Roma-Dybala Contract Renewal Unlikely, But Paulo and Adidas Hope for Deal with Lower Wages

Jeremías Lazaro, a 2004-born midfielder at Argentine club Instituto Córdoba, revealed that Paulo Dybala contacted him via video call through a mutual connection to offer representation services. Lazaro declined the offer, as he had already signed with another agent, but praised Dybala for providing advice during a period when he was playing little. Lazaro said of their conversation: "With him I had a chat, we spoke on Instagram, I made a video call with him because, well, he wanted to be my representative. But I had already signed with my current agent. Obviously we remained on excellent terms, there's a desire to meet at some point, which will surely happen. But I'm really happy because he's a fantastic person. He gave me a lot of advice and, honestly, talking to him reassured me." Dybala founded a Milan-based consulting firm called La Favorita srl over two years ago, which manages athlete image rights, endorsements, and intellectual property across multiple platforms including artificial intelligence and blockchain-based assets like NFTs. The venture reflects Dybala's broader business interests beyond his playing career at Roma, similar to how Francesco Totti established his own management company. The arrangement shows Dybala is actively building a portfolio in sports representation and consulting, positioning himself for post-playing opportunities in football management and athlete advocacy.

AS Roma's pursuit of a new sporting director is approaching conclusion. Tony D'Amico is currently in Bergamo negotiating the termination of his contract with Atalanta, a necessary step before he can officially join Roma as director of sport. The two clubs have yet to reach full agreement, however, with D'Amico expected to forfeit certain monthly payments as part of the exit deal. Atalanta president Luca Percassi is reportedly unwilling to expedite the arrangement, which may delay D'Amico's arrival at Roma until 1 July, when he will gain full decision-making authority at the club. Meanwhile, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini continues to pursue English winger Mason Greenwood as a primary transfer target. Marseille has set Greenwood's asking price at €55 million. Should that move prove unfeasible, Roma has identified Peixoto (referred to as Paixão in transfer discussions) as a backup option. Complications have also emerged at Fenerbahçe, where uncertainty surrounds which of two candidates will secure the English player's signature.

Valentino Angeloni, head of Fiorentina's youth academy, has publicly distanced himself from a potential move to AS Roma. Speaking at the Serie A Festival in Parma, Angeloni made clear his intention to remain in Florence and focus on his work with the club's leadership. Roma had been searching for a new youth sector director following the departure of Claudio Ranieri and the collapse of an agreement with Massimo Tarantino. Angeloni's rejection eliminates one of the primary candidates on Roma's shortlist, which also included Frara. Despite acknowledging Roma's prestige and his personal connection to the capital—he was born in Rome and played for Roma as a child—Angeloni emphasized his commitment to Fiorentina's project. He stated: "I'm staying in Florence, and that's my wish. The Roma rumours are flattering, of course—I was born in Rome and played as a child at Roma with Anzalone, it's an important club, but so is Fiorentina and I'm focused on what I've done, must do, and will do here. I'm working with Paratici and his entire department on Fiorentina's future. I'm very focused on what I'm doing, I like it very much, in a fantastic environment." The development marks another setback in Roma's efforts to rebuild their youth academy structure after recent managerial transitions.

Jeremías Lazaro, a 2004-born midfielder at Argentine club Instituto Córdoba, revealed that Paulo Dybala contacted him via video call through a mutual connection to offer representation services. Lazaro declined the offer, as he had already signed with another agent, but praised Dybala for providing advice during a period when he was playing little. Lazaro said of their conversation: "With him I had a chat, we spoke on Instagram, I made a video call with him because, well, he wanted to be my representative. But I had already signed with my current agent. Obviously we remained on excellent terms, there's a desire to meet at some point, which will surely happen. But I'm really happy because he's a fantastic person. He gave me a lot of advice and, honestly, talking to him reassured me." Dybala founded a Milan-based consulting firm called La Favorita srl over two years ago, which manages athlete image rights, endorsements, and intellectual property across multiple platforms including artificial intelligence and blockchain-based assets like NFTs. The venture reflects Dybala's broader business interests beyond his playing career at Roma, similar to how Francesco Totti established his own management company. The arrangement shows Dybala is actively building a portfolio in sports representation and consulting, positioning himself for post-playing opportunities in football management and athlete advocacy.

