2026 World Cup: ex-Roma figures dot tournament as coaches and players

Marash Kumbulla is set to leave Roma again after returning from his loan spell at Mallorca. The Albanian defender, who took part in the early stages of Roma's summer training camp at Trigoria, is among the club's surplus players as the Giallorossi seek to move him on. Three Spanish clubs have made enquiries: Rayo Vallecano, Levante and Elche. Matteo Moretto reports these approaches remain preliminary for now, though there is potential to accelerate negotiations in the coming weeks. Kumbulla's latest departure would mark a continuation of his pattern away from Trigoria. The 2000-born centre-back spent the last three seasons out on loan across Italy and Spain before his recent return from Mallorca. Roma's hierarchy has identified him as expendable, and the Spanish clubs' interest offers a potential route out. His contract with the club runs until 2028, giving Roma flexibility in structuring any move.

Roma have submitted a fresh bid of approximately €47 million plus bonuses for West Ham winger Summerville, with head coach Gasperini awaiting the Hammers' reply. The Dutch left-back has been a long-standing target for the Giallorossi, and sporting director D'Amico is pressing to secure the deal. Roma have prepared a contract worth over €4 million per year for Summerville, and the club are reluctant to raise their offer further. Gasperini identified the left flank as a priority need and has been waiting for this signing since last season. The move represents a significant investment in the winger's acquisition, though Roma's position suggests they believe their current terms are competitive. Summerville already holds an agreement with West Ham, potentially smoothing negotiations once the Hammers accept Roma's financial proposal. Optimism surrounds the deal's prospects, though final confirmation depends on West Ham's approval, which is expected to arrive soon. The transfer fee of €47 million plus performance-related add-ons forms the core of Roma's proposal, with personal terms already lined up to accelerate completion once both clubs reach consensus.

Gian Piero Gasperini used Roma's scheduled rest day to unwind at a beachfront restaurant in Santa Severa, north of Rome, alongside his technical staff and new sporting director Tony D'Amico. The outing came after the opening phase of pre-season training at Trigoria, offering the coach and his team a few hours away from the intensity of preparation work. Gasperini took charge of Roma ahead of the 2025–26 season and has been overseeing early summer training sessions at the club's Trigoria base. The relaxation break preceded a return to focus on tactical development and the club's ongoing transfer business, with the pursuit of a summer signing entering its decisive phase.

AS Roma earned over 1 million dollars from FIFA's Club Benefits Programme during the 2026 World Cup, ranking sixth among Serie A sides in total club payments. The FIFA scheme, run jointly with the European Football Clubs association, distributed 355 million dollars (300 million euros) to compensate clubs for releasing players to international duty. Each club received a minimum of approximately 5,000 dollars per day (4,300 euros) for every player loaned to their national federation. Roma fielded five players across the tournament held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico: Evan N'Dicka, Zeki Çelik, Neil El Aynaoui, Manu Koné, and Donyell Malen. These five accumulated 211 days of competition, generating 1.055 million dollars for the club. Milan topped Serie A's earnings with over 2.3 million dollars from ten players, followed by Atalanta (1.6 million from eight players) and Inter (1.55 million from seven). Juventus collected 1.2 million and Bologna 1 million. Among individual Roma players, Koné was the most valuable, earning 280,000 dollars for the club—second only to Lautaro Martinez of Inter and Nico Paz of Como, who each generated 285,000 dollars.

Zeki Çelik's unexpected departure has created an urgent tactical void at Roma, forcing the club to completely revise its transfer strategy. The Turkish defender's exit has left head coach Gian Piero Gasperini short-handed across both full-back positions and the centre-back line, with only Daniele Ghilardi and Jan Ziółkowski available as backup defenders. The current starting trio of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso cannot carry the entire defensive load alone, prompting the sporting director to accelerate recruitment across multiple fronts. Roma is now actively pursuing two external fullbacks and a central defender to shore up the squad. Dodo of Fiorentina remains a hot target, valued at over €15 million, alongside the versatile Carlos Augusto and Diego Moreira of Strasbourg, for whom a gap persists between Roma's €30 million offer and the French club's higher demands. Fenerbahçe centre-back Oosterwolde has moved back into focus as a priority signing to bolster a defence suddenly bereft of depth and certainty following Çelik's surprise exit.

