Roma almost complete seven days before kick-off: Dybala in top form, Malen still finding his feet

Gianluca Mancini has been recalled to the Italy squad for Friday 2 October's match against France, kickoff 20:45, after missing the recent trip to Turkey. Coach Roberto Mancini has named him in his selections while dropping Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi, who will miss one of Italy's final three matches in this international window. The Italy manager continues to rotate his squad on a match-by-match basis, with nine players omitted for the France fixture. He applied the same approach in recent games against Belgium and Turkey. Following victory over Turkey, Italy will look to secure another win against France in what the article describes as a delicate fixture. Mancini's return to the squad gives Roma another player available for selection after his Turkey absence.

Donyell Malen is settling into life at Roma, spending time exploring both the city's coastal and historic attractions. On 30 September, the Dutch forward attended the Tre Fontane to support AS Roma's women's team. After the match, he took the opportunity to experience Rome's evening atmosphere in a romantic outing with his wife, Delisha, at the Colosseum. Malen shared the moment on social media with the caption: "Love Story in Rome". The 26-year-old has been making the most of his time off the pitch in the capital, previously spotted enjoying Ostia's seaside. His social media posts suggest he is already enamoured with the city, signalling a positive early experience in his move to the Giallorossi.

Italy's national team coach has recalled Gianluca Mancini for Thursday's match against France on 2 October at 20:45, after the Roma defender missed the recent trip to Turkey. Daniele Ghilardi has been dropped and will miss his second fixture in the last three. The coach's selection pattern continues to involve rotation, with nine players omitted from the squad; Romano is also absent. Mancini's return provides a boost for Roma's central defender as Italy prepare to build on their victory over Turkey. The fixture against France represents a significant test for the national team, with the coach seeking to add momentum to the campaign.

Argentina defeated Bolivia 4-0 in a friendly on 1 October 2026, with Leonardo Balerdi (Argentina) the only AS Roma player to take the field. Balerdi came on at the start of the second half, replacing Cristian Romero at the 45-minute mark. Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro remained unused on the bench throughout the 90 minutes, contrary to pre-match indications that Soulé might start. Argentina's next fixture is against Burkina Faso on Sunday at 02:00 Italian time. The Argentina squad will then prepare for a forthcoming match against Benin, which will serve as the backdrop to Lionel Messi's farewell celebration. Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not be available for that encounter.

Argentina defeated Bolivia 4–0 in a friendly, with Nico Paz of Como stealing the spotlight by scoring and assisting. The standout performance came from Paz, who has now positioned himself as a new face in the Argentina national team's future. Two Roma players remained unused: Matías Soulé, listed as a possible starter in pre-match reports, was benched throughout by manager Scaloni, though the coach signalled he would give the forward greater playing time in upcoming fixtures. Santiago Castro also saw no action across the full 90 minutes. Leonardo Balerdi was the sole Roma representative to feature, entering the pitch in the second half and helping to secure the clean sheet. His appearance capped a positive run in form that has also defined his performances with Roma in this early part of the season. Balerdi's contribution on the night reinforces the improvement he has shown since the campaign began. Argentina will face Burkina Faso next in another friendly fixture. The fixture will precede the eagerly anticipated clash against Benin, which will serve as the backdrop to Lionel Messi's farewell celebration. Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not participate in that match, though both will be present in spirit for what is set to become a historic evening in Argentine football.

Roma's three-week international break offers Gian Piero Gasperini time to recover Wesley and resolve a tactical question about how to deploy him when Serie A resumes. Wesley arrives at the break after an intense campaign last season, during which he made 69 appearances and played effectively on the left wing alongside his natural right-flank position. His progress was interrupted by a serious injury against Egypt ahead of the World Cup, and more recently a right-thigh strain cost him a Brazil call-up. Despite the setback, Wesley showed promise in the first half against Inter, operating on his natural right side in sync with Dybala and causing problems for Dimarco. Roma, sitting top of the league and relying on the consistency of players like Dybala, Malen, Svilar and Koné, recognise that Wesley's full recovery is essential to achieving the next level. The break comes at a critical moment: after months without a pause, his body has demanded rest and restoration to full fitness. Upon the resumption of the season, Gasperini faces a key tactical decision. Wesley may remain on the right with Molina shifted to the left, or he could return to the left wing to open up rotations with other wide options. Gasperini is taking time to reflect on the choice during the international break.

Donyell Malen is settling into life at Roma, spending time exploring both the city's coastal and historic attractions. On 30 September, the Dutch forward attended the Tre Fontane to support AS Roma's women's team. After the match, he took the opportunity to experience Rome's evening atmosphere in a romantic outing with his wife, Delisha, at the Colosseum. Malen shared the moment on social media with the caption: "Love Story in Rome". The 26-year-old has been making the most of his time off the pitch in the capital, previously spotted enjoying Ostia's seaside. His social media posts suggest he is already enamoured with the city, signalling a positive early experience in his move to the Giallorossi.