Tony D'Amico is in Bergamo negotiating the termination of his contract with Atalanta, bringing his move to Roma as sporting director closer. The agreement between D'Amico and the Giallorossi has been delayed by outstanding financial matters with the Nerazzurri, who removed him from his position roughly a week ago and appointed Cristiano Giuntoli as his replacement. Once the resolution is finalized, D'Amico will officially join head coach Gian Piero Gasperini at Trigoria. D'Amico's immediate priorities at Roma include negotiating contract renewals for Çelik, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Paulo Dybala. The club must also address Financial Fair Play compliance and capital gains requirements by 30 June, though the deadline could potentially be extended to 30 June 2027 through agreement with UEFA, allowing Roma to defer certain accounting obligations. This flexibility could help the club avoid selling key squad members during the current transfer window and instead register incoming revenue from Champions League participation in the next financial year. Gasperini's preferred target for recruitment is Mason Greenwood, though additional signings are expected beyond that single acquisition. The incoming sporting director will oversee all these matters alongside the club's broader transfer strategy.

Roma's announcement of Tony D'Amico as a new staff member continues to be delayed, though an official statement is expected soon. D'Amico remains in Bergamo finalizing the last details with Atalanta. Roma will not be required to pay any release clause to secure the executive, and optimism surrounds the move. Once the official announcement arrives, Roma will request a regulatory waiver to allow D'Amico to begin work immediately, given the workload ahead. D'Amico's first priority will be contract renewals for Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Çelik. The club also aims to complete player departures before the 30 June deadline. Ziolkowski may leave the club, while reports of Inter pursuing Gianluca Mancini have been dismissed. Mancini is keen to remain at Roma and is close to signing a contract extension through 2029. Details remain unclear on the exact timeline for the announcement, though Roma's expectation is that it will arrive within the coming days.

Maurizio Setti, former Verona president, has praised Tony D'Amico—recently appointed to Roma's sporting structure alongside head coach Gian Piero Gasperini—as a capable director with strong player-selection instincts and two decades of football experience. Setti highlighted D'Amico's understated approach and his ability to work harmoniously between ownership and the pitch, noting that D'Amico performed this role effectively at Atalanta, where he acted as a filter between the club's management and technical operations. Setti cautioned that Roma faces a unique challenge in Italian football, stating: "The only spectre he will have to be careful about is Romanità; it is extremely difficult to do football in Rome because there are positive or negative influences." He suggested the club's primary weakness is not strategic incompetence but rather a lack of people driven by genuine passion for results. "Roma is missing not presidents like me, but people who wake up in the morning and would kill to achieve results," Setti said. He also noted that Roma has historically suffered from too many decision-makers without a single daily commander on the pitch to enforce the ownership's vision. Regarding next season, Setti believes Roma could become a serious title contender if the transfer market is handled well, particularly in attack—an area Gasperini will reportedly prioritize. He expressed confidence in D'Amico's recruitment abilities, citing his success bringing players like Donyell Malen to the club.

The Netherlands has named three Serie A players in their squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Donyell Malen among them following his permanent transfer to Roma. Malen, 27, joined the Giallorossi from Aston Villa on loan in January and impressed immediately, scoring 14 goals in 18 league matches during the second half of the season. Roma paid €25 million to make his move permanent, a fee already viewed as excellent value given his impact in helping the club secure their first top-four Serie A finish since 2017–18. The other two Dutch representatives in Serie A are Denzel Dumfries of Inter and Marten de Roon of Atalanta. Malen heads into the tournament in high spirits after his successful spell in Rome, though he faces fierce competition for places in the Netherlands' attacking lineup. With 51 international caps to his name, the 27-year-old will be eager to maintain the form that made him such a vital addition to Roma's squad down the stretch. His performances have reinforced confidence that Roma made a shrewd investment in securing a permanent deal rather than returning him to Aston Villa after the loan expired.

