Roma to face Borussia Dortmund without Pellegrini and Pisilli

Xavi has heaped praise on Donyell Malen ahead of the Netherlands' Nations League fixture against Greece tomorrow, saying the forward is in excellent form and that he cannot wait to see him on the pitch. Malen missed the Netherlands' games in September due to a physical problem, but he is available for this match. Speaking at his press conference, Xavi said: "He is training very well and is really in excellent form. He has shown he feels perfectly at ease. He wants to prove his potential. He is giving his best in Italy. I am trying to give him confidence because he can become important for the team." The Netherlands boss, the former Barcelona coach, is clearly keen to build the 27-year-old's role in the side. Xavi went on to praise the Roma forward's all-round game: "He has the ability to stand out, to create chances, to be the right man and then to attack the goal at the same time. So yes, he is truly a player with many qualities who strengthens our team, and I can't wait to see him on the pitch." For Roma, the comments underline Malen's growing standing with his national side while he continues his spell at the club.

Roma and Bologna are set to hold talks in the coming weeks to discuss the future of striker Artem Dovbyk, according to Matteo Moretto. Bologna are reportedly beginning to doubt that Dovbyk is the right striker for their side, in light of the difficulties he has encountered settling in so far. Roma, however, have not planned for the Ukrainian's return in January. The Giallorossi have set their annual sporting plan without including the reintegration of the former Girona forward at mid-season. The upcoming talks between the two clubs will establish the best solution for all parties involved. Dovbyk joined Roma in July 2024 from Girona in a deal worth €38m, and he is on loan at Bologna. The coming discussions will decide whether the centre-forward's situation is resolved before the winter window.

Bologna are reportedly weighing up whether to end Artem Dovbyk's loan early during the January transfer window, with talks between the Emilian club and Roma expected in the coming weeks. The report, attributed to Matteo Moretto on Fabrizio Romano's YouTube channel, says the Ukrainian striker has not fully convinced Bologna. Dovbyk left Rome last summer in search of more regular football, but his time at Bologna has fallen short of expectations. Injuries and a change of coach have limited his minutes. Roma, for their part, do not currently consider Dovbyk a priority within their technical project, so the two clubs will discuss the best solution for the striker's future. The Italian report notes that Dovbyk could see his situation change again in January, with the two clubs due to meet to take stock of the position.

Roma radio pundits used the latest edition of the On Air roundup to debate the club's January transfer plans, with Daniele Lo Monaco of Radio Romanista claiming that Roma would win the Scudetto if they could sign Gittens and Endrick. He added: "If I could have Gittens and Endrick today, Roma would win the Scudetto. Or at least they would fight it out until the last matchday with Inter." The Italian headline also carries comments from Lorenzo Pes and Checco Oddo Casano on the UEFA financial verdict and its effect on the market. The main backdrop is the Financial Fair Play case. Gianluca Piacentini of Rete Sport said the UEFA ruling will come in May, and that the parameters had already been reported: the reduction of the squad cost and Roma's virtuous process, helped by Champions League money. He said: "I take it as good news, Roma are on a virtuous path." Casano disagreed on the market impact, saying: "Nobody has ever talked about a blocked market. Nobody at Trigoria is certain of a budget to spend in January, regardless of the UEFA matter." He added: "Not knowing what kind of verdict you will get, you cannot go to Real in January and say: 'Here are 70 million for Endrick'. You would risk worsening your position in the eyes of your judge." On the squad, Roberto Pruzzo said: "Roma have reacted well to the absences: Soulè has played very well and has at times taken the team in hand, while the striker up front has dropped off a little, but it seems to me you have absorbed the injuries well. Now you can restart with more certainties." Lo Monaco argued that Castro and Malen struggle to play together, as they do more or less the same things, and that Endrick could be the alternative to Dybala with Mora as a trequartista. Andrea Pugliese said Soulè and Dybala do their best work on the right and asked where Soulè would play once Dybala returns to the starting line-up, adding that Dybala would be almost certain to start in Parma. Petruzzi said Mora has scored 4 goals and Soulè has also scored, and that Dybala will play whenever he is at 100%. On Lookman, Mario Corsi said: "With Gasperini I would take Lookman. He has scored only one goal at Atletico Madrid, and maybe that is why they are ready to sell him." Pes said: "If I had to sign someone who can really help you, it would be Lookman. If there were the chance to work together again, the old grudges would be smoothed over." He also said that Gasperini does not want a Greenwood-type player but someone who can help, and that a midfield reinforcement may be needed given Koné's injury record and Pellegrini's absence. Pes added that a major sale is hard to see at this point of the season. Pes said the official FPF sanction will arrive in the spring, but that Roma will probably know something in the coming weeks. On the January window, he said: "We cannot take anything for granted, but something will be done." Nando Orsi, also of Radio Radio, defended Svilar, arguing that his absence has not cost Roma points in Serie A or the Champions League, and that the only goalkeeper without blame against Real was the goalkeeper himself.

