Dybala left out of Roma squad for Empoli away trip: Reason revealed – Football Italia – March 8 latest

epa11832091 Paulo Dybala of Roma jubilates after the goal 3-1 during the Italian Serie A soccer match AS Roma vs Genoa CFC at Olimpico stadium in Rome, Italy, 17 January 2025. EPA-EFE/ALESSANDRO DI MEO

Paulo Dybala has not been included in the travelling Roma squad for the Serie A match away against Empoli on Sunday evening, but La Joya is not injured, nor expected to be out of the team for an extended period. 

Why Dybala is not in the Roma squad for Empoli

According to reports from Corriere dello Sport, Claudio Ranieri has decided to give Dybala a rest after starting in three of the last four matches across all competitions. Ranieri did the same thing with Leandro Paredes and Mats Hummels against Venezia in February. 

With no Dybala in the squad, there could be a starting opportunity for either Mathias Soule or Tommaso Baldanzi in his role as the supporting attacker. 

There are two other notable absentees from Roma’s squad for the Empoli match on Sunday. Gianluca Mancini is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Como last time out, which means that there could be a chance in the starting XI for January recruit Devyne Rensch. 

Zeki Celik has also picked up an injury in the build-up to Empoli, which means that he has also not travelled with the Giallorossi squad. 

Confirmed Roma squad for Empoli

Goalkeepers: De Marzi, Gollini, Svilar.

Defenders: Abdulhamid, Angelino, Rensch, Hummels, Mancini, N’Dicka, Nelsson, Salah-Eddine.

Midfielders: Baldanzi, Gourna-Douath, Koné, Paredes, Pellegrini, Cristante, Pisilli, Saelemaekers.

Forwards: Dovbyk, El Shaarawy, Shomurodov, Soulé.