Torri: Cristante to be managed; Como more important than Real Madrid

Nahuel Molina received a seven-match ban at the end of Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain. The Roma defender is an important player for coach Scaloni, and the Argentine Football Association has lodged an appeal with FIFA seeking a reduction from seven matches to three. Under FIFA's current disciplinary code, friendly matches are normally not counted toward serving suspensions incurred during tournament play. However, the AFA has recently obtained recognition of three of its international friendlies during the current international break as official matches. Molina has therefore already served three of his seven-match suspension, and if the overall ban reduction is granted, he could be available for Argentina's squad selection at the next international window in November.

Bryan Cristante has been ruled out for approximately two to three weeks after sustaining a knee injury during the international break, leaving Roma without a key midfielder for the upcoming Serie A fixture and threatening his availability for the Champions League clash against Real Madrid. Cristante had remained at Roma's training ground during the international break due to a lower back problem, but developed a fresh injury this week. What initially appeared to be simple inflammation proved more serious upon further assessment. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will be without the midfielder for Como's visit on Sunday, 11 October at 12:30, and his recovery timeline casts serious doubt over his participation in Roma's Champions League meeting with Real Madrid on Wednesday, 14 October at 21:00 at the Olimpico. Roma's medical staff will monitor and re-evaluate Cristante's condition in the coming days. The injury compounds Roma's injury concerns during a critical period of the season, with back-to-back fixtures in Serie A and Europe requiring full squad depth.

With a long international break giving Roma players downtime, the squad has been pursuing a diverse range of hobbies away from the pitch. Wesley has garnered attention for his collection of luxury cars stored in his garage, a sight that prompted teammate Soulé to make a quip about his fellow defender's automotive passion. The Brazilian is far from alone in his interests: Manu Koné, the French midfielder, describes himself as a homebody who loves spending his days resting at home, driven by an unconditional passion for French rap and trap music. His dancing and musical performances have become iconic within the group. Mario Hermoso prefers to listen to music by the pool and at the beach, his two great loves, and has recently become involved in the social ritual of mate preparation alongside Argentine players Dybala, Soulé, Balerdi, Castro and Molina. The traditional infusion travels everywhere with them, from long team bus journeys to sessions at Trigoria, serving not simply as a beverage but as a way to unwind and chat. Evan N'Dicka has revealed a strong attraction to architecture and art, appreciating Rome's historical richness during his leisure time and regularly reading history books at home. Marten de Roon curates his social media and seeks out food and wine experiences, while Mile Svilar dedicates considerable time to work with his mental coach before matches, regularly practising visualisation and breathing exercises to train self-control.

Bryan Cristante has been ruled out for approximately two to three weeks after sustaining a knee injury during the international break, leaving Roma without a key midfielder for the upcoming Serie A fixture and threatening his availability for the Champions League clash against Real Madrid. Cristante had remained at Roma's training ground during the international break due to a lower back problem, but developed a fresh injury this week. What initially appeared to be simple inflammation proved more serious upon further assessment. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will be without the midfielder for Como's visit on Sunday, 11 October at 12:30, and his recovery timeline casts serious doubt over his participation in Roma's Champions League meeting with Real Madrid on Wednesday, 14 October at 21:00 at the Olimpico. Roma's medical staff will monitor and re-evaluate Cristante's condition in the coming days. The injury compounds Roma's injury concerns during a critical period of the season, with back-to-back fixtures in Serie A and Europe requiring full squad depth.

Marten de Roon is in line to replace Bryan Cristante in Roma's midfield after the captain suffered a knee inflammation. Cristante is expected to miss at least the fixture against Como, dealing a significant blow to Gasperini, who has used the Roma skipper more than any other outfield player in 2026. De Roon's readiness to deputise may soften the blow, however, given the exceptional understanding the Dutch midfielder shares with his coach. The bond between Gasperini and de Roon extends back a decade at Atalanta and has followed them both to Rome. It transcends mere tactical respect and represents what Gasperini has described as a complete symbiosis. De Roon has made 361 official appearances under Gasperini's management—the highest number for any player in the coach's entire career. That absolute loyalty, forged during Atalanta's best years and now transferred to the capital, underpins their working relationship. Gasperini has distilled it into a single clarifying phrase: "Marten reasons with my head, I reason with his." The partnership's depth reflects years of coordination at Bergamo, and the coach's deployment of de Roon stands as a testament to an unshakeable football understanding. As Roma navigate Cristante's absence, the midfielder's familiar role in Gasperini's system positions him as a natural and experienced solution to the midfield problem.

