Bologna vs Roma: Predicted Lineups — El Aynaoui Challenges El Shaarawy

AC Milan has offered Portuguese winger Rafa Leão to Roma as the Serie A club seeks to move him on after seven seasons. Leão himself has confirmed his desire for a new challenge following the end of the season. Milan, now under the management of Amorim, is willing to let him leave but only on a loan deal with an obligation to buy set at €60 million. Roma's transfer focus this summer has centred on reshaping the attacking department, with several forwards under consideration. The Leão proposal represents a new option for the Giallorossi, though the deal presents significant financial hurdles. The combined costs of the loan arrangement and the mandatory purchase clause make the overall operation extremely challenging for Roma to complete, independent of the player's own willingness to join. Details remain unclear regarding Roma's interest level or negotiations at this stage. The club continues to monitor other attacking targets as well, with the transfer window expected to intensify in the coming weeks.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical requirements are reportedly pushing midfielder Matías Soulé toward a potential departure from AS Roma. The arrival of the new coach has not altered Roma's offensive recruitment strategy, though his specific demands appear to have implications for the squad's structure. Details remain unclear regarding the exact nature of Gasperini's requirements and whether Soulé's exit is imminent or being actively pursued by the club.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has taken a direct role in efforts to bring Mason Greenwood to the club, with a telephone conversation between the two forming a key part of the recruitment push. Gasperini personally contacted Greenwood as part of Roma's mission to secure the forward's signature. The move represents Roma's continued ambition in the transfer market under new coaching leadership. Details of what Gasperini told Greenwood during the call remain unclear from available information.

Wesley is close to returning to full training at Roma's Trigoria facility, bringing positive news for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini ahead of the summer preparation period. The midfielder's recovery is progressing well through its staged phases. Details of his specific injury timeline and expected availability remain unclear from the available information.

Roma winger Wesley is currently on holiday in Greece, where he has been entertaining himself with a basketball challenge. The Brazilian posted a video showing himself scoring a basketball goal with a header and celebrating enthusiastically. Wesley is in the recovery phase following an injury that forced him to miss a major tournament. The Roma player's lighthearted social media content comes as he works his way back to full fitness after injury. His time away from competitive action demonstrates the importance of proper rehabilitation and recovery in professional football. Wesley remains part of Roma's squad plans as he prepares to return to action. Details of the exact nature and timeline of his return to training remain unclear. The winger's presence on social media suggests he is in good spirits during his recovery period.

AS Roma's Moroccan player El Aynaoui is celebrating his birthday while competing at a World Cup in the United States. The club marked the occasion with a social media message wishing him well. El Aynaoui has emerged as one of the standout performers for Morocco at the tournament, earning widespread recognition for his work rate, quality, and commitment on the pitch. Meanwhile, Roma's World Cup contingent has been significantly reduced. Several players including Celik, Malen, and Ndicka have already been eliminated from the competition. Only Koné and El Aynaoui remain representing Roma at the tournament. Koné has struggled to find regular playing time and has not performed at his best, contrasting sharply with El Aynaoui's impactful contributions, which have made him a focal point of Morocco's campaign. Roma also provided an injury update on Wesley, noting that his recovery continues with ball-based exercises as the club prepares for the resumption of activities. The message sent to El Aynaoui—"Happy birthday, Neil"—was described as simple but heartfelt, reflecting the club's recognition of his performances on the international stage.

AS Roma is making progress on a contract renewal for Celik, while Paulo Dybala is expected to sign a new deal soon. The club has also officially confirmed another friendly match as part of pre-season preparations. Details on the specific terms and timeline for these developments remain unclear, though the renewal talks appear to be moving forward positively.

Leandro Paredes, the former Roma midfielder, was interviewed by DAZN while competing for Argentina in a World Cup campaign. The interview touched on Paulo Dybala and speculation surrounding a possible move to Boca Juniors. Paredes expressed goodwill toward his former Roma teammate, indicating that regardless of whether Dybala joins Boca, he wishes him the best. Dybala remains a key figure in Roma's current squad. The comments reflect the broader context of player movements during international breaks, though specifics of any transfer discussion remain unclear.

AS Roma is preparing to submit an official offer for English winger Mason Greenwood to Olympique Marseille in the coming days, with the bid expected around Tuesday. The package is reported to be worth approximately €45 million including bonuses, with Roma aiming to move ahead of rival interest from Atlético Madrid. In parallel, Argentine striker Artem Dovbyk is being pursued by Genoa, where former Roma manager Daniele De Rossi now coaches. Roma has shown openness to a loan arrangement for Dovbyk, though his wage demands remain a significant hurdle to any deal materializing. Meanwhile, Roma is also scouting attacking depth. For the role of deputy to Donyell Malen, the club is considering Nicolò Tresoldi from Club Bruges and Andrea Pinamonti from Sassuolo, with Lazio also keen on Pinamonti. Separately, midfielder Leandro Paredes has spoken publicly about Paulo Dybala's future. Paredes said: "For me it would be a pleasure to have him with me at Boca, then he will make his own decisions and surely will have many things on his mind." Dybala's contract status and potential departure remain topics of speculation as the transfer window enters a critical phase.

Stephan El Shaarawy is poised to join Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab on a two-year contract worth 10 million euros per season. The move comes shortly after the winger's wedding to Ludovica Pagani. El Shaarawy's departure represents a significant outflow from Roma's roster as the club navigates the summer transfer window. With El Shaarawy exiting, Roma is reportedly among clubs considering a move for Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessié, who is looking to leave Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli and return to European football. Juventus is also mentioned as a potential suitor. Kessié had been earning 14 million euros annually in Saudi Arabia and would accept a substantially reduced salary to rejoin Serie A. The possibility of Kessié's arrival suggests Roma is reshaping its midfield options ahead of the new season. Details regarding the timeline and final terms of negotiations for both players remain unclear.

Sergio Oliveira, the Portuguese midfielder who left Roma, returned to the city to attend the wedding of El Shaarawy and Ludovica Pagani. At the celebration, Oliveira reconnected with former teammates Lorenzo Pellegrini, Bryan Cristante, and Gianluca Mancini—players with whom he won the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2022. Oliveira shared his reflections on social media about his time at Roma, saying: "Roma is special. It has brought me so much. Not only sporting moments but mainly fantastic people. I am very happy to be here on this beautiful day, a truly special moment for my friend Ste. Even though we spent little time together, when you share the same values it becomes easy to understand each other and lend a hand. Thank you to you all and I wish you a life full of happiness." The post underscores the bond formed during the Giallorossi's successful European campaign and the lasting relationships built within the club. The wedding also included attendance from other Roma-connected figures, with details of their presence marking another chapter in the club's recent history of trophy success.

Stephan El Shaarawy married Ludovica Pagani at Villa Aldobrandini near Frascati, with a significant Roma contingent in attendance. Current Roma players Gianluca Mancini, Bryan Cristante, and Lorenzo Pellegrini were among the guests, joined by former Roma midfielder Sergio Oliveira, who was visiting Rome for the occasion. Gollini also attended the celebration. A photograph posted on social media showed Oliveira and Pellegrini together, featuring emoji of a yellow heart, red heart, and the Roma wolf symbol. The reunion held special significance for several attendees. Mancini, Cristante, Oliveira, and Pellegrini all shared a memorable experience in 2022 when they won the UEFA Europa Conference League in Tirana. The wedding brought together members of that historic squad to celebrate El Shaarawy's marriage to the Bergamo-based DJ and influencer. The gathering highlighted the close bonds that persist among Roma's players and former squad members. El Shaarawy, nicknamed "the Pharaoh," has been part of Roma's recent history, and the presence of current players underscored the team's tight-knit culture.