Roma call up Lorenzo Paratici as Malen and Dybala miss Genoa match

With Donyell Malen suspended and Paulo Dybala injured, Roma will be without two senior attacking options against Genoa. Gian Piero Gasperini has responded by including 18-year-old Lorenzo Paratici in his squad, bringing the young forward closer to the first team without guaranteeing him a debut.

Paratici is one of five forwards named for Saturday’s match at the Olimpico, alongside Santiago Castro, Matías Soulé, Antonio Arena and Camara. His selection adds an option to the group, but the two absences make Roma’s attacking depth the immediate issue—not a change to their strong position in the league.

Roma are third after six matches, with 14 points, a 4-2-0 record and a goal difference of plus 11. The unbeaten start gives Gasperini a solid platform, but Genoa will test how he manages the forward line without Malen and Dybala. Whether Paratici features depends on the coach’s selection; a place in the squad alone does not mean senior minutes are coming.

Born in 2008, Paratici joined Roma from Sampdoria in summer 2025. He came through Pro Vercelli and Sampdoria, where he played a leading role for the Under-17 and Under-18 sides in 2024-25, and he is involved with Italy’s youth national teams. Calciomercato describes him as a mobile forward who can operate centrally or from the flanks and use his pace to attack space behind a defence.

Paratici trained with Gasperini during the summer, making this call-up another step in his early Roma career. He is also the son of Fiorentina’s sporting director. As a child, he was photographed welcoming Dybala at the airport during the Argentine’s time at Juventus; Cristiano Ronaldo is his idol, Calciomercato reports.

Roma host Genoa at 20:45 CEST on Saturday, 17 October. The key question is whether Gasperini uses the opportunity to give Paratici his first-team debut or keeps him among the substitutes.