Bryan Cristante has suffered a knee injury during the international break and is expected to miss two to three weeks of action, creating a significant problem for Gasperini as Roma face a congested fixture list across Serie A and the Champions League. The midfielder, born in 1995, initially withdrew from Italy's call-up due to lower back pain, but developed a knee problem during the week. What was initially thought to be mild inflammation has proved more serious, and Cristante is certain to miss Roma's Serie A fixture at Como next Sunday when the league restarts. His participation in the Champions League match against Real Madrid three days later is also in serious doubt. Cristante is one of the cornerstones of Gasperini's midfield, and his absence leaves the coach with limited options during a demanding period of fixtures. The injury emerged in the latter stages of the international break, after the early part of the stoppage had passed without incident at the club's training ground. The extent of the problem became clear only in recent days as medical assessment revealed the extent of the damage to the knee. The club's medical staff initially assessed the issue as a minor inflammation but further examination established it as more significant, forcing the expectation that the player will be sidelined for between two and three weeks.

Former Roma goalkeeper Julio Sergio has assessed the club's strong start to the 2026–27 season in an interview, singling out Mile Svilar for particular praise. Sergio believes Roma have narrowed the gap on Inter, who remain the team to beat, though he acknowledges that Champions League involvement this season will demand significant energy. On Svilar specifically, Sergio said: "Currently, in my view, he can be considered among the three best goalkeepers in the world. He is a beast, he manages to be quick and has very good technique." Sergio highlighted Rodrigo Mora as the summer arrival with the greatest potential impact. "Rodrigo Mora I really like a lot and I am sure he will be an important player over the course of the season," he said. Wesley, the Brazilian defender, was assessed as needing to improve his consistency both physically and technically. Sergio also commented on the attacking form of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, describing them as "a great pairing," though he urged caution about title ambitions: "They are a great couple, but it is still too early to talk about the Scudetto."

Julio Sergio has urged caution over Roma's title prospects despite their strong start to the season. The former Brazilian player, who came close to winning a Serie A title at Roma, acknowledged that Gian Piero Gasperini's side has narrowed the gap to Inter but stopped short of declaring them contenders. "On the level of performance I think Roma have got closer to Inter, who remain the team to beat," Sergio said in an interview with Il Tempo. "This year, though, Roma will also be protagonists in the Champions League, a commitment that takes a lot of energy away." Speaking about the club's readiness for a title challenge, Sergio was measured. He singled out Rodrigo Mora as a player capable of making a significant impact this season: "Rodrigo Mora I really like a lot and I'm sure he can be an important player over the course of the season." On Wesley's development, he identified consistency as an area for improvement. "He needs to be more consistent, not only from a physical point of view but also technically." Sergío lavished praise on goalkeeper Mile Svilar, placing him among the world's elite. "Currently, in my opinion, he can be considered among the three best goalkeepers in the world. He's a beast, he manages to be quick and has very good technique." Asked whether the partnership of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, both in strong form, could inspire a title push, Sergio remained unconvinced. "They are a great couple, but it is still too early to talk about winning the scudetto."

