Celik contract renewal and agreement with Gasperini: what happens next

Matías Soulé is finding his way back to full sharpness following a lengthy injury layoff. The Argentine winger returned to action approximately one month ago after suffering a pubic bone injury that kept him sidelined for roughly two months. Since his return in Roma's 5–2 defeat to Inter on 5 April, Soulé has started every match but has managed only one shot on target across four games against Inter, Pisa, Atalanta, and Bologna. His goal drought extends back to 10 January against Sassuolo. The statistics paint a picture of diminished attacking threat. Of 12 dribble attempts over this period, Soulé succeeded in beating his man only four times, and he did not attempt a dribble in the Bologna fixture. This lack of explosive play reflects his ongoing physical recovery and suggests he has not yet regained the condition that made him a key scorer before the arrival of Donyell Malen. The absence of his trademark long-range left-footed shots has been particularly noticeable, with Soulé increasingly preferring to lay the ball off to teammates. Looking ahead, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will have considerable influence over whether Soulé remains central to Roma's plans. The club could consider offers exceeding 30 million euros, with interest reportedly coming from Bournemouth, Aston Villa, and Borussia Dortmund. Soulé has approximately four remaining matches this season to convince Gasperini of his value for the coming year.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is expecting to meet with Ryan Friedkin at Roma's training ground in the coming days to begin planning for the next season. The Friedkin family's aircraft landed at Rome's Ciampino airport on Friday afternoon. While Ryan has not yet been seen at the facility, his brother Corbin Friedkin was spotted at Trigoria. Corbin primarily manages Cannes, another club owned by the Friedkin Group, though he has participated in Roma meetings and strategic discussions over the years. Gasperini is keen to address the sporting director position, which is a priority topic for discussion. Current sporting director Massara is expected to leave at the end of the season, and the coach wants clarity on who will collaborate with him to strengthen the squad for the upcoming campaign. According to reports, the leading candidates to replace Massara are Manna and D'Amico, though Giuntoli is also under consideration as he is the only candidate among the three without an existing contract at another club. The meeting represents a crucial moment for Roma's planning as the club looks to build on recent progress and prepare for next season's objectives.

Zeki Celik's future at AS Roma remains unresolved despite interest from Juventus, Inter, and Premier League clubs. The Turkish right-back has not signed with any rival club and is willing to wait for a renewed contract offer from Roma, having made a commitment to head coach Gasperini, who values him highly. Gasperini is eager to meet Ryan Friedkin to plan the upcoming season, with contract renewals — including for Celik — a key priority. Celik is among several Roma players whose contracts expire in June, alongside Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and El Shaarawy. Roma is now reconsidering its valuation of the former Lille player after initial negotiations stalled. The club had quoted a salary of 4 million euros net, to which the Growth Decree tax benefits would apply. Though a substantial figure, Roma has resumed dialogue, recognizing that replacing Celik at comparable quality would cost considerably more on the transfer market. The player's commitment to his promise to Gasperini and Roma's willingness to continue negotiations suggest a renewal remains feasible, though details of any formal agreement have yet to be reached.