Malen Shines as Roma Beats Bologna

AS Roma is among four clubs being considered by Barcelona to face them in the Trofeo Gamper, one of August's most prestigious summer friendlies. According to reports, Napoli, Borussia Dortmund, and Club Azul are also in contention. No final decision has been made, though discussions are ongoing. A match against Barcelona would add significant prestige to Roma's pre-season schedule ahead of the new campaign. The Trofeo Gamper is a historic annual tournament that has attracted top Italian sides in the past, including Napoli. Unlike most summer friendlies, the competition holds considerable symbolic weight in football's calendar. Roma has already confirmed two other pre-season matches: one against Borussia Dortmund and another against Cannes. Should Roma secure the Barcelona fixture, it would elevate the club's summer preparations and provide valuable competitive preparation. The prospect has been circulating for weeks but now carries renewed credibility. Details of the final decision timeline remain unclear.

Niccolò Pisilli was among the standout performers as Italy defeated Greece in a friendly match under coach Baldini. The AS Roma midfielder featured prominently across two recent friendlies for the Azzurri, following an assist he provided in a previous match against Luxembourg. Pisilli completed 90 minutes in the Greece fixture, earning praise for his display. Pisilli's performances have highlighted his growing importance to the Italian national team setup. His contributions across the two friendlies—including the creative assist in Luxembourg—suggest he is becoming a key option in midfield for the Azzurri. The Roma youngster's ability to perform at international level adds to the squad depth available to Baldini as Italy prepares for upcoming commitments. Pisilli described his approach with the words "heart and pride," reflecting his mentality during the matches. His extended involvement in consecutive friendlies indicates he has secured a prominent role in Baldini's plans moving forward.

AS Roma will play a friendly against AS Cannes on 26 July in Rome, bringing together two clubs owned by the Friedkin family. Both sides enjoyed successful 2025–26 seasons: Roma finished third in Serie A and secured Champions League qualification for the first time under Friedkin ownership after seven years, while Cannes achieved historic promotion to France's third tier (Championnat National 1) for the first time in 15 years. For Gasperini's squad, the match serves as a useful test during the early phase of pre-season preparation before facing stronger opponents. Roma will next play Borussia Dortmund on 15 August. The friendly represents a significant prestige fixture for Cannes but carries particular value for Roma as a controlled stepping stone in their summer training programme ahead of the new campaign. Gasperini commented on the ownership structure, stating: "A greater presence from the Friedkins is needed. With them, Roma is stronger." The fixture highlights the expanding portfolio of the Friedkin Group in European football and offers both clubs important competitive minutes during the off-season.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has identified Crysencio Summerville as his primary target for the left wing, with the Dutch winger from West Ham available following the club's relegation to the Championship. Summerville reportedly costs around €35 million, and Gasperini's interest dates back two years to the winger's standout season at Leeds United in 2023–24, when he won the Championship Player of the Year award. Donyell Malen, Roma's current right winger, has been speaking with Summerville during international break preparations, with both players sharing the same agency. The club aims to complete the signing once international competitions conclude. Gasperini's admiration for Summerville stems from impressive statistical performances at Leeds. In the 2023–24 Championship season, Summerville scored 21 goals and topped the league in expected goals (xG), demonstrating exceptional finishing ability and positioning. He also led in expected assists (xA), showing his capacity to create opportunities. His production declined during West Ham's difficult campaign, but Gasperini has a proven track record of extracting strong performances from underperforming Premier League players, as shown with Lookman and Malen. Roma is also pursuing Mason Greenwood for the right wing, with early steps expected in the coming days. Summerville, born in Rotterdam, grew up in an Afro-Surinamese family and progressed through Dutch youth football, winning the Under-17 European Championship in 2017. He is in a long-term relationship with Janique Monteiro and became a father in December 2025, which he has stated provided significant personal motivation.

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.

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.

Roma is intensifying efforts to sign Juan Manuel Ruggeri, an Atlético Madrid defender, as the club looks to strengthen its flanks. Ruggeri has been on Roma's radar since January, but interest has now become more concrete. The player's agents, Manuel Montipò and Tullio Tinti, confirmed the interest during an interview with Sky Sport, stating: "Atlético is very happy to keep him, but in football anything can happen. He has requests both in Italy and abroad." The agents also acknowledged potential interest from other top clubs, including Juventus, though they were less direct when asked specifically about Roma. Roma seeks additional reinforcement on the wings beyond Wesley, the current squad option. Previous target Dodo from Fiorentina appeared to lose momentum, with recent developments stalling that line of inquiry. Ruggeri, a former Atalanta player now at Atlético Madrid, represents an alternative avenue for the club's recruitment strategy. When pressed about Juventus's possible involvement, the agents suggested: "It is a top club and as such looks at strong players. There could also be interest." However, regarding Roma specifically, their response remained more evasive, hinting at competition from other suitors. The situation remains fluid, with multiple clubs potentially pursuing the defender's signature.

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.