Roma news brief: Molina suspension appeal, Pagano on his Trigoria years, stadium project update

Radio Roma commentators weighed in on Bryan Cristante's fitness and Roma's upcoming fixtures. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport said Cristante has inflammation of the knee that he has been managing for several days and believes the midfielder will be carefully managed ahead of a demanding run of matches. Torri predicted Matías Soulé will play against Como, Rodrigo Mora will start in the Real Madrid fixture, and Lorenzo Pellegrini should begin to regain match sharpness after time out, adding that Como is a more important match than Real Madrid. Marco Valerio Rossomando, also of Manà Manà Sport, echoed the concern: if Cristante does not play against Como it will be because he is genuinely unwell. With matches coming in quick succession, there is a risk of him missing several games. Rossomando noted that throughout his career Cristante has never suffered a prolonged absence, describing him as "like a machine that has 300,000 kilometres on it". Alessandro Antinelli of Tele Radio Stereo commented separately on Roma's potential new stadium, saying the ground is a strong candidate to host matches at Euro 2032 if construction begins in spring, and praised the project for its potential to regenerate an area of Rome and create jobs.

Nahuel Molina received a seven-match ban at the end of Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain. The Roma defender is an important player for coach Scaloni, and the Argentine Football Association has lodged an appeal with FIFA seeking a reduction from seven matches to three. Under FIFA's current disciplinary code, friendly matches are normally not counted toward serving suspensions incurred during tournament play. However, the AFA has recently obtained recognition of three of its international friendlies during the current international break as official matches. Molina has therefore already served three of his seven-match suspension, and if the overall ban reduction is granted, he could be available for Argentina's squad selection at the next international window in November.

Bryan Cristante has been ruled out for approximately two to three weeks after sustaining a knee injury during the international break, leaving Roma without a key midfielder for the upcoming Serie A fixture and threatening his availability for the Champions League clash against Real Madrid. Cristante had remained at Roma's training ground during the international break due to a lower back problem, but developed a fresh injury this week. What initially appeared to be simple inflammation proved more serious upon further assessment. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will be without the midfielder for Como's visit on Sunday, 11 October at 12:30, and his recovery timeline casts serious doubt over his participation in Roma's Champions League meeting with Real Madrid on Wednesday, 14 October at 21:00 at the Olimpico. Roma's medical staff will monitor and re-evaluate Cristante's condition in the coming days. The injury compounds Roma's injury concerns during a critical period of the season, with back-to-back fixtures in Serie A and Europe requiring full squad depth.

Nahuel Molina received a seven-match ban at the end of Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain. The Roma defender is an important player for coach Scaloni, and the Argentine Football Association has lodged an appeal with FIFA seeking a reduction from seven matches to three. Under FIFA's current disciplinary code, friendly matches are normally not counted toward serving suspensions incurred during tournament play. However, the AFA has recently obtained recognition of three of its international friendlies during the current international break as official matches. Molina has therefore already served three of his seven-match suspension, and if the overall ban reduction is granted, he could be available for Argentina's squad selection at the next international window in November.

With a long international break giving Roma players downtime, the squad has been pursuing a diverse range of hobbies away from the pitch. Wesley has garnered attention for his collection of luxury cars stored in his garage, a sight that prompted teammate Soulé to make a quip about his fellow defender's automotive passion. The Brazilian is far from alone in his interests: Manu Koné, the French midfielder, describes himself as a homebody who loves spending his days resting at home, driven by an unconditional passion for French rap and trap music. His dancing and musical performances have become iconic within the group. Mario Hermoso prefers to listen to music by the pool and at the beach, his two great loves, and has recently become involved in the social ritual of mate preparation alongside Argentine players Dybala, Soulé, Balerdi, Castro and Molina. The traditional infusion travels everywhere with them, from long team bus journeys to sessions at Trigoria, serving not simply as a beverage but as a way to unwind and chat. Evan N'Dicka has revealed a strong attraction to architecture and art, appreciating Rome's historical richness during his leisure time and regularly reading history books at home. Marten de Roon curates his social media and seeks out food and wine experiences, while Mile Svilar dedicates considerable time to work with his mental coach before matches, regularly practising visualisation and breathing exercises to train self-control.

