Radio Debate: Roma Right to Block Dybala and Molina from Messi Farewell, But Romano Overrated

Roma's coaching staff and media commentators are divided over whether Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina should travel to Argentina for Lionel Messi's farewell friendly, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini having reportedly forbidden both players from attending the event. The fixture is scheduled to take place in Argentina, and the pair were expected to be involved — Dybala as a fellow Argentine and close associate of Messi, and Molina as his national teammate — but Gasperini has restricted their travel ahead of Roma's Serie A match against Como. The controversy centres on the sporting and logistical consequences of the trip. Commentator Carina suggested that if Dybala asked Gasperini directly to attend the event, the coach "would have difficulty saying no", given its singular importance. Roberto Pruzzo acknowledged it as "an unrepeatable opportunity", while Andrea Orsi criticised the restrictions as "exaggerated", calling the farewell a global event unlikely ever to occur again. However, Giancarlo Agresti supported Gasperini's decision, arguing that respect for the club paying their salaries should take priority, and that the fatigue from a long journey could harm their performance against Como. He noted that Wesley, Donyell Malen and Bryan Cristante had already missed the international break through injury, and warned: "If Dybala doesn't touch the ball or is tired against Como, what happens?" Paolo Ordine framed the issue in terms of professional priority, stating: "In these cases there shouldn't need to be a diktat from the coach — the players themselves should understand and identify the priority, which is the society that pays them." Giuseppe Torri reinforced the club's position on air, saying Roma and Gasperini "have every right to prevent them from making a long journey and returning just hours before the Como match", while acknowledging how difficult it is to refuse such an invitation. Torri added context that Messi's presence in Argentina had limited Dybala's international opportunities throughout his career, as he was often the backup option. He also criticised Roma's transfer strategy, suggesting the club had made an error by not securing a buyback clause on a recently sold player, leaving no safety valve.

Roma's radio stations have intensified debate over whether Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina should be permitted to travel to Argentina to attend Lionel Messi's farewell celebration, with head coach Gasperini reportedly opposed to the plan and the club siding with him. The pair would return just 72 hours before Roma's Serie A match at Como—described by one commentator as the second-most difficult fixture in the league after Inter–Roma—raising concerns about recovery time and squad focus. Dybala and Molina both played with Messi for Argentina at the last World Cup and feel the personal pull strongly, but the consensus among most analysed voices is that allowing them to make an intercontinental journey so close to a crucial match would damage Roma's preparation. David Rossi on Rete Sport argued that professional players should not have requested permission in the first place: "They should have said, 'Caro Messi, you could have organised this on 1 October, we leave for Como on the 10th.'" He added that the club "always makes two weights and two measures" regarding Dybala specifically, suggesting he receives disproportionate scrutiny. Francesca Ferrazza on Tele Radio Stereo declared: "I wouldn't even send them to Capri on holiday now that everyone is leaving for these four days off, let alone to Argentina four days before Como–Roma." Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport stated: "Molina and Dybala in Argentina would be counterproductive for Roma, returning 72 hours before the Como match. I think Gasperini and the club are absolutely not in agreement with it." Lorenzo Pes on Tele Radio Stereo said a decision would come "next week." The debate also touched on squad renewal: Lulli and Mario Hermoso are out of contract in June, with Lulli's renewal already under way through Pellegrini's agent. Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini are also approaching contract expiration, with much depending on how the season unfolds. The situation remains unresolved, with some voices—including Roberto Pruzzo—suggesting that "common sense will prevail" and that "common sense is staying in Rome," while others like Mario Mattioli believe the players will ultimately travel to what is described as a unique, unrepeatable event in football history.

