Roma had been preparing to welcome Paulo Dybala back to action, but the Argentine forward’s return has been delayed following concerns from the club’s medical team.

Dybala initially missed the match against Real Madrid due to a muscle strain, which worsened approximately 72 hours later, developing into a minor tear in his soleus muscle.

The setback has extended his recovery period. He was initially expected to miss one or two matches at most, but that number has since increased to four.

Barring any unexpected developments, he will also miss the fifth match against Udine.

Despite the delay, Dybala was confident on Tuesday morning that he would be included in the squad. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini had also expressed considerable optimism about his return ahead of the match.

Adding to expectations, the player shared the match poster, commonly known as the “Match program,” on his social media accounts, fuelling hopes that he was ready to return to the squad.

However, those expectations were dashed when the medical staff intervened and advised against his immediate return.

Gasperini stated on television yesterday that “Dybala is not yet recovered,” although there have been no reports of a fresh setback or relapse for the Argentine, popularly known as “La Joya.”

The decision to keep Dybala out was strongly recommended by Professor Del Vescovo as a precautionary measure, allowing the forward a few more days to test his fitness fully during training.

Despite having a day off today, the number 21 is training at Trigoria and remains determined to travel to Manchester for Tuesday’s Champions League fixture.

This comes after Gasperini had suggested that the Roma vs. Sassuolo match could mark his return to competitive action.

Dybala is eager to feature in the Champions League on Tuesday and is determined to address any lingering concerns about his fitness.

Roma are also keen to avoid rushing his recovery, particularly given Gasperini’s limited options in the attacking role, partly due to Lorenzo Pellegrini’s long-term injury.

Nevertheless, communication between Gasperini and the medical team remains strong, while Dybala also maintains a positive relationship with Professor Del Vescovo, who had approved his return to team training shortly before the weekend.