Pellegrini set to return against Como, closing in on 350 Roma appearances

Manu Koné impressed for France in yesterday's 1–0 Nations League victory over Turkey, playing as a central midfielder in Zinedine Zidane's 4-3-3 formation alongside Rabiot and Cherki—a position outside his usual remit. The Roma midfielder delivered a strong performance that caught the attention of France's new head coach. Koné continues to be a key figure both at Roma and for the French national team. His ability to adapt tactically and maintain balance in an unfamiliar position has made him a valuable asset for club and country. Zidane commented on the display after the match: "Manu is not used to playing in that position, I wanted to see this side of him and he was very good in terms of balance." The midfielder's versatility and quality in execution have proven decisive performances for both the Giallorossi and France.

Roma's international contingent made an impact during the first round of matches across their respective national teams. Rodrigo Mora, representing Portugal's Under-21 side, delivered an assist and created multiple chances in a 90-minute display against Bulgaria that drew praise. Manu Koné continued his strong form for France, deployed as a defensive midfielder against Turkey in a different role than his usual positioning, yet still ranked first for successful dribbles and maintained his stellar start to the season. Koné has now established himself as a cornerstone of the French setup under Zinedine Zidane. Roma sent 12 players on international duty during this break, giving head coach Gian Piero Gasperini a chance to recharge ahead of a strong start to the 2026-27 campaign while maintaining focus on rhythm and fitness. Rodrigo's performance underlined the club's expectations following a €50 million investment, with his growth trajectory in a Roma shirt becoming increasingly significant. The break comes at a critical juncture, balancing necessary rest with the imperative to sustain momentum after the club's impressive opening. Gianluca Mancini's display for Italy proved disappointing, marked by an error leading to Belgium's opening goal and imprecision in the first half, though he improved after the break and came close to scoring. Daniele Ghilardi was not selected for Italy and awaits his national team debut. Konstantinos Koulierakis remained unused on the bench in Greece's match against Serbia. Evan N'Dicka returned to action with Ivory Coast, delivering a solid performance in their victory against Ghana. The three Roma players on Argentina duty—Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi—face a friendly against Bolivia in four days, followed by Argentina's tribute match to Lionel Messi, a fixture where Nahuel Molina and Paulo Dybala are hoped to appear, though Roma has yet to confirm their release.

Chelsea winger Gittens has suffered an ankle injury during an England Under 21 match against Kazakhstan that threatens to derail Roma's interest in signing him. The incident occurred in the 39th minute, forcing Gittens to leave the pitch on crutches. He has since withdrawn from international duty, and tests are pending to determine the severity of the injury and length of his absence. Roma tracked Gittens throughout the summer transfer window, with the club attempting to bring him to the Stadio Olimpico on loan before the deadline passed. Chelsea blocked any temporary move, but Roma continued monitoring him as a possible reinforce for the January window. At that point, a potential opening existed given that Xabi Alonso has offered Gittens limited first-team minutes in the current season. The ankle injury now threatens to reshape Roma's calculus: the outcome of medical examinations and his recovery timeline will determine whether he remains a target or slips down the club's priorities.

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 primed to return to action for Roma after recovering from injury, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini set to lean on him heavily during a congested fixture schedule. Pellegrini was included in the squad list for matches against Torino and Inter but will make his competitive return against Como. His last appearance came on 10 April against Pisa, a gap of nearly six months before Roma's big match at the Sinigaglia on 11 October. The summer transfer window failed to bring in the wide player or attacking reinforcement Gasperini sought, forcing the coach to rely on existing resources to manage the workload ahead. The Roma squad is stretched in attack, with Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé occupying the playmaker positions on the trequarti, bolstered only by the addition of Rodrigo Mora. Pellegrini will have opportunities because of this shortage, particularly across October and November when Roma face a relentless sequence of Serie A and Champions League fixtures. He has shed the captain's armband over the past year but remains a squad leader. With Stephan El Shaarawy's departure, he is certain to serve as vice-captain to Bryan Cristante. Last season, despite some difficulties, Pellegrini was Roma's second-highest scorer with seven goals across Serie A and the Europa League, surpassed only by Donyell Malen, who netted 15 goals and has proved increasingly consistent in front of goal.

