Three Roma Players Called Up by Mancini; Ghilardi Earns First Senior Italy Cap

Roma and Inter meet in a Serie A heavyweight clash on the final fixture before the international break, both sides unbeaten and among the form teams of the season's opening weeks. Gasperini is monitoring the fitness of Wesley and N'Dicka ahead of the match, with Leonardo Balerdi set to start in their absence, while Mario Hermoso's injury concern has eased. Inter boss Chivu will be without Calhanoglu and Stones, forcing Akanji and Zielinski into their places.

Leonardo Balerdi is expected to start in defence for Roma against Inter, taking a place alongside one of Evan N'Dicka or Mario Hermoso. Wesley will play on the left side of the defence, while Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala will support Donyell Malen in attack. The fixture will be played at the Olimpico, where over 60,000 spectators are expected. Gates will open from 15:30. Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli remain in contention for selection, with one set to feature in the squad.

Leonardo Balerdi is expected to start in defence for Roma's match against Inter, taking a place ahead of either Evan N'Dicka or Mario Hermoso. Wesley will operate on the left, while Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala are set to play behind Donyell Malen in the forward line. A battle between Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli remains unresolved ahead of the fixture. Gasperini said of the challenge: "Inter nettamente più forte, ma proveremo a inserirci. Massa? Sarà perfetto" (Inter are markedly stronger, but we will try to insert ourselves. Massa will be perfect). The match at the Olimpico is expected to draw over 60,000 supporters, with gates opening from 15:30.

Roberto Mancini has recalled the Italy national team and named three AS Roma players in his 34-man squad for the upcoming Nations League matches. Gianluca Mancini, Bryan Cristante and Daniele Ghilardi have all been selected for fixtures against Belgium (25 September), Turkey (28 September), France (2 October) and Turkey again (5 October). Cristante and Mancini are established figures in the Italian setup, but the call-up represents a significant milestone for Ghilardi, a 2003-born defender, who receives his first senior call to the national team. The squad announcement comes as Mancini takes charge of Italy following the country's third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup.

Roberto Mancini has named a 30-player Italy squad for the Nations League, including Roma defenders Daniele Ghilardi and Gianluca Mancini, midfielder Bryan Cristante, and nine players receiving their first national team call-up. Among the newcomers is Daniele Ghilardi, who earns his debut call after joining Roma from Torino. Cagliari forward Daniel Maldini also features in the squad despite being involved in a drink-driving incident in recent days. Ghilardi's inclusion marks recognition of Roma's defensive investments this summer, while Cristante continues as a regular fixture in Mancini's midfield plans. The three Roma players form part of an extended squad assembled to rebuild confidence after Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup. Mancini has opted for a large group to manage what he faces: four matches in eleven days, a demanding schedule designed to restore enthusiasm and belief. The nine first-time international calls are: goalkeepers Massimo Pessina (Bologna); defenders Michael Kayode (Brentford), Eddy Kouadio (Monza), and Daniele Ghilardi (Roma); midfielders Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP) and Alessandro Romano (Cagliari); and forwards Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo), Antonio Vergara (Napoli), and Mohamed Alì Zoma (Nürnberg). Nicolò Fagioli and Nicolò Zaniolo return after absences since October 2024, while Rolando Mandragora is recalled for the first time since March 2021.

Roberto Mancini has named 34 players for Italy's Nations League campaign in his second spell as head coach. Three AS Roma players feature: Daniele Ghilardi, Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante. Ghilardi's inclusion marks his first call-up to the senior squad. Italy's opening Nations League fixture comes on Friday 25 September against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. The squad will begin their first training session at Coverciano on Monday 21 September. After the Belgium match, Mancini's side travel to Turkey to face them on 28 September at the Atatürk Spor Kompleksi in Bursa, then play France on Friday 2 October at Saint-Denis. The window closes with a second home match against Turkey on Monday 5 October at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Bologna. The full squad includes goalkeepers Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Massimo Pessina (Bologna) and Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus). Defenders include Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta) and Alessandro Bastoni (Inter). Midfielders feature Nicolò Barella (Inter), Sandro Tonali (Tottenham) and Davide Frattesi (Lazio). Forwards include Moise Kean (Como), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta) and Nicolò Zaniolo (Udinese).

Roberto Mancini has recalled the Italy national team and named three AS Roma players in his 34-man squad for the upcoming Nations League matches. Gianluca Mancini, Bryan Cristante and Daniele Ghilardi have all been selected for fixtures against Belgium (25 September), Turkey (28 September), France (2 October) and Turkey again (5 October). Cristante and Mancini are established figures in the Italian setup, but the call-up represents a significant milestone for Ghilardi, a 2003-born defender, who receives his first senior call to the national team. The squad announcement comes as Mancini takes charge of Italy following the country's third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup.

