Roma block Dybala and Molina from Argentina trip

Evan N'Dicka featured for the full 90 minutes as Ivory Coast defeated Somalia 0–2 in an international fixture. The Roma defender was on the pitch throughout the late comeback, with Gboho opening the scoring in the 89th minute and Touré sealing victory at 90+5. The win moves Ivory Coast to second place in Group C with 6 points from two wins in two matches, level on points with Gambia at the top of the standings. N'Dicka continues his involvement with his national team during the international break.

Matías Soulé has impressed Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni in training and is being considered for a starting place in Wednesday's friendly against Bolivia, kicking off at 02:00 Italian time on 30 September. The Roma forward is in contention with Mastantuono for a spot in the Argentina XI. Santiago Castro and Leonardo Balerdi, also Roma players on international duty, face different prospects: Castro is expected to start on the bench with Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez confirmed as Argentina's attacking pair, while Balerdi could feature in defence alongside or competing with Lisandro Martínez and Cristian Romero in the starting line-up. Twelve Roma players are currently away on international duty during this break. Manu Koné, Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka have already begun their commitments with their respective nations, while Soulé, Castro and Balerdi are among the Argentina contingent preparing for their upcoming fixtures. Scaloni has indicated he will not simply repeat the World Cup final winning side, creating opportunities for fresh personnel across the squad. The Argentina camp's evaluation of Soulé marks a significant endorsement after his performances in training, with the coaching staff weighing whether to give him immediate playing time. Castro's likely bench role reflects the settled attacking pair already in place, though he remains available for the three matches Argentina will play during this international window. Balerdi's defence situation remains open, with the established pairing of Lisandro Martínez and Cristian Romero holding the primary claim but space potentially available for the Roma centre-back to contribute.

Roma returned to training on the afternoon of 29 September following four days of rest granted by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The squad worked with the players available at Trigoria while awaiting the return of 12 squad members involved with their national teams during the international break. Wesley, Cristante and Malen undertook differentiated training after withdrawing from their respective national team commitments due to physical issues. The rest of the group completed a session split between tactical work and field drills. Roma are preparing for their return to action on 11 October, when they face Como at the Stadio Sinigaglia.

AS Roma has confirmed that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not attend the celebration event organized in Argentina for Lionel Messi's official retirement from international football, which coincides with an Argentina versus Benin match on 6 October. Both players were part of Argentina's 2022 World Cup winning squad alongside Messi. The club cited sporting and logistical reasons for the decision, specifically the demands of intercontinental travel and the proximity of Roma's upcoming official fixtures. In a statement, AS Roma acknowledged the significance of the occasion for both players and their connection to Messi. The club expressed its "maximum respect for Lionel Messi and his extraordinary career," wishing him and the Argentine Football Federation "a special evening."

AS Roma have confirmed that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not travel to Argentina to attend a farewell event for Lionel Messi scheduled for 6 October, coinciding with an Argentina vs Benin match. Both players were expected to attend the gathering, having featured alongside Messi in Argentina's 2022 World Cup triumph. The club issued an official statement explaining the decision, citing sporting and logistical reasons linked to the duration of intercontinental travel and the proximity of forthcoming official fixtures. Roma acknowledged the significance of the occasion for the two players and their connection to Messi, but determined that the timing and travel demands made their absence necessary. In a formal statement, Roma said: "AS Roma communicates that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not participate in the event organised in Argentina for the match between Argentina and Benin on 6 October. The club recognises the value of the appointment for the two players, linked to Lionel Messi and protagonists with him in the victory at the 2022 World Cup. The club's choice responds to sporting and logistical reasons, linked to the duration of intercontinental travel and the proximity of official commitments. AS Roma expresses maximum respect for Lionel Messi and his extraordinary career, wishing him and the Argentine Federation a special evening."