Mason Greenwood, Marseille's forward, is Roma's primary transfer target this summer. Head coach Gasperini has personally reached out to Greenwood's representatives to test his availability. The club plans to structure the deal by completing a sale first, then making a significant investment to bring the English attacker to the Stadio Olimpico. Gasperini views Greenwood as a top-tier offensive winger whose pace, goal-scoring ability, and technical quality would provide the finishing touch Roma needs alongside Donyell Malen on the wing. Roma has rejected other candidates, including Alajbegovic, deemed too expensive relative to the squad's requirements for an immediately available player. Summerville of West Ham remains on a shortlist of alternatives, though no other names are publicly detailed. The club's strategy prioritizes securing two elite attacking partners for Malen rather than addressing backup options immediately. Any secondary recruitment can wait until primary objectives are achieved. The transfer operation hinges on Roma's ability to offload players and generate funds for what would represent a substantial outlay in the current market.

Roma players Wesley and Zeki Celik have been selected to start for their respective national teams in final World Cup preparation matches. Wesley was chosen by Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti to feature at right-back in a clash against Egypt in Cleveland, continuing his run as a regular starter after appearing in Brazil's 6–2 victory over Panama. Celik, meanwhile, was named in Turkey's lineup against Venezuela in Miami, with the former Lille defender also handed the captain's armband by manager Vincenzo Montella. Both selections underline the growing importance of the Roma pair at international level as their countries enter the final stages of World Cup preparation. Wesley has now established himself as Brazil's primary choice at right-back for the tournament, while Celik's captaincy represents a mark of trust from Montella. The matches served as the latest in a series of final tests before the World Cup proper began, with nations across multiple confederations conducting warm-up fixtures on the same evening to assess their readiness for the competition.

Amantino Mancini, a former Roma winger, has praised Wesley's first season at the club during an interview on Radio Romanista. Mancini highlighted Wesley's intensity, work rate, and offensive capabilities as a left-sided player, noting that the Brazilian has settled well into Roman football. Mancini said: "Wesley me is always liked, I like his characteristics, how he moves on the pitch. I said when Roma was acquiring him that it would be very useful, because he is of great intensity, never stops. He has the characteristics of all Brazilian full-backs who are very offensive. Maybe he leaves something to be desired defensively because even I when I arrived at Roma played as a full-back and improved thanks to Capello. Wesley has fitted in very well at Roma, many Brazilians at Roma settled immediately because the climate and the support are very similar to those in Brazil. Wesley took advantage of this period and had a wonderful season." Mancini drew parallels with his own career transition, recalling how moving from right to left-back under Spalletti transformed his game. He predicted Wesley will continue on the left flank next season but warned that opponents have now studied him closely. Mancini also expressed confidence in head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's ability to guide Roma's next phase, emphasizing the need for experienced signings to strengthen the squad for Champions League football. He suggested Roma should make two or three strategic acquisitions to elevate the team's competitive level in European competition.

Roma's pursuit of Mason Greenwood has hit a significant obstacle. Hakan Safi, a candidate for the Fenerbahce presidency, has moved directly to secure the English winger and announced an agreement for a four-year contract. Gasperini remains keen on Greenwood as a key target to strengthen the squad, but Roma must now navigate intense competition from the Turkish club to complete any deal. With the Greenwood situation unfolding, Roma's recruitment strategy has expanded to address other areas. Gasperini is conducting a wide search for a left-winger, with Summerville topping the wish list, though that acquisition would prove difficult. Alternative targets include Tzolis of Club Brugge, Igor Paixao of Marseille, Mathys Tel, and Mika Godts. Players including Nusa and Alajbegovic have been ruled out. On the right flank, Gasperini is seeking reinforcement, specifically a left-footed winger, with Wesley expected to remain on the left next season. Celik is viewed as a defensive back option despite potential contract renewal, while Rensch will serve as a backup. The transfer window remains active as Roma adjusts its targets amid external competition. The Serie A 2026–27 fixture calendar has also been released, with no major surprises for the club's scheduling.