Roma's international contingent made an impact during the first round of matches across their respective national teams. Rodrigo Mora, representing Portugal's Under-21 side, delivered an assist and created multiple chances in a 90-minute display against Bulgaria that drew praise. Manu Koné continued his strong form for France, deployed as a defensive midfielder against Turkey in a different role than his usual positioning, yet still ranked first for successful dribbles and maintained his stellar start to the season. Koné has now established himself as a cornerstone of the French setup under Zinedine Zidane. Roma sent 12 players on international duty during this break, giving head coach Gian Piero Gasperini a chance to recharge ahead of a strong start to the 2026-27 campaign while maintaining focus on rhythm and fitness. Rodrigo's performance underlined the club's expectations following a €50 million investment, with his growth trajectory in a Roma shirt becoming increasingly significant. The break comes at a critical juncture, balancing necessary rest with the imperative to sustain momentum after the club's impressive opening. Gianluca Mancini's display for Italy proved disappointing, marked by an error leading to Belgium's opening goal and imprecision in the first half, though he improved after the break and came close to scoring. Daniele Ghilardi was not selected for Italy and awaits his national team debut. Konstantinos Koulierakis remained unused on the bench in Greece's match against Serbia. Evan N'Dicka returned to action with Ivory Coast, delivering a solid performance in their victory against Ghana. The three Roma players on Argentina duty—Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi—face a friendly against Bolivia in four days, followed by Argentina's tribute match to Lionel Messi, a fixture where Nahuel Molina and Paulo Dybala are hoped to appear, though Roma has yet to confirm their release.

Roma, not head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, is behind the decision to block Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina from travelling to Lionel Messi's Argentina farewell match, according to reporting on 26 September. The narrative that Gasperini had vetoed the pair's participation has been contradicted: the coach has not closed the door, but the club itself harbours serious reservations about the logistics and risks involved. Dybala and Molina, both World Cup 2022 winners alongside Messi, have been invited with their families to the event in Buenos Aires. The core issue is timing and distance. A return trip would require them to cover over 22,000 kilometres combined and more than 26 hours of flying, crossing a double time zone, all within approximately three days. The fixture that concerns Roma most is Como–Roma on Sunday, 11 October, scheduled just 72 hours after their potential return. After a three-week international break, Gasperini's squad will resume with a difficult away fixture against a side competing for the upper reaches of the Serie A table. Roma's concern centres on player welfare rather than the symbolic weight of the event. Dybala has begun the season with physical consistency rarely seen in recent years, and the club does not wish to jeopardise that progress with such an arduous journey. Molina, having recently found rhythm and condition after a slower start, faces the risk of interrupting his phase of improvement at the worst moment. The club is aware of what Messi's farewell means to any Argentine player, and recognises the honour of the invitation alongside their families. Three other Roma squad members have been called up by Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni: Matías Soulé, Santiago Castro and Leonardo Balerdi. A final decision on Dybala and Molina will be made following discussions next week between the club, coaching staff and the players themselves, seeking to balance the emotional significance of the event against Roma's sporting needs.

Gian Piero Gasperini is building Roma around a fluid squad model of roughly twenty starting-calibre players, where internal competition remains constant and selection shifts based on form. Konstantinos Koulierakis, Rodrigo Mora and Santiago Castro—costlier than €100 million combined—have accumulated just 323 minutes so far, but retain strategic value in a squad lacking depth for the season's demands. The trio face stiff competition from Roma's in-form performers. Gasperini has prioritised players delivering consistently strong displays: from Mile Svilar in goal to Donyell Malen in attack, and the defensive leaders including Paulo Dybala. The manager is studying Koulierakis, Mora and Castro carefully to find the right moments for insertion. Mora's opportunities depend on competition with Dybala and Matías Soulé, while Castro could complement Malen in a dynamic attack. Koulierakis awaits his opportunity, currently blocked by Leonardo Balerdi's growth and Mario Hermoso's solidity at the back. These represent significant investments reflecting the club's ambition to elevate standards and give Gasperini multiple solutions for a long season filled with commitments.

