Guendouzi silenced by child in Galatasaray shirt; viral moment echoes Dybala's derby mind games

Former Roma midfielder Simone Perrotta participated in a ranking format where he placed teammates across four tiers, ultimately naming Francesco Totti and Zinedine Zidane as the two greatest players he shared the pitch with. Perrotta, who spent nearly a decade at Roma between 2004 and 2013 with over 300 appearances, positioned Totti at the apex alongside Zidane. Other players ranked included Henry in the second tier, Cassano and Del Piero in the third tier, and Pellissier and Amauri in the fourth tier. De Rossi was placed in the third tier. In explaining his choice, Perrotta offered an extended analysis of Totti's qualities: "I knew you would ask me this, I put him in first place with Zidane. I think he is the strongest player that Italian football has ever produced, along with Roberto Baggio. I had the chance to appreciate him over 10 years. He was a player with incredible tactical intelligence and technically I don't need to say it because he demonstrated it throughout his career. If he wanted to send the ball into a hole from 50 metres, he could do it. Playing with him you realised that you just needed to give him half a metre and either he would turn and shoot at goal, scoring, or he understood he had the defender on him and would serve you first time. This makes you understand that you need technical qualities to do certain things, but if you don't also have tactical intelligence then the quality becomes worthless." Perrotta modestly placed himself in the lowest tier, stating satisfaction with his career despite believing others ranked were superior to him.

A radio commentary segment suggests that player Ajarbegovic is more appealing to AS Roma than to head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, indicating a potential disconnect in transfer targets or tactical preferences. The piece also includes remarks from Lo Monaco regarding Mason Greenwood, reportedly stating there is agreement with the player, though details of any potential deal remain unclear. The commentary reflects ongoing discussions within Roma's transfer planning and management priorities.

Donyell Malen has faced criticism from the Netherlands following two friendly matches in the World Cup buildup, with concerns raised about whether his strong end-of-season form at Roma was genuine. Dutch figures including Huntelaar and Van Nistelrooy have offered advice, while some have questioned the quality of Italian football. However, the article argues these concerns are overblown by drawing a parallel to Kylian Mbappé, who similarly failed to score in France's two pre-tournament friendlies despite being the tournament favorites' star striker. The piece contends that Mbappé's situation proves that poor friendly performances should not trigger alarm. France's manager Deschamps reportedly joked that Mbappé was conserving his goals for the actual World Cup, and French media remained unconcerned. By this logic, the Netherlands should have equal confidence in Malen, who impressed Roma fans late in the domestic season and has delivered in crucial matches, including Champions League competition. Coach Koeman is described as having already anticipated Malen as the ideal forward for World Cup ambitions. The article suggests that if Koeman hopes to achieve something significant at the tournament, he must place his faith in Malen—described as Roma's "man of destiny." The broader point emphasizes that World Cup preparation friendlies often provide limited statistical value, serving mainly to build match fitness before competition begins in earnest.

Paulo Dybala has refused to commit to a new contract with AS Roma, stating he has not yet decided his future while speaking from Argentina. The forward said: "Vedremo che cosa succederà. Ormai tutte le squadre sono un'opzione, persino l'Instituto Cordoba, così la gente non si arrabbia. Sono ancora un giocatore della Roma fino alla fine del mese, quindi, per rispetto nei confronti del club non parlerò del mio futuro. Tuttavia, non ho ancora deciso." He added that "Tutto è possibile, nel calcio non si sa mai" and acknowledged that Boca Juniors is also an option, though he declined to elaborate. Despite Dybala's cautious public stance, Roma's hierarchy remains confident that negotiations are progressing. The 32-year-old has submitted a counter-proposal to the club that includes performance bonuses, a flexible contract structure (1+1), and involvement in Roma's centenary celebrations, with the possibility of ending his career at the club. The salary being discussed is approximately €500,000 annually higher than Roma's initial offer of €2 million. The renewal discussions were previously handled by club officials but have now been transferred to newly announced sporting director D'Amico, who will take over negotiations going forward. Roma is also working on separate contract extensions for defenders Çelik and midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini, though Pellegrini is awaiting contact from the club.

Paulo Dybala's representatives have submitted a counter-proposal to Roma, bringing negotiations over his future closer to resolution. The Argentine forward has indicated that his decision is not yet final, leaving the door open to multiple possibilities regarding his next move. Roma and Dybala's camp continue discussions as white smoke appears increasingly likely. The exact terms of the counter-proposal remain unclear, but the development suggests both parties are working toward an agreement. Dybala's willingness to keep options open reflects the ongoing nature of contract negotiations between the player and the club.

Roma has officially announced the arrival of D'Amico. In parallel transfer developments, American winger Christian Pulisic has entered the club's scouting focus as a potential target. Meanwhile, Paulo Dybala is taking steps toward negotiating a contract renewal with the Serie A side. Details remain unclear regarding the specific roles, timelines, and terms involved in these moves.