Gasperini to hold pre-derby press conference ahead of Roma vs Lazio

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will conduct a press conference at Roma's Trigoria training ground tomorrow as part of the club's match preparation. The timing comes as Roma finalise arrangements for an upcoming derby. The specific time of the conference has been set, though details of the exact hour remain unclear from this summary. Gasperini took charge of Roma in 2025 and holds sole responsibility for team selection, tactics, and all press communications. The press conference represents standard pre-match protocol as the club prepares for the next fixture.

Roma's Primavera side face Hellas Verona on the final day of the regular season in a match with significant playoff implications. Victory would secure fourth place and home advantage in the playoff phase, while also giving Roma two favorable outcomes from three possible results. Coach Guidi stressed the importance of the fixture and urged his team to avoid the mental pitfalls that come with playing under pressure. Guidi highlighted finishing as a seasonal weakness despite the squad's strong overall play. He said: "A Verona will be a very important match for us, because we're playing for the chance to host the playoff match and have two results out of three available. The approach will be decisive, trying to play carefree, following what we did in terms of build-up, possession and continuity of play with Sassuolo, clearly improving in the finishing phase, which is somewhat our seasonal regret of a defect. We must be better at converting the large volume of play the team produces and be more incisive in front of goal." He also noted that Verona, with no objectives remaining, could play freely and create an unpredictable challenge. Regarding squad availability, Guidi confirmed the team is in good physical condition. Mirra is unavailable due to a shoulder problem sustained against Sassuolo, while Tumminelli's season has ended. Other squad members are fit for selection, with disciplinary suspensions to be reset after the Verona match.

Gianluca Mancini has emphasized Roma's focus as the club enters the final and decisive phase of the season. The defender stressed maximum concentration on the race for Champions League qualification. Mancini's message reflects Roma's commitment to securing a top-four finish in Serie A. The club is in the closing stages of the campaign with the European berth as a key objective for the remainder of the season.

Roma returned to training on Friday morning to prepare for Sunday's Derby della Capitale against Lazio, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini having his full squad available for the first time this season. Key players Lorenzo Pellegrini and Dovbyk have recovered from injury, with only Ferguson remaining sidelined since January. Gasperini plans to field almost the same lineup that defeated Parma, with Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen guaranteed starting positions. The main selection decision centers on the attacking midfield role, where Niccolò Pisilli holds a slight edge over Matías Soulé. The defensive line is expected to consist of Gianluca Mancini, Ndicka, and Hermeso in front of goalkeeper Mile Svilar. Celik and Wesley will operate on the flanks, with Bryan Cristante and Koné forming the midfield partnership. This represents a significant shift in Gasperini's options, as squad depth and injury recovery have previously limited his tactical flexibility throughout the campaign.

Roma are looking to recruit a deputy striker to support Donyell Malen, who has impressed since joining the club. Current alternatives Robinio Vaz is considered too inexperienced, Evan Ferguson will not be retained, and Artem Dovbyk is set to leave after a prolonged thigh injury. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is a confirmed admirer of Gianluca Scamacca, who plays for Atalanta. Scamacca has scored 14 goals and provided 3 assists in 37 appearances this season while sharing striker duties with Nenad Krstovic. He remains under contract with Atalanta until 2027, and his valuation stands at approximately €30 million—the same fee Atalanta paid for him three years ago. Scamacca came