Pellegrini's comeback in slow progress; unlikely for Parma trip but targeting derby

Evan Ndicka will miss Ivory Coast's World Cup Group E match against Germany this evening, the second game of the tournament for the African side. The Roma defender was already absent from Ivory Coast's opening fixture against Ecuador, which the team won. Ivory Coast's manager announced the decision in a press conference, stating that Ndicka remains unavailable for selection against the Germans. Ndicka's absence comes after he failed to feature in the Ecuador match. However, his recovery from injury is progressing positively. The manager provided an encouraging update on the player's condition despite his continued unavailability for the fixture. The match against Germany is scheduled for this evening at 22:00 Italian time. The manager said: "We come to win. We come to secure our qualification for the second round and not to watch Germany play. We will not change our habits. All players are available except Ndicka. He will not be fielded against Germany but his conditions are evolving very well." This suggests Ndicka may be in contention for Ivory Coast's remaining group matches if his recovery continues at the current pace.

The United States defeated Australia 2-0 in the second group match of the World Cup, advancing to the round of 16 with a perfect record. However, Christian Pulisic, the AC Milan forward who was linked with AS Roma in recent transfer window discussions, did not feature in the match. Pulisic, who had been substituted at half-time during the USA's opening game against Paraguay due to a calf injury, has not yet recovered from the problem and was ruled out entirely for the Australia fixture. Despite his absence, the USA secured victory through an own goal by Burgess and a goal from Freeman in the first half, leaving them top of Group D after two matches. Pulisic has endured a season disrupted by physical issues at club level. In the opening group match against Paraguay, the midfielder had impressed during his 45 minutes on the pitch, providing an assist and creating several chances before being withdrawn at the interval. The expectation had been that he would be available for the Australia match, but the injury proved more persistent. Former Roma player Volpato made his debut for Australia in the second half of the match.

Ismael Koné, a Sassuolo midfielder, suffered a severe left-leg fracture during a Canada vs. Qatar match at the 52nd minute. He underwent emergency surgery and now faces months of rehabilitation. The injury significantly impacts AS Roma's transfer strategy, as the club had identified Koné as the ideal replacement should Manu Koné depart. With that option removed, Roma's alternatives have narrowed considerably. Roma's primary focus remains Manu Koné, the French midfielder. Coach Gasperini reportedly prefers to sell Matías Soulé instead of losing Koné, but time is running short. If no offer of around 40 million euros arrives for Soulé, the club may be forced to consider Manu Koné's departure seriously. With Ismael Koné now unavailable, Roma must explore other options to reinforce midfield. Among the remaining targets is Danilo, a Brazilian midfielder at Botafogo, valued between 30 and 35 million euros—a substantial sum that could strain Roma's budget. Another internal option is El Aynaoui, a Moroccan midfielder who impressed during his first season and could step into a starting role if needed. Any sale of Manu Koné would generate significant revenue to reinvest in the transfer market.

AS Roma faces a potential summer exodus as Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal has placed Gianluca Mancini and Lorenzo Pellegrini on its transfer targets. The moves come as Paulo Dybala's future remains uncertain, with his contract expiring within weeks and Roma unwilling to meet his salary demands despite interest from Juventus and Napoli. Pellegrini, 30, sees his deal expire at the end of June with contract renewal talks stalled. The midfielder has lost first-team status this season despite 24 Serie A appearances. Mancini, the Italian center-back, has just over a year remaining on his contract and has previously attracted attention from Inter. Both players could be enticed by substantial Saudi offers, with Al-Hilal prepared to provide Pellegrini around €10 million net per season—a figure Roma cannot match—and reportedly willing to spend approximately €25 million to secure Mancini. The potential departures reflect Roma's struggle to retain star players despite their recent return to the Champions League after a decade-long absence.

Paulo Dybala and AS Roma remain in active talks over a new contract, with both parties reportedly eager to reach an agreement, though final terms have not yet been settled. Dybala has submitted a counterproposal after initially accepting a significant reduction from his current €8 million plus €1 million in bonuses. Roma had tabled an offer worth €2 million per season plus €60,000 per appearance lasting 45 minutes or more. Dybala's latest proposal counters with either €3 million annually with a lower performance-based component, or €2 million plus €60,000 per appearance regardless of playing time. The distinction over minute-based payment thresholds represents one of the remaining sticking points. Negotiations have been handled directly by Ryan Friedkin with input from the player's agent Pietro Scala, though newly appointed sporting director Tony D'Amico is now expected to accelerate progress toward a final agreement. Contract renewal talks for other squad members, including Zeki Çelik, are also advancing, with distance remaining over financial terms for Lorenzo Pellegrini.

AS Roma has begun its transfer market operations following the formalization of Tony D'Amico's operational role at the club. Defender Celik is close to putting pen to paper with the Giallorossi. Meanwhile, the futures of key players Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini remain unclear and require further definition in the coming period. The exact nature of negotiations surrounding these two attacking midfielders has not been fully detailed.