Roma players reflect on Messi's emotional Argentina farewell

Como believe they may have Moise Kean available for Sunday's match against Roma. The Italy forward returned early from international duty after sustaining a muscular fatigue that forced him to miss Italy's second match against Turkey, but the careful handling by medical staff has raised expectations that he will be fit. Kean will be managed over the coming days, and Como boss Fabregas is increasingly confident of having him available for the fixture with Gasperini's side, though his participation is not yet certain. Nico Paz will return on Sunday after his commitments with Argentina, alongside three Roma players: Matías Soulé, Leonardo Balerdi and Santiago Castro, who will also rejoin their club after international breaks.

Marten de Roon's summer transfer to Roma from Atalanta caused significant controversy in the final days of the transfer window, complete with offensive banners from his former supporters. De Roon, who is expected to start for Roma at Como for the first time, has already explained the split as a result of his marginal role in Atalanta's project. However, new Atalanta manager Maurizio Sarri told Corriere di Bergamo that de Roon never discussed the move with him directly: "With me de Roon never spoke; he went straight to the club." Sarri's comments suggest the departure was driven by club leadership, specifically Percassi and Giuntoli. Former Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini defended the Dutch midfielder's decision, saying: "What was he supposed to do, wear an old shoe?"

Evan N'Dicka is no longer an automatic pick at Roma, a shift underlined by competition from Leonardo Balerdi since the Argentine's arrival at Trigoria this season. The Ivorian defender, previously relied upon across multiple coaching regimes from José Mourinho to Gian Piero Gasperini, faces a genuine rival for his place — a change entirely new to his Roma experience. The two have never started together so far this season, though they have appeared in the same match during Roma's games against Fenerbahçe and Inter. Against Fenerbahçe, N'Dicka started while Balerdi entered at the 74th minute; against Inter, Balerdi started and was replaced at the 66th minute, with N'Dicka coming on at the 60th. The shift reflects both Balerdi's rapid impact with the club and the improved defensive depth now available to Gasperini — something previous coaches lacked, forcing them to stretch N'Dicka repeatedly. Though the defender has responded well overall with only occasional dips in form, this season brings a structural change. Roma have a four-day window before facing Como, who sit three points behind the Giallorossi in the table, but standings matter less than Gasperini's stated priority: finding consistency, confirming performance quality, and cementing the entire squad's ability to operate at the required level. The head coach has made clear there are no fixed hierarchies and no automatic starters, which has allowed him to rotate the defence more freely than his predecessor could — particularly when Roma attack, he can modify the back line without severely compromising the team. N'Dicka's position has not been helped by what the article describes as a condition not yet optimal and occasional minor errors. The numbers tell the story: the starting berth he held as untouchable throughout his Roma career is now genuinely contested. With Balerdi not yet back from continental travel, N'Dicka will look to the Como match to regain top form and reassert himself in Gasperini's plans, aiming to reclaim the indispensable role he has always held at the club.

Como believe they may have Moise Kean available for Sunday's match against Roma. The Italy forward returned early from international duty after sustaining a muscular fatigue that forced him to miss Italy's second match against Turkey, but the careful handling by medical staff has raised expectations that he will be fit. Kean will be managed over the coming days, and Como boss Fabregas is increasingly confident of having him available for the fixture with Gasperini's side, though his participation is not yet certain. Nico Paz will return on Sunday after his commitments with Argentina, alongside three Roma players: Matías Soulé, Leonardo Balerdi and Santiago Castro, who will also rejoin their club after international breaks.

Evan N'Dicka is no longer an automatic pick at Roma, a shift underlined by competition from Leonardo Balerdi since the Argentine's arrival at Trigoria this season. The Ivorian defender, previously relied upon across multiple coaching regimes from José Mourinho to Gian Piero Gasperini, faces a genuine rival for his place — a change entirely new to his Roma experience. The two have never started together so far this season, though they have appeared in the same match during Roma's games against Fenerbahçe and Inter. Against Fenerbahçe, N'Dicka started while Balerdi entered at the 74th minute; against Inter, Balerdi started and was replaced at the 66th minute, with N'Dicka coming on at the 60th. The shift reflects both Balerdi's rapid impact with the club and the improved defensive depth now available to Gasperini — something previous coaches lacked, forcing them to stretch N'Dicka repeatedly. Though the defender has responded well overall with only occasional dips in form, this season brings a structural change. Roma have a four-day window before facing Como, who sit three points behind the Giallorossi in the table, but standings matter less than Gasperini's stated priority: finding consistency, confirming performance quality, and cementing the entire squad's ability to operate at the required level. The head coach has made clear there are no fixed hierarchies and no automatic starters, which has allowed him to rotate the defence more freely than his predecessor could — particularly when Roma attack, he can modify the back line without severely compromising the team. N'Dicka's position has not been helped by what the article describes as a condition not yet optimal and occasional minor errors. The numbers tell the story: the starting berth he held as untouchable throughout his Roma career is now genuinely contested. With Balerdi not yet back from continental travel, N'Dicka will look to the Como match to regain top form and reassert himself in Gasperini's plans, aiming to reclaim the indispensable role he has always held at the club.

