ROME - Bryan Cristante will be unavailable for AS Roma in their next two key matches. The Giallorossi captain is sidelined with inflammation in his right knee, an issue that already forced him to withdraw from the Italy national team and will now rule him out of the trip to Como and likely the Champions League clash with Real Madrid. In his place, manager Gian Piero Gasperini has already chosen his trusted man: Marten De Roon.
The Dutch midfielder, signed in the final hours of the transfer window, is set for his first start in a Roma shirt. So far he has made just three appearances totalling 35 minutes, but the coach saw enough in his cameo against Torino, where De Roon executed several important defensive actions. The choice fell on him over the younger Niccolò Pisilli, with the plan to pair him alongside Manu Koné.
The weight of Cristante's absence
The loss of the captain is a significant blow. Cristante has been Gasperini's most-used player this season, excluding goalkeeper Mile Svilar, after making 37 appearances last term. His last injury absence dates back to January 2025, for a right ankle ligament problem that kept him out for over a month. Since then, he had missed only five matches, due to suspension or rest. The club hopes to have him back for the big match against Napoli on October 24th. The updated list of unavailable players is always available in our injuries section.
De Roon's response
The Dutchman, who made 358 appearances under Gasperini's guidance at Atalanta, approaches this challenge eager to move past a past controversy. Following a Feyenoord win over Roma, an offensive gesture was posted on a social media account linked to him. De Roon has clarified his position. "I manage those channels with some friends. Well, on that occasion I overstepped the mark." the midfielder explained. He added: "I want to show on the pitch that I can move beyond it, I will give everything for the shirt."
The team, meanwhile, faces this difficult moment as league leaders. AS Roma sit top of Serie A with 13 points from five games, the result of four wins and a draw, and can rely on a defence that has kept a clean sheet in three of the last four matches. The next test is away to Como, who are eighth, on Saturday October 11th, a chance for revenge after a 2-1 defeat in the last meeting. All upcoming fixtures are visible on our fixtures page, while the updated league table is available in the standings section. The defence of top spot in the league and their home Champions League bow now also rest on the shoulders of Marten De Roon, called upon for an immediate test of faith.
This story first appeared at romatoday.it
