Gasperini outlines plans to raise Roma's level, demands technical backing

Niccolò Pisilli has reaffirmed his commitment to AS Roma following a strong season with the club. The midfielder, currently on international duty with the national team, stated he has no reason to leave Roma. Pisilli dismissed discussion of immediate objectives as premature, suggesting it would be unwise to set targets at this stage. His comments reflect confidence in his position at the Giallorossi and suggest his focus remains on the club's project moving forward.

Roma forward Wesley has expressed ambition to double his goal output in the upcoming season, with the Brazil international outlining what head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is asking of him. The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has begun, and expectations surrounding Brazil's prospects remain traditionally high. Details remain unclear regarding specific tactical demands or performance metrics discussed between Wesley and Gasperini.

Wesley has reflected on his first season at AS Roma, discussing how head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has transformed his role and tactical approach. The Brazilian winger, who previously played more offensively on the right flank at Flamengo, has been repositioned as a left-sided attacker tasked with finishing chances rather than simply crossing from the wing. Wesley explained his tactical evolution: "At Flamengo I was very offensive, but I played more on the right. My task was more to reach the bottom, make a cross, provide an assist or something like that. Here at Roma, instead, I'm playing to finish the action. For this I worked a lot on this aspect, to arrive in the box and shoot, do something different, because Gasperini asks for exactly this: attack, attack, attack." When signing his contract, Gasperini set Wesley a target of six goals for the season. Wesley fell just short of that mark, explaining: "I didn't reach six only because I didn't play the last match, so.... But I'm very happy with everything that's happening." The 23-year-old is now preparing for his first World Cup with Brazil's national team under Carlo Ancelotti. He reflected on his unexpected rise from struggling outside Europe to competing at the highest level, describing his journey as transformative and expressing hope to double his goal tally next season.

Roma have opened the door to loaning out Robinio Vaz, the French attacker who arrived from Marseille in January for €22 million. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini does not yet consider the 2007-born talent ready to serve as a reliable understudy to Donyell Malen, prompting the club to explore loan options to provide him with more playing time and continuity. The move aims to accelerate his development away from the club before potentially reintegrating him into Roma's future plans. Vaz has impressed in flashes during his six months in Rome, including scoring a significant goal against Lecce, but Gasperini's assessment suggests he requires match experience at a higher level than the squad's current setup can offer him. The club will listen to offers for the young forward, who has already attracted interest from several Italian clubs, notably Bologna, who were impressed by his performances in Europa League matches. By securing a loan move, Vaz would gain the opportunity to demonstrate his qualities in a more prominent role while Roma preserve his long-term value. The strategy reflects the club's confidence in his potential while acknowledging the competitive pressures of the current squad.

AS Roma sent a message of encouragement to five players competing in the FIFA World Cup, posting personalised messages across their social media channels. The club wished luck to Ndicka, Celik, El Aynaoui, Malen, and Koné ahead of the tournament. Wesley, who was also expected to participate with Brazil, was unavailable due to an injury sustained in a friendly match before the squad's departure. The five Roma representatives will make their tournament debuts across consecutive days. El Aynaoui will be the first to take the field on 14 June at midnight (Italian time) as his team faces Brazil. On the same day, Celik and Turkey play Australia at 6 a.m., while Malen and the Netherlands face Japan at 10 p.m. Evan Ndicka and the Côte d'Ivoire will play Ecuador on 15 June, with Manu Koné completing Roma's World Cup contingent on 16 June against Senegal at 9 p.m.

Donyell Malen squandered a straightforward goal-scoring opportunity in a Netherlands warm-up match against Uzbekistan, which the Dutch won 2–0 through two penalties converted by Gakpo. Malen, a current AS Roma player, failed to capitalize on the chance in the penalty area—an uncharacteristic error for him. This marked his second blank outing in the pre-World Cup friendlies, having also failed to score in an earlier test against Algeria, which ended in defeat. Netherlands coach Koeman addressed the finishing concerns in his post-match press conference, acknowledging the squad's broader issue with converting opportunities. The coach noted that in both recent friendlies, the team had scored only from penalties, adding pressure to performers in open play. Koeman stated: "In these two matches we've scored two goals from penalties. We create the chances, but if we don't score these matches we risk drawing them. Summerville and Malen missed two goals." The Netherlands opens its World Cup campaign on 14 June against Japan, followed by matches against Sweden and Tunisia. Malen's involvement in those fixtures will be closely watched given his recent form in front of goal during the preparatory phase.