Donyell Malen is falling in love with Rome both on and off the pitch. The Dutch forward, recovering from a minor injury during the international break, visited the Tre Fontane on 30 September to support Roma's women's team, then spent a romantic afternoon with his wife Delisha touring the city centre and visiting the Colosseum. He posted photos on social media with the caption "Love story in Rome", reflecting his deepening connection to the club and the city. The Roma fanbase has embraced him warmly, and he is repaying that affection with performances on the field. In five matches, Malen has scored six goals—a striker's return that suggests better is still to come. His time in the capital has clearly struck a chord with both supporters and the player himself, who arrived at the club already carrying the momentum to make an immediate impact.

A roundup of Roma news on Thursday 1 October 2026 features reflections from former striker Jeremy Menez, an update on Donyell Malen's scoring run, and a family development involving Daniele De Rossi. Menez, who spent time at Roma, spoke warmly of his time in the capital: "I had the time of my life, Roma was home for me. I have only good memories." The ex-attacker also praised the current squad under coach Gian Piero Gasperini, saying: "This year Roma is made for the Scudetto: Gasp is a genius." Reflecting on former manager Luciano Spalletti, Menez recalled: "He valued me a lot, but he was tough with me." On the pitch, Malen has made a strong start to the season. After six goals in the first five matches, he is averaging 1.20 goals per game—a rate above the final tallies of Higuain and Immobile when they each finished seasons with 36 goals. The Dutch forward is now chasing Roma's club record for a single season, currently held by Edin Dzeko with 29 goals. Malen's knee problem was managed during the international break, and he is available for selection in the upcoming match against Como. Actress Sarah Felberbaum confirmed she is adopting Gaia De Rossi, the eldest daughter of former manager Daniele De Rossi. Felberbaum explained that the decision came from Gaia herself, now 21 years old: "It was her choice and I accepted it." The relationship between the two strengthened over the years within the family De Rossi built, leading to a formal legal arrangement of that bond.

Argentina defeated Bolivia 4-0 in a friendly on 1 October 2026, with Leonardo Balerdi (Argentina) the only AS Roma player to take the field. Balerdi came on at the start of the second half, replacing Cristian Romero at the 45-minute mark. Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro remained unused on the bench throughout the 90 minutes, contrary to pre-match indications that Soulé might start. Argentina's next fixture is against Burkina Faso on Sunday at 02:00 Italian time. The Argentina squad will then prepare for a forthcoming match against Benin, which will serve as the backdrop to Lionel Messi's farewell celebration. Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not be available for that encounter.

Argentina defeated Bolivia 4–0 in a friendly, with Nico Paz of Como stealing the spotlight by scoring and assisting. The standout performance came from Paz, who has now positioned himself as a new face in the Argentina national team's future. Two Roma players remained unused: Matías Soulé, listed as a possible starter in pre-match reports, was benched throughout by manager Scaloni, though the coach signalled he would give the forward greater playing time in upcoming fixtures. Santiago Castro also saw no action across the full 90 minutes. Leonardo Balerdi was the sole Roma representative to feature, entering the pitch in the second half and helping to secure the clean sheet. His appearance capped a positive run in form that has also defined his performances with Roma in this early part of the season. Balerdi's contribution on the night reinforces the improvement he has shown since the campaign began. Argentina will face Burkina Faso next in another friendly fixture. The fixture will precede the eagerly anticipated clash against Benin, which will serve as the backdrop to Lionel Messi's farewell celebration. Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not participate in that match, though both will be present in spirit for what is set to become a historic evening in Argentine football.

Roma's three-week international break offers Gian Piero Gasperini time to recover Wesley and resolve a tactical question about how to deploy him when Serie A resumes. Wesley arrives at the break after an intense campaign last season, during which he made 69 appearances and played effectively on the left wing alongside his natural right-flank position. His progress was interrupted by a serious injury against Egypt ahead of the World Cup, and more recently a right-thigh strain cost him a Brazil call-up. Despite the setback, Wesley showed promise in the first half against Inter, operating on his natural right side in sync with Dybala and causing problems for Dimarco. Roma, sitting top of the league and relying on the consistency of players like Dybala, Malen, Svilar and Koné, recognise that Wesley's full recovery is essential to achieving the next level. The break comes at a critical moment: after months without a pause, his body has demanded rest and restoration to full fitness. Upon the resumption of the season, Gasperini faces a key tactical decision. Wesley may remain on the right with Molina shifted to the left, or he could return to the left wing to open up rotations with other wide options. Gasperini is taking time to reflect on the choice during the international break.