Argentine strikers through history: Chini, Manfredini, Balbo and Batistuta paved the way

Roma are on the verge of closing their first official signing under the Friedkin Group's leadership, agreeing a deal with Bologna to bring striker Santiago Castro to the capital. The transfer is worth €30 million plus €5 million in bonuses. The 20-year-old Argentine, who will earn €2.2 million per season, turned down a higher offer from Fiorentina to join Roma's project. He will join the squad for the pre-season training camp in Wales after completing formalities. Castro's arrival directly addresses head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's request for a high-calibre forward to rotate with Donyell Malen throughout the season. The pursuit of alternative targets, including Tresoldi, had stalled due to prohibitive demands from Bruges. The transfer represents a significant offensive reinforcement as Roma reshape their attacking options. Following this deal, sporting director D'Amico must turn attention to other priorities, particularly sourcing elite wingers with Nusa and Moreira identified as main candidates, while also monitoring developments surrounding Manu Koné and contract negotiations with Lorenzo Pellegrini.

Roma are concentrating their resources on strengthening the attacking department. Following the arrival of Santiago Castro, head coach Gasperini is pursuing a right-footed left winger—a position he has been seeking for over a year. The club has allocated a budget of approximately 50 million euros for the signing, matching the sum previously earmarked for a failed move for another target. The main constraint is Roma's wage ceiling of 4.5–5 million euros per season, the same offer previously made to other attacking targets. Rafa Leão has emerged as a surprise candidate. The Portuguese winger, currently expected to move to Turkey, would welcome a call from Italy and is reportedly interested in working with Gasperini. However, the deal presents significant obstacles: Leão's valuation stands at 60 million euros, and his salary demands exceed Roma's budget parameters. The player has made himself available and expressed enthusiasm for joining, but is unwilling to accept a substantial wage reduction. Roma's recruitment team, operating cautiously to avoid late-stage interference in negotiations, remain scarred by the collapse of a previous transfer pursuit.

Roma are on the brink of securing Santiago Castro from Bologna as Gian Piero Gasperini's first attacking reinforcement. The deal is structured at approximately 30 million euros plus 5 million in bonuses, totalling 35 million euros. The Argentine striker has agreed to join on a contract worth 2 million euros per season plus bonuses, with Tony D'Amico finalising payment terms and resale percentages. Parallel negotiations with Bologna extend to Artem Dovbyk's future. The Ukrainian forward has opened to a move to the Emilia-Romagna club after speaking directly with Bologna manager Domenico Tedesco. Roma and Bologna are currently working to finalise the loan formula, with Roma pushing for an obligation to buy and Bologna preferring a right to buy. Both clubs aim to complete the arrangement before the squad departs for pre-season training in Wales.

Gian Piero Gasperini will reconvene the Roma squad on Wednesday afternoon at the Fulvio Bernardini training ground following a two-day rest period after the friendly against Cannes. The squad has completed a series of summer warm-up fixtures: two joint training sessions with the Primavera, a test with Trastevere, and the friendly with Cannes. Paulo Dybala has impressed during the pre-season programme, scoring a brace against the Primavera, one goal against Trastevere, and two more in the 3–3 draw with Cannes, while working on his understanding with Donyell Malen, who recently returned to Trigoria. Roma will continue their preparation in Wales from 31 July, where they face Cardiff (1 August), Newport (4 August), and Brighton (8 August) in further friendlies before a prestige test against Borussia Dortmund in Germany on 15 August. The Serie A campaign begins on 24 August at the Olimpico against Fiorentina. Dybala, fresh from a contract renewal, enters his fifth season at Roma after sealing Champions League qualification in the final stretch of last season. El Aynaoui is expected to rejoin the squad on 30 July, while Manu Koné remains on holiday and will link up with the group in August subject to the transfer market.

Paulo Dybala illuminated Roma's pre-season friendly against Cannes in France, but the 3–3 draw starkly exposed the club's dependency on the Argentine midfielder. Dybala opened the scoring with a masterful free-kick and produced a string of high-class moments before leaving the pitch; Roma then collapsed completely, conceding three unanswered goals to the newly promoted third-tier hosts and surrendering a late equaliser from a penalty carelessly conceded by Artem Dovbyk in stoppage time. With the transfer window still sluggish, the medical room full, contract renewals stalled, and painful departures including Zeki Çelik's move to Juventus, Dybala has become Roma's essential lifeline—both on the field and as a symbolic figure for the club. His significance was underscored during Roma's centenary celebrations on the night of 21–22 July, when he embraced ten thousand supporters gathered at via degli Uffici del Vicario. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini prioritised keeping Dybala, a decision that protects the club from both technical and emotional impoverishment and confirms the star as the anchor holding the entire project together.

Roma drew 3–3 with Cannes in a pre-season friendly at the Pierre de Coubertin stadium, Gian Piero Gasperini's third test match ahead of the squad's departure for a training camp in Wales. Paulo Dybala was the standout performer, opening the scoring with a free-kick before adding a second from a solo run on the right after the hour mark. Donyell Malen doubled Roma's advantage at 44 minutes, capitalizing on Dybala's pressure and an opponent's defensive error to give the Giallorossi a commanding 3–0 lead. The match was disrupted when Wesley received a red card for a second yellow in an unusual incident for a friendly, a dismissal that shifted the game's complexion. From the 69th minute onwards, Cannes mounted a comeback with a brace from Lopez and a penalty goal from Ogadd in the final second to equalize. Gasperini used the fixture to trial positional changes, frequently inverting Wesley and Devyne Rensch on the flanks alongside Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé in attacking roles. The opening period at Pierre de Coubertin saw slow rhythms and French defensive organisation, though Roma grew increasingly dominant. Young players featured prominently, with mixed performances; Artem Dovbyk and Daniele Ghilardi made less convincing impacts. Ryan Friedkin watched from the stands.