Roma reluctant to release Dybala and Molina for Messi farewell

Roma would rather keep Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina at home than send them to Argentina for Lionel Messi's farewell match against Benin on 6 October, according to Corriere dello Sport. Both players have been invited by Messi.

Messi announced his retirement from the national team on 4 September. The match, at the Monumental, is billed as his last for Argentina in front of a home crowd. He is 39.

Lionel Scaloni has not included Dybala in the squad for the October friendlies, though Yahoo Sports reports the omission may be only temporary. Dybala and Messi were together at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which Argentina won.

Corriere dello Sport says Gian Piero Gasperini wants to avoid two intercontinental flights within a few days. Dybala is expected to play against Como when club football resumes after the international break. Molina, a defender who joined Roma in September, has received the same invitation and faces the same dilemma.

For now Roma's plan is to keep Dybala at Trigoria, training with the main group. The reports say the final decision has to balance Argentina's request against Roma's rotation plans.

If Roma hold firm, Messi's send-off may go ahead without two of his former team-mates. If Scaloni calls Dybala up, the decision would move to the club and the player.