Gianluca Mancini is on the verge of signing a contract extension that will bind him to Roma until 2029, with only official confirmation outstanding. The defender has already signalled his intention to stay by posting a message on social media featuring himself, the Curva Sud, and nothing else—a deliberate statement of his bond with the club's supporters who have made him one of their symbols. Mancini is preparing for his eighth season in a Roma shirt, a campaign he views as special given the club's return to the Champions League. He intends to play a leading role in that European run, anchoring the defence alongside Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. The renewal underscores his desire to remain at the Stadio Olimpico despite interest from other suitors, cementing a relationship that has grown far beyond the pitch.

Artem Dovbyk has begun the 2026–27 season at Roma following a lengthy injury layoff that sidelined him from February onwards. The Ukrainian striker was among the squad members who reported for pre-season training at Trigoria, where he appeared in a friendly against the Primavera and scored twice, with a third goal ruled out for a marginal offside decision. Although he was booed by some supporters reflecting his difficult two seasons at the club, Dovbyk now has an opportunity to rehabilitate his Roma career under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Dovbyk arrived in summer 2024 from Girona for a total fee of around €36 million, making him one of the most expensive signings in Roma's history. His first season yielded a respectable 17 goals across all competitions in 45 appearances, but the 2025–26 campaign proved far more disappointing, yielding only three Serie A goals in 14 appearances and one assist in European competition before his injury. At 189 cm tall, Dovbyk possesses a distinctly different physical profile from primary striker Donyell Malen and could operate as a relief option or even alongside the Dutch forward in certain tactical moments. His substantial wages make a departure difficult to arrange, but if he remains, Gasperini can deploy him as a reserve to provide cover and potentially relieve pressure on the player.

Roma's push to sign Summerville from West Ham dominated Roman radio debate, with negotiations reportedly moving toward a deal worth 40–45 million euros. Francesco Balzani reported that talks between Roma and West Ham are progressing well, with a potential agreement expected between that evening and the following day. He cautioned that while Aston Villa poses a theoretical threat, no formal approach had been made at that stage, and timing is crucial: closing the deal quickly eliminates risk, but delay invites competition. Opinion split sharply on the player's merits and tactical fit. Piero Torri expressed enthusiasm for a three-man attacking unit of Summerville on the left, Paulo Dybala on the right, and Donyell Malen centrally, saying: "Summerville a sinistra, Dybala a destra e Malen al centro: con questo tridente non devi mai alzare il pallone, ma per il resto comincio a sentire un certo piacere molto simile all'orgasmo." Others, including former striker Roberto Pruzzo, voiced scepticism, arguing Summerville lacks the decisive quality required and suggesting Roma should pursue alternatives. Claudio Ranieri's unsuccessful pursuit of Mason Greenwood last summer weighed heavily on radio commentary; multiple voices urged caution about repeating that failed chapter. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's measured stance at his press conference—neither dismissing market challenges nor criticising the club's financial strategy—drew careful analysis from Antonio Felici, who noted the manager's tactical alignment with the board on wage discipline.

Crysencio Summerville is poised to join Roma from West Ham, and the timing carries symbolic weight — the Dutch winger was born on 30 October 2001, the exact day Daniele De Rossi made his debut for the Giallorossi in a Champions League match against Anderlecht. Summerville also shares his birthday with Diego Armando Maradona. The 24-year-old left-winger, who cost West Ham €30 million, has been sidelined by a thigh injury that kept him out for the second half of last season, during which West Ham were relegated. He scored 21 goals in a single Championship season at Leeds, winning the division's Player of the Year award in 2023–24, and contributed seven goals across the Premier League and FA Cup during his first campaign with the Hammers. Summerville's arrival addresses a pressing need in Gasperin's squad. A right-footed left winger, he excels at dribbling past defenders and cutting infield to shoot near post or curl shots towards the far corner. He scored twice and provided two assists during the Netherlands' World Cup campaign in America, and contested the 2023 Under-21 Euros with fellow Roma signing Devyne Rensch, earning three caps together. Notably, Summerville faced Donyell Malen — now also at Roma — only once in the Premier League when Aston Villa beat West Ham 3–2 on 14 December 2025, a month before Malen's move to the capital. Having progressed through Feyenoord's academy, Summerville won the 2018 Under-17 Euros in England, scoring in the penalty-shootout final victory over Italy.