Wesley, Cristante and Malen on individual programmes as Roma resume training

Matías Soulé has impressed Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni in training and is being considered for a starting place in Wednesday's friendly against Bolivia, kicking off at 02:00 Italian time on 30 September. The Roma forward is in contention with Mastantuono for a spot in the Argentina XI. Santiago Castro and Leonardo Balerdi, also Roma players on international duty, face different prospects: Castro is expected to start on the bench with Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez confirmed as Argentina's attacking pair, while Balerdi could feature in defence alongside or competing with Lisandro Martínez and Cristian Romero in the starting line-up. Twelve Roma players are currently away on international duty during this break. Manu Koné, Gianluca Mancini and Evan N'Dicka have already begun their commitments with their respective nations, while Soulé, Castro and Balerdi are among the Argentina contingent preparing for their upcoming fixtures. Scaloni has indicated he will not simply repeat the World Cup final winning side, creating opportunities for fresh personnel across the squad. The Argentina camp's evaluation of Soulé marks a significant endorsement after his performances in training, with the coaching staff weighing whether to give him immediate playing time. Castro's likely bench role reflects the settled attacking pair already in place, though he remains available for the three matches Argentina will play during this international window. Balerdi's defence situation remains open, with the established pairing of Lisandro Martínez and Cristian Romero holding the primary claim but space potentially available for the Roma centre-back to contribute.

Roma's commanding position at the top of Serie A after five matches, with thirteen points earned, is no accident but the direct product of a ruthless pressing strategy orchestrated by Gian Piero Gasperini. The cornerstone of his tactical system is the speed of ball recovery: over 40% of Roma's regains occur within just six seconds of losing possession, directly in the opponent's half. This immediate re-aggression is underpinned by a compact defensive setup, where the gap between the three centre-backs and the two midfielders has been reduced to less than twelve metres, maintaining a high centre of gravity and choking off any play between the lines. Manu Koné, the French midfielder, embodies this aggressive philosophy perfectly. He has already made twenty-one ball recoveries and won 75% of his individual duels, functioning as a ball-breaking shield capable of snuffing out opposition build-up within the critical six-second window before instantly reversing play with the ball at his feet. This midfield aggression doubles as the first line of defence for Roma's rearguard, which has kept three clean sheets from five matches and conceded just three goals overall. Bryan Cristante provides a screen for aerial balls, while Niccolò Pisilli's dynamism in closing stages has reduced shots against the team to just 2.8 per match. Roma's ability to break the first press with dribbling is equally decisive. The team averages 10.4 successful dribbles per game, joint-top in Serie A, creating the platform for Paulo Dybala's creative output—four assists—and Donyell Malen's goal tally of six so far this season. The attacking width opened by Malen has allowed Roma to flood the penalty area with suffocating density, translating midfield dominance into attacking thrust. Gasperini's system, refined through meticulous attention to recovery times, pressing distances, and ball-carrying efficiency, has transformed Roma's midfield into the engine of their early-season success.

Manu Koné has surpassed all other central midfielders in Serie A, with Transfermarkt raising his market valuation to €60 million—a €10 million increase from his previous rating. The French midfielder now leads the ranking of central midfielders across the Italian league, ahead of Nicolò Barella (€50 million), Petar Sucic (€45 million) and Scott McTominay (€40 million). Koné's growth extends beyond the central midfield category. His €60 million valuation places him fifth among all Serie A players, behind Lautaro Martinez (€85 million), Nico Paz (€80 million), Kenan Yildiz (€75 million) and Alessandro Bastoni (€65 million). The 2001-born player has become one of Roma's most significant technical and economic assets. Gasperini has established him as a key pillar of the Roma midfield this season. Transfermarkt's update does not reflect an official price set by Roma for a potential sale, but rather an estimate of the player's market value. The figures nonetheless illustrate the dimension Koné has reached: a €60 million valuation, first among central midfielders in Serie A and fifth across all players in the league.

Roma resumed training at Trigoria on 29 September with three key players absent from the session: Donyell Malen, Wesley and Bryan Cristante, all nursing minor injuries from the previous week. Malen is sidelined with a knee problem, Cristante has lower back pain, and Wesley suffered a right thigh strain in the match against Inter. All three will be assessed and gradually reintegrated into group training, with Cristante expected to return by the end of the week. Wesley and Malen should follow shortly after. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is already looking ahead to the major fixture on 11 October despite the upcoming Como match still some distance away. All three injured players are expected to start when fit. The squad will feature a battle for the playmaker role between Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé, while a defensive duel looms between Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi. Lorenzo Pellegrini is among those in contention but is unlikely to feature from the start.

Wesley has attracted the attention of Manchester United, with the English club considering the Roma defender as part of their future recruitment plans. According to the British website Theatreofred.com, the Brazilian left-back has impressed Michael Sansoni, Manchester United's director of data. Sansoni joined the club in 2025 after spending 11 years with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team, where he worked as a Senior Performance Engineer and contributed to eight championship-winning seasons with Lewis Hamilton. The approach marks a return of Premier League interest in Wesley following Roma's rejection of a Chelsea offer last summer. The 24-year-old joined Roma from Flamengo in July 2025 on a five-year contract, initially on a deal worth €25 million plus €5 million in add-ons. Manchester United's renewed pursuit suggests the Brazilian has made a strong impression in his first season in Serie A, though Roma are unlikely to consider selling one of their key defensive reinforcements from the previous transfer window.

Roma's training camp at Trigoria resumes today following a rest period authorised by Gasperini. The squad will prepare for the Como fixture with most players available, though those on international duty will not yet return. Evan N'Dicka is the first to rejoin, with Sunday's return to Rome marking the start of a phased reintegration. Wesley, Bryan Cristante and Donyell Malen are improving and will resume group training in the coming days, clearing them for the 11 October away trip. A final decision on Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina's availability will be made today, following Argentina's fixtures.