Younès El Aynaoui, a former professional tennis player, has spoken about his son Neil's development in an interview with Belgian broadcaster RTBF. The father discussed Neil's ambitions and his move to Roma, noting that his son was keen to find playing space at a major club. Details of Neil's specific role at Roma remain unclear from the available information.

AS Roma sent a message of encouragement to five players competing in the FIFA World Cup, posting personalised messages across their social media channels. The club wished luck to Ndicka, Celik, El Aynaoui, Malen, and Koné ahead of the tournament. Wesley, who was also expected to participate with Brazil, was unavailable due to an injury sustained in a friendly match before the squad's departure. The five Roma representatives will make their tournament debuts across consecutive days. El Aynaoui will be the first to take the field on 14 June at midnight (Italian time) as his team faces Brazil. On the same day, Celik and Turkey play Australia at 6 a.m., while Malen and the Netherlands face Japan at 10 p.m. Evan Ndicka and the Côte d'Ivoire will play Ecuador on 15 June, with Manu Koné completing Roma's World Cup contingent on 16 June against Senegal at 9 p.m.

Niccolò Pisilli has been selected to start for Italy's final summer friendly match against Greece in Creta on 21:00. Italy manager Silvio Baldini has again placed confidence in the AS Roma midfielder, described as one of the few certainties in a national team with a notably young average age. The match serves as important preparation ahead of the upcoming international calendar. Pisilli has emerged as a key player for Baldini's squad despite a season with mixed fortunes at Roma. The midfielder's inclusion underscores his importance to the national setup, even as he looks to build momentum following a campaign marked by inconsistency. His continued selection reflects the coaching staff's faith in his abilities and potential. Elsewhere, in New Jersey, Morocco will face Norway in a World Cup preparation match, with Neil El Aynaoui starting for the North African side under manager Ouahbi. The coming weeks offer Pisilli an opportunity to deliver performances that can help redeem what has been an uneven season for the giallorossi.

Younes, father of Roma winger Wesley and a former professional tennis player ranked 14th on the ATP tour, spoke about his son's first season at the Giallorossi. Wesley joined Roma with ambitions to play for a major European club and establish himself immediately with the Moroccan national team—goals he has reportedly achieved. Younes expressed pride in his son's early progress but acknowledged the challenges of professional football, including injuries Wesley has already suffered: a cut above the eye during the Africa Cup of Nations final, a broken nose, and knee problems. He emphasized his concern for his son's physical wellbeing whenever Roma play. Wesely is now focused on the upcoming World Cup, starting with Morocco's match against Brazil. His father highlighted that Roma's third-place Serie A finish has secured Champions League football for next season, which brings Wesley significant satisfaction. Younes described his son as fearless and highly competitive, noting: "He's considered a fighter by everyone, including his coaches. I'd say he's even worse than me. You see it on the pitch: if he makes a mistake, he immediately becomes aggressive because he's disappointed in himself. And that's exactly what makes him so strong." Beyond football, Younes emphasized the importance of proper nutrition and lifestyle in preventing injuries, areas where he actively guides his son.

AS Roma sent a message of encouragement to five players competing in the FIFA World Cup, posting personalised messages across their social media channels. The club wished luck to Ndicka, Celik, El Aynaoui, Malen, and Koné ahead of the tournament. Wesley, who was also expected to participate with Brazil, was unavailable due to an injury sustained in a friendly match before the squad's departure. The five Roma representatives will make their tournament debuts across consecutive days. El Aynaoui will be the first to take the field on 14 June at midnight (Italian time) as his team faces Brazil. On the same day, Celik and Turkey play Australia at 6 a.m., while Malen and the Netherlands face Japan at 10 p.m. Evan Ndicka and the Côte d'Ivoire will play Ecuador on 15 June, with Manu Koné completing Roma's World Cup contingent on 16 June against Senegal at 9 p.m.

Walter Sabatini, former Roma sporting director, has sent a message of support to Wesley following the left-back's withdrawal from the World Cup due to injury. Sabatini posted on Instagram to address the midfielder's disappointment, saying: "Losing the World Cup is an unspeakable pain that we share with you, but your sporting life will restart in great form at Roma and with Roma." Sabatini also congratulated Ederson on his call-up as Wesley's replacement, describing him as deserving and expressing pride in the defender. Wesley sustained a muscle injury to his left adductor during Roma's match against Egypt, forcing him out of the tournament. The withdrawal has been a significant blow to both the player and the Roma environment. Upon returning from vacation, Wesley will undergo further medical examinations at Trigoria to assess the extent of the injury. Despite missing the World Cup, Wesley is expected to be available for Roma's pre-season training, which begins on 13 July. The club will monitor his recovery closely during the summer break to ensure he is fit for the start of the new season.