Pellegrini closing in on return after six months out

Italy's match against Belgium exposed significant technical and defensive weaknesses in Roberto Mancini's squad, particularly in the first half, with individual errors from Di Lorenzo, Gianluca Mancini and Coppola proving costly. The national team coach is preparing for a demanding away fixture in Turkey against Montella's side, who lost only 1–0 to France, and is already considering tactical changes beginning with the defence. Mancini, a Roma defender currently not performing at his best in this phase of the season, could be benched when Bastoni returns from suspension. Kayode is being considered as a potential replacement for Di Lorenzo, while Scalvini of Atalanta and Ahanor—who remained on the bench throughout the Belgium match—are also options. Mancini's potential absence would free up space for alternative defensive arrangements as the national team looks to tighten up after a shaky opening to their campaign. In midfield, Romano may be dropped, with Frattesi stepping in as a potential starter alongside Tonali in a deeper role, while Doumbia and Mandragora are waiting for their chance. In attack, Daniel Maldini is in line to feature, though Zaniolo is currently on a modified training schedule.

Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not travel to Argentina for Lionel Messi's final international match, despite receiving invitations to attend. The Roma club and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini have jointly decided against the intercontinental trip that would have seen the pair reach Buenos Aires on 6 October. The decision allows Gasperini to maintain the full availability of both players throughout the international break and into the resumption of the league campaign.

Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not travel to Argentina for Lionel Messi's final international match, a decision made jointly by AS Roma and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Both players had been invited to the event honouring Messi and wanted to attend given its symbolic importance, but the scale of the journey — over 20,000 kilometres combined, many hours of flying, and the double time zone to recover from just before the league resumes — made it impractical. The cautious approach prevails. Gasperini will have both players available for training at Trigoria during the international break, reinforcing the squad for the stretch ahead. The timing is critical: Roma's next fixture is a trip to Como, which the club views as a pivotal match to build on a strong start to the season. According to Angelo Mangiante's report on Manà Manà Sport, the decision closed a debate that had dominated discussion in recent days. Dybala and Molina wanted to be present but ultimately the logistics and recovery period made their absence the prudent choice, one endorsed by both Roma management and Gasperini.

Jamie Gittens suffered an ankle injury during England Under 21's match against Kazakhstan on Saturday, forcing him off the field at the 39-minute mark. The Chelsea forward, followed by Roma during the summer and still on the club's radar for future moves, left the pitch on crutches and will undergo examination. The severity of his injury will determine whether Roma's interest in him carries into the next transfer window. Roma have begun renewal talks with Emanuele Lulli, who impressed early in the season while on duty with Italy Under 21. The club's director and Lulli's agent have opened initial discussions to extend his contract, which runs until June. Both sides are understood to be willing to continue together, with a meeting scheduled at Trigoria in the coming days to advance negotiations. The Italian Football Federation's federal council has approved a change to the winter transfer window dates at the request of Serie A, with backing from Leagues B and Pro. The market will now open on 28 December instead of 1 January, with the closing date remaining Monday 1 February. FIFA approval is still required to make the change official. Lorenzo Pellegrini is using the international break to recover and aims to return for the Como fixture. Should he play, he will reach 350 appearances for Roma, matching Damiano Tommasi and climbing to 12th place in the club's all-time list. Pellegrini turned down a more lucrative offer from Besiktas and is keen to convince Gasperini to give him more playing time, though he currently sits behind Soulé and Mora in the pecking order.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is targeting a historic milestone in Roma's history. If he plays in the upcoming match against Como, he will reach 350 appearances for the club, matching Tommasi and claiming 12th place on the all-time list—a significant achievement in the giallorossi record books. Pellegrini has used the international break to work his way back to full fitness ahead of the Como fixture. The midfielder renewed his contract at Roma out of affection for the club, turning down a more lucrative offer from Besiktas. He remains determined to convince Gasperini of his quality and secure a starting role in the squad, though he currently sits behind Soulé and Mora in the pecking order. With a congested fixture calendar from October through November ahead, Gasperini will need depth in midfield, and Pellegrini is ready to answer the call.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is poised to make his return from injury in Roma's away fixture at Como, where he could reach 350 appearances for the club and draw closer to Damiano Tommasi's all-time record. The number 7 has recovered from physical problems and will provide crucial support to Gasperini's midfield during the autumn fixture congestion. His centrality to the project was underlined by a recent contract renewal in which Pellegrini accepted a pay cut and rejected offers from Besiktas and Juventus, reaffirming his commitment to the giallorossi. Despite competition for positions in the attacking midfield from Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora, Pellegrini's contribution will be essential as Roma navigate a demanding schedule spanning Serie A and Champions League matches. The club's reliance on regular rotation in attack makes his availability a significant asset in the coming weeks. At Trigoria, attention has also turned to Argentina's invitation for the Messi farewell event. Gasperini has not ruled out releasing Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina for the occasion, but the club is cautious about the impact of such a demanding trip so close to the Como match. A final decision is expected in the coming days.