Roma's January transfer planning is waiting on concrete signals from the Friedkin family in Houston, with the club's strategy expected to be defined this week. The break for international fixtures is seen as a crucial moment to plan the winter window, while Roma's aim remains to stay close to the top of the Serie A table. Il Tempo reports that, barring surprises, no members of the Friedkin family are expected to arrive in Rome. The club is also waiting to learn the outcome of its settlement agreement with UEFA, which will determine the room available for investment. Gian Piero Gasperini's direct contact for market matters and corporate affairs remains CEO John Galantic, with a meeting expected in the coming days. The technical area and sporting director Tony D'Amico have already set the priorities: a striker and a winger, ideally with the qualities of Moreira, who was pursued months ago. Endrick remains at the top of the wish list, although the deal is considered complex in several respects. Kvernadze's stock among the other profiles studied by the club has fallen, as he does not fully convince. Unlike the situation last summer, Gasperini's plans also include the possibility of signing a new midfielder, should the budget granted by the ownership allow it. Although satisfied with the performance of the department, the coach has begun to reflect on the difficulties of the season so far. Koné tends to stop from time to time, De Roon, while still reliable, is of significant age, and Pellegrini is getting less and less playing time. For these reasons, if there is room to manoeuvre, Roma will consider a addition in midfield.

Paulo Dybala is back in training at Trigoria with no problems in his calf, and he is expected to be fully available when Roma resume Serie A against Parma on 21 November. The Argentine trained in part of the session with the group, alongside Gianluca Mancini. Barring a late setback, he will be at Gasperini's disposal for the return to league action. Goalkeeper Mile Svilar also returned to the pitch in football boots to carry out differentiated work for the first time without his protective boot. It is a necessary step for the Serbian keeper, who is recovering from a stress fracture to his fifth toe. Svilar is expected to rejoin the group regularly in the coming days and return to the Giallorossi goal. The article notes that Roma have conceded roughly three times as many goals without him between the posts, which it describes as no coincidence. The news is a major boost for Gian Piero Gasperini as the club push in the title race. Gasperini will also have Manu Koné back at full fitness during the international break, after the French midfielder withdrew from the France squad. Gollini is also set to be available again. Lorenzo Pellegrini, however, faces a longer road back and is now aiming to return in 2027. The article adds that tickets for the away trip to Paris to face PSG go on sale from today.

Italy face France tonight in the Nations League, kicking off at 20:45, and coach Roberto Mancini has named his squad, leaving out Roma midfielder Niccolò Pisilli. Pisilli will watch the match from the stands alongside Cissé, Liberali, Cassano, Palma, Lontani, Ahanor and Gatti. Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi is among the players available to the Italy boss. The Italy squad is made up of three goalkeepers: Donnarumma, Carnesecchi and Vicario. The defenders are Kayode, Scalvini, Calafiori, Bastoni, Dimarco, Palestra and Ghilardi. The midfield options are Ricci, Tonali, Fagioli, Doumbia, Frattesi, Romano, Barella and Vergara. The forwards are S. Esposito, P. Esposito, Scamacca, Cambiaghi and Koleosho. For Roma, Ghilardi's call-up is the main point of interest, while Pisilli's omission means he will not be involved in the national side's fixture against France.

Roma midfielder Niccolò Pisilli will watch Italy's match against France from the stands, after Italy coach Mancini chose not to include him in the squad for today's fixture. The exclusion halts the midfielder's return to the senior national team. Pisilli had returned to the Italy senior setup after helping the Under-21 side qualify for the next European Championship. This time, however, he will only be a spectator. Cissé and Liberali will also be in the stands. Roma defender Daniele Ghilardi, who was called up during the previous international break, has been retained by Mancini and could feature against France, coached by Zidane. The article notes it is hard to imagine him starting, but Ghilardi is viewed as an extra option to bring on once the match is underway.

Roma midfielder Niccolò Pisilli will not be available to Italy for the match against France, with Roberto Mancini naming him among the players who will be in the stands just hours before kickoff. Reporting by TMW, which the Italian source relays through TeleRadioStereo, says Pisilli will be joined on the sidelines by Honest Ahanor, Matteo Palma, Federico Gatti, Alphadjo Cisse and Mattia Liberali. Pisilli will not be able to add to his tally with the senior national team against France. The Roma midfielder has already made 4 appearances and scored one goal for Italy, but Mancini has decided not to include him in the list of players available for tonight's game. He remains with the Azzurri squad for this international break. Pisilli's selection snub comes after a strong start to the season with Roma under Gian Piero Gasperini, where he is finding consistency and a growing influence, including in front of goal. Born in 2004, he has been one of the more prominent young Italians in the Giallorossi midfield this campaign.