Beppe Bergomi, the former Inter captain and television pundit, has delivered a detailed assessment of Donyell Malen's emergence as a focal point for Roma's attack this season. In a wide-ranging interview with Corriere dello Sport, Bergomi examined the main themes of Serie A, with Malen's consecration at the centre of his analysis. Bergomi praised Malen's completeness and his ability to thrive in Gasperini's system. When asked directly if Malen is truly so difficult to stop, Bergomi replied: "Tutti pur sapendo che gli attaccanti di Gasp hanno sempre fatto gol, ma questo è uscito dal campo. Poi è incredibile come classe e convinzione: 'se vengo mi fai fare il centravanti?', gli ha detto. La prima cosa che voleva Gasperini. Ricordo ancora il suo debutto a Udine: gli ho visto fare dei movimenti fuori linea, sul corto, sul lungo, degli smarcamenti… Quando hai queste doti e con il primo controllo, fare gol sembra la cosa più facile." He highlighted how Malen combines tight control, off-the-ball movement, depth runs, physical duelling and finishing into a complete attacking repertoire despite having a different physical profile from classical strikers of 190 cm. On Malen's style specifically, Bergomi drew a striking comparison: "Malen è unico al tempo stesso: crede di essere un bomber. Non dico che mi ricorda Ronaldo il Fenomeno, ma ha quel tipo di movimento con un motore simile. Unisce nello stretto, smarcamenti, attacco alla profondità, capacità di duellare coi compagni, conclusioni: ha un repertorio completo, pur avendo un 'fisichetto' diverso dai centravanti classici di 190 cm che vanno per la maggiore." In broader remarks on the title race, Bergomi stated that Roma and Napoli possess the strength to challenge, describing the competitive gap between Inter and the rest as not insurmountable. He also touched on defensive trends, noting that Serie A is returning to man-marking principles, with Gasperini as the best exponent of this approach. Bergomi expressed curiosity about how Como will develop when Kean plays more frequently and remarked on the impact of new refereeing rules in accelerating play across Italian football.

Roma's coaching staff and media commentators are divided over whether Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina should travel to Argentina for Lionel Messi's farewell friendly, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini having reportedly forbidden both players from attending the event. The fixture is scheduled to take place in Argentina, and the pair were expected to be involved — Dybala as a fellow Argentine and close associate of Messi, and Molina as his national teammate — but Gasperini has restricted their travel ahead of Roma's Serie A match against Como. The controversy centres on the sporting and logistical consequences of the trip. Commentator Carina suggested that if Dybala asked Gasperini directly to attend the event, the coach "would have difficulty saying no", given its singular importance. Roberto Pruzzo acknowledged it as "an unrepeatable opportunity", while Andrea Orsi criticised the restrictions as "exaggerated", calling the farewell a global event unlikely ever to occur again. However, Giancarlo Agresti supported Gasperini's decision, arguing that respect for the club paying their salaries should take priority, and that the fatigue from a long journey could harm their performance against Como. He noted that Wesley, Donyell Malen and Bryan Cristante had already missed the international break through injury, and warned: "If Dybala doesn't touch the ball or is tired against Como, what happens?" Paolo Ordine framed the issue in terms of professional priority, stating: "In these cases there shouldn't need to be a diktat from the coach — the players themselves should understand and identify the priority, which is the society that pays them." Giuseppe Torri reinforced the club's position on air, saying Roma and Gasperini "have every right to prevent them from making a long journey and returning just hours before the Como match", while acknowledging how difficult it is to refuse such an invitation. Torri added context that Messi's presence in Argentina had limited Dybala's international opportunities throughout his career, as he was often the backup option. He also criticised Roma's transfer strategy, suggesting the club had made an error by not securing a buyback clause on a recently sold player, leaving no safety valve.

