Roma flash: Menez backs Gasperini's title bid, Malen on pace for club record

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.

Italy manager Luciano Spalletti has named his squad for the Nations League fixture against France on 2 October at 20:45, recalling Gianluca Mancini after the Roma defender was omitted for the previous matches against Belgium and Turkey. Daniele Ghilardi, however, will miss the France game and drops out of the squad entirely. Mancini's inclusion represents a change of approach from the earlier Nations League matches, in which Spalletti had left nine players behind at the Coverciano training base. The Roma defender was previously excluded when Italy faced Turkey but returns for the French test. Ghilardi joins a group of nine players standing down for the fixture, a practice Spalletti has applied consistently across recent internationals. Alessandro Romano, a former Roma player, is also among those excluded. The full squad includes goalkeepers Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marco Carnesecchi and Guglielmo Vicario. Defenders named are Michael Kayode, Matteo Ruggeri, Riccardo Calafiori, Giorgio Scalvini, Mancini, Alessandro Bastoni and Giovanni Di Lorenzo. Midfielders comprise Nicolò Barella, Nicolò Fagioli, Sandro Tonali, Samuele Ricci, Issa Doumbia and Davide Frattesi. Attackers selected are Pio Esposito, Moise Kean, Mohamed Alì Zoma, Gianluca Scamacca, Daniel Maldini, Antonio Vergara and Sebastiano Esposito. Excluded alongside Ghilardi are Honest Ahanor, Nicolò Cambiaghi, Diego Coppola, Samuele Inacio, Eddy Kouadio, Rolando Mandragora, Massimo Pessina and Romano.

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 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.

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.