Roma's commanding position at the top of Serie A after five matches, with thirteen points earned, is no accident but the direct product of a ruthless pressing strategy orchestrated by Gian Piero Gasperini. The cornerstone of his tactical system is the speed of ball recovery: over 40% of Roma's regains occur within just six seconds of losing possession, directly in the opponent's half. This immediate re-aggression is underpinned by a compact defensive setup, where the gap between the three centre-backs and the two midfielders has been reduced to less than twelve metres, maintaining a high centre of gravity and choking off any play between the lines. Manu Koné, the French midfielder, embodies this aggressive philosophy perfectly. He has already made twenty-one ball recoveries and won 75% of his individual duels, functioning as a ball-breaking shield capable of snuffing out opposition build-up within the critical six-second window before instantly reversing play with the ball at his feet. This midfield aggression doubles as the first line of defence for Roma's rearguard, which has kept three clean sheets from five matches and conceded just three goals overall. Bryan Cristante provides a screen for aerial balls, while Niccolò Pisilli's dynamism in closing stages has reduced shots against the team to just 2.8 per match. Roma's ability to break the first press with dribbling is equally decisive. The team averages 10.4 successful dribbles per game, joint-top in Serie A, creating the platform for Paulo Dybala's creative output—four assists—and Donyell Malen's goal tally of six so far this season. The attacking width opened by Malen has allowed Roma to flood the penalty area with suffocating density, translating midfield dominance into attacking thrust. Gasperini's system, refined through meticulous attention to recovery times, pressing distances, and ball-carrying efficiency, has transformed Roma's midfield into the engine of their early-season success.

Roma resumed training at Trigoria on 29 September with three key players absent from the session: Donyell Malen, Wesley and Bryan Cristante, all nursing minor injuries from the previous week. Malen is sidelined with a knee problem, Cristante has lower back pain, and Wesley suffered a right thigh strain in the match against Inter. All three will be assessed and gradually reintegrated into group training, with Cristante expected to return by the end of the week. Wesley and Malen should follow shortly after. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is already looking ahead to the major fixture on 11 October despite the upcoming Como match still some distance away. All three injured players are expected to start when fit. The squad will feature a battle for the playmaker role between Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé, while a defensive duel looms between Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi. Lorenzo Pellegrini is among those in contention but is unlikely to feature from the start.

Roma's training camp at Trigoria resumes today following a rest period authorised by Gasperini. The squad will prepare for the Como fixture with most players available, though those on international duty will not yet return. Evan N'Dicka is the first to rejoin, with Sunday's return to Rome marking the start of a phased reintegration. Wesley, Bryan Cristante and Donyell Malen are improving and will resume group training in the coming days, clearing them for the 11 October away trip. A final decision on Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina's availability will be made today, following Argentina's fixtures.

Roma's commanding position at the top of Serie A after five matches, with thirteen points earned, is no accident but the direct product of a ruthless pressing strategy orchestrated by Gian Piero Gasperini. The cornerstone of his tactical system is the speed of ball recovery: over 40% of Roma's regains occur within just six seconds of losing possession, directly in the opponent's half. This immediate re-aggression is underpinned by a compact defensive setup, where the gap between the three centre-backs and the two midfielders has been reduced to less than twelve metres, maintaining a high centre of gravity and choking off any play between the lines. Manu Koné, the French midfielder, embodies this aggressive philosophy perfectly. He has already made twenty-one ball recoveries and won 75% of his individual duels, functioning as a ball-breaking shield capable of snuffing out opposition build-up within the critical six-second window before instantly reversing play with the ball at his feet. This midfield aggression doubles as the first line of defence for Roma's rearguard, which has kept three clean sheets from five matches and conceded just three goals overall. Bryan Cristante provides a screen for aerial balls, while Niccolò Pisilli's dynamism in closing stages has reduced shots against the team to just 2.8 per match. Roma's ability to break the first press with dribbling is equally decisive. The team averages 10.4 successful dribbles per game, joint-top in Serie A, creating the platform for Paulo Dybala's creative output—four assists—and Donyell Malen's goal tally of six so far this season. The attacking width opened by Malen has allowed Roma to flood the penalty area with suffocating density, translating midfield dominance into attacking thrust. Gasperini's system, refined through meticulous attention to recovery times, pressing distances, and ball-carrying efficiency, has transformed Roma's midfield into the engine of their early-season success.

Roma resumed training at Trigoria on 29 September with three key players absent from the session: Donyell Malen, Wesley and Bryan Cristante, all nursing minor injuries from the previous week. Malen is sidelined with a knee problem, Cristante has lower back pain, and Wesley suffered a right thigh strain in the match against Inter. All three will be assessed and gradually reintegrated into group training, with Cristante expected to return by the end of the week. Wesley and Malen should follow shortly after. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is already looking ahead to the major fixture on 11 October despite the upcoming Como match still some distance away. All three injured players are expected to start when fit. The squad will feature a battle for the playmaker role between Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé, while a defensive duel looms between Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi. Lorenzo Pellegrini is among those in contention but is unlikely to feature from the start.

Roma's training camp at Trigoria resumes today following a rest period authorised by Gasperini. The squad will prepare for the Como fixture with most players available, though those on international duty will not yet return. Evan N'Dicka is the first to rejoin, with Sunday's return to Rome marking the start of a phased reintegration. Wesley, Bryan Cristante and Donyell Malen are improving and will resume group training in the coming days, clearing them for the 11 October away trip. A final decision on Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina's availability will be made today, following Argentina's fixtures.