Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini has issued a worrying update on Paulo Dybala, confirming that the Argentine international sustained a thigh injury during the Giallorossi’s 1-0 Serie A loss to AC Milan over the weekend.
The setback occurred in the latter stages of the match at San Siro, compounding the team’s disappointment after Dybala missed a late penalty, his first failed spot-kick in a Roma shirt.
Speaking after the match, Gasperini labelled the injury to the 31-year-old forward as a major blow, stating it overshadowed the missed opportunity to go top of the league.
“The worst thing of all on the penalty is that Dybala got injured. Now we need to see how long he’ll be out, certainly until after the break for international duty. This is the biggest loss of the night,” Gasperini told DAZN.
The thigh injury is a particular concern given Dybala’s history of muscular issues, and it immediately rules him out of the upcoming fixtures before the November international break.
The talismanic forward had been enjoying a strong run of form, which makes his absence a significant tactical puzzle for Gasperini to solve.
The manager’s comments reflect the immediate impact of losing the creative attacker, who was visibly frustrated and emotional as he was forced to leave the pitch shortly after the failed penalty attempt.
While the coach expressed confidence in his team’s performance despite the result, saying the “Roma glass [is] half full”, the full extent of Dybala’s recovery timeline will only be determined after the international fixtures conclude.