Pellegrini targets full recovery in international break as Roma seek his return

Lorenzo Pellegrini is working to return to full fitness and reclaim a starting place in Roma's squad. The captain has not played since sustaining an injury on 10 April against Pisa, meaning a potential appearance against Como would come 184 days after that setback. During his career, the 30-year-old has never spent such an extended period sidelined. Pellegrini's recovery path has been complicated. After the initial injury forced him off at half-time against Pisa, he suffered a setback while attempting to accelerate his return for the derby, requiring surgical intervention in Finland. Despite the prolonged absence, his importance to Roma remains central to both the dressing room and Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical setup. Last season he made 25 starts in 37 appearances. His standing was reinforced by a recent contract renewal worth 2.5 million euros per season, a deal strongly backed by Gasperini, who pressed the club's management to keep him in the squad. During the current international break, Pellegrini will intensify his training load at Trigoria to reach full fitness ahead of the campaign's resumption. Gasperini said of the extended break: "The long break will be an opportunity to do something more," signalling his confidence in the midfielder's recovery. The aim is to convince the manager to reintegrate him into the rotation system and provide support during the coming fixture congestion.

Gian Piero Gasperini has granted Roma an additional day off, cancelling training and rescheduling the squad's return to Trigoria for Tuesday afternoon. The head coach will spend the intervening days away from Rome. Lorenzo Pellegrini is back fit and ready to feature in the trip to Como on 11 October after sitting out the last two consecutive matches against Torino and Inter. Wesley, Bryan Cristante and Donyell Malen are all available with no fitness concerns. The main talking point, however, centres on a potential trip to Argentina for Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina. Both players have received official invitations from the Argentine Football Association to attend a tribute ceremony for Lionel Messi's international retirement on 6 October at the Monumental stadium, an event open to all members of Argentina's 2022 World Cup-winning squad. Gasperini would prefer to avoid the lengthy intercontinental journey for the pair just days before the Como league fixture, particularly given that neither would feature in that match. Dybala and Molina are both keenly motivated to attend an occasion of profound emotional and historical significance to Argentine supporters. Discussions between the club, coaching staff and players are set to continue in the coming days.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is stepping up his recovery from a long injury layoff with the aim of forcing his way back into Gian Piero Gasperini's starting plans. The Roma midfielder has not played since 10 April, when he suffered an injury against Pisa and was substituted at half-time—a gap of 184 days that represents the longest absence of his career. After a setback while attempting to recover in time for the derby, Pellegrini underwent surgery in Finland, but he is now accelerating his rehabilitation ahead of the resumption of the Serie A campaign. Gasperini has previously indicated his intention to use the extended break productively, stating: "The long break will be an opportunity to do something more." Pellegrini, who renewed his contract for one year on a salary of €2.5 million per season, is working to reach full fitness and return to the squad rotation. Last season he started in 25 of his 37 appearances, underscoring his importance as one of the senior figures in the dressing room. The club backed his contract renewal significantly, with Gasperini pushing the management hard to retain him. Pellegrini's bid to reclaim a regular role comes amid competition for midfield places from Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora. His rehabilitation will accelerate in the coming days, according to reporting, as he targets readiness for when the campaign resumes and aims to contribute minutes while building match fitness through a busy fixture schedule.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is working to return to full fitness and reclaim a starting place in Roma's squad. The captain has not played since sustaining an injury on 10 April against Pisa, meaning a potential appearance against Como would come 184 days after that setback. During his career, the 30-year-old has never spent such an extended period sidelined. Pellegrini's recovery path has been complicated. After the initial injury forced him off at half-time against Pisa, he suffered a setback while attempting to accelerate his return for the derby, requiring surgical intervention in Finland. Despite the prolonged absence, his importance to Roma remains central to both the dressing room and Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical setup. Last season he made 25 starts in 37 appearances. His standing was reinforced by a recent contract renewal worth 2.5 million euros per season, a deal strongly backed by Gasperini, who pressed the club's management to keep him in the squad. During the current international break, Pellegrini will intensify his training load at Trigoria to reach full fitness ahead of the campaign's resumption. Gasperini said of the extended break: "The long break will be an opportunity to do something more," signalling his confidence in the midfielder's recovery. The aim is to convince the manager to reintegrate him into the rotation system and provide support during the coming fixture congestion.

