Zaniolo doubtful for Roma clash after muscle injury sidelines him for 3–4 weeks

Nicolò Zaniolo has sustained a right biceps femoris muscle injury and is uncertain to face Roma on 31 October after undergoing instrumental tests that revealed the damage. The Udinese forward left Italy's national team training camp early and has begun rehabilitation in Udine, with recovery estimated at 3–4 weeks. The fixture at the Bluenergy Stadium kicks off at 18:00, falling at the outer edge of the projected recovery window. Zaniolo's injury puts his availability against his former club in genuine doubt. The Italian national federation confirmed the 26-year-old had completed only differentiated work before being ruled unavailable for the Nazionale's subsequent matches, but the extent of the muscle damage only became clear following the scans. With the Roma match set for 31 October, the timing leaves his participation far from certain. No definitive withdrawal can yet be confirmed; much will depend on how the injury responds during the rehabilitation process over the coming weeks.

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.