Canada 1–1 Bosnia: Lukic surprises with opener, Koné shines for visitors

Manu Koné will start for Roma in a friendly against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park this afternoon, his first appearance from the opening whistle since the World break. The midfielder's return is laden with significance given the transfer speculation that has surrounded him in recent months. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will use the match against the German club to assess Koné's form and chemistry with the rest of the squad as the club weighs whether to keep him as a cornerstone of next season's team or pursue a sale if an attractive offer materialises before the end of the month. Koné has been under close scrutiny since last summer, when Inter made an approach exactly a year ago. Throughout the past season he remained the subject of ongoing speculation, with speculation intensifying in the latter stages of the campaign as Roma explored potential sales to address budget requirements. His performances in five World Cup matches have made him attractive to several clubs this summer. Manchester United, Chelsea and several Arab clubs, notably Al Ahli, have shown interest. Atlético Madrid submitted a concrete offer of €43 million, but Roma rejected it as insufficient.

Roma face Borussia Dortmund in a prestige friendly at Signal Iduna Park on 15 August, kick-off 17:30, in what Gasperini has confirmed will be the club's final warm-up before the Serie A campaign begins. Wesley, the Brazilian full-back, will not travel after sustaining a light ankle sprain on 14 August; he will remain in Rome for treatment with the intention of being available for the Serie A opener against Fiorentina on 24 August. Lorenzo Pellegrini, fresh from a contract renewal, continues his pre-season conditioning programme and is absent from the squad, as is Niccolò Pisilli, who has not yet recovered from injury and is working individually. Nahuel Molina, who has been training at Trigoria for several days, is among the 23 players named by Gasperini and could make his Roma debut from the first minute, particularly given Wesley's absence. Manu Koné, the midfielder, has also been included after mixing individual and group work. Gasperini is expected to field a familiar XI in defence—Svilar in goal behind Mancini, N'Dicka, and Hermoso—with Molina and Rensch on the flanks, Cristante and either El Aynaoui or Koné in midfield, and Dybala and Soulé supporting Malen up front. The Signal Iduna Park is sold out. The women's teams will also play beforehand at Stadio Rote Erde at 13:00. The men's match will be broadcast on DAZN.

Roma will travel to Borussia Dortmund tomorrow at 17:30 for their final pre-season friendly at Signal Iduna Park. The match comes nine days before their Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday 24 August at 20:45 at the Olimpico. Head coach Gasperini's squad will depart for Germany this afternoon. Lorenzo Pellegrini and Niccolò Pisilli will both be unavailable — Pellegrini is managing a training programme following his contract renewal, while Pisilli remains sidelined by injury. Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala are expected to operate in attack behind either Donyell Malen or another forward option. Soulé, who was linked with Dortmund in the early weeks of the transfer window, has carried uncertainty about his future for two months. However, according to Il Messaggero, staying at Roma is no longer out of the question. For now, Soulé remains the only attacking winger available to Gasperini, making his continued presence significant as Roma prepare for the new season.