Soulé returns to Argentina duty after pubic injury; father celebrates call-up

Leonardo Balerdi took the field for Argentina in a friendly against Bolivia overnight, with the defender and teammate Matías Soulé remaining unused. Castro stayed on the bench. On social media, Balerdi wrote: "Farne parte con la maglietta migliore" (to be part of it with the best shirt), prompting a response from Castro—a simple "Francooo" with a fire emoji—a clear reference to a comparison Gasperini made a couple of weeks ago between the centre-back and Franco Baresi, the Milan and Italy legend, in his post-match comments after Torino versus Roma. Gasperini's remark drew attention across the dressing room, and the coach subsequently clarified his approach, explaining that he regularly compares his players with sporting icons to push them to perform at their highest level. Balerdi himself took a more measured stance when asked about the Baresi comparison, stating: "They misunderstood; I remain humble." The exchange illustrates how Gasperini's influence extends even when Roma's players are on international duty.

Juventus and Napoli both attempted to lure Paulo Dybala away from Roma during the summer transfer window, but the Argentine remained committed to the club and to head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Juventus conducted an initial enquiry into Dybala's contract situation, while Napoli also signalled their interest. In both cases, however, Dybala's response was unambiguous: his priority was Roma and honouring his commitment to Gasperini. Gasperini's role in retaining the forward proved central to the outcome. The coach worked with both the player and the club to unlock a contract negotiation that had stalled for months, convincing Dybala that he would be a cornerstone of his tactical project. Dybala's decision to stay was reinforced by the direct confidence Gasperini showed in him, illustrating the trust between manager and player at a critical juncture. The contract renewal through 2027 was also facilitated by Dybala's willingness to restructure his salary downwards, accepting a deal built around a fixed base with various bonuses tied to appearances, goals and assists. The most significant aspect of the situation, however, remains that Dybala had the opportunity to explore other options and chose to remain at Roma—a reflection of the faith Gasperini had placed in him.

Manu Koné has spoken ahead of tomorrow evening's France-Italy match at the Stade de France, where he will face his Roma teammate Gianluca Mancini. In an interview shared on the French national team's Instagram account, the midfielder addressed his priorities for the fixture and answered questions about his preferences between France and Italy across various categories. On the match itself, Koné said: "As a Roma player I want to win. There will be plenty of banter and teasing, but beyond that I know it's an important match for the country and for the coach. So we want to win. That's the most important thing." The 24-year-old midfielder joined Roma on loan with an obligation to buy from Borussia Mönchengladbach in August 2024 and has become a key squad member under manager Gian Piero Gasperini. When asked about his culinary preferences, Koné chose French cuisine over Italian, though he named pasta as his preferred dish, remarking: "Their pasta is incredible." He selected French music over Italian, and when asked which French national teammate he would take sightseeing in Rome, he named Maghnes Akliouche, saying: "He needs to, he should open up a bit more." On what he misses from France while in Italy, Koné answered simply: "Breakfast." Of returning to the Stade de France in this context, he said: "I know it will be incredible to return to the Stade de France in this way. I hope we can manage to win."