AS Roma have made a firm decision to protect their squad's preparation. The club officially confirmed that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not attend Lionel Messi's international farewell event with the Argentina national team.

"AS Roma informs that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not attend the event hosted in Argentina for the match between Argentina and Benin on October 6th," read a statement released on Tuesday evening. The club added that it acknowledges "the significance of the occasion for both players, who share a close bond with Lionel Messi and were part of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning team alongside him."

The choice is driven by sporting and logistical reasons. The friendly match will be played at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires at 8 p.m. Local time on October 6, which is 1 a.m. CEST on October 7. The return trip to Rome would involve an intercontinental journey of more than 28 hours, deemed too demanding so close to a league fixture. Gian Piero Gasperini's team are scheduled to play away at Como on Sunday, October 11 at 12:30 p.m. CEST in a match key for their league standing.

The Giallorossi currently sit top of Serie A with 13 points from 5 games, having won four and drawn one. Their last result was a 2-2 home draw with Inter, where Nahuel Molina provided an assist for Mohamed Kone's opening goal. To maintain this position, the manager wants the squad fully available and in form. The upcoming test against Como, who are eighth in the table, is key: in the last meeting on March 15, the Lombardy side won 2-1.

While Dybala and Molina remain at Trigoria, three other Roma players will answer Argentina's call: Matías Soulé, Leonardo Balerdi and Santiago Castro. They are expected back in Rome between the afternoon of October 8 and the morning of October 9, giving them more time to adjust. The club expressed its utmost respect for Messi's career and wishes for the evening, but the priority remains the title race. The team then face Real Madrid in the Champions League, and every detail matters. The full schedule of upcoming matches can be found on the site's fixtures page.

This story first appeared at Khel Now