Roma have resumed training at Trigoria following a three-day break granted by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with preparations underway for Sunday's big match against Como. Gasperini has welcomed back most of the squad's international players. Italian internationals Gianluca Mancini, Daniele Ghilardi, Niccolò Pisilli and Emanuele Lulli, along with Evan N'Dicka, Konstantinos Koulierakis and young goalkeeper Giorgio De Marzi, completed recovery work. Manu Koné was expected to rejoin training today, with Rodrigo Mora to follow. Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro attended Lionel Messi's farewell celebration with the Argentine national team during the night. The three Argentina internationals are due back in Rome tomorrow, though Gasperini is likely to see them on the pitch on Friday.

Como believe they may have Moise Kean available for Sunday's match against Roma. The Italy forward returned early from international duty after sustaining a muscular fatigue that forced him to miss Italy's second match against Turkey, but the careful handling by medical staff has raised expectations that he will be fit. Kean will be managed over the coming days, and Como boss Fabregas is increasingly confident of having him available for the fixture with Gasperini's side, though his participation is not yet certain. Nico Paz will return on Sunday after his commitments with Argentina, alongside three Roma players: Matías Soulé, Leonardo Balerdi and Santiago Castro, who will also rejoin their club after international breaks.

Roma have resumed training at Trigoria following a three-day break granted by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with preparations underway for Sunday's big match against Como. Gasperini has welcomed back most of the squad's international players. Italian internationals Gianluca Mancini, Daniele Ghilardi, Niccolò Pisilli and Emanuele Lulli, along with Evan N'Dicka, Konstantinos Koulierakis and young goalkeeper Giorgio De Marzi, completed recovery work. Manu Koné was expected to rejoin training today, with Rodrigo Mora to follow. Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro attended Lionel Messi's farewell celebration with the Argentine national team during the night. The three Argentina internationals are due back in Rome tomorrow, though Gasperini is likely to see them on the pitch on Friday.

Lionel Messi scored and provided two assists as Argentina closed out his 21-year international career with a 3–0 friendly victory over Benin at the Monumental stadium in front of over 85,000 supporters. Messi was visibly moved during the celebrations. Nicolás Otamendi opened the scoring at 48 minutes from a Messi assist, Nico Paz doubled the lead at 61 minutes also from the captain's pass, and Messi himself converted a penalty at 71 minutes—his 126th and final goal for the Selección. The match ended his playing journey that included victory at the 2022 World Cup and two Copa América titles across 208 appearances. Three AS Roma players took no part in Messi's farewell. Leonardo Balerdi remained on the bench for the full 90 minutes, while Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro were not included in the squad at all. Both Soulé and Castro had made their senior debuts for Argentina in the earlier friendly against Burkina Faso. The international break now concludes for the Roma trio, and they return to Trigoria ahead of the squad's trip to Como on Sunday. Gian Piero Gasperini will prepare them for that fixture. For Soulé and Castro, the break marked the realisation of a significant milestone—their first appearances for the national team.

Roma travel to Como for a Serie A encounter on Sunday at 12:30 for matchday six, immediately after the international break. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is expected to deploy a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi and Mario Hermoso, Nahuel Molina and Wesley on the flanks, and Marten de Roon and Manu Koné in midfield. Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini are set to operate in the attacking third, with Donyell Malen leading the line. Competition for places remains open in several positions: Evan N'Dicka and Balerdi are competing for the third centre-back slot, while Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora are battling for a spot in the advanced midfield alongside Pellegrini. The selection is being shaped by ongoing injury concerns across the squad. Roma arrive still near the top of the league table but must recalibrate after two weeks disrupted by international departures. For Gasperini, the priority is assessing the condition of players returning late from their national teams and rotating the squad without sacrificing defensive stability in what is expected to be a challenging away fixture. Como, managed by Cesc Fabregas, will field a 4-2-3-1 setup and attempt to exploit home advantage and their attacking resources. Historically, Roma hold the upper hand in the head-to-head record, with 13 victories compared to Como's 7, and 8 draws across 28 Serie A meetings. The most recent encounter came on 15 March 2026 at the Sinigaglia, where Como won 2-1. Roma took the lead through Donyell Malen's penalty on 7 minutes, but Como reversed the result in the second half with goals from Douvikas and Diego Carlos. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN via smartphone, PC, tablet or the official website. Official lineups will be announced approximately one hour before kick-off.

