Roma to train in Udine and Manchester ahead of Champions League clash with Man United

Around 10,000 Roma supporters are set to fill the away sections in Udine and Manchester this week. Some 5,000 are expected at the Dacia Arena for tomorrow's match, and around 3,000 at Old Trafford on Tuesday. Many have already bought flights for England and will travel without tickets to soak up the Champions League atmosphere, which supporters are calling a real invasion. The travelling numbers reflect the strength of Roma's support, with away sectors regularly selling out. Fans will be present both in the curva and in the stands, thanks to the friendship linking the two supporters' groups. The trips come as the Giallorossi prepare for their Champions League fixtures in the coming days. Before the international break, Roma host Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico, and another sell-out crowd is expected there. The home match follows the Olimpico's usual pre-match tradition, where the club's fans sing Marco Conidi's famous anthem "Mai sola mai" before kickoff.

Mile Svilar will not return to action before the international break, with his comeback now set for 21 November against Parma after a follow-up MRI scan on his toe showed the bone callus has not yet formed. Pierluigi Gollini will keep goal in the next games against Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo. Paulo Dybala is also a major concern. The Argentine has trained individually and is determined to travel to England, but the problem with the lateral gastrocnemius (the outer calf muscle) is not yet fully resolved. Roma's technical and medical staff do not intend to take risks to avoid a relapse, which puts his availability for Old Trafford in doubt. Manu Koné, who has resumed training on the pitch, is aiming to return against Sassuolo before the break. With two matches in four days and a squad under pressure, Gian Piero Gasperini must manage his resources and rotate heavily. Neither Dybala nor Koné is in the squad for the trip to Friuli. Donyell Malen starts up front, with Soulé alongside him, while the wide positions will see alternating options such as Celik, Rensch and Wesley on the left. Balerdi and Hermoso are fully recovered. Ghilardi is pushing for a place and could start at Udine, allowing Ndicka or Mancini to rest ahead of the Champions League night in Manchester.

Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing significant changes for tomorrow's trip to Udinese, with Donyell Malen returning to the starting XI. Malen's last visit to Udine was his worst performance in a Roma shirt, though he did find the net that day, sadly the wrong one: his deflection was the decisive touch on Ekkelenkamp's free kick. Behind him, Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé are set to play. Marten de Roon, who needs a rest after six matches in twenty days, drops out, along with the other three midfielders who were in the previous selection. Bryan Cristante and Niccolò Pisilli will form the central midfield pairing. Roma face two games in four days, with the squad still stretched by injuries and absences. Wesley will start on the left in both fixtures. On the right, Nahuel Molina, Emanuele Lulli and Devyne Rensch are in contention, with Rensch surprisingly named in the starting line-up in Istanbul and Naples. Rotation is also on the cards at the back, the department with the most players available. Leonardo Balerdi has put behind him a tough setback and will start. Mario Hermoso has recovered after not being at his best and is also available. Gianluca Mancini is likely to miss out, having run low on energy and been among the weakest performers of the season so far, with some physical complaints picked up on international duty that have never fully cleared. Daniele Aloisi, writing in Il Messaggero, reports that Daniele Ghilardi is looking for minutes and consistency and could take Mancini's place. Evan N'Dicka is the defender in the best form, and Gasperini does not want to do without him. If N'Dicka plays, Balerdi will operate on the left of the centre-back pairing. If N'Dicka rests, Balerdi will move into the middle with Hermoso alongside him. Gasperini will settle those doubts in the coming hours. Roma's focus then turns to Old Trafford, where the hope is that, for once, the 'theatre of dreams' does not turn back into a nightmare.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has drawn up a shopping list as the club looks to strengthen its squad, with three signings reportedly in mind before the international break. Roma face Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo as the last three matches of a gruelling run of nine games in 28 days, and they are doing so short of numbers. Svilar, Dybala and Koné will not be available tomorrow, and only the last two are hoping to return from the next fixtures. The squad is stretched thin. Gasperini said earlier in the season: "La rosa va allungata" ("The squad needs to be lengthened"). While awaiting the UEFA ruling expected in November, the sporting director is already working to reinforce the team. Last January, Malen, Vaz, Venturino and Zaragoza arrived at the club. Gasperini would be content with three targeted signings: an attacking winger, a backup for Wesley and a dynamic central midfielder. For the attacking unit, the names linked are Leweling and Gittens. A surprise could be van Bommel of PSV Eindhoven, a player Roma have been monitoring for some time. Roma are also not giving up on Endrick. Real Madrid have little room for the Brazilian, who wants to leave. D'Amico will need to find the right formula, which could resemble the deal that brought Bobby in a year ago: a loan with an obligation to buy on certain conditions. Attention then turns to the wide midfield. Mendes has offered Balde of Barcelona, while the new name is Pascini of Atlético Mineiro. The most pressing problem, however, is midfield. Pellegrini will return in 2027, and Koné has frequent physical problems. Roma need a energetic runner in the centre of the park, and Moses of Slavia Prague is on the notebook.

Roma travel to Udinese for matchday 10 of Serie A, with Gian Piero Gasperini's side needing to keep pace with Inter and Lazio, who lead on 4 points more, while also keeping an eye on Como, who are just one point behind. Roma are coming off a win over Cagliari, and Lulli is on course to be retained in the starting line-up. Malen is ready to return from the start alongside Soulé, while Rodrigo Mora, decisive in the last round, is pushing for a starting place. Dybala remains out. For Udinese, there is a return to the past for Zaniolo, who is ready to help his side climb a table that is very complicated for the Friulani. The article also covers where to watch the match on television (Sky and Dazn), the kickoff time, the probable line-ups and the current Serie A standings.

Hermoso has played the most minutes of any Roma player this season, with 812 minutes on the pitch across the first twelve matches in Serie A and the Champions League. Wesley follows closely on 806 minutes, having just been called up by the Brazilian national team, and Gianluca Mancini has logged 798 minutes. Il Tempo reports that the figures show Gian Piero Gasperini is rotating his squad rather than relying on fixed starters. The rotation has become necessary because of a demanding run of nine matches in 27 days, which ends with games against Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo. Mancini has shown some signs of fatigue in recent outings, which has given Gasperini the chance to turn to fresher options such as Ghilardi, Koulierakis and Balerdi. On the flanks, Molina, Lulli and Rensch take turns, while Ndicka remains a reliable presence in defence with 727 minutes played. In midfield, Cristante and Koné have been used consistently, alongside Pisilli and De Roon. In attack, Soulé (770 minutes) and Malen (752 minutes) have been the most used forwards. Dybala, who is currently sidelined, is next on the list, followed by younger players Mora and Castro, who continue to earn valuable spells within the season's rotations.