Fiorentina coach Vanoli hopeful of having Piccoli available for Roma clash

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.