Wesley Returns to Trigoria for Rehabilitation After World Cup Heartbreak

Jan Ziolkowski has sustained a significant injury while on loan at Monza from Roma. The Polish defender will be sidelined for several weeks, Monza head coach Ivan Juric confirmed at a press conference. Juric stated: "We are unlucky. Ziolkowski has suffered a plantar fascia injury and will be out for a long period." Ziolkowski is currently with Monza on a temporary deal that includes a purchase option. The exact timeframe for his return remains uncertain, and further updates on his condition are being awaited.

Scott McTominay's return from surgery for a benign cardiac arrhythmia will take longer than initially expected. The Napoli midfielder could miss up to 11 matches and not return to action until November, according to reports. If that timeline holds, he will miss one of Napoli's most significant fixtures: the visit to Roma. The match between Roma and Napoli is scheduled for Saturday 24 October at 18:00 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. McTominay's absence would represent a substantial loss for Napoli in one of the first half of the season's most anticipated direct clashes. The recovery projection currently points to a November return, after Roma have already faced Napoli. The precise timing depends on how McTominay progresses in the coming weeks.

AS Roma have named their squad for tonight's Serie A fixture against Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico, the third matchday of the season. Evan N'Dicka and Devyne Rensch are both included in the convocations and return to Gasperini's disposal after recent absences. Paulo Dybala is also in the squad, having been carefully managed over the past days with regard to fatigue and workload. N'Dicka missed Roma's away trip to Lecce due to an inflammation but has progressively resumed full training with his teammates during the week; his inclusion confirms his availability for selection. Rensch has recovered from a physical problem sustained in recent weeks. The returns strengthen Gasperini's defensive options ahead of tonight's match and Roma's forthcoming Champions League debut this season. Dybala presents no concern; the Argentine is available and included for the Atalanta encounter. The squad list shows ten defenders: Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi. Five midfielders have been named: Cristante, De Roon, Koné, Pisilli and Mora. Five attackers complete the group: Castro, Malen, Soulé, Dybala and Arena.

Roma are prioritising the January transfer window over free-agent signings to strengthen their squad, with left-back Jayden Oosterwolde and forward Endrick among their targets. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Roma had agreed a €17 million deal with Oosterwolde but pulled out after medicals revealed his injury was more severe than initially expected. However, if he recovers in the coming months, both parties are expected to resume negotiations. Roma are also pursuing attacking reinforcements alongside Oosterwolde, with Endrick and Luiz Henrique identified as priorities. Per Corriere dello Sport, the Real Madrid forward has reportedly told Wesley and Brazilian teammates that a move to Rome could materialise in January. Roma and AC Milan both attempted to persuade Real Madrid to loan out Endrick, but José Mourinho refused to release him. The situation could change if Endrick fails to secure regular playing time or underperforms, potentially opening the door in coming months. Milan subsequently signed Omari Hutchison after missing out on their own targets. Roma's continued focus on Oosterwolde despite their withdrawal suggests eventual acquisition remains likely. The club has free-agent left-back options available but shows no interest in pursuing them, indicating they are not desperate for defensive reinforcements. With Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala performing well in attacking roles, Roma appear reluctant to add another left-footed forward at this stage.

A motorcycle collision involving Rome's police escort overshadowed Roma's build-up to their Champions League debut on Thursday. A 63-year-old local police officer suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries when his motorbike collided with a car at the junction of via Baldo degli Ubaldi and via Pieralice during the convoy to the team bus on Monday. The Roma squad and CEO John Galantic witnessed the crash, with Galantic requesting updates on the officer's condition. An investigation is now under way to determine why a vehicle was moving on a road that should have been closed to traffic. Roma have already turned attention to Thursday's Champions League opener against Fenerbahçe in Turkey. The squad undertook a recovery session at Trigoria on Sunday, with departure to Turkey scheduled for Wednesday ahead of the press conference and final training. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will assess Wesley and Evan N'Dicka, while Paulo Dybala's energy levels are being monitored after he played 96 minutes in Saturday's match. Nahuel Molina could start in place of Emanuele Lulli, favoured by his international experience, though Gasperini appears unlikely to make wholesale changes. Away supporters face further disruption. Following the closure of Roma's allocated section at Lecce, the upcoming trip to Turin is also at risk. Torino have suspended ticket sales pending decisions from the relevant authorities. The National Observatory on Sporting Events has deferred evaluation to the CASMS, which must rule on the away fixture. On the bench, Gasperini was stopped mid-celebration after the winning goal against Atalanta on Saturday. Assistant Mauro Fumagalli held the head coach back as he moved toward the Curva Sud, with the restraint serving a disciplinary purpose: Gasperini was already carrying a yellow card, and an exuberant display risked a red card and suspension for the Torino match.

Fabio Capello has praised Roma's form under Gian Piero Gasperini, comparing the current squad's winning mentality to the 2001 Serie A champions. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Roma manager said he sees Roma as Inter's main challengers this season. Capello highlighted the team's one-on-one pressing across the pitch and their ability to create chances through quality passing in the final third. "The Roma has continued on the same path as last season and is maintaining the same attitude with an important playing base and quality: moreover it has fielded a new player, Mora, who has already integrated perfectly into the team's mechanics. I had said it even twenty days ago: the anti-Inter in effect is Roma," Capello said. Capello credited Gasperini with instilling a sacrifice mentality in the players and building the squad alongside sporting director Massara. He praised the depth of Gasperini's squad, noting that the manager wanted two starting-quality players per position—a strategy that showed its value in Saturday's match at the Olimpico through second-half substitutions. The former coach was particularly impressed by the attitude of substitute players coming off the bench, saying they all display the same winning desire without any sense of grievance about being brought on mid-match. Capello highlighted several attacking options available to Gasperini: "Malen-Castro, Dybala-Soulé, Mora and then midfielder Pellegrini: they are options for the league but also for the Champions League. They are quality players who integrate well; Gasp's continuous rotations will also help them give their best. They all play with great determination." He singled out Wesley as the engine on the flank, noting he dominates in Serie A but is now facing a test of strength and maturity in European competition. On Paulo Dybala and Mora, Capello said: "You cannot give up Dybala when he is playing well. And Mora is showing he has class and also concrete finishing. But I also want to emphasise the importance of Soulé: playing even 20 minutes in the second half, he is someone who can make the difference as he did against Atalanta." Capello drew explicit parallels with his own Roma title-winning side: "Many similarities. My first year at Roma we understood we were strong, then we completed the squad with Batistuta." On whether a northern coach's temperament suits Rome's volatile environment, he reflected: "I am always convinced that you need the players to win. But at Rome it is true that you easily move from exaltation to depression: equilibrium is always necessary, a bit of cold blood—perhaps someone recognises these characteristics in me and in Gasp." Regarding the January transfer window, Capello said Roma should only sign if the right profile emerges: "Taking for the sake of taking, no. If anything, we would need to sign a player who can make an impact."