Roma Reportedly Reluctant to Let Dybala and Molina Attend Messi’s Farewell Match

Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina have reportedly been invited to attend Lionel Messi’s farewell match for Argentina, but their club Roma is reluctant to allow them to travel to Buenos Aires.

According to Italian media reports, Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is concerned that the long intercontinental journey would cause the two players to miss three days of training ahead of important club fixtures. The players would attend the match as spectators rather than take part on the pitch.

Messi is set to make his final appearance for Argentina in a friendly against Benin on October 6 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. The Argentine Football Association has also invited members of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad to attend the occasion.

Argentina will face Bolivia in Córdoba on September 30 and Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on October 3 before the match against Benin. Messi is expected to feature only in the farewell fixture.

Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that both Dybala and Molina received invitations. The journey from Italy to Argentina takes around 14 hours, and Gasperini is reportedly unwilling to have the players miss training so close to Roma’s upcoming matches.

Roma are scheduled to face Como in Serie A on October 11, followed by a Champions League match against Real Madrid the following week. The club’s schedule is reportedly a key factor in the coach’s position. A final decision on whether the players will be allowed to travel has not been confirmed.

Dybala was not included in Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina squad for the upcoming fixtures. Molina, meanwhile, is serving a seven-match FIFA suspension stemming from disciplinary incidents after the World Cup final. Both are expected to attend Messi’s farewell as guests if Roma grants permission.