Paulo Dybala has reflected on September with an Instagram carousel celebrating family moments, gym work, and his bond with AS Roma. The number 21 featured pictures of his family alongside two gym shots and a candid photo of Nahuel Molina holding a grape in Trigoria's dining room. Molina responded with humour: "Grazie per l'uva amico" (Thanks for the grape, friend), while teammate Santiago Castro joked in the comments, "Uvita Molina" (little grape Molina). The final post captured the spirit of Dybala's month—a banner unfurled by the Curva Sud before Roma's match against Inter, reading: "Chi ha al suo fianco un intero popolo non può temere alcun ostacolo. Non esitate davanti a niente, forza ragazzi, combattete per la vostra gente" (Whoever has an entire people at his side need not fear any obstacle. Do not hesitate before anything, come on boys, fight for your people). Dybala has started every match in September under Gasperini, underscoring his importance to the squad. The photograph of the Curva Sud's message revealed the Argentine's leadership role and his personal identification with Roma's supporters. His September posts demonstrate both his commitment to physical preparation and his deep emotional connection to the club and its fanbase.

With a long international break giving Roma players downtime, the squad has been pursuing a diverse range of hobbies away from the pitch. Wesley has garnered attention for his collection of luxury cars stored in his garage, a sight that prompted teammate Soulé to make a quip about his fellow defender's automotive passion. The Brazilian is far from alone in his interests: Manu Koné, the French midfielder, describes himself as a homebody who loves spending his days resting at home, driven by an unconditional passion for French rap and trap music. His dancing and musical performances have become iconic within the group. Mario Hermoso prefers to listen to music by the pool and at the beach, his two great loves, and has recently become involved in the social ritual of mate preparation alongside Argentine players Dybala, Soulé, Balerdi, Castro and Molina. The traditional infusion travels everywhere with them, from long team bus journeys to sessions at Trigoria, serving not simply as a beverage but as a way to unwind and chat. Evan N'Dicka has revealed a strong attraction to architecture and art, appreciating Rome's historical richness during his leisure time and regularly reading history books at home. Marten de Roon curates his social media and seeks out food and wine experiences, while Mile Svilar dedicates considerable time to work with his mental coach before matches, regularly practising visualisation and breathing exercises to train self-control.

Former Roma goalkeeper Julio Sergio has assessed the club's strong start to the 2026–27 season in an interview, singling out Mile Svilar for particular praise. Sergio believes Roma have narrowed the gap on Inter, who remain the team to beat, though he acknowledges that Champions League involvement this season will demand significant energy. On Svilar specifically, Sergio said: "Currently, in my view, he can be considered among the three best goalkeepers in the world. He is a beast, he manages to be quick and has very good technique." Sergio highlighted Rodrigo Mora as the summer arrival with the greatest potential impact. "Rodrigo Mora I really like a lot and I am sure he will be an important player over the course of the season," he said. Wesley, the Brazilian defender, was assessed as needing to improve his consistency both physically and technically. Sergio also commented on the attacking form of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, describing them as "a great pairing," though he urged caution about title ambitions: "They are a great couple, but it is still too early to talk about the Scudetto."

Julio Sergio has urged caution over Roma's title prospects despite their strong start to the season. The former Brazilian player, who came close to winning a Serie A title at Roma, acknowledged that Gian Piero Gasperini's side has narrowed the gap to Inter but stopped short of declaring them contenders. "On the level of performance I think Roma have got closer to Inter, who remain the team to beat," Sergio said in an interview with Il Tempo. "This year, though, Roma will also be protagonists in the Champions League, a commitment that takes a lot of energy away." Speaking about the club's readiness for a title challenge, Sergio was measured. He singled out Rodrigo Mora as a player capable of making a significant impact this season: "Rodrigo Mora I really like a lot and I'm sure he can be an important player over the course of the season." On Wesley's development, he identified consistency as an area for improvement. "He needs to be more consistent, not only from a physical point of view but also technically." Sergío lavished praise on goalkeeper Mile Svilar, placing him among the world's elite. "Currently, in my opinion, he can be considered among the three best goalkeepers in the world. He's a beast, he manages to be quick and has very good technique." Asked whether the partnership of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, both in strong form, could inspire a title push, Sergio remained unconvinced. "They are a great couple, but it is still too early to talk about winning the scudetto."