Malen set to lead Roma attack at Parma; Pellegrini ruled out; Manna emerges as top DS target

AS Roma's sporting director Massara is preparing to leave the club, with contacts reportedly underway with Marseille. This move would follow the recent departure of former manager Claudio Ranieri, marking another significant administrative overhaul under Friedkin Group ownership at Trigoria. The changes signal continued restructuring at the club leadership level, though details of the timeline and negotiations remain unclear.

Ricky Massara appears poised to depart AS Roma after just one season following his return to the club. His departure comes in the wake of Claudio Ranieri's exit, and strained relations with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini have reportedly accelerated the timeline. Marseille has now entered preliminary discussions with Massara regarding a directorial position, placing him on their shortlist of sporting director candidates. Roma's hierarchy, led by the Friedkin Group and Gasperini, are actively moving to find a replacement. Giovanni Manna, currently sporting director at Napoli, is reportedly the primary target on Roma's radar, though other candidates are also under consideration. The club aims to secure a successor soon. Massara himself is exploring options elsewhere, aware that his time in the capital is drawing to a close. Details regarding the precise timeline or the exact nature of Marseille's interest remain unclear. Roma's search for a new sporting director represents a significant administrative reshuffle as the club looks to align its football operations with Gasperini's vision following his recent appointment.

Italian rapper and Roma fan Gemitaiz discussed the club's recent developments in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport podcast, touching on the departures of Ranieri and Gasperini, as well as the future of Paulo Dybala. Gemitaiz, who attended Roma's match against Fiorentina, expressed his frustration with Dybala's situation at the club. Speaking about the Argentine forward, he said: "Dybala is fracico [a Roman dialect term for unreliable/injury-prone], as we say in Rome, but it is a pleasure to see him play. I hope he leaves; he takes too much money and never plays." On Ranieri's recent exit from the club, Gemitaiz expressed sympathy for the former manager while backing the decision to move forward with Gasperini. He stated: "I'm sorry, he's a symbol of Roma. He wanted to retire for years; I don't think sacking Gasperini was the solution. No Roma fan isn't on Ranieri's side; I'm grateful to him, but if things aren't working... He's said many times he wanted to stop; it's more natural and spontaneous for him to leave. Gasperini is a great coach; we've been making the same points for a long time, let's give him a chance to start the project." Gemitaiz also spoke fondly of Francesco Totti, expressing his childhood admiration for the club's legendary number 10 and his desire to thank him if they met.

Roma continue preparations at Trigoria ahead of their Serie A matchday 36 fixture against Parma. Donyell Malen has returned to group training after a recent absence. Updates on the availability of other squad members, including Lorenzo Pellegrini and details regarding Zaragoza, remain part of the team's assessment as they build toward the upcoming match.

Donyell Malen returned to full group training at Trigoria on Wednesday as Roma prepared for Sunday's match against Parma. The forward had completed personalized recovery work the previous day as part of his planned rehabilitation schedule and trained with the squad this morning. Malen is set to lead Roma's attack in the fixture, aiming for the breakthrough that eluded him twice against Fiorentina when the crossbar denied him. Lorenzo Pellegrini and Bryan Zaragoza remain unavailable, having undertaken separate work away from the main group. With three days remaining before Sunday's encounter, both players are unlikely to recover in time for the Parma fixture. Roma's priority is to have Pellegrini fit for the Derby della Capitale against Lazio the following week, followed by the final away match of the season at Verona. Details remain unclear regarding the specific nature of the injuries affecting Pellegrini and Zaragoza.

Roma are reportedly reviving their interest in Atalanta striker Gianluca Scamacca as the club looks to strengthen its attack ahead of the summer transfer window. The 1999-born forward, who has a contract with Atalanta until June 2027, remains on the Giallorossi's radar and could reunite with manager Gasperini in his native Rome. Scamacca may be available to leave the Bergamo club, though Atalanta are unlikely to negotiate below €30 million. The potential signing hinges on several factors. Should current striker Dovbyk depart, Roma would intensify their push for Scamacca, who could serve as Donyell Malen's backup in the forward line. However, Scamacca's wage demands present an obstacle—he currently earns €3.2 million net per season, a significant commitment for the club's budget. The willingness of both Atalanta's management and sporting director Palladino to sanction a sale will also prove decisive in any potential transfer. With the summer window approaching, Roma face important decisions across their attacking department. Scamacca has been a long-standing target and continues to feature prominently among the club's transfer priorities.

