Gasperini Charts Roma's Future Around Soulé and Malen

Frederic Massara, Roma's sporting director, continues working at the club despite losing the confidence of new head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Following Claudio Ranieri's dismissal, Massara has remained at Trigoria and resumed operations on player renewals, departures, and deals to be completed before 30 June for the settlement agreement. However, he has received no communication from the Friedkin Group since Ranieri's exit. Gasperini publicly distanced himself from Massara, stating: "Ricky is a very good person, but from a technical standpoint we were unable to establish a working relationship." Despite this tension, Massara has not resigned and continues his duties, though his position is effectively weakened. The Friedkin Group is reportedly searching for a new sporting director better suited to Gasperini's vision. Names circulating for the role include Giuntoli, D'Amico (who previously worked with Gasperini at Bergamo), Manna from Napoli, and Sogliano. Massara remains formally in post as sporting director but operates in isolation from the club's decision-makers. His focus has shifted toward completing player transactions and financial operations before the June 30 deadline, as Roma undergoes significant structural changes under new leadership.

Evan Ferguson's time at AS Roma will officially end in June. The Irish striker has been sidelined for months, and details remain unclear regarding the specific social media request referenced in the headline. Ferguson joined Roma on loan but has struggled with fitness issues during his spell at the club. His departure is expected to be finalized at the end of the season, with the Giallorossi likely to explore other attacking options for next term.

Evan Ndicka has announced a change in representation, ending his working relationship with agent Michael Ncho and AMS Consulting. Through an Instagram post, the Roma defender stated: "Hello everyone. I would like to inform you that, following the end of my collaboration with my former agent Michael Ncho and his company AMS Consulting, we are now continuing our professional activities separately. From now on, I will manage my professional career personally." The move comes as Ndicka's future at Roma remains uncertain. The central defender has been identified as a potential sale before 30 June, with the club needing to generate approximately €80 million in revenue. Ndicka arrived at Roma on a free transfer in summer 2023 and represents a full profit opportunity for the Giallorossi if sold. His departure would result in a pure gain on the club's balance sheet. The Ivorian defender is reportedly attracting interest from Premier League clubs, making him a potential target for sale during the coming transfer window.

Donyell Malen is performing at an exceptional level for AS Roma, positioning himself as a contender for Serie A's Capocannoniere (top scorer) award with four matches remaining in the season. The Dutch forward has scored 11 goals across seven of his 14 appearances, demonstrating remarkable consistency since arriving at the club. Currently third in the scoring standings, Malen is steadily closing the gap on Inter's Lautaro Martínez, taking advantage of the Argentine's recent unavailability. Roma remain sixth in the table following Como's victory over Genoa, but Head Coach Gasperini's side face a critical final four matches—against Fiorentina (home), Parma (away), Lazio (home), and Verona (away)—with the aim of securing fifth place and guaranteed Europa League football. Malen's potential pursuit of the golden boot would be historic; since the January transfer window was introduced in 2002, only Mario Balotelli has scored more goals entering mid-season, with 12 strikes. Should Malen maintain his form, he could surpass both Balotelli's record and Martínez's current tally. The forward's rapid acceleration since joining Roma has drawn comparisons to past legends like Balotelli and Gabriel Batistuta, suggesting his contribution extends beyond individual accolades to Roma's push for European qualification.

Donyell Malen has become Roma's driving force in their push to secure Champions League qualification. The Dutch attacker's consistent goal-scoring is central to the club's ambitions of mounting a comeback in the league standings. Roma continues to rely on Malen's performances as they chase European football next season. With the attacker in form, the Giallorossi hope to bridge the gap to the top four and secure their place among Italy's elite in continental competition.

Como manager Fabregas highlighted the disparity in resources between his club and Roma after Como defeated Genoa 2–0 to remain level on points with Roma in fifth place. Fabregas pointed out that Roma, along with Juventus and Napoli, have invested in the transfer market during the season, while Como has operated with a limited squad throughout the campaign. The Como boss stated: "We are few, we have been fighting since the beginning of the season with the same players, unlike Roma, Juve or Napoli who have done business taking various Malen, Boga and Alisson. We are few, but we are doing good work and we must not stop." Roma signed Donyell Malen in January and continue to compete near the top of Serie A alongside Como. Fabregas also remarked on the remarkable progress Como has made, noting that his team was competing in Serie B just 20 months earlier against Cittadella. He declined to comment on transfer speculation but emphasized the achievement of his squad in challenging the elite clubs despite their modest resources. The competitive battle for a top-five finish remains tight, with Como and Roma separated by neither goal difference nor points.

Evan Ferguson's time at AS Roma will officially end in June. The Irish striker has been sidelined for months, and details remain unclear regarding the specific social media request referenced in the headline. Ferguson joined Roma on loan but has struggled with fitness issues during his spell at the club. His departure is expected to be finalized at the end of the season, with the Giallorossi likely to explore other attacking options for next term.

