Roma’s international break has become a working pause rather than an escape from the season. With Gian Piero Gasperini demanding continuity at Trigoria, Bryan Cristante, Donyell Malen and Wesley have remained in the capital to manage physical problems and prepare for a demanding October schedule.
The decision reflects a different atmosphere around the Fulvio Bernardini training centre. Roma have shown considerable athletic intensity across their opening six matches, although their performances have also included dips in energy, particularly after the interval. There is room to improve, but also enough encouragement for a side that intends to remain involved in the Scudetto race.
Three players stay behind for treatment
- Cristante withdrew from Italy duty because of lower-back pain. With Italy beginning another rebuilding phase after a further World Cup disappointment, the midfielder chose recovery work in Rome rather than joining the national squad.
- Malen has been troubled by discomfort in his left knee and will also remain at Trigoria. The Netherlands’ new Xavi-led cycle had been expected to place the Roma forward at its centre, with the coach suggesting it was unfortunate because Malen had been in very good form and appeared fit.
- Wesley has stopped because of a muscle issue in his right thigh. Brazil and Carlo Ancelotti had been looking forward to having the full-back available after he missed the World Cup, but he has avoided the long trip and will instead continue his work in Rome.
None of the three has treated the decision lightly. But with seven matches scheduled in 20 days between 11 and 31 October, Roma’s experienced players will be needed for a period that could shape the early rhythm of their campaign. In the circumstances, avoiding a greater injury risk has taken priority.
There will be 12 Roma players away with their national teams during the FIFA window. Those remaining at Trigoria alongside Cristante, Malen and Wesley include Mile Svilar, Pierluigi Gollini, Mario Hermoso, Molina, Devyne Rensch, Marten de Roon, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala.
Gasperini’s emphasis on prevention
The willingness to stay behind is being read within the club as a sign of a more united working environment. In previous seasons, players sometimes pushed through discomfort on international duty, only to return with more serious problems. This time, the view is that proper treatment and conditioning can help prevent longer absences later in the season.
Gasperini has made collective responsibility central to his approach. Daily workload is not simply about preparing for the next fixture; it is also intended to reduce the physical setbacks that can interrupt a campaign. Roma’s bright opening has therefore not altered the coach’s belief that there remains substantial work to do.
A rebuilt relationship with the medical department
The new approach follows a difficult 2025-26 season in which disagreements between the coaching and medical sides created repeated complications.
- Dybala and Ferguson initially followed conservative treatment plans before eventually requiring surgery.
- Dovbyk was returned to action too soon.
- Wesley, despite being considered fit, struggled to receive clearance to play.
Those tensions led to Dr Petrucci being replaced by Del Vescovo, a former Roma doctor who had previously worked with Gasperini in Bergamo. D’Amico is another familiar figure from that period, leaving the coach surrounded by people he trusts in both recruitment and medical planning.
For Roma, the significance of this break lies beyond three withdrawals. It is an attempt to build certainty after a season marked by miscommunication: protect the players now, keep the group together through October, and give Gasperini a healthier squad for the long championship ahead.