Roberto Mancini has named a 30-player Italy squad for the Nations League, including Roma defenders Daniele Ghilardi and Gianluca Mancini, midfielder Bryan Cristante, and nine players receiving their first national team call-up. Among the newcomers is Daniele Ghilardi, who earns his debut call after joining Roma from Torino. Cagliari forward Daniel Maldini also features in the squad despite being involved in a drink-driving incident in recent days. Ghilardi's inclusion marks recognition of Roma's defensive investments this summer, while Cristante continues as a regular fixture in Mancini's midfield plans. The three Roma players form part of an extended squad assembled to rebuild confidence after Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup. Mancini has opted for a large group to manage what he faces: four matches in eleven days, a demanding schedule designed to restore enthusiasm and belief. The nine first-time international calls are: goalkeepers Massimo Pessina (Bologna); defenders Michael Kayode (Brentford), Eddy Kouadio (Monza), and Daniele Ghilardi (Roma); midfielders Issa Doumbia (Sporting CP) and Alessandro Romano (Cagliari); and forwards Sebastiano Esposito (Sassuolo), Antonio Vergara (Napoli), and Mohamed Alì Zoma (Nürnberg). Nicolò Fagioli and Nicolò Zaniolo return after absences since October 2024, while Rolando Mandragora is recalled for the first time since March 2021.

Roberto Mancini has named 34 players for Italy's Nations League campaign in his second spell as head coach. Three AS Roma players feature: Daniele Ghilardi, Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante. Ghilardi's inclusion marks his first call-up to the senior squad. Italy's opening Nations League fixture comes on Friday 25 September against Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. The squad will begin their first training session at Coverciano on Monday 21 September. After the Belgium match, Mancini's side travel to Turkey to face them on 28 September at the Atatürk Spor Kompleksi in Bursa, then play France on Friday 2 October at Saint-Denis. The window closes with a second home match against Turkey on Monday 5 October at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Bologna. The full squad includes goalkeepers Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Massimo Pessina (Bologna) and Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus). Defenders include Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta) and Alessandro Bastoni (Inter). Midfielders feature Nicolò Barella (Inter), Sandro Tonali (Tottenham) and Davide Frattesi (Lazio). Forwards include Moise Kean (Como), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta) and Nicolò Zaniolo (Udinese).

Roma face Inter on Saturday at 18:00 at the Olimpico in a match that could see the winner hold top spot for the three-week international break. More than 60,000 spectators are expected, with stadium gates opening at 15:30. Five months after Inter's 5–2 victory at San Siro, the clubs meet again with Roma transformed under Gasperini's management. While enthusiasm surrounds the capital, Inter's atmosphere differs markedly — Chivu did not attend the pre-match press conference. Gasperini was direct about the task ahead. "Inter are clearly much stronger and are a reference point for all Italian teams, but Roma will try to insert themselves," he said. The coach also offered a sharp comment on referee Massa's appointment: "He will be perfect." Roma are expected to line up in their usual 3–4–2–1 formation, with Balerdi potentially starting in defence ahead of N'Dicka or Hermoso. On the right flank, a battle remains between Molina and Lulli. Inter will be without Calhanoglu, Stones and Spence, with midfield and right-flank positions still to be decided. Meanwhile, Como manager Fabregas weighed in on the top tier: "They are the strongest; they are not direct rivals of Como." Among the squad, both Ghilardi and Lulli earned their first international call-ups for Italy.

Francesco Totti appeared at the presentation of Daniele Candela's book on 18 September, where he made remarks about a former Roma player's departure. Daniele Aloisi, wearing the number 10 shirt, revealed that at the end of the season the player in question wanted to leave and had chosen Inter. The event took place against a backdrop of supporter unrest at Trigoria, Roma's training ground. One protester claimed responsibility for damage to a vehicle, attributing it to frustration over the player's conduct. Separately, head coach Gasperini addressed the upcoming Roma–Inter fixture, acknowledging Inter's strength but expressing Roma's intent to compete. Ghilardi and Lulli earned their first international caps for Italy. Roma expect over 60,000 supporters at the Olimpico for the match, with gates opening from 15:30.

Roberto Mancini has recalled the Italy national team and named three AS Roma players in his 34-man squad for the upcoming Nations League matches. Gianluca Mancini, Bryan Cristante and Daniele Ghilardi have all been selected for fixtures against Belgium (25 September), Turkey (28 September), France (2 October) and Turkey again (5 October). Cristante and Mancini are established figures in the Italian setup, but the call-up represents a significant milestone for Ghilardi, a 2003-born defender, who receives his first senior call to the national team. The squad announcement comes as Mancini takes charge of Italy following the country's third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup.