Castro to wear number 9 at Roma

Angeliño is close to leaving Roma on a free loan to Deportivo la Coruña, with the Spanish club holding a €2 million purchase option. According to Matteo Moretto, only minor details remain to be finalised before the left-back departs for his home country. Angeliño failed to convince head coach Gian Piero Gasperini during pre-season and exits after a season of mixed fortunes. The 2024–25 campaign proved inconsistent for the Spanish defender, and his departure marks another outgoing alongside fellow squad member Salah-Eddine. Roma are now exploring replacements for Angeliño's deputy role on the left flank, with Torino's Alessio Cacciamani on the club's radar. The 2007-born prospect spent last season on loan at Juve Stabia, and Torino are seeking over €5 million for his services.

Roma have intensified their search for attacking reinforcements and a wing-back following Zeki Çelik's departure, with Ivan Fresneda of Sporting CP and Real Betis forward Abde Ezzalzouli emerging as primary targets. The club has held three recent talks with Fresneda and his representatives; the Portuguese defender is valued at around €17–18 million plus substantial bonuses. Fresneda joined Sporting from Real Valladolid for €9 million in 2023 and has made 81 appearances, scoring 4 goals and providing 3 assists. Ezzalzouli carries a similarly high price tag. The Real Betis attacker has scored 29 goals and laid on 18 assists in 128 games, while earning 37 caps for Morocco. Roma have also explored options lower down the valuation chain. They tabled a €2.5 million bid for Club America's Israel Reyes on the wing, but the Mexican side demanded €7 million—Reyes has featured 146 times for his current club over five seasons. The Giallorossi remain in complex negotiations over Antonio Nusa but have not abandoned the pursuit. While Santiago Castro's arrival has bolstered the attacking department, Roma's need for multiple wing-backs after Çelik's exit may limit their ability to invest heavily in a second premium signing, though Wesley and Devyne Rensch offer tactical flexibility.

Fabian Berlanga, president of Velez, praised Santi Castro following the player's transfer to Roma for 35 million euros in January 2024. Berlanga told Tuttomercatoweb that Castro is "a fantastic boy" who deserves the opportunities he is now enjoying. The Velez chief expressed confidence in Castro's international prospects, saying: "Personally I am certain that Santi in the near future will have opportunities to play for the Selección. He has all the credentials to earn consideration from the senior national team." Castro joined Roma from Velez, where he had represented the Argentine club until early 2024. Berlanga reflected on the sale to Bologna (before Castro's subsequent move to Roma), noting that the club was always confident in the player's trajectory. "When we sold Castro to Bologna, we knew well that he would have a great career," Berlanga said. "And now we are happy to see what kind of path he is taking, because he really deserves it. We are talking about a great person and an excellent player." The comments underline the high regard in which Castro is held by his former club, with Berlanga suggesting the 21-year-old has the potential to establish himself at senior international level with Argentina.