Roma's international contingent made an impact during the first round of matches across their respective national teams. Rodrigo Mora, representing Portugal's Under-21 side, delivered an assist and created multiple chances in a 90-minute display against Bulgaria that drew praise. Manu Koné continued his strong form for France, deployed as a defensive midfielder against Turkey in a different role than his usual positioning, yet still ranked first for successful dribbles and maintained his stellar start to the season. Koné has now established himself as a cornerstone of the French setup under Zinedine Zidane. Roma sent 12 players on international duty during this break, giving head coach Gian Piero Gasperini a chance to recharge ahead of a strong start to the 2026-27 campaign while maintaining focus on rhythm and fitness. Rodrigo's performance underlined the club's expectations following a €50 million investment, with his growth trajectory in a Roma shirt becoming increasingly significant. The break comes at a critical juncture, balancing necessary rest with the imperative to sustain momentum after the club's impressive opening. Gianluca Mancini's display for Italy proved disappointing, marked by an error leading to Belgium's opening goal and imprecision in the first half, though he improved after the break and came close to scoring. Daniele Ghilardi was not selected for Italy and awaits his national team debut. Konstantinos Koulierakis remained unused on the bench in Greece's match against Serbia. Evan N'Dicka returned to action with Ivory Coast, delivering a solid performance in their victory against Ghana. The three Roma players on Argentina duty—Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi—face a friendly against Bolivia in four days, followed by Argentina's tribute match to Lionel Messi, a fixture where Nahuel Molina and Paulo Dybala are hoped to appear, though Roma has yet to confirm their release.

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.

Roma players on international duty produced mixed results across Europe and Africa on 26 September as the first round of fixtures in the international break played out. Rodrigo Mora was the standout performer for the Giallorossi, starting for Portugal Under 21 against Bulgaria in a Euro qualifier and playing all 90 minutes wearing the number 10. The 2007-born midfielder created the opening goal at the 50th minute, cutting into the area and delivering a low pass for Gustavo Varela to score. Portugal's lead did not hold; Bulgaria came from behind to win 2-1 with goals from Pavlov in the 87th minute and Marinov in stoppage time. Despite the defeat, Mora delivered a decisive contribution after losing recent game time with Roma. Manu Koné and Evan N'Dicka both completed 90 minutes in victories for their nations. Koné was an immediate starter in the new France squad under Zinedine Zidane, playing the entire Nations League match away to Turkey, which France won 1-0 through a Kylian Mbappé goal in the 54th minute; Koné received a yellow card in the closing stages. N'Dicka featured throughout Ivory Coast's 2-0 victory over Ghana in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying on the first matchday, with goals from Malick Yalcouyé and Franck Kessié, keeping a clean sheet in the centre of defence. Gianluca Mancini had a difficult evening at the Stadio Olimpico. The Roma defender started for Italy in a Nations League match against Belgium managed by Roberto Mancini, with the Azzurri defeated 2-0. Godts opened the scoring in the 20th minute, getting the better of Mancini, and Lukebakio added a second in the second half. The number 23 played the full match in a challenging performance for Italy's entire defensive unit. Konstantinos Koulierakis remained on the bench for Serbia's 2-1 loss to Greece, while young defender Daniele Ghilardi, called up to the senior squad for the first time, was left out of the 23-man squad for the Olimpico fixture. Further Roma players are due in action over the coming days. Leonardo Balerdi, Santiago Castro and Matías Soulé will begin their fixture cycle with Argentina on 30 September against Bolivia, the same day Mora returns with Portugal Under 21 against Gibraltar. On 1 October, Niccolò Pisilli and Emanuele Lulli will feature for Italy Under 21 against Armenia, and Giorgio De Marzi for the United States Under 19 against Brazil.