Roma continue preparations at Trigoria ahead of their Serie A matchday 36 fixture against Parma. Donyell Malen has returned to group training after a recent absence. Updates on the availability of other squad members, including Lorenzo Pellegrini and details regarding Zaragoza, remain part of the team's assessment as they build toward the upcoming match.

Donyell Malen returned to full group training at Trigoria on Wednesday as Roma prepared for Sunday's match against Parma. The forward had completed personalized recovery work the previous day as part of his planned rehabilitation schedule and trained with the squad this morning. Malen is set to lead Roma's attack in the fixture, aiming for the breakthrough that eluded him twice against Fiorentina when the crossbar denied him. Lorenzo Pellegrini and Bryan Zaragoza remain unavailable, having undertaken separate work away from the main group. With three days remaining before Sunday's encounter, both players are unlikely to recover in time for the Parma fixture. Roma's priority is to have Pellegrini fit for the Derby della Capitale against Lazio the following week, followed by the final away match of the season at Verona. Details remain unclear regarding the specific nature of the injuries affecting Pellegrini and Zaragoza.

Italian radio commentators have offered their views on Roma's prospects and squad planning. Piero Torri stated that Gasperini considers the squad strong and is requesting three signings to complement Malen and Wesley. Torri added: "If the Friedkin Group confirms their trust and listens to Gasperini, there will be no revolution. The next season has already begun: who is planning it? D'Amico and Manna have ongoing contracts and must be freed up. Roma is not inferior to Juventus." Gasperini's role involves direct communication with ownership, but questions remain about coordination between the coaching staff and sporting directors. Roberto Pruzzo emphasized the importance of alignment: "It's normal to disagree, but what matters is that you're seeking the same type of player. If this year Gasperini wanted to go in one direction and Massara in another, I can't say, but there must be a dialogue between the parties because too much is at stake." Lorenzo Pes suggested Gasperini works with a core of 15 players and needs around 22–23 for a full squad. Pes expects Celik and Pellegrini to remain while Ndicka and Koné may be sold. Soulé's status is uncertain due to a groin issue. Nando Orsi noted Roma's history under American ownership: "As soon as you make a mistake the first time, they send you away—that's the American mentality, just like they did before: De Rossi, Mourinho, Ranieri."

Transfermarkt compiled a special top 11 list of Serie A's most costly players based on salary divided by minutes played during the 2024–25 season. Roma features three players in this unflattering ranking: Bryan Zaragoza, Paulo Dybala, and Artem Dovbyk. Zaragoza leads Roma's contingent at 23,148 euros per minute despite playing only 135 minutes. Dovbyk, hampered by injuries, earned 16,667 euros per minute across 384 minutes of action, while Dybala accumulated 11,857 euros per minute over 1,088 minutes played. The metric highlights the financial pressure Roma faces when squad performance falls short of investment. The club is not alone in this struggle; Inter features several expensive fringe players including Diouf, Frattesi, De Vrij, and Darmian with similarly high per-minute costs. Lazio's Hysaj also appears in the analysis with approximately 21,000 euros per minute. Juventus's Vlahovic dominates the entire list, commanding 29,960 euros per minute across 741 minutes played.

Roma continue preparations at Trigoria ahead of their Serie A matchday 36 fixture against Parma. Donyell Malen has returned to group training after a recent absence. Updates on the availability of other squad members, including Lorenzo Pellegrini and details regarding Zaragoza, remain part of the team's assessment as they build toward the upcoming match.

Donyell Malen returned to full group training at Trigoria on Wednesday as Roma prepared for Sunday's match against Parma. The forward had completed personalized recovery work the previous day as part of his planned rehabilitation schedule and trained with the squad this morning. Malen is set to lead Roma's attack in the fixture, aiming for the breakthrough that eluded him twice against Fiorentina when the crossbar denied him. Lorenzo Pellegrini and Bryan Zaragoza remain unavailable, having undertaken separate work away from the main group. With three days remaining before Sunday's encounter, both players are unlikely to recover in time for the Parma fixture. Roma's priority is to have Pellegrini fit for the Derby della Capitale against Lazio the following week, followed by the final away match of the season at Verona. Details remain unclear regarding the specific nature of the injuries affecting Pellegrini and Zaragoza.