve Roma players are currently away on international duty during this break. Manu Koné, Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka have already begun their commitments with their respective nations, while Soulé, Castro and Balerdi are among the Argentina contingent preparing for their upcoming fixtures. Scaloni has indicated he will not simply repeat the World Cup final winning side, creating opportunities for fresh personnel across the squad. The Argentina camp's evaluation of Soulé marks a significant endorsement after his performances in training, with the coaching staff weighing whether to give him immediate playing time. Castro's likely bench role reflects the settled attacking pair already in place, though he remains available for the three matches Argentina will play during this international window. Balerdi's defence situation remains open, with the established pairing of Lisandro Martínez and Cristian Romero holding the primary claim but space potentially available for the Roma centre-back to contribute.

Evan N'Dicka will start for Ivory Coast in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Somalia today, with new Ivory Coast manager Renard continuing to deploy the Roma defender in the centre of the pitch. N'Dicka has recently returned to international football after missing the last World Cup through injury. N'Dicka is the sole Roma player on duty in the African qualifiers today. Three other Giallorossi have been unavailable: Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi. Soulé will target a starting place when Argentina face Bolivia on Wednesday night.

Roma resumed training at Trigoria on 29 September with three key players absent from the session: Donyell Malen, Wesley and Bryan Cristante, all nursing minor injuries from the previous week. Malen is sidelined with a knee problem, Cristante has lower back pain, and Wesley suffered a right thigh strain in the match against Inter. All three will be assessed and gradually reintegrated into group training, with Cristante expected to return by the end of the week. Wesley and Malen should follow shortly after. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is already looking ahead to the major fixture on 11 October despite the upcoming Como match still some distance away. All three injured players are expected to start when fit. The squad will feature a battle for the playmaker role between Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé, while a defensive duel looms between Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi. Lorenzo Pellegrini is among those in contention but is unlikely to feature from the start.