August discontent echoes 2000 title run as Roma close preseason

Nahuel Molina made a strong impression in his first appearance for Roma, featuring for over half an hour in a 2–2 friendly against Borussia Dortmund. The Argentine full-back, who joined from Atlético Madrid for 13 million euros plus 4 million in add-ons, demonstrated his attacking thrust, intensity, ball control, and defensive aggression. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini identified him as the right player to elevate Roma's play on the flanks and bring additional international experience ahead of the club's return to the Champions League. Molina's solid performance at Dortmund surprised some Atlético supporters, many of whom had welcomed his departure after inconsistent form in recent seasons. The display prompted reactions on social media, with some observers drawing comparisons to legendary full-back Cafu and questioning why Molina had not performed at this level for Atlético. One fan wrote: "He left Atlético and became Cafu." Another asked: "Now he plays well?" A third joked: "It's clear that Madrid's water did him no good." The comments reflected a mix of irony and mild regret among the Spanish club's fanbase.

Roma's pursuit of Portuguese talent Rodrigo Mora has stalled, with Porto holding firm on their position while Roma maintains its stance. The player wants to move to Italy, but Porto manager Farioli continues to leave him out of the squad and has taken shots at his agent—clear signals that have so far failed to break the deadlock. The situation now risks becoming more complicated. AC Milan have joined the race for the class of 2007 prospect and are exploring the possibility of inserting Mora into a deal involving Gimenez. It remains an idea under consideration between the two clubs, with no agreement yet. Roma retains pole position in the race. Sporting director D'Amico, who had pledged an end to drawn-out transfer sagas following the Greenwood and Summerville arrivals, is waiting for developments. The club is ultimately awaiting definitive approval from Villas-Boas, with Mora himself also in a holding pattern. Milan's intervention adds a new layer to negotiations, though Roma's advantage in talks persists for now.

Nahuel Molina delivered a commanding performance in Roma's recent match against Dortmund, dispelling early doubts about his impact at the club. Playing thirty minutes, the fullback showcased the complete package — recovery runs, aggressive defending, physical presence, and composure on the ball — that Gasperini has been seeking. Molina provided width on the flank, defended solidly, pushed forward, and demonstrated the security required to function as a true two-phase external player within Roma's new tactical system. Molina's first weeks at Roma had been shadowed by scepticism. His displays in Argentina's World Cup campaign, marked by errors against England and Spain, had raised concerns. The Dortmund performance marked a turning point, reshaping perception of the 26-year-old's capabilities and integration into the squad. The strength of his showing was striking enough to catch the attention of Atlético Madrid supporters on social media, who expressed both surprise and regret at his new level of expression. Atlético fans reacted with incredulity, one noting: "With us he never played like this." The comparison was pointed: "Now he looks like Cafù, it's incredible." Molina is set for his first official test in Roma colours against Fiorentina, and Gasperini evidently backs him to deliver at that level.

Roma will host Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday, 24 August at 20:45 for the opening day of the Serie A season. Gasperini's Roma will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Svilar in goal; Mancini, Ndicka, and Hermoso in defence; Molina, El Aynaoui, Cristante, and Wesley across midfield; Dybala and Soulé in attacking support; and Malen leading the line. Fiorentina will deploy a 4-3-3 system under Grosso, featuring De Gea in goal, with Joao Mario, Viery, Dragusin, and Valdepenas in defence, Ndour, Oulai, and Atta in midfield, and Mastantuono, Kean, and Gudmundsson in attack. Tickets for the match remain on sale through the Roma website. The fixture will be broadcast live on Dazn. Fans can also follow live text coverage on ilromanista.eu or listen to radio commentary on radioromanista.it.

Roma's final pre-season friendly ended in a 2–2 draw at Signal Iduna Park on 15 August. Paulo Dybala opened the scoring, followed by Bryan Cristante's goal, before Borussia Dortmund levelled twice to secure a stalemate. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini used the match to assess his squad's form against elite European opposition ahead of the 2026–27 season. Dybala and goalkeeper Mile Svilar delivered strong performances, with Svilar making numerous saves that proved crucial in earning Roma a draw. The fixture completes the club's pre-season preparation as the campaign approaches.

Roma drew 2-2 with Borussia Dortmund in a pre-season friendly, showing improvement after earlier matches against Cardiff and Brighton in the United Kingdom. The Giallorossi made a strong start, going 2-0 up within ten minutes through goals from Paulo Dybala and Bryan Cristante, with Dybala providing the assist for Cristante's opener. Dybala produced accomplished play throughout the match and nearly added a second late on. Borussia Dortmund responded in the first half, with Ryerson pulling one back before Guirassy levelled the score. The second half saw limited chances for both sides, with Mile Svilar making several saves. The friendly is Roma's final warm-up fixture before the league season begins. The team faces Fiorentina on Monday 24 August in their Serie A opener. Technical director D'Amico continues work on the transfer market, pursuing moves for Mora with Porto and holding ongoing talks, while Malick Fofana of Lyon remains an alternative target.