Roma have three players capable of igniting matches in attacking midfield, and Gasperini now has a difficult but welcome choice to make. Dybala, Soulé and Mora form a trio described as a fairytale unit, ready to set up goals for Malen. The balance shifted when Dybala was injured: Soulé became the ace and Mora the joker Gasperini cannot do without. Dybala is now back and wants to start against Parma. The answer to who should make way lies in the data. Mora wins the ball in the opponent's final third, averaging 2.3 recoveries per match, a trait that neither Soulé nor Dybala matches in the same way, and no one else at Roma does it as he does. In Gasperini's high-pressing system, pressing is everything, and Mora keeps the team pushed up, pushing opponents away from his own half and creating chances in theirs. He is small in stature but has enormous talent, not only with the ball at his feet. Four goals and two assists count for something, but Gasperini is looking at more than goals: his system needs perfect interpreters, and Mora fits that description today, even though he is not the winger Gasperini had in mind. Mora has four goals and two assists, while Dybala's return gives the coach a dilemma that every manager would welcome. The question is whom to leave out, and the statistics point towards Mora being indispensable in the pressing game.

Roma radio pundits used the latest edition of the On Air roundup to debate the club's January transfer plans, with Daniele Lo Monaco of Radio Romanista claiming that Roma would win the Scudetto if they could sign Gittens and Endrick. He added: "If I could have Gittens and Endrick today, Roma would win the Scudetto. Or at least they would fight it out until the last matchday with Inter." The Italian headline also carries comments from Lorenzo Pes and Checco Oddo Casano on the UEFA financial verdict and its effect on the market. The main backdrop is the Financial Fair Play case. Gianluca Piacentini of Rete Sport said the UEFA ruling will come in May, and that the parameters had already been reported: the reduction of the squad cost and Roma's virtuous process, helped by Champions League money. He said: "I take it as good news, Roma are on a virtuous path." Casano disagreed on the market impact, saying: "Nobody has ever talked about a blocked market. Nobody at Trigoria is certain of a budget to spend in January, regardless of the UEFA matter." He added: "Not knowing what kind of verdict you will get, you cannot go to Real in January and say: 'Here are 70 million for Endrick'. You would risk worsening your position in the eyes of your judge." On the squad, Roberto Pruzzo said: "Roma have reacted well to the absences: Soulè has played very well and has at times taken the team in hand, while the striker up front has dropped off a little, but it seems to me you have absorbed the injuries well. Now you can restart with more certainties." Lo Monaco argued that Castro and Malen struggle to play together, as they do more or less the same things, and that Endrick could be the alternative to Dybala with Mora as a trequartista. Andrea Pugliese said Soulè and Dybala do their best work on the right and asked where Soulè would play once Dybala returns to the starting line-up, adding that Dybala would be almost certain to start in Parma. Petruzzi said Mora has scored 4 goals and Soulè has also scored, and that Dybala will play whenever he is at 100%. On Lookman, Mario Corsi said: "With Gasperini I would take Lookman. He has scored only one goal at Atletico Madrid, and maybe that is why they are ready to sell him." Pes said: "If I had to sign someone who can really help you, it would be Lookman. If there were the chance to work together again, the old grudges would be smoothed over." He also said that Gasperini does not want a Greenwood-type player but someone who can help, and that a midfield reinforcement may be needed given Koné's injury record and Pellegrini's absence. Pes added that a major sale is hard to see at this point of the season. Pes said the official FPF sanction will arrive in the spring, but that Roma will probably know something in the coming weeks. On the January window, he said: "We cannot take anything for granted, but something will be done." Nando Orsi, also of Radio Radio, defended Svilar, arguing that his absence has not cost Roma points in Serie A or the Champions League, and that the only goalkeeper without blame against Real was the goalkeeper himself.

Radio commentator Lorenzo Pes has said Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini is not asking for a signing like Greenwood, but only an extra effort in attack. Speaking on Tele Radio Stereo (92.7), Pes said: "Gasperini wants a small effort, he does not want the Greenwood of the situation. The priority is up front, but a small reinforcement is also needed in midfield. However, a lot will depend on how much is spent." He added that sanctions can be communicated in advance, but that the communication always arrives between April and May, and said that in November a club has a first result. Pes also said he sees a significant departure in this phase of the season as difficult, and that it will be seen whether important offers arrive for the players. On Radio Manà Manà Sport (90.9), Simone Valdarchi addressed the forward pairing of Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé. He said the two can coexist from a technical standpoint, while tactically it may be more awkward. Valdarchi said it is the moment for Soulé to shake off the doubt some have that he does not perform alongside Dybala, adding: "I believe that with the number 21 on the pitch, the team tends to serve the 2003-born player less." The discussion forms part of the wider radio debate in Rome, where several stations feature former players, journalists and pundits analysing the club's fortunes. For Roma, the points raised centre on attacking depth, a possible midfield addition and how Dybala and Soulé can work together in the current squad.