Roma's radio stations have intensified debate over whether Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina should be permitted to travel to Argentina to attend Lionel Messi's farewell celebration, with head coach Gasperini reportedly opposed to the plan and the club siding with him. The pair would return just 72 hours before Roma's Serie A match at Como—described by one commentator as the second-most difficult fixture in the league after Inter–Roma—raising concerns about recovery time and squad focus. Dybala and Molina both played with Messi for Argentina at the last World Cup and feel the personal pull strongly, but the consensus among most analysed voices is that allowing them to make an intercontinental journey so close to a crucial match would damage Roma's preparation. David Rossi on Rete Sport argued that professional players should not have requested permission in the first place: "They should have said, 'Caro Messi, you could have organised this on 1 October, we leave for Como on the 10th.'" He added that the club "always makes two weights and two measures" regarding Dybala specifically, suggesting he receives disproportionate scrutiny. Francesca Ferrazza on Tele Radio Stereo declared: "I wouldn't even send them to Capri on holiday now that everyone is leaving for these four days off, let alone to Argentina four days before Como–Roma." Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport stated: "Molina and Dybala in Argentina would be counterproductive for Roma, returning 72 hours before the Como match. I think Gasperini and the club are absolutely not in agreement with it." Lorenzo Pes on Tele Radio Stereo said a decision would come "next week." The debate also touched on squad renewal: Lulli and Mario Hermoso are out of contract in June, with Lulli's renewal already under way through Pellegrini's agent. Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini are also approaching contract expiration, with much depending on how the season unfolds. The situation remains unresolved, with some voices—including Roberto Pruzzo—suggesting that "common sense will prevail" and that "common sense is staying in Rome," while others like Mario Mattioli believe the players will ultimately travel to what is described as a unique, unrepeatable event in football history.

Gasperini has built Roma's attack on Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé as a partnership, though the pair have yet to share the pitch together in six league and Champions League matches this season. Soulé, returning from a physically gruelling 2025-26 campaign in which he scored six goals but battled pubalgia throughout, has now struck twice in the opening weeks—including a crucial injury-time winner against Atalanta—and holds the starting berth over Rodrigo Mora. Before this season, his last goal had come against Sassuolo on 10 January 2026; his previous strike was at Lecce on 31 August. He managed only two assists across that entire period, against Pisa and Stuttgart. Soulé's return to fitness represents a turning point for the Argentine winger, who enters his third season at Roma free from physical setbacks. Gasperini expects him to reach double figures in goals—a threshold that only Donyell Malen has crossed for the Giallorossi so far. The coach views this as non-negotiable; operating with a single striker over 10 goals is, by his standards, an anomaly. Soulé now faces a defining moment: to remain a capable performer or to establish himself as a genuine elite operator on the continental stage. Rodrigo Mora, the young Portuguese talent, has impressed in flashes but remains largely untested. Gasperini has publicly praised him, though he and the club acknowledge his tender age and the need for him to deliver goals alongside his promising moments. Mora operates within a longer grace period, but his trajectory depends on producing the numbers his talent suggests. Both forwards' form will shape Roma's January transfer approach. The club retains interest in acquiring another attacker—a priority unfulfilled in summer 2026. Luiz Henrique, Leweling and Gittens remain active targets. Director D'Amico has resumed work on the matter with conviction, though for Gasperini, performance in the here and now takes precedence.

Roma's coaching staff and media commentators are divided over whether Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina should travel to Argentina for Lionel Messi's farewell friendly, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini having reportedly forbidden both players from attending the event. The fixture is scheduled to take place in Argentina, and the pair were expected to be involved — Dybala as a fellow Argentine and close associate of Messi, and Molina as his national teammate — but Gasperini has restricted their travel ahead of Roma's Serie A match against Como. The controversy centres on the sporting and logistical consequences of the trip. Commentator Carina suggested that if Dybala asked Gasperini directly to attend the event, the coach "would have difficulty saying no", given its singular importance. Roberto Pruzzo acknowledged it as "an unrepeatable opportunity", while Andrea Orsi criticised the restrictions as "exaggerated", calling the farewell a global event unlikely ever to occur again. However, Giancarlo Agresti supported Gasperini's decision, arguing that respect for the club paying their salaries should take priority, and that the fatigue from a long journey could harm their performance against Como. He noted that Wesley, Donyell Malen and Bryan Cristante had already missed the international break through injury, and warned: "If Dybala doesn't touch the ball or is tired against Como, what happens?" Paolo Ordine framed the issue in terms of professional priority, stating: "In these cases there shouldn't need to be a diktat from the coach — the players themselves should understand and identify the priority, which is the society that pays them." Giuseppe Torri reinforced the club's position on air, saying Roma and Gasperini "have every right to prevent them from making a long journey and returning just hours before the Como match", while acknowledging how difficult it is to refuse such an invitation. Torri added context that Messi's presence in Argentina had limited Dybala's international opportunities throughout his career, as he was often the backup option. He also criticised Roma's transfer strategy, suggesting the club had made an error by not securing a buyback clause on a recently sold player, leaving no safety valve.

