Castro targets Lazio as Roma confirm Greek defender Koulierakis deal

Real Madrid have temporarily severed ties with Franco Mastantuono, officially excluding the Argentine prospect from the squad and keeping him out of the club's summer Austrian training camp. The decision has been made jointly with Real to accelerate a loan move before competitive fixtures begin. Roma have moved decisively to join the race for the 2007-born talent, who developed through River Plate's academy. Fiorentina have been pressing hard for weeks to bring him to Florence, but Gasperini's side have positioned themselves as serious contenders to reinforce their attack with a high-potential signing. Several Liga and Ligue 1 clubs remain alert to Real's openness to a temporary departure, ready to exploit the opportunity should it arise.

Givairo Read has signalled his willingness to leave Feyenoord, opening the door to a potential transfer. Roma have tabled a €25 million offer for the right-back, though the Dutch club has not yet accepted. Read told Dutch media: "If the opportunity presents itself at a club I like, I would be ready. You always have to have confidence in yourself. I'm in shape again now, I feel strong physically and mentally. The next step is to show it on the pitch. That's my main goal for this season: to stay in shape and play well. I've experienced how easily things can go wrong in football. You think you've come back from an injury and then you have to take another step back. If there's no departure, then I'll stay and I just want to play for the championship. After that, the next step is the Dutch national team. I hope." Roma face competition from Nottingham Forest for Read's signature. The 25-year-old has recovered from injury and is keen to demonstrate his fitness at the highest level. His openness to a move may accelerate negotiations, though Feyenoord's stance on the Roma bid remains unchanged. The player's primary focus remains securing regular first-team football and building towards international recognition.

Franco Mastantuono, the Argentine winger from Real Madrid, has emerged as a target for Roma as the club seeks to strengthen its flanks. The former River Plate player has fallen out of favour under Mourinho at Madrid and is currently omitted from the squad. According to Fabrizio Romano, Mastantuono will not join Real Madrid's preseason training camp in Austria and is set to depart on loan. Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico has him on his list of potential recruits, though the club is monitoring the situation rather than pursuing aggressively. Fiorentina has also registered interest, having made enquiries over recent weeks. Real Madrid's preferred option remains Endrick, who may also leave the Spanish capital on loan, with evaluations ongoing across both deals.

Roma radio commentators have offered conflicting assessments of the club's transfer strategy heading into the final month of the window. Ilario Di Giovambattista rated Nusa's arrival at Roma as 85% likely, describing him as a strong signing and suggesting that adding him alongside Malen, Dybala and Castro would form an attractive attacking unit. He noted that head coach Gasperini deploys six players across the front line during matches. Other voices struck a more cautious tone. Roberto Pruzzo estimated only a 10% chance that Nusa joins Roma. The transfer priority debate also centred on full-back depth: Piero Torri argued that Roma must sign two wing-backs after Zeki Çelik's departure, stating the club currently has only Wesley and Devyne Rensch in those positions. "You have to compulsorily take two players, and one must be a starter," Torri said, adding that a month remains before the market closes. Vocalelli expressed confidence in the Friedkin Group's spending plans, noting they have consistently invested funds and will address remaining squad needs. Nando Orsi referenced Gasperini's preference for depth at every position, questioning whether the new CEO understands that Gasperini commands final say on recruitment.

Roma face Cardiff City in a pre-season friendly on 1 August at 16:00 at Cardiff City Stadium, marking their first match of the Wales training camp following earlier warm-up fixtures against Primavera, Trastevere and Cannes. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will field a 3-4-2-1 formation: Svilar in goal; Mancini, Ndicka and Hermoso across the back; Rensch and Wesley as wing-backs; El Aynaoui and Cristante in midfield; Dybala and Soulé in attacking support; with Malen leading the line. Tickets for the friendly are available through Cardiff City's official website. The match will be shown live on streaming platform DAZN, with a repeat broadcast at 21:30 on Italian channel NOVE. Live text coverage with real-time updates will be available on ilromanista.eu.

Matías Soulé's future at Roma continues to hang in the balance despite the arrival of fellow Argentine attacker Castro, who completes the club's all-Argentine attacking line alongside Paulo Dybala. The former Frosinone winger has been proposed to AC Milan, though the Rossoneri must first resolve the departure of Rafael Leão. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Soulé has attracted interest from Saudi Arabia, England, and Germany through exploratory calls, though no concrete offers have materialised. Roma's number 18 is not entirely excluded from the Giallorossi project, but the club would consider a departure if the right financial proposal arrives. The scouting activity around the Argentine signals he is not untouchable, despite his presence in the squad for the 2025–26 season. Soulé recently welcomed Castro on social media with a message saying 'benvenuto fratello' (welcome brother), though the prospect of the two combining regularly in Roma colours may prove only a fleeting possibility.