Roma's commanding position at the top of Serie A after five matches, with thirteen points earned, is no accident but the direct product of a ruthless pressing strategy orchestrated by Gian Piero Gasperini. The cornerstone of his tactical system is the speed of ball recovery: over 40% of Roma's regains occur within just six seconds of losing possession, directly in the opponent's half. This immediate re-aggression is underpinned by a compact defensive setup, where the gap between the three centre-backs and the two midfielders has been reduced to less than twelve metres, maintaining a high centre of gravity and choking off any play between the lines. Manu Koné, the French midfielder, embodies this aggressive philosophy perfectly. He has already made twenty-one ball recoveries and won 75% of his individual duels, functioning as a ball-breaking shield capable of snuffing out opposition build-up within the critical six-second window before instantly reversing play with the ball at his feet. This midfield aggression doubles as the first line of defence for Roma's rearguard, which has kept three clean sheets from five matches and conceded just three goals overall. Bryan Cristante provides a screen for aerial balls, while Niccolò Pisilli's dynamism in closing stages has reduced shots against the team to just 2.8 per match. Roma's ability to break the first press with dribbling is equally decisive. The team averages 10.4 successful dribbles per game, joint-top in Serie A, creating the platform for Paulo Dybala's creative output—four assists—and Donyell Malen's goal tally of six so far this season. The attacking width opened by Malen has allowed Roma to flood the penalty area with suffocating density, translating midfield dominance into attacking thrust. Gasperini's system, refined through meticulous attention to recovery times, pressing distances, and ball-carrying efficiency, has transformed Roma's midfield into the engine of their early-season success.

AS Roma has confirmed that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not attend the celebration event organized in Argentina for Lionel Messi's official retirement from international football, which coincides with an Argentina versus Benin match on 6 October. Both players were part of Argentina's 2022 World Cup winning squad alongside Messi. The club cited sporting and logistical reasons for the decision, specifically the demands of intercontinental travel and the proximity of Roma's upcoming official fixtures. In a statement, AS Roma acknowledged the significance of the occasion for both players and their connection to Messi. The club expressed its "maximum respect for Lionel Messi and his extraordinary career," wishing him and the Argentine Football Federation "a special evening."

AS Roma have confirmed that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not travel to Argentina to attend a farewell event for Lionel Messi scheduled for 6 October, coinciding with an Argentina vs Benin match. Both players were expected to attend the gathering, having featured alongside Messi in Argentina's 2022 World Cup triumph. The club issued an official statement explaining the decision, citing sporting and logistical reasons linked to the duration of intercontinental travel and the proximity of forthcoming official fixtures. Roma acknowledged the significance of the occasion for the two players and their connection to Messi, but determined that the timing and travel demands made their absence necessary. In a formal statement, Roma said: "AS Roma communicates that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not participate in the event organised in Argentina for the match between Argentina and Benin on 6 October. The club recognises the value of the appointment for the two players, linked to Lionel Messi and protagonists with him in the victory at the 2022 World Cup. The club's choice responds to sporting and logistical reasons, linked to the duration of intercontinental travel and the proximity of official commitments. AS Roma expresses maximum respect for Lionel Messi and his extraordinary career, wishing him and the Argentine Federation a special evening."

This week's ratings roundup celebrates the Roma fanbase's enduring bond with Francesco Totti as the club legend approaches his fiftieth birthday. Totti has not simply reached that milestone—his supporters have kept it in play through their unwavering affection, refusing to let the moment pass him by. The city's new stadium project earns the highest architectural praise, described as epochal rather than merely historic, with the piece invoking Dino Viola's pioneering vision as vindication of the long-held dream. Ángel Di María features prominently for his infinite quality and timeless left foot, embodying the passion of his Rosario Central roots. The Argentine's influence proved decisive in a tightly contested Argentina Supercoppa final against Estudiantes, where he took command when the match had turned adversarial. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini's management of squad movements—particularly the potential departures of Nahuel Molina and Paulo Dybala—draws recognition for his paternal firmness. Rather than imposing vetoes, Gasperini demanded maximum intensity in training sessions before players left and upon their return, a form of accountability the Roma players have earned through their pitch performances. The week's wider observations span Italian football's structural challenges. Gigi Cagni's commentary on Italian players and their attitudes, the absence of genuine phenomena alongside widespread affected arrogance, and the loss of academy talent such as Kayode receive critical attention. Germany's national team management under Klopp faces the paradox of overseeing one of the technically weakest squads since the postwar era, while incidents of booing national anthems—both Turkey's conduct towards Italy and Italy's towards Belgium—highlight how incivility transcends borders. A separate note addresses the defacement of Franco Baresi's image, an act of vandalism that damaged a legend's standing while tarnishing only the perpetrator's own reputation.