Chelsea reject Gittens loan bid; Oosterwolde deal nearing completion

Roma's recruitment this summer has been solid without delivering the transformational signing head coach Gasperini believed would unlock scudetto ambitions. The club secured a Champions League return and approaches its centenary in a position of genuine hope, yet the window carries an air of incompleteness. Gasperini had nursed real title dreams and was convinced that one or two top-tier additions could lift Roma out of the dreamlike state that has gripped the club since 2001. Players such as Greenwood, Summerville, Nusa and Fofana were mooted—names that offered greater guarantees than the squad possessed—but none arrived. Roma instead finds itself in a crowded midfield battle alongside Como, Milan, Juventus and Atalanta, unable to close the gap with Inter and Milan. The squad is measurably stronger than last year's. The article cites positional switches: Castro replaces Dovbyk, Molina comes in for Çelik, and Mora arrives for Bailey. Gasperini acknowledged both D'Amico's serious work in the transfer market and the communication difficulties with the Friedkin ownership. Crucially, Roma held firm by not selling any major players, but equally failed to move on the fringe figures who might have opened the door to genuine transformation. The absence of a headline signing—the kind of arrival that might force police to station units at Rome's airports—leaves the club without that superhero figure to lean on during difficult moments. Gasperini knows the squad is not title-contenders material, perhaps not even Champions League material despite finishing third last season. The coach had hoped the previous miracle result might unlock previously blocked spending channels, constrained by UEFA regulations that have clouded Roma's waters for years. That reckoning will arrive in the coming months. Much depends on Paulo Dybala's form, on the promises Mora delivers and on Donyell Malen's consistency. Ten days remain before the season begins. Until then, the sense of wanting but being unable to act lingers unresolved.

Porto manager Francesco Farioli has publicly welcomed Rodrigo Mora's transfer to Roma, describing the 2007-born winger as a more complete player now than when he joined the Portuguese club 14 months ago. Speaking at a press conference, Farioli praised Mora's development and dismissed claims that he had tried to force the player out of Porto, stating: "Penso che oggi Rodrigo sia un giocatore più completo. Ha lo stesso talento che aveva 14 mesi fa, ma oggi è un giocatore di squadra. Sono certo che ciò che ha imparato quest'anno sarà molto utile per la sua carriera e per il prossimo capitolo alla Roma." Farioli flatly denied accusations that he had attempted to push Mora away from the club: "Tutto ciò che è stato detto sul fatto che io stessi cercando di cacciarlo dal club è assolutamente falso. Credo di aver provato ad aiutarlo secondo il mio modo di intendere e vedere il calcio." He offered his full backing for Mora's Roma chapter, saying: "Sarò il suo primo tifoso." The second half of Farioli's remarks addressed a public controversy involving Mora's lawyer. Farioli emphasised that his private communication with the player remained direct and constructive: "All'esterno c'era molto rumore, mentre internamente la mia comunicazione diretta con il giocatore è sempre stata molto franca. Negli ultimi giorni abbiamo parlato individualmente almeno tre o quattro volte." He also pushed back against the lawyer's public interventions, questioning their professional conduct: "Credo che tutti coloro che operano in questo settore – soprattutto persone che hanno frequentato l'università e studiato così tanto – debbano comprendere anche il peso delle parole che utilizziamo. Perché quando si comincia a parlare di sofferenza, di tristezza e, soprattutto, di 'Rodrigo Mora lentamente ucciso dall'allenatore', credo che sia necessario rispondere in qualche modo." Farioli concluded by drawing a line under the matter, saying: "chiudiamo definitivamente tutto ciò che riguarda questa 'telenovela'."

