Al Shabab table significant offer for El Shaarawy

Roma's pursuit of Mason Greenwood has stalled following fresh salary demands from his father and agent, prompting the Friedkin Group to pull the plug on negotiations. Fenerbahçe has seized the initiative and will attempt to wrap up a deal with Marseille in the coming hours, with an offer close to 50 million euros. Director Tony D'Amico has begun exploring alternative targets as coach Gasperini seeks a right-sided attacking midfielder capable of rotating with Paulo Dybala. Two names remain in Roma's sights: Stuttgart's Leweling, valued at nearly 50 million euros, and Rafael Leão, who has been offered to the Giallorossi in recent days. AC Milan are seeking a destination for the Portuguese winger, valued at approximately 60 million euros. Roma committed to Gasperini that a Champions-level attacking signing would arrive, and Leão's profile appeals to the club, though he would address the left flank rather than the right. A loan deal with a conditional obligation to buy could prove palatable to both clubs.

Mason Greenwood will not be joining Roma after negotiations broke down over wage demands. Roma accepted the English forward's initial terms, but his father subsequently increased salary requirements, prompting the Friedkin Group to withdraw from the pursuit. Fenerbahçe is now closing a deal with Marseille for Greenwood, with an offer approaching the initial asking price of €50 million. The Turkish club has prepared a four-year contract worth €8 million per season for the player. Roma has begun exploring alternatives, with Antony of Betis, Ndoye (formerly of Bologna), and Rafa Leao among the names under consideration. Leao has been proposed to the club in recent days. On the domestic front, Roma has made significant progress on contract renewals. Zeki Çelik's extension is now complete: the Turkish defender will sign a three-year deal worth just under €3 million annually. Negotiations with Lorenzo Pellegrini remain ongoing, with further talks expected between his representatives and the club. Roma's opening offer for the midfielder stands at €2 million per season, rising to €2.5 million with performance bonuses.

Paulo Dybala has credited José Mourinho with bringing him to Roma, describing the former manager as "a genius and a good person" who earned the affection of supporters through his dedication. Speaking to YouTuber Davoo, Dybala reflected on his time in the capital, commenting on fellow squad member El Aynaoui's World Cup performance and recalling the controversial Europa Conference League final defeat to Sevilla, where he acknowledged a handball incident but noted that "throughout the match there were various moments in which the referee made strange decisions." Meanwhile, Fenerbahçe has intensified efforts to sign Mason Greenwood ahead of Roma, engaging directly with the English forward's representatives and Marseille. Roma's pursuit is complicated by Marseille's firm €50 million valuation, which is reinforced by a pre-existing agreement requiring 40% of any future sale to be paid to Manchester United. This financial rigidity leaves Roma facing pressure to move quickly or risk losing the target to the Turkish club. Roma's pre-season schedule has been adjusted. The originally planned friendly against Roma City has been cancelled and replaced by a match against Sorianese on 16 July. Between 19–24 July, the squad will face two further internal friendlies: against the Primavera side and then Trastevere.

AS Roma is close to completing contract renewals for its core squad following the club's return to the Champions League after seven years. Three players — Paulo Dybala, Zeki Çelik, and Lorenzo Pellegrini — are currently out of contract, with agreements already reached with Dybala and Çelik in recent days; both deals are now in the drafting stage. Pellegrini remains the main outstanding issue, with negotiations ongoing and a potential decisive meeting expected as soon as today. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini told Sky Sport: "The players are happy, the club will handle the announcements." The squad must be finalised before Monday, when the team gathers at Trigoria. Pellegrini is seeking a three-year contract to resist approaches from abroad, while Roma is holding out for a two-year deal. Despite the gap, both sides are expected to reach an agreement, possibly with added options as a compromise. The defensive pair Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante are also due for renewal; Mancini is likely to sign a new three-year contract to ward off interest from Inter, while Cristante could accept two years. Stephan El Shaarawy was recently released from the club following Verona's final match of the season.

Stephan El Shaarawy's decade at Roma ended with a goal against Verona in the final fixture of the season, a moment already etched into club folklore. The winger started the campaign as captain under new coach Gian Piero Gasperini on 23 August 2025 in the opener against Bologna, rewarded for having the most appearances of any Roma player. The captaincy lasted only three matches before Bryan Cristante and Lorenzo Pellegrini superseded him, while a long Achilles tendon inflammation kept him sidelined for 9 matches. He made just 9 starts all season. El Shaarawy appeared 27 times overall in a campaign that marked his lowest appearance count since arriving at Roma (excluding two spells that began in January). He provided 3 assists and scored only once in league play before that final moment at the Bentegodi—a Europa League goal against Midtjylland in November proved his only other strike. The 34-year-old had squandered a clear late chance against Lazio at the Olimpico in his penultimate appearance. His journey from a once-heralded young talent whose image appeared on trading cards and video games to a squad player willing to sacrifice wages during his Shanghai Shenhua spell to return to Roma was defined by selflessness, including a standout European performance as a defender against AC Milan two years earlier. The goal at Verona provided the perfect send-off for a married man departing after a beautiful era.

Stephan El Shaarawy is poised to join Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab after leaving Roma. The forward, who became a free agent on 30 June, has accepted the club's proposal, though contract details remain under negotiation. Al Shabab has offered a two-year deal, while El Shaarawy is seeking a three-year agreement. The annual salary is reportedly slightly under €9 million. El Shaarawy departed Roma at the end of his contract and has now prioritized the Saudi opportunity over other options. De Rossi had personally approached the attacker about joining Genoa, but no agreement was reached in those discussions. The financial package from Al Shabab proved significantly more attractive to the Italian forward.