Wesley sidelined as Brazil calls up Ederson for World Cup

Lorenzo Pellegrini has emerged as a third option for Gian Piero Gasperini to fill Roma's left-side vacancy this season, alongside Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé. The midfielder, who recently renewed his contract, has not played since 10 April but has recovered from injury and is targeting a starting place in Roma's first match after the international break away to Como on 11 October. Gasperini has been working through the national team break to find solutions for a position Roma did not adequately address in the transfer market. Pellegrini's return to full fitness during the latest training week opens an additional tactical choice as the club enters a demanding run of fixtures. The midfielder signalled his readiness on Instagram, writing: "The true happiness is being at peace with who you are." He spent the weekend with his family at the seaside and has now regained peak condition. Roma face a sprint month ahead: after the Como trip on 11 October comes three home fixtures—Real Madrid on 14 October, Genoa on 17 October, and Slovan Bratislava on 20 October—followed by the away trip to Napoli on 24 October. Gasperini is preparing to deploy all available resources across this intensive schedule.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is ready to provide Gian Piero Gasperini with a fresh solution to Roma's left-wing shortage as the midfielder returns to full fitness following an injury that has kept him out since 10 April. Pellegrini, who recently signed a new contract, has completed his recovery, and Gasperini plans to test him in the left-wing role during the resumption of training at Trigoria. The 27-year-old marked his progress with an Instagram post stating: "The true happiness is being at peace with who you are," alongside images of training sessions and time with his family at the seaside during the international break. Until now, Gasperini has alternated Matías Soulé and young Rodrigo Mora on the left flank, with Soulé accumulating 353 minutes as the primary starter and Mora appearing from the start on only two occasions for 187 minutes overall. Mora, a Portuguese player, has impressed as a central attacking midfielder for his Under-21 national team. Pellegrini's return is crucial given Roma's demanding fixture schedule from 11 October onwards, beginning with an away trip to Como and continuing with three consecutive home matches: against Real Madrid on 14 October, Genoa on 17 October, and Slovan Bratislava on 20 October. The month concludes with a sensitive clash at the San Paolo against Napoli on 24 October. Gasperini will need all his best options available during this intense period.

Roma will return to Trigoria on 29 September to resume training under Gian Piero Gasperini ahead of their Serie A fixture against Como on 11 October at the Sinigaglia. The squad has completed a four-day rest period granted by the coaching staff. With 12 players away on international duty, Gasperini is hoping to reintegrate three key players in the coming days: Donyell Malen, Bryan Cristante and Wesley, all of whom have remained in the capital to manage ongoing physical issues during the international break and build back to full fitness for the league's resumption. Paulo Dybala has eschewed the rest period entirely, continuing intensive gym work even on 27 September to maintain his athletic condition. The Roma number 21 has decided against travelling to Argentina for a farewell friendly celebrating Lionel Messi's retirement, prioritising his fitness and focus on the club's campaign. Teammate Nahuel Molina has made the same choice, both players choosing to concentrate entirely on Roma's season rather than accept international invitations during the break.

Roma's new stadium at Pietralata has been approved by the Services Conference following the signature of commissioner Sessa and the countersignature of Rome's mayor Roberto Gualtieri. The single authorisation is now effective immediately, marking a significant acceleration of the project after years of procedures and consultations between multiple stakeholders. Sessa stated: "We have the modern projection of a stadium that will be open and vibrant 365 days a year. Will everything run smoothly? Let's see—I'm an optimist by nature. I believe things must be prepared well so that everything works." Gualtieri provided a timeline for construction and completion. "This is the first great new facility that will raise Rome's football standard and represents an important redevelopment of a part of our city," the mayor said. "Now the conditions exist to proceed quickly and open the building site at the beginning of 2027, and in three years have the stadium ready because the construction lasts precisely two and a half years, so the stadium could be ready even in 2029." The project removes a long-standing obstacle to Roma's infrastructure ambitions and will end annual stadium rental payments of several million euros, while also generating significant revenue from approximately one hundred premium suites. On the pitch, Roma resume training tomorrow after a four-day rest period granted by the coaching staff. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is confident of reintegrating three key players shortly: Donyell Malen, Bryan Cristante and Wesley, all of whom remained in Rome to address physical issues during the international break with the aim of returning to full fitness for Serie A's resumption. Paulo Dybala did not ease off during the pause, continuing to work in the gym on the previous day to maintain athletic condition. Roma face Como at the Sinigaglia on 11 October in their next league fixture. In a separate development, Francesco Totti, marking his 50th birthday, granted Il Messaggero an extended letter reflecting on significant moments in his life. On a possible return to playing, Totti said: "A couple of years ago I said no to coming back. I was tempted, I admit it, but then the bond with my city, my team and my people made me say no. And I think in the end I did the right thing. I would have been perhaps selfish, would have made Francesco happy but would have disappointed millions of fans."

Gian Piero Gasperini has made wing play central to Roma's football, and the club is working to maximise the impact of their flanks ahead of the league's resumption. Wesley, the Brazilian who has been the most brilliant performer in recent months, is recovering from an ankle distortion near the end of summer training and a subsequent muscle problem, and is using three weeks of focused work at Trigoria while sitting out national team duties to return to peak fitness for the match against Como. On the opposite flank, Nahuel Molina is asserting himself with force. The Argentine returned to Serie A with four years at Atlético Madrid and a World Cup winner's medal in his record, and has integrated quickly into Gasperini's system. He has played against both Torino and Inter, showing versatility as a left winger in the 3-4-2-1 formation, cutting infield onto his stronger foot and coming close to goals while already recording one assist. Beyond the summer transfers, a major surprise for Roma is nineteen-year-old Emanuele Lulli. Though he caught Gasperini's attention in the previous season without being a primary Primavera player, the young right-sided defender has carved out important space through pace and attacking boldness. The club is working to secure him with a meeting scheduled soon between the management and his representative to discuss a contract renewal that expires in June. With Devyne Rensch completing the full-back contingent, Gasperini has all the tools to unlock Roma's flanks.

Gian Piero Gasperini has steered Roma to the top of Serie A after four wins and a draw in his opening matches, accumulating 13 points alongside Inter and Lazio. The coach, who guided Roma to third place and Champions League qualification in the 2025-26 season, has introduced three key innovations that have reshaped the squad's identity. The first centres on the fullback role. Despite having four right-sided options available in Molina, Rensch, Lulli and Wesley, Gasperini has stabilised Wesley on the left flank, instructing him not only to attack but to drift infield to link play with teammates. Gasperini explained the reasoning: "There was an idea to sign a left-footer, but not having one is no problem for me. Like in attack, we can have inverted wingers." The second innovation is Gasperini's ability to reshape the team mid-match without predetermined patterns, including reorganising the defence on tactical impulse. In Roma's clash against Atalanta, he changed two-thirds of the back line to overturn a deficit, saying: "When you go behind you rarely think about changing at the back, but we were struggling and fresh energy there put the ball back in our hands." Beyond the pitch, Gasperini has transformed the handling of the Roman environment—traditionally a source of complex pressure. He has repositioned supporters' enthusiasm as a motivational force, stating: "The city is everything, it motivates and stimulates you. The Olimpico always full is wonderful, it gives you positive pressure." At Trigoria training ground, he has fostered an atmosphere where players want to be: "There is an environment here where you have pleasure in coming. I am in love with this group."