Bologna midfielder Lewis Ferguson spoke after his side's defeat to AS Roma at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on April 25, 2026. The hosts had experimented with a three-man defensive formation but were unable to secure a result. Ferguson acknowledged the tactical adjustment, explaining: "There's always work to do. This week we talked about it, we trained. Without the ball we were three in defence and with the ball Lucumì becomes a playmaker. We didn't manage to get a result, but we played quite well in the match. However, we concede goals like this and that's not good. Early in the first half and at the end, it becomes very difficult." The loss leaves Bologna facing a critical run-in with four matches remaining in the season. Ferguson emphasized the importance of the remaining fixtures, noting that his side still has 12 points available and must maximize their performances in the coming weeks. He acknowledged the crowd's frustration following the defeat but remained committed to pushing until the season's end: "We feel this thing, today was difficult but when you lose you get booed and for me that's fine. But these last matches will be very important for us, we still have 12 points to make so we'll try to make them and deliver performances. We'll give everything until the end."

Bologna host Roma at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on Saturday evening in a critical Serie A encounter. Bologna sit ten points behind sixth-placed Roma and cannot afford a slip-up after a 2-0 defeat to Juventus, having lost three of their last four matches by multi-goal margins. Roma, managed by Gian Piero Gasperini, aim to recover from a 1-1 home draw against Atalanta and have already fallen five points behind fourth-placed Juventus. With only five games remaining, Roma's hopes of securing a top-four finish for the first time since 2017–18 are in jeopardy. Bologna's home record presents a significant weakness—they have lost 50% of their Serie A home matches this season (W6, D2, L8) and have failed to beat Roma in all three meetings this term (D2, L1). However, the hosts have avoided defeat in their last five home encounters against Roma (W2, D3), keeping three clean sheets. Roma's away form is deeply concerning: they have failed to win any of their last seven away games across all competitions (D3, L4) and have conceded at least two goals in each of their last four Serie A away outings, including a 5-2 loss to Inter. Absences will impact both sides. Bologna will be without goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski, centre-back Nicolo Casale, striker Thijs Dallinga, and Federico Bernardeschi due to injury. Roma are without long-term absentees Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson, whilst injuries to Manu Kone and Lorenzo Pellegrini have depleted their midfield, forcing Niccolò Pisilli and Bryan Cristante to step in. Paulo Dybala could feature on the bench.

Roma travel to Bologna on April 25 for a Serie A matchday 34 fixture at the Dall'Ara stadium, with kick-off at 18:00. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini has confirmed his squad list, with good news on the injury front: Wesley and Dybala are fit and included, while Rensch and Pisilli are also available. However, four players remain sidelined: Koné, Pellegrini, Dovbyk, and Ferguson. The match represents a crucial contest for Roma, who are fighting for a Champions League place and broader European qualification for next season. The return of Dybala and Wesley provides Gasperini with important options in attack and defense respectively, strengthening the squad depth for a fixture that could prove significant in Roma's push for continental football. Roma's full squad includes goalkeepers Svilar, Gollini, and De Marzi; defenders Rensch, Angelino, Ndicka, Tsimikas, Celik, Hermoso, Mancini, Ziolkowski, Wesley, and Ghilardi; midfielders Cristante, El Aynaoui, and Pisilli; and forwards Malen, Soulé, Venturino, Dybala, Vaz, El Shaarawy, and Zaragoza.

Bryan Zaragoza has become a significant disappointment since joining Roma in the January transfer window. The Spanish winger, signed from Celta Vigo, has fallen out of favor with manager Ivan Gasperini and has been excluded from the squad rotation. His last competitive appearance came on March 1st against Juventus, and he has remained on the bench for the last six matches despite initial optimism surrounding his signing. Gasperini had praised Zaragoza's qualities upon his arrival, describing him as a dangerous player in space with dribbling skills. However, the coach now contests the player's tactical discipline, suggesting he has struggled to fully integrate into Roma's established system and game mechanics. With Pellegrini sidelined by injury and young Venturino often used as a substitute, Gasperini has even preferred El Shaarawy, who will be leaving the club in the coming weeks. In early April, Gasperini expressed his disappointment, stating he expected more from the Spanish forward, acknowledging that January transfers are challenging but hoping Zaragoza could deliver in crucial moments. The situation appears terminal for Zaragoza at Roma. His inability to adapt tactically has made him surplus to requirements during a critical phase of the season, and details suggest his departure from the club is imminent.

Roma secured a commanding 2-0 victory over Cagliari, with Donyell Malen delivering a standout performance by scoring both goals. Malen opened the scoring with a delicate chip before adding a second from close range after a precise cross from Celik. The performance demonstrated Roma's attacking potential despite the concurrent absences of Dovbyk, Ferguson, Vaz, Dybala, and El Shaarawy. Head coach Gasperini expressed confidence in Malen after the match, stating he is convinced the forward will score many goals. Roma's dominance was complete throughout the match, with goalkeeper Svilar not required to make a single save. The defense proved solid, with Ndicka continuing his reliable performances alongside the increasingly impressive Ghilardi. Pisilli's development as a midfielder was notable in filling the gap left by Konè's absence. The victory moved Roma to fourth place in the Serie A standings, level with Juventus on 46 points, keeping the Champions League race wide open. The direct confrontation between Roma and Juventus scheduled for March 1st looms as a crucial fixture. Young prospects featured in the closing stages, with Zaragoza making his debut to applause at the Olimpico, while Arena and Venturino appeared briefly. Roma's next challenge comes against Napoli at the Maradona stadium the following Sunday.