Wesley, Cristante and Malen sidelined by minor injuries; 12 Roma players depart for international duty

Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro left Rome this evening bound for Argentina's national team camp, departing Fiumicino airport and arriving in Buenos Aires the following morning. They were joined by Leonardo Balerdi. The trio were seen off by their personal trainer Guido Viggiano, who posted a photograph of the pair on social media with the message: "Have a good trip, you deserve it". Roma's contingent heads to Argentina for three international fixtures: friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin. The final match will provide an occasion to pay tribute to Lionel Messi, who is preparing to retire from the Argentina national team after an extraordinary career with the squad.

Donyell Malen has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad during the international break due to a minor left knee issue sustained in Roma's match against Inter, though head coach Gasperini will retain him, Paulo Dybala, Bryan Cristante and Wesley at Trigoria. Over 20 days, 12 Roma players will scatter across the globe for international duty. Malen's injury is not considered serious. Netherlands coach Xavi commented: "It's a shame because Donyell is in excellent form. I think he's fine, I don't know how long it will take him to recover, but the injury is not serious." The decision to rest him was precautionary. Argentine players Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi will feature in friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin respectively. The Benin match doubles as a farewell appearance for Lionel Messi, to which Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina have also been invited.

Paulo Dybala has opened up about his role within Roma's squad during an interview for the video game FC27's 'The Grounds' mode. When asked whether he feels he is now a mentor to his teammates, Dybala deflected personal credit. "I think that's something the lads should say," he replied. "I simply try to help everyone and I hope my teammates are proud of me." Dybala discussed his earliest influences in football, crediting his father as his first mentor. "It was him who got me playing football for the first time, together with my brothers. I believe therefore that, on a human level, they are my source of inspiration," he said. As a child, Dybala played in his home country with friends in informal settings. "I started in my country. With my friends we played anywhere," he explained. "The goals were backpacks or trees." When asked about his footballing idol, Dybala named Ronaldinho, and also highlighted Juan Román Riquelme. "I liked Riquelme very much, especially his celebrations," he noted. For a hypothetical two-on-two game, Dybala chose his Roma teammate Matías Soulé as his partner. On the subject of who controls the music in Roma's dressing room, Dybala credited Soulé again: "Soulé. Every now and then he plays strange music, but mostly reggaeton."

Donyell Malen has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad during the international break due to a minor left knee issue sustained in Roma's match against Inter, though head coach Gasperini will retain him, Paulo Dybala, Bryan Cristante and Wesley at Trigoria. Over 20 days, 12 Roma players will scatter across the globe for international duty. Malen's injury is not considered serious. Netherlands coach Xavi commented: "It's a shame because Donyell is in excellent form. I think he's fine, I don't know how long it will take him to recover, but the injury is not serious." The decision to rest him was precautionary. Argentine players Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi will feature in friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin respectively. The Benin match doubles as a farewell appearance for Lionel Messi, to which Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina have also been invited.

Roma's start to the 2026-27 season has revealed a strong squad across multiple facets of play, according to analysis published today. Few regrets and considerable self-awareness characterize the early weeks, with the club showing it has already reached a level of maturity and quality. The task now is to sustain and deepen that performance—to complete what has been begun. Donyell Malen suffered only minor knee discomfort in recent action; Netherlands coach Xavi reported his assessment that the player is fit. Roma have 12 players currently on international duty, including Manu Koné, Evan N'Dicka, and Emanuele Lulli among others engaged in national team matches. Commentator Luca Adani praised Roma's opening period of their recent fixture, calling it "clamorific" and highlighting a strong defensive display, though he noted a lapse from Gianluca Mancini on a goal conceded. Radio Pensieri's Felici drew a striking comparison, saying the Roma team in the first half "looked like Klopp's Liverpool."

Donyell Malen, Wesley and Bryan Cristante have withdrawn from their respective national team commitments due to physical problems, but Roma do not view their conditions as a cause for serious concern. All three will remain at Trigoria during the international break to recover without being forced to accelerate their rehabilitation. The aim is to have them available again for Gian Piero Gasperini when the league campaign resumes. Malen will not join the Netherlands squad owing to a physical issue that emerged in recent days. Wesley is dealing with a muscle strain in his right thigh that forced him to withdraw from Brazil's call-up, while Cristante is unavailable for Italy's fixtures. The positive news for Roma is that none of the three is expected to need a prolonged absence. The international break will allow them to work at Trigoria and clear their respective problems, giving Gasperini the chance to have them fully fit again. Malen, Wesley and Cristante are expected to return to full training after the pause.

Donyell Malen has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad during the international break due to a minor left knee issue sustained in Roma's match against Inter, though head coach Gasperini will retain him, Paulo Dybala, Bryan Cristante and Wesley at Trigoria. Over 20 days, 12 Roma players will scatter across the globe for international duty. Malen's injury is not considered serious. Netherlands coach Xavi commented: "It's a shame because Donyell is in excellent form. I think he's fine, I don't know how long it will take him to recover, but the injury is not serious." The decision to rest him was precautionary. Argentine players Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi will feature in friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin respectively. The Benin match doubles as a farewell appearance for Lionel Messi, to which Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina have also been invited.