Bryan Cristante faces another setback just days before the Serie A resumption, with a mild knee inflammation now added to the lower back problem that ruled him out of the latest international break. His availability for Roma's trip to Como on Sunday, 11 October, remains in serious doubt pending medical evaluation in the coming hours. The Italian press is split on his prospects. Leggo reports optimism from Trigoria about recovery in time for Fabregas's side, while Corriere della Sera suggests he could be sidelined for up to three weeks—potentially missing matches against Real Madrid and Genoa as well. For head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, a Cristante absence would be significant; he has been the midfielder most used by the coach so far this season. If Cristante cannot play, Marten De Roon is ready to start alongside Manu Koné, having used the international break to build his fitness at Trigoria with encouraging results. Niccolò Pisilli remains an alternative option. Offensive selection poses a different dilemma—one of abundance rather than scarcity. Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala are certain starters, but the third attacking slot remains in contention. Rodrigo Mora arrives on the back of an excellent overhead kick scored for Portugal Under-21, Matías Soulé awaits his Argentina debut, and Lorenzo Pellegrini has completed a full mini-preparation during the break and is now back at 100 per cent. With more than a week remaining before the Como trip to the Sinigaglia, Gasperini has time to assess whether Cristante can be recovered and to evaluate the condition of returning internationals. Roma's opening shape is beginning to take form, with De Roon primed to seize his chance and three candidates competing for the final attacking berth.

Bryan Cristante faces another setback just days before the Serie A resumption, with a mild knee inflammation now added to the lower back problem that ruled him out of the latest international break. His availability for Roma's trip to Como on Sunday, 11 October, remains in serious doubt pending medical evaluation in the coming hours. The Italian press is split on his prospects. Leggo reports optimism from Trigoria about recovery in time for Fabregas's side, while Corriere della Sera suggests he could be sidelined for up to three weeks—potentially missing matches against Real Madrid and Genoa as well. For head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, a Cristante absence would be significant; he has been the midfielder most used by the coach so far this season. If Cristante cannot play, Marten De Roon is ready to start alongside Manu Koné, having used the international break to build his fitness at Trigoria with encouraging results. Niccolò Pisilli remains an alternative option. Offensive selection poses a different dilemma—one of abundance rather than scarcity. Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala are certain starters, but the third attacking slot remains in contention. Rodrigo Mora arrives on the back of an excellent overhead kick scored for Portugal Under-21, Matías Soulé awaits his Argentina debut, and Lorenzo Pellegrini has completed a full mini-preparation during the break and is now back at 100 per cent. With more than a week remaining before the Como trip to the Sinigaglia, Gasperini has time to assess whether Cristante can be recovered and to evaluate the condition of returning internationals. Roma's opening shape is beginning to take form, with De Roon primed to seize his chance and three candidates competing for the final attacking berth.

Bryan Cristante is a doubt for Roma's trip to Como on 11 October after suffering a slight knee inflammation. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini must plan for the midfielder's potential absence from the Serie A fixture. Cristante has been sidelined by the injury and will be assessed by the medical staff in the coming days. The midfielder remains Roma's most-used player under Gasperini this season but faces an uncertain path to the Como clash, though there is optimism over his chances. A back problem had already kept Cristante out of international duty during the recent break. If he cannot recover in time, Marten de Roon is ready to partner Manu Koné in midfield. De Roon has not yet started a match but has been working at Trigoria throughout the international window and has delivered strong athletic responses in training. In attack, three players are competing for a starting place alongside Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala. Rodrigo Mora has just scored an excellent overhead kick for Portugal's under-21 side, Matías Soulé is preparing for his Argentina debut, and Lorenzo Pellegrini has returned to full fitness after a brief training programme.

Bryan Cristante is a doubt for Roma's Serie A match against Como on 11 October after suffering a slight knee inflammation. The midfielder has been Gasperini's most-used player so far this season but will be assessed by the medical staff in the coming hours. A back problem previously ruled him out of international duty. If Cristante is unavailable, Marten de Roon is ready to partner Manu Koné in midfield. De Roon has not yet started a match but has been working at Trigoria throughout the extended break and is delivering strong physical responses in training. There is cautious optimism over Cristante's availability. In attack, three players are competing for one starting place alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen: Rodrigo Mora has just scored a spectacular overhead kick for Portugal's under-21 side, Matías Soulé is available for his debut with Argentina, and Lorenzo Pellegrini has returned to full fitness following his brief preparation.