Roma's Malen Injury 'Not Too Bad' as Wesley Also Withdraws

Malen Withdraws From Netherlands Squad

Roma striker Donyell Malen has been forced to withdraw from the Netherlands squad ahead of the upcoming Nations League fixtures, but national team coach Xavi has moved to calm fears over the severity of the problem. The Oranje, who are in the same group as Germany, Serbia and Greece, confirmed on Sunday night that both Malen and Bournemouth forward Justin Kluivert had pulled out of the camp, with Guus Til and Mexx Meerdink called up as replacements.

The news immediately raised concerns among Giallorossi supporters, who have been heavily reliant on the centre-forward so far this season. Malen has enjoyed a superb start to the campaign, scoring six goals in five Serie A appearances, and his absence would be a significant blow to Roma's attacking plans.

Speaking in his press conference, Xavi confirmed the injury occurred during Roma's match against Inter on Saturday. “Malen left the field with an injury during the match between Roma and Inter on Saturday,” he explained. “It’s a pity, because Donyell is in splendid form, but it happened at the last moment, much like with Kluivert. That’s football, you have to adapt.”

When pressed further on the nature of the problem, the Netherlands manager was notably relaxed. “I believe Donyell is ok, it’s not too bad. I don’t know how long it will take to recover.”

According to Corriere dello Sport, the issue is specifically in Malen's right knee, but it is believed to be nothing more than fatigue rather than a serious structural problem. That will come as a relief to Roma, who will be desperate to have their leading scorer available as soon as possible.

Wesley Adds to Roma's Injury Concerns

Malen is not the only Roma player to have withdrawn from international duty. Wesley also had to pull out of the Brazil side due to a muscular issue, adding to the club's growing list of fitness worries during the international break.

While the source material does not specify the exact severity of Wesley's muscular problem, his withdrawal from the Brazil squad suggests the club will be monitoring his condition closely over the coming days. With Malen's knee issue described as fatigue-related and Wesley dealing with a muscle complaint, Roma's medical staff face a busy period assessing both players ahead of the domestic calendar's resumption.

The timing is far from ideal for the Giallorossi, who have leaned heavily on Malen's goals in the early weeks of the season. Any extended absence for the striker would force a reshuffle in attack and place greater responsibility on the rest of the squad.

International Break Brings Squad Availability Questions

The withdrawals come during an unusual three-week break for international duty, a consequence of the new UEFA calendar introduced this season after international managers complained they did not have enough time to work with their players before big games. The revamped schedule combines two sets of Nations League fixtures, allowing national teams to play four matches, but it means the domestic leagues are off until October 9.

That extended pause inevitably affects club sides, who are left with some players but often not enough to do effective tactical work in training. Some clubs have responded by granting the remaining players time off. Inter's Cristian Chivu and Roberto De Zerbi at Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur gave their players an entire week off, while Gennaro Gattuso handed Lazio five days. Most teams have varied between these two approaches.

Former Italy and Milan fitness coach Vincenzo Pincolini, now working with Paolo Nicolato's Latvia, was asked by La Gazzetta dello Sport about the risks of such a long vacation. He noted that players not on international duty have an important advantage, because they will have time to do what is no longer possible even in the summer, given the current length of pre-season retreats. However, he also warned that long vacations carry benefits and dangers, a caution that feels particularly relevant for clubs like Roma now managing knocks and muscle problems picked up just before the break.

For Roma, the immediate focus will be on assessment and recovery. Malen's knee is not thought to be a major concern, and Wesley's muscular issue will be evaluated in the coming days. With Serie A action not returning until October 9, the club has a window to manage both players carefully — but the situation underlines how quickly squad availability can shift during an international period.

Fans will be hoping the fatigue-related nature of Malen's problem means a short recovery, allowing the striker to continue the form that has made him one of the early standouts of the season. For now, the message from the Netherlands camp is one of cautious optimism, even as Roma's medical team keeps a close watch on two important absences.