Donyell Malen, Wesley and Bryan Cristante have withdrawn from their respective national team commitments due to physical problems, but Roma do not view their conditions as a cause for serious concern. All three will remain at Trigoria during the international break to recover without being forced to accelerate their rehabilitation. The aim is to have them available again for Gian Piero Gasperini when the league campaign resumes. Malen will not join the Netherlands squad owing to a physical issue that emerged in recent days. Wesley is dealing with a muscle strain in his right thigh that forced him to withdraw from Brazil's call-up, while Cristante is unavailable for Italy's fixtures. The positive news for Roma is that none of the three is expected to need a prolonged absence. The international break will allow them to work at Trigoria and clear their respective problems, giving Gasperini the chance to have them fully fit again. Malen, Wesley and Cristante are expected to return to full training after the pause.

Twelve AS Roma players will be absent during the 20-day international break as they answer calls from their national teams, though coach Gian Piero Gasperini managed to retain Wesley, Bryan Cristante and Donyell Malen. The Argentine contingent—Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi—depart for friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin respectively. The final fixture doubles as Lionel Messi's farewell match; Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina have also been invited to that occasion. Italy's representatives Gianluca Mancini and Daniele Ghilardi will face Belgium, Turkey and France in Nations League action, where Manu Koné features for France alongside Italy's other two group opponents. Emanuele Lulli and Niccolò Pisilli join the Under-21 squad for European qualifying matches against Armenia and Poland. Konstantinos Koulierakis represents Greece, Evan N'Dicka plays for Côte d'Ivoire, and Rodrigo Mora turns out for Portugal's Under-21 side. Third-choice goalkeeper Giorgio De Marzi competes in Under-19 action alongside young prospect Antonio Arena and other Primavera players.

Donyell Malen has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad during the international break due to a minor left knee issue sustained in Roma's match against Inter, though head coach Gasperini will retain him, Paulo Dybala, Bryan Cristante and Wesley at Trigoria. Over 20 days, 12 Roma players will scatter across the globe for international duty. Malen's injury is not considered serious. Netherlands coach Xavi commented: "It's a shame because Donyell is in excellent form. I think he's fine, I don't know how long it will take him to recover, but the injury is not serious." The decision to rest him was precautionary. Argentine players Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé and Leonardo Balerdi will feature in friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin respectively. The Benin match doubles as a farewell appearance for Lionel Messi, to which Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina have also been invited.

Roberto Mancini held a press conference at Coverciano on the eve of Italy's Nations League matches, outlining his selection philosophy and squad-building approach. Among the 23 players called up are Roma defenders Gianluca Mancini and Daniele Ghilardi, while Bryan Cristante withdrew due to a physical problem. Mancini opted for an unusually large squad to assess young players and lay foundations for future campaigns. The Italy manager justified broadening his group, saying: "If I had called players who are getting on in years there would have been criticism. I've called young players because it's right to get to know them directly in order to have a strong squad in the future. I've called more players than usual because I want to see them directly on the pitch." He emphasised a blend of experience and youth: "I expect experienced players to help young players settle in. From young players, I expect them to give everything they have—young players often play relaxed and carefree." Mancini outlined his tactical ambitions: "I'm starting out to have a squad that dominates, that plays well, that always gives its maximum. You can't always win but we'll start out to do this, to win. We're all positive." He added that no formation would be treated as untouchable: "We're open to any tactical situation: we can play with two strikers, with a 4-3-3, but also in other ways. The players are capable of doing many things." Mancini addressed the relationship with supporters following his return to the Italy bench: "If a fan feels betrayed they can get angry, it's understandable. To win them back we must do things properly and bring the national team back where it deserves to be, and maybe things will calm down." On his ambitions for this second spell: "I'm here to win as quickly as possible. I'm curious to see the younger lads, to build a squad with these lads. I'm certain we'll have some fine satisfactions. Over the next four years we'll definitely bring something home, I'm sure of it. Some of the players I know—they just need to play." Mancini praised the new refereeing standards in Italy, noting that reduced stoppages for minor fouls would allow faster play. On Kean and Pio Esposito: "They haven't played in the last match but they'll play further on, because they're good. The fact that 0-0 draws have disappeared is more fun for viewers, and those players will come along later too."

Donyell Malen, Wesley and Bryan Cristante have withdrawn from their respective national team commitments due to physical problems, but Roma do not view their conditions as a cause for serious concern. All three will remain at Trigoria during the international break to recover without being forced to accelerate their rehabilitation. The aim is to have them available again for Gian Piero Gasperini when the league campaign resumes. Malen will not join the Netherlands squad owing to a physical issue that emerged in recent days. Wesley is dealing with a muscle strain in his right thigh that forced him to withdraw from Brazil's call-up, while Cristante is unavailable for Italy's fixtures. The positive news for Roma is that none of the three is expected to need a prolonged absence. The international break will allow them to work at Trigoria and clear their respective problems, giving Gasperini the chance to have them fully fit again. Malen, Wesley and Cristante are expected to return to full training after the pause.