Roma's radio stations have intensified debate over whether Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina should be permitted to travel to Argentina to attend Lionel Messi's farewell celebration, with head coach Gasperini reportedly opposed to the plan and the club siding with him. The pair would return just 72 hours before Roma's Serie A match at Como—described by one commentator as the second-most difficult fixture in the league after Inter–Roma—raising concerns about recovery time and squad focus. Dybala and Molina both played with Messi for Argentina at the last World Cup and feel the personal pull strongly, but the consensus among most analysed voices is that allowing them to make an intercontinental journey so close to a crucial match would damage Roma's preparation. David Rossi on Rete Sport argued that professional players should not have requested permission in the first place: "They should have said, 'Caro Messi, you could have organised this on 1 October, we leave for Como on the 10th.'" He added that the club "always makes two weights and two measures" regarding Dybala specifically, suggesting he receives disproportionate scrutiny. Francesca Ferrazza on Tele Radio Stereo declared: "I wouldn't even send them to Capri on holiday now that everyone is leaving for these four days off, let alone to Argentina four days before Como–Roma." Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport stated: "Molina and Dybala in Argentina would be counterproductive for Roma, returning 72 hours before the Como match. I think Gasperini and the club are absolutely not in agreement with it." Lorenzo Pes on Tele Radio Stereo said a decision would come "next week." The debate also touched on squad renewal: Lulli and Mario Hermoso are out of contract in June, with Lulli's renewal already under way through Pellegrini's agent. Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini are also approaching contract expiration, with much depending on how the season unfolds. The situation remains unresolved, with some voices—including Roberto Pruzzo—suggesting that "common sense will prevail" and that "common sense is staying in Rome," while others like Mario Mattioli believe the players will ultimately travel to what is described as a unique, unrepeatable event in football history.

Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina have been invited to Argentina to participate in Lionel Messi's farewell match for the national team, creating a dilemma for Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini ahead of a crucial Serie A fixture. The pair, both World Cup winners with Messi, face a choice heavy with emotional and sporting weight: attend one of the defining moments in their football lives, or remain available for Roma's trip to Como just days after the international break ends. The timing presents a genuine problem for Gasperini. The event falls only a few days before the league resumes, requiring Dybala and Molina to undertake an intercontinental journey, endure long flight times, navigate a significant time difference, and return with minimal recovery time before a match Roma cannot afford to lose. Como have begun the season as one of the most ambitious sides in Serie A and represent a direct rival for the top positions in the table. Gasperini has not yet given the green light for either player's departure; his preference would be to keep both at Trigoria during this three-week domestic break. However, a flat refusal carries its own risk. For Dybala, the personal dimension cuts deeper—he has not been called up to Argentina's official windows recently, and the chance to stand beside Messi on the day of his exit from international football holds obvious significance. For Molina, a World Cup winner and integral member of that group, the emotional pull is equally strong. Gasperini has constructed much of Roma's strong start on group cohesion and mutual trust between coach and players. A firm rejection could leave some friction at a delicate moment. Dybala has been heavily used in this opening segment of the season, and Roma have worked extensively to restore the physical consistency that eluded him in recent years. Exposing him to a transatlantic journey and a time-zone shift so close to Como would be a risk the club's staff prefers to avoid. Molina has only recently found continuity and condition after a more complicated pre-season. A compromise solution might involve granting permission while asking both players to manage their involvement with extreme caution, avoiding any overexertion and planning travel and return in precise detail. No definitive decision has yet been made. Gasperini knows what he wants as coach; Dybala and Molina know that opportunities like this come once in a lifetime. The tension lies not between one match and another, but between the heart of Argentina and Roma's immediate interests. A final answer is expected in the coming days.

