Ndicka's guaranteed starting place in question as Balerdi challenges for the role

Como believe they may have Moise Kean available for Sunday's match against Roma. The Italy forward returned early from international duty after sustaining a muscular fatigue that forced him to miss Italy's second match against Turkey, but the careful handling by medical staff has raised expectations that he will be fit. Kean will be managed over the coming days, and Como boss Fabregas is increasingly confident of having him available for the fixture with Gasperini's side, though his participation is not yet certain. Nico Paz will return on Sunday after his commitments with Argentina, alongside three Roma players: Matías Soulé, Leonardo Balerdi and Santiago Castro, who will also rejoin their club after international breaks.

Marten de Roon's summer transfer to Roma from Atalanta caused significant controversy in the final days of the transfer window, complete with offensive banners from his former supporters. De Roon, who is expected to start for Roma at Como for the first time, has already explained the split as a result of his marginal role in Atalanta's project. However, new Atalanta manager Maurizio Sarri told Corriere di Bergamo that de Roon never discussed the move with him directly: "With me de Roon never spoke; he went straight to the club." Sarri's comments suggest the departure was driven by club leadership, specifically Percassi and Giuntoli. Former Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini defended the Dutch midfielder's decision, saying: "What was he supposed to do, wear an old shoe?"

Jordan Veretout, the French midfielder who left Roma to join Marseille after winning the UEFA Europa Conference League at Tirana, has offered himself as available should the club require his services again. Speaking to Rete Sport, Veretout reflected on his time in the Giallorossi shirt and expressed admiration for Gian Piero Gasperini's current project, saying: "When I see Roma's defenders arriving to score, it's spectacular. I hope this year the Giallorossi squad can win the Scudetto." During his three seasons at Roma, Veretout made 131 appearances and scored 22 goals with 16 assists. He acknowledged that departing the club was difficult but necessary at the time. "I liked helping the team, running a lot, and I managed to score a lot. I made three spectacular years at Roma, my family felt very good there, I made many friends, it was difficult to leave Roma. We won the Conference, it was difficult to leave after that," he said. He confirmed the move to Marseille came after an offer from "a great team in France like Roma is in Italy" and felt it was the right moment after three years. Regarding Gasperini, Veretout suggested the manager's tactical approach would have suited him: "He's a great coach in Italy and he's proven it in Europe too. I'm entertained watching Roma—it's vertical football, strong, constant pressure. By characteristics I would have enjoyed it, I would surely have improved further. I was trained by Tudor at Marseille who played with a similar system. I would have liked to be trained by him. When I was at Roma, Atalanta wanted me, so I think Gasperini wanted me with him." Veretout recalled his favourite Roma goal as coming against Napoli from the penalty spot, with Dzeko and Kolarov setting him up to score beneath the Curva Sud: "That was a heavy ball, I assure you." He praised Nainggolan as the strongest midfielder in Serie A during his time, and expressed affection for fellow Frenchman Manu Koné, now at Roma: "I watch him with affection, I'm happy he's doing well in Giallorosso and I wish him to win at Roma because it's special." On José Mourinho, with whom he began brightly before playing less in the second half of a season, Veretout said: "He was number one. I had a good relationship with him. I don't know if it was him or the society first that made me play less, we talked about renewal but we didn't find an agreement, then the Marseille offer came. I had a good relationship with Mou, he was always very close to the players, he is and remains a number one." Veretout, now based in Qatar, signalled his readiness to consider a return if Roma came calling, saying his wife wishes to return to the capital. "I'm not finished, I can still give a hand. If Roma wants me, I'm here," he said. He concluded with praise for Roma's fanbase: "Top supporters in Europe for passion and warmth. At Rome you sing, there's a crazy atmosphere, like at Marseille. I wish Roma's fans to win and celebrate a lot—they deserve it for the love they nurture for the Giallorossi colours."

Roma have resumed training at Trigoria following a three-day break granted by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with preparations underway for Sunday's big match against Como. Gasperini has welcomed back most of the squad's international players. Italian internationals Gianluca Mancini, Daniele Ghilardi, Niccolò Pisilli and Emanuele Lulli, along with Evan N'Dicka, Konstantinos Koulierakis and young goalkeeper Giorgio De Marzi, completed recovery work. Manu Koné was expected to rejoin training today, with Rodrigo Mora to follow. Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro attended Lionel Messi's farewell celebration with the Argentine national team during the night. The three Argentina internationals are due back in Rome tomorrow, though Gasperini is likely to see them on the pitch on Friday.

Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing Roma for Sunday's trip to Como, kickoff 12:30 at the Sinigaglia, with three key selection dilemmas to resolve. The primary question concerns who will partner Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in attack, with Lorenzo Pellegrini reportedly in front-runner status against Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora. Pellegrini has completed his recovery and trained encouragingly on Saturday; crucially, he is the only one of the three who worked at Trigoria throughout the international break without travelling for his national team. Soulé will return from Argentina only in the coming days after participating in the Albiceleste's fixtures and Messi farewell celebrations, meaning Gasperini will not have him available until Friday—just 48 hours before kickoff. Rodrigo Mora, engaged with Portugal Under-21, will also return during the week. Pellegrini's case is strengthened not only by continuity of preparation but by defensive contribution: without the injured Bryan Cristante, Gasperini may need the attacking midfielder to provide additional midfield cover and pressing against Como's possession-based approach under Fabregas, helping to compress spaces between the lines. In midfield, Marten de Roon is the leading candidate to replace Cristante, whose knee problem makes his availability in Como highly unlikely. Gasperini will not take risks and can draw on his knowledge of the Dutch midfielder from their Atalanta days. Manu Koné, expected at Trigoria today after France duty, will partner him, tasked with ball recovery, pressing support and rapid transition from defence to attack. At the back, Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi are competing for a place, with N'Dicka potentially returning to the starting eleven after international football. N'Dicka has already returned to Trigoria; Balerdi faces the long journey from Argentina and is not expected to train with the group until Friday. Energy management may therefore influence Gasperini's choices. More positive news arrives from Donyell Malen and Wesley, both of whom took part in Saturday's session and are expected to be available for Sunday barring late problems. Malen's return would allow Gasperini to maintain his primary attacking reference, while Wesley provides important resources for pressing Como's wide areas. The Sinigaglia trip opens a particularly intense phase of the season. After Como, Roma will host Real Madrid in the Champions League, followed by a fixture against Genoa. Three close-fixture demands will force Gasperini to think beyond Sunday's starting eleven and into energy distribution across all three matches. For that reason, Soulé, Mora and Pellegrini may all find minutes in the coming fixtures regardless of who starts against Como.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is available again and in contention to start in the attack alongside Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala for Roma's match against Como, a fixture that could reinforce the club's title ambitions. Gasperini now has the midfielder fully recovered after positive signs during training on 6 October. Pellegrini holds an advantage over Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora because he is the only one of the three who has had no international commitments; Soulé will return just 48 hours before the Como match following Argentina's post-Messi celebration fixture, while Mora returns to Rome on 7 October afternoon after Under-21 duty. Pellegrini's availability also offers tactical flexibility to support a midfield left without Bryan Cristante. The rotation between the three attacking midfielders will be necessary given Roma's fixture schedule—Real Madrid (managed by Mourinho) and Genoa (managed by De Rossi) will arrive at the Olimpico within four days. Pellegrini's return, awaited since April following injury and a protracted contract dispute, represents a significant moment. For two months he was a free agent but chose to honour his commitment to Gasperini, halve his salary and reject offers from Juventus and Besiktas to remain in the capital. In defence, Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi compete for a place, while Marten de Roon will substitute for Cristante in midfield.

Como believe they may have Moise Kean available for Sunday's match against Roma. The Italy forward returned early from international duty after sustaining a muscular fatigue that forced him to miss Italy's second match against Turkey, but the careful handling by medical staff has raised expectations that he will be fit. Kean will be managed over the coming days, and Como boss Fabregas is increasingly confident of having him available for the fixture with Gasperini's side, though his participation is not yet certain. Nico Paz will return on Sunday after his commitments with Argentina, alongside three Roma players: Matías Soulé, Leonardo Balerdi and Santiago Castro, who will also rejoin their club after international breaks.

Lionel Messi said goodbye to international football on the night of 7 October 2026 in an emotional ceremony at the Mas Monumental, with Argentina defeating Benin 3–0. Three Roma players were part of the Argentina squad: Leonardo Balerdi appeared on the bench, while Santiago Castro and Matías Soulé were not included in the matchday squad, though all three felt the weight of the historic moment. Castro, who has cited Messi as a direct inspiration for his love of football, posted on Instagram: "Thank you for every moment you gave us with this shirt, thank you for bringing the colours of Argentina to the highest level, thank you for never abandoning this country and for putting yourself on the front line for millions of people, thank you for making me fall in love with football and the national team, thank you for BEING ARGENTINIAN!!" Soulé, whose playing style has been shaped by studying Messi, recalled meeting his childhood idol in recent days during the national team gathering. When Soulé was 17 and had not yet made his professional debut, he met Messi and said: "I was so nervous, meeting him was a dream. I didn't want to wash my hand after shaking his." Now, six years later, Soulé has made his senior international debut — a full-circle moment for both young players who grew up watching Messi's first World Cup in 2006 as children and have now closed that chapter alongside him. Balerdi, the defender, shared a longer dressing-room history with Messi and had more opportunities to exchange words and gestures with the legend of Rosario. Nahuel Molina, who experienced football's greatest joy alongside Messi by winning the World Cup together, wrote from home: "Thank you eternally captain, you deserve all of this and much more, thank you for everything you gave Argentinians, it was a pleasure to share so many beautiful moments with you." Paulo Dybala marked the occasion more simply on social media, posting a photograph of Messi alongside the infinity symbol and the Argentina flag.

Roma have resumed training at Trigoria following a three-day break granted by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with preparations underway for Sunday's big match against Como. Gasperini has welcomed back most of the squad's international players. Italian internationals Gianluca Mancini, Daniele Ghilardi, Niccolò Pisilli and Emanuele Lulli, along with Evan N'Dicka, Konstantinos Koulierakis and young goalkeeper Giorgio De Marzi, completed recovery work. Manu Koné was expected to rejoin training today, with Rodrigo Mora to follow. Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro attended Lionel Messi's farewell celebration with the Argentine national team during the night. The three Argentina internationals are due back in Rome tomorrow, though Gasperini is likely to see them on the pitch on Friday.