Gian Piero Gasperini has granted Roma an additional day off, cancelling training and rescheduling the squad's return to Trigoria for Tuesday afternoon. The head coach will spend the intervening days away from Rome. Lorenzo Pellegrini is back fit and ready to feature in the trip to Como on 11 October after sitting out the last two consecutive matches against Torino and Inter. Wesley, Bryan Cristante and Donyell Malen are all available with no fitness concerns. The main talking point, however, centres on a potential trip to Argentina for Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina. Both players have received official invitations from the Argentine Football Association to attend a tribute ceremony for Lionel Messi's international retirement on 6 October at the Monumental stadium, an event open to all members of Argentina's 2022 World Cup-winning squad. Gasperini would prefer to avoid the lengthy intercontinental journey for the pair just days before the Como league fixture, particularly given that neither would feature in that match. Dybala and Molina are both keenly motivated to attend an occasion of profound emotional and historical significance to Argentine supporters. Discussions between the club, coaching staff and players are set to continue in the coming days.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is stepping up his recovery from a long injury layoff with the aim of forcing his way back into Gian Piero Gasperini's starting plans. The Roma midfielder has not played since 10 April, when he suffered an injury against Pisa and was substituted at half-time—a gap of 184 days that represents the longest absence of his career. After a setback while attempting to recover in time for the derby, Pellegrini underwent surgery in Finland, but he is now accelerating his rehabilitation ahead of the resumption of the Serie A campaign. Gasperini has previously indicated his intention to use the extended break productively, stating: "The long break will be an opportunity to do something more." Pellegrini, who renewed his contract for one year on a salary of €2.5 million per season, is working to reach full fitness and return to the squad rotation. Last season he started in 25 of his 37 appearances, underscoring his importance as one of the senior figures in the dressing room. The club backed his contract renewal significantly, with Gasperini pushing the management hard to retain him. Pellegrini's bid to reclaim a regular role comes amid competition for midfield places from Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora. His rehabilitation will accelerate in the coming days, according to reporting, as he targets readiness for when the campaign resumes and aims to contribute minutes while building match fitness through a busy fixture schedule.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is stepping up his recovery from a long injury layoff with the aim of forcing his way back into Gian Piero Gasperini's starting plans. The Roma midfielder has not played since 10 April, when he suffered an injury against Pisa and was substituted at half-time—a gap of 184 days that represents the longest absence of his career. After a setback while attempting to recover in time for the derby, Pellegrini underwent surgery in Finland, but he is now accelerating his rehabilitation ahead of the resumption of the Serie A campaign. Gasperini has previously indicated his intention to use the extended break productively, stating: "The long break will be an opportunity to do something more." Pellegrini, who renewed his contract for one year on a salary of €2.5 million per season, is working to reach full fitness and return to the squad rotation. Last season he started in 25 of his 37 appearances, underscoring his importance as one of the senior figures in the dressing room. The club backed his contract renewal significantly, with Gasperini pushing the management hard to retain him. Pellegrini's bid to reclaim a regular role comes amid competition for midfield places from Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora. His rehabilitation will accelerate in the coming days, according to reporting, as he targets readiness for when the campaign resumes and aims to contribute minutes while building match fitness through a busy fixture schedule.

Donyell Malen has scored 20 goals in 23 Serie A appearances across the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons, averaging a goal every 91 minutes on the pitch. His latest strike came against Turin, underlining his prolific form. Gasperini, however, is determined not to rely solely on Malen's finishing and is searching the squad for attackers capable of matching his pace. The approach mirrors Gasperini's nine years at Atalanta, where he consistently fielded multiple prolific forwards. Between 2018-19 onwards, Atalanta registered at least two players with 10 or more goals in every season, peaking at four double-figure scorers in 2023-24—the campaign they won the Europa League—when Scamacca, Koopmeiners, Lookman and De Ketelaere all scored in double figures in Serie A alone. Last season at Roma, Matías Soulé was the second-highest scorer with six goals, while all other attackers lagged behind Wesley, who managed five. This season, only Soulé and Rodrigo Mora have opened their accounts, while Paulo Dybala remains without a goal, as does Lorenzo Pellegrini, who is awaiting his debut. From the Como fixture onwards, those players face the task of sharpening Roma's attacking edge and lifting the overall potency of the forward line.

Lorenzo Pellegrini has prolonged his Roma contract on reduced terms and is preparing for his comeback after six months out injured, with Como the likely stage for his return to first-team action. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini pushed to keep the midfielder at the club, and Pellegrini accepted the deal despite what had seemed a permanent rupture in his relationship with the Giallorossi. His last match came on 10 April against Pisa, when a thigh problem forced him to stop. A recurrence followed, an unsuccessful attempt to recover for the end-of-season derby, and then surgery in Finland in early June. Should he play against Como, 184 days will have elapsed since his last official appearance—the longest absence of his entire career. Pellegrini offers solutions to problems Roma has carried into the new season. Gasperini had requested an attacking player capable of starting from the left and moving infield during the summer window—a major signing that never materialised. Now, in the revamped setup, Pellegrini can become a natural solution in that zone alongside Rodrigo Mora, simultaneously allowing Matías Soulé to return more consistently to the right-centre, where he can alternate with Paulo Dybala. There is also another tactical possibility: when facing teams lined up in a four-man defence, Gasperini often deploys a central attacking midfielder behind two forwards—a position where Pellegrini can rediscover freedom to make runs, deliver the final pass and, above all, that proximity to goal which in his best years allowed him to impact scoring. Last season, Gasperini himself redeployed him in that zone against Lazio, a match in which Pellegrini responded with the decisive goal and one of his best recent performances. Pellegrini has returned to squad selection in the last two matches against Torino and Inter, but Gasperini chose not to rush his return. The extended international break now offers the perfect opportunity to complete the work. Gasperini explained before the Inter match: "The long break will be an opportunity to do something more." The number 7 is now increasing his training load at Trigoria, and if friendly matches are organised by the staff, he will finally accumulate the minutes no training session can truly replace. Pellegrini carries qualities the squad desperately needs: experience, knowledge of the environment, ability to play between the lines and an attacking output that, even in a complicated season, saw him finish with seven goals across all competitions. Gasperini retained Pellegrini not out of nostalgia but because he believes he can still be useful. Pellegrini's second chance with Roma has begun with a contract signature; the real one will arrive when he returns to playing. Como could be the opening chapter of the new story. Roma may employ a 3-4-1-2 formation against Como, and the coming three weeks could prove decisive in Gasperini's decisions. Pellegrini will continue daily work at Trigoria with Gasperini, whilst Mora is engaged with Portugal's Under 21 side.