Porto manager Francesco Farioli has publicly backed Rodrigo Mora's €50 million transfer to Roma, describing it as the club's largest net income and one of the five most significant sales in Porto's history. Speaking ahead of Porto's match against Arouca, Farioli rejected claims that he had sidelined the 19-year-old Portuguese midfielder, countering accusations made by Mora's lawyer that the player had become his third choice. "I believe sincerely that it was a positive season," Farioli said of Mora's final campaign in Portugal. "He leaves the club as a champion. He leaves Porto with two other titles on the honours list and with an honest and correct relationship between me and him. Everything that has been said about me trying to push him out of the club is absolutely false. I believe I tried to help him according to my way of understanding and seeing football. I think today Rodrigo is a more complete player. He has the same talent he had 14 months ago, but today he is a squad player. I am absolutely certain that what he has learned this year will be very, very useful for his career, for his next chapter at Roma and wherever he goes to play." Farioli revealed that Mora did not feature in Porto's final match because the transfer was near completion, and that he had asked the midfielder to address the squad before that game. "His speech was exclusively about his love for FC Porto. Once again, he demonstrated that he is a very young player, but already equipped with leadership and the ability to take on certain responsibilities. His speech was fantastic: it helped us go out onto the pitch and win another match," Farioli explained. On the suggestion he had deprioritised Mora, Farioli produced detailed statistics: Mora played 1,946 minutes overall, compared to Gabri Veiga's 2,699; in the league, 1,177 for Mora versus 1,622 for Veiga. Both played similarly in Europe League—433 minutes for Mora and 442 for Veiga. Mora started 21 matches and came off the bench 23 times, while Veiga started 31 and was substituted 17 times. "When you have two players of the same level, you have to manage them," Farioli concluded.

Radio commentators have weighed Roma's compliance with UEFA financial rules after the club failed to make a significant sale this summer. Pugliese told Radio Radio Pomeriggio that previous management under Massara and Ranieri had repeatedly stated a major exit was necessary to avoid breaching UEFA thresholds and exclusion from European competition. That sale has not materialised, he noted, but Roma now faces the prospect of a substantial fine and squad-size restrictions. "Not having made any major sales, they will have to cut somewhere else," Pugliese said, suggesting the club is calculating these financial penalties at their training ground. Marcacci addressed the potential cost of departures, telling Radio Radio Pomeriggio that selling both El Aynaoui and Ziółkowski would be financially beneficial but technically damaging. "If Roma manage to move El Aynaoui and Ziółkowski in the exit market, it would be an excellent thing from a financial point of view but a great loss from a technical standpoint, especially regarding the Moroccan player," Marcacci said. "His departure would not be painless at all."

Roma radio analysts weighed in on the club's transfer strategy on 22 August, with Piero Torri reporting that fresh contact between Roma and Fenerbahçe over left-back Oosterwolde is expected during the morning. Torri said: "I believe there are excellent chances of seeing Oosterwolde in giallorosso. The player appeals to Gasperini and Fenerbahçe has been particularly accommodating in providing—to Roma—all the medical documentation necessary for greater clarity on the conditions of the former Parma player. Further contact between the parties will come this morning." Ugo Trani outlined the wider squad picture, noting that Oosterwolde can operate as a left-back or even in a back three, as backup to Wesley. Trani flagged the forward position as Roma's priority. He said striker Gittens was pursued three months ago and now does not want to stay in London; Chelsea could open talks on a loan, though the English club has not yet discussed loan terms and currently considers him unsellable. Trani suggested Roma will attempt to close Gittens on loan, after which "with some money left over, you could do Cacciamani." He proposed selling Aynaoui to Saudi Arabia and pursuing Napoli's Anguissa, describing him as a player "like him" who would elevate the team. Trani also expressed doubt over the midfield pairing of Soulé and Mora for Monday's fixture.

Roma are considering selling Neil El Aynaoui and Jan Ziółkowski to Saudi Arabian clubs to generate funds for further signings before the transfer window closes. The club has set El Aynaoui's asking price at €35 million, targeting a net surplus of at least €15 million after the midfielder's €25 million acquisition last summer on a contract to 2030. Roma are seeking €20 million for defender Ziółkowski, whose departure has also attracted concrete offers from Saudi Arabia, particularly from Neom. Combined sales would bring in over €50 million—the figure needed to finance a final attacking reinforcement in the coming days. UEFA Financial Fair Play rules have forced Roma into a cautious approach. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has pressed the ownership and CEO John Galantic to accelerate incomings, but the response has been firm: no departures, no new arrivals. The proceeds from El Aynaoui and Ziółkowski would enable Roma to target Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, valued at €35 million by Chelsea, though sporting director D'Amico is monitoring multiple attacking profiles. This financial squeeze reflects the club's need to balance squad ambitions against regulatory constraints as the window enters its final phase.