Wesley and Malen, both sidelined by minor physical issues and without international commitments, remained in Rome to recuperate ahead of the squad's return to training on Tuesday. The pair made use of a training session cancelled by Gasperini to spend the evening at AROMA, a Michelin-starred restaurant with a terrace overlooking the Colosseum, before Roma resume preparation for their Serie A match against Como on 11 October, which may include friendly fixtures to maintain match sharpness. The two players are working to regain full fitness for the fixture. Roma will prepare with a reduced squad during the international break, with Gasperini managing their workload carefully. The restaurant visit included the customary photograph with the restaurant's staff.

Roma's coaching staff and media commentators are divided over whether Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina should travel to Argentina for Lionel Messi's farewell friendly, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini having reportedly forbidden both players from attending the event. The fixture is scheduled to take place in Argentina, and the pair were expected to be involved — Dybala as a fellow Argentine and close associate of Messi, and Molina as his national teammate — but Gasperini has restricted their travel ahead of Roma's Serie A match against Como. The controversy centres on the sporting and logistical consequences of the trip. Commentator Carina suggested that if Dybala asked Gasperini directly to attend the event, the coach "would have difficulty saying no", given its singular importance. Roberto Pruzzo acknowledged it as "an unrepeatable opportunity", while Andrea Orsi criticised the restrictions as "exaggerated", calling the farewell a global event unlikely ever to occur again. However, Giancarlo Agresti supported Gasperini's decision, arguing that respect for the club paying their salaries should take priority, and that the fatigue from a long journey could harm their performance against Como. He noted that Wesley, Donyell Malen and Bryan Cristante had already missed the international break through injury, and warned: "If Dybala doesn't touch the ball or is tired against Como, what happens?" Paolo Ordine framed the issue in terms of professional priority, stating: "In these cases there shouldn't need to be a diktat from the coach — the players themselves should understand and identify the priority, which is the society that pays them." Giuseppe Torri reinforced the club's position on air, saying Roma and Gasperini "have every right to prevent them from making a long journey and returning just hours before the Como match", while acknowledging how difficult it is to refuse such an invitation. Torri added context that Messi's presence in Argentina had limited Dybala's international opportunities throughout his career, as he was often the backup option. He also criticised Roma's transfer strategy, suggesting the club had made an error by not securing a buyback clause on a recently sold player, leaving no safety valve.

Donyell Malen's condition is improving after a left knee problem sustained during Roma's match against Inter forced him to withdraw from the Netherlands' first squad call-up following the World Cup. Medical tests ruled out serious damage but advised caution, prompting Malen to skip the international break and use the time to recover fully. Malen has trained separately from his Roma teammates in recent days, focusing on individual work and physiotherapy to reduce discomfort and avoid overloading the knee. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini granted the squad four days' rest, with training resuming Tuesday afternoon. Malen is expected to continue his personalised programme initially before being gradually reintegrated into group sessions. Roma are in no rush to accelerate his return, prioritising a complete recovery ahead of the demanding fixture list that awaits after the break. Netherlands manager Xavi offered reassurance on Malen's status, saying: "It's a shame because Donyell is in excellent form. He had to say no at the last moment, but that's football. In my opinion he's fine, I don't know how much time it will take him to recover, but the injury is not serious."