Gian Piero Gasperini has outlined his ambition to strengthen the relationship between AS Roma and ownership, revealing in a Sky Sport interview that while the Friedkin Group maintains confidence in him despite their infrequent presence in Rome, he wants to build closer ties ahead of the club's 100th anniversary. Gasperini used the occasion to discuss his newly launched wine label "3-4-3", named after his signature formation, and drew parallels between his philosophical approach to football and viticulture. He reflected on last season's success, attributing it to finding "a group of players with enormous willingness towards me" who arrived from a positive spell in the previous campaign and demonstrated eagerness to embrace a different style of football. The manager also highlighted his pride at winning over a fanbase that had initially viewed him with scepticism. Gasperini acknowledged Roma's strength in attack while commenting on the transfer market's difficulty: "Strikers are always the most sought-after and expensive players on the market. Those who have them rarely part with them—it's every team's quest." He expressed satisfaction that Manu Koné remained at the club after late-window interest, stating the timescale made a deal impossible: "The market was long, arriving at just a few hours before closure there was no time. These transfers bring insertions of many people; I don't see how such an operation could have been done. Personally I'm happy. He will have the opportunity, and is already doing so, to increase his value." On Bryan Cristante's recovery from injury, Gasperini counselled patience: "He's recovering; it takes its time. We won't be willing to risk anything. The goal is to recover him at his best even if he misses one or two more matches." Gasperini analysed the expanding squad depth afforded by five substitutions and a congested fixture list: "Four changes are made significantly, one is reserve. Energy expenditure is considerable. Management for coaches is a bit less complicated; you have the chance to use the whole squad better. All players hope to play in more matches. The drawback is injuries, which happen in football always and there's no scientific explanation." Regarding individual attacking players, he noted Matías Soulé had recovered from pubic pain suffered last season: "He trained during summer; when he arrived, logically he was overweight because he'd been out for a long time. His league start was at a high level. Now he's made his Argentina debut. When Roma players go to their national team and play, it's a reward for the whole squad." He praised Paulo Dybala's commitment and happiness since his return to regular action, and explained why he withheld Dybala and Nahuel Molina from international duty given a forthcoming important fixture: "We're too close to an important match. It meant forcing them to do many hours of flying." Gasperini offered measured praise for Como's emergence as title contenders: "We all appreciate this team's evolution. For the quality of the players and the play. Como is justly one of the accredited teams and among the best in our league. Can they win the Scudetto? Everyone recognizes Inter as the strongest, but Como with all the others can compete." He also reflected on Lionel Messi's imminent retirement from international football: "I struggle to think of a player who has done what Messi has done. It's a shame such a player ends his career, but there's also satisfaction in having seen him play—it's been a gift."

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has decisions to make ahead of the trip to Como, with injuries and international commitments affecting selection in midfield and defence. Matías Soulé, who has been with Argentina, is expected back at Trigoria only on Thursday, opening the door for either Lorenzo Pellegrini or Rodrigo Mora to start alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in the attacking midfield role. Pellegrini, who has not played since 10 April, is fully fit and ready to return; a start would mark his 350th appearance for Roma. Mora, meanwhile, is currently with the Portugal U21 side and is chasing continuity after scoring an overhead kick against Gibraltar. Gasperini has built a significant strength on Roma's flanks this season—a reversal of last season's problems. The club's wingers have created 24 goal-scoring chances so far: 13 from Wesley, 7 from Nahuel Molina and 4 from Emanuele Lulli, a tally that places Roma second only to Inter. The coach is expected to field Molina on the right and Wesley on the left at Como, with the Brazilian given a more attacking brief and the Argentine tasked with greater defensive responsibility, though Gasperini has signalled he does not regard the flanks as fixed assignments and may shuffle them during the match. Defence has also emerged as a major weapon. Gasperini described Roma's back line as a "difesa di gladiatori" (defence of gladiators), and the numbers back that assessment. Roma lead Serie A with 5.8 recoveries per match in the attacking third and 141 regained possessions in the central areas, generating 17 shots from high-pressure recoveries. The coach has several defensive options in Evan N'Dicka, Gianluca Mancini, Leonardo Balerdi, Mario Hermoso, Daniele Ghilardi and Konstantinos Koulierakis. N'Dicka could return to the starting line-up at Como in place of Balerdi, who is still with Argentina and due back at Trigoria later. Gasperini's defensive philosophy is encapsulated in one of his favourite sayings: "Si difende in 11, si attacca in 11"—defence involves all eleven, as does attack.