Roma flash briefing: Mancini absent from Italy duty; fixture safety check; punishing run of seven matches ahead

Italy's national team coach has opted to leave ten players at the Coverciano training base ahead of a match against Turkey, among them a Roma defender. The decision affects squad selection for the upcoming fixture against Montella's side.

Gianluca Mancini will not travel with Italy for the Nations League match against Turkey on 28 September, with Italy manager Roberto Mancini electing to rest ten squad members at the federations's training base. The fixture kicks off at 20:45 at the Atatürk Spor Kompleksi in Bursa and is managed by Vincenzo Montella's side. The decision to keep the group in Italy reflects the coaching staff's wish to manage workload and avoid an arduous intercontinental journey ahead of further international fixtures. Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi, however, remains in the full list of travelling players. Mancini's rotation strategy is designed to prepare the squad optimally for upcoming matches against France in Paris and a second meeting with Turkey in Bologna, while sparing the entire squad the fatigue of travel to Bursa. The ten players held back at the Coverciano training centre comprise Honest Ahanor, Nicolò Barella, Diego Coppola, Samuele Inacio, Eddy Kouadio, Daniel Maldini, Gianluca Mancini, Massimo Pessina, Samuele Ricci and Mohamed Alì Zoma. They will follow a targeted training programme under members of the technical, medical and performance staff, including Massimo Maccarone, Cristiano Lupatelli, Giulio Nuciari and Luca Bossi.

Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina want to attend a farewell match for Lionel Messi with Argentina on 6 October, but the timing poses a logistical and sporting problem for Roma. The event is scheduled for 22:00 in Argentina, and factoring in travel, time zones and recovery, both players would not be available until 8 October. Roma face Como three days later on 11 October at 12:30 in a crucial fixture for the top of the league that also opens a demanding run of consecutive Serie A and Champions League matches. The question of whether the pair should travel has become one of the most delicate issues during Roma's current international break. Reports differ on where the resistance lies. According to Il Messaggero, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini gave approval for Dybala and Molina to depart, recognising the special significance of the occasion for two players who won the 2022 World Cup with Messi. However, Corriere dello Sport reports that the Friedkin family themselves have applied the brakes, judging the cost in fatigue, travel and recovery too high ahead of such an important match. No final decision has been made. The situation remains open, though the lean of opinion is currently towards preventing the trip. A definitive resolution is expected on Tuesday when training resumes at Trigoria, when the club, Gasperini and the players must weigh sporting demands against personal wishes and reach a shared conclusion. Meanwhile, other Argentina internationals will attend the Messi event regardless. Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi are all on regular national team duty and will participate in the farewell ceremony, meaning they will be among the last national team players to return to Rome ahead of the Como fixture.

Gianluca Mancini will not travel with Italy for the Nations League match against Turkey on 28 September, with Italy manager Roberto Mancini electing to rest ten squad members at the federations's training base. The fixture kicks off at 20:45 at the Atatürk Spor Kompleksi in Bursa and is managed by Vincenzo Montella's side. The decision to keep the group in Italy reflects the coaching staff's wish to manage workload and avoid an arduous intercontinental journey ahead of further international fixtures. Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi, however, remains in the full list of travelling players. Mancini's rotation strategy is designed to prepare the squad optimally for upcoming matches against France in Paris and a second meeting with Turkey in Bologna, while sparing the entire squad the fatigue of travel to Bursa. The ten players held back at the Coverciano training centre comprise Honest Ahanor, Nicolò Barella, Diego Coppola, Samuele Inacio, Eddy Kouadio, Daniel Maldini, Gianluca Mancini, Massimo Pessina, Samuele Ricci and Mohamed Alì Zoma. They will follow a targeted training programme under members of the technical, medical and performance staff, including Massimo Maccarone, Cristiano Lupatelli, Giulio Nuciari and Luca Bossi.

Gianluca Mancini will not travel with Italy for tomorrow's Nations League match against Turkey in Bursa, as coach Roberto Mancini has excluded ten players from the squad to avoid the costly journey. The fixture kicks off at 20:45 CET at the Atatürk Spor Kompleksi and follows Italy's defeat to Belgium at the Olimpico on Friday. Roma defender Gianluca Mancini is among those held back, though fellow Roma squad member Daniele Ghilardi has been included in the travelling party. The ten excluded players will undertake a tailored training programme at the Italian Football Federation's technical centre in Coverciano instead. Italy's next fixture after Turkey is a match in Paris against France, before the sides meet again in Bologna. The decision reflects Roberto Mancini's desire to manage preparation carefully and spare the full squad an arduous trip to Turkey. The FIGC issued an official statement explaining the arrangement: "With the objective of managing preparation best ahead of matches against France in Paris and Turkey again in Bologna, and not subjecting the whole squad to a demanding transfer to Turkey, coach Roberto Mancini has decided to organise a specific training programme at the Federal Technical Centre in Coverciano for Honest Ahanor, Nicolò Barella, Diego Coppola, Samuele Inacio, Eddy Kouadio, Daniel Maldini, Gianluca Mancini, Massimo Pessina, Samuele Ricci and Mohamed Alì Zoma, providing them with part of the technical and performance staff (Massimo Maccarone, Cristiano Lupatelli, Giulio Nuciari and Luca Bossi), as well as medical and physiotherapy support."

Francesco Totti celebrates his 50th birthday on 27 September 2026, marking half a century for the man Roma considers its greatest player and symbol. Born in 1976, Totti played his entire career in the giallorossi shirt from his debut on 28 March 1993 against Brescia — where he came on as a substitute wearing number 14 at the Rigamonti stadium — until his retirement in 2017. His 25 years at the club left him with 307 goals across all competitions and 786 appearances, making him Roma's all-time record holder in both categories. The club's official website began celebrations from 8 a.m. with an alphabetical tribute spanning his career milestones, achievements, and greatest moments. Totti's legacy extends far beyond Rome. He represented Italy at Euro 2000 wearing number 20, leading the Azzurri to the final where he was named player of the match despite the team's defeat to France. At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, he played a central role in Italy's triumph as world champions, overcoming a serious ankle injury sustained on 19 February 2006 during Roma-Empoli. His recovery, aided by preparator Vito Scala and Silio Musa, enabled him to play as a starter in his World Cup debut on 12 June 2006 against Ghana — a match Italy won 2-0 with goals from Pirlo and Iaquinta. His Roma record stands unmatched among Serie A strikers: he scored 250 Serie A goals, placing him second all-time behind Silvio Piola, and surpassed Gunnar Nordahl in the all-time rankings. His first Serie A goal came on 4 September 1994 against Foggia's Franco Mancini, wearing number 9. His last came in Coppa Italia on 1 February 2017 in a quarter-final against Cesena, a penalty converted past Agliardi. In derby matches against Lazio, he scored 11 times. His most celebrated goals include a chip over Julio Cesar at San Siro in a 3-2 Roma victory, which Totti described as "without doubt among the best goals of my life", and a decisive penalty at Kaiserslautern on 26 June 2006 in the World Cup quarter-final against Australia. He won Serie A in 2001 against Parma — "the most important goal of my life" — along with two Coppa Italia titles (2007, 2008) and two Supercoppa Italiana crowns (2001, 2007). Luciano Spalletti was the coach under whom he scored most frequently: 100 goals. On 31 October 1998, Totti captained Roma for the first time, designated against Udinese, and scored a double. Totti currently celebrates his milestone in Las Vegas with family.

Roma resumed training on Tuesday 22 September with a severely reduced squad available to Gasperini. Among outfield players, only Hermoso, Molina, Rensch, Pellegrini, De Roon and Dybala trained fully, while Wesley, Malen and Cristante remained at Trigoria for physiotherapy on their respective problems. All three goalkeepers, including Svilar, were available for selection. The squad will continue work through Friday focused mainly on maintaining fitness before a break. In a separate development, Francesco Totti revealed in his book *Oltre* that he came very close to an unexpected return to professional football with Genoa. After initial jokes about a comeback, the club's hierarchy made a formal approach and the former Roma captain began serious training, including gym work, physiotherapy and a tailored diet. Manager Gilardino also wrote to him to try to persuade him, but ultimately his bond to Roma prevailed. Totti reflected on his decision: "A sporting betrayal has no age limit, whether you are 18 or 48 years old." Forward Antonio Arena has returned to Roma Primavera after recovering from a muscular strain. He featured for a spell on Sunday against Milan, and his introduction coincided with Guaglianone's decisive goal. Although Arena has not yet appeared in the UEFA Youth League, he remains eligible to do so despite being included by Gasperini on the senior squad's UEFA list as number 68. Off the pitch, Roma's Pietralata stadium project advanced significantly. The State Superintendence gave a favourable opinion on the Environmental Impact Assessment, stating it found no "obstacles to releasing the provision". Conditions remain on archaeological protection, a Roman villa, a cistern and landscaping that must be incorporated into the design. The final Conference of Services meeting is scheduled for Monday 28 September.

Twelve AS Roma players will be absent during the 20-day international break as they answer calls from their national teams, though coach Gian Piero Gasperini managed to retain Wesley, Bryan Cristante and Donyell Malen. The Argentine contingent—Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi—depart for friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin respectively. The final fixture doubles as Lionel Messi's farewell match; Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina have also been invited to that occasion. Italy's representatives Gianluca Mancini and Daniele Ghilardi will face Belgium, Turkey and France in Nations League action, where Manu Koné features for France alongside Italy's other two group opponents. Emanuele Lulli and Niccolò Pisilli join the Under-21 squad for European qualifying matches against Armenia and Poland. Konstantinos Koulierakis represents Greece, Evan N'Dicka plays for Côte d'Ivoire, and Rodrigo Mora turns out for Portugal's Under-21 side. Third-choice goalkeeper Giorgio De Marzi competes in Under-19 action alongside young prospect Antonio Arena and other Primavera players.

Roma will operate with a skeleton crew at Trigoria during the twenty-day international break following the draw against Inter, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini having only seven first-team players available for training and preparation. The available squad members are goalkeepers Mile Svilar and Pierluigi Gollini, defenders Mario Hermoso, Nahuel Molina and Devyne Rensch, midfielder Marten de Roon, and forward Paulo Dybala. Dybala will take a leave of absence during the break to travel to Argentina and participate in Leo Messi's farewell international match. All other players will be away on international duty with their respective national teams. To maintain training intensity and match fitness, Gasperini will draw heavily on Roma's Primavera squad, though the youth sector has also lost several players to Italian national selections at Under 17 to Under 19 level, including Arena, Bonifazi, Giammattei and Guaglianone. The club has arranged a pair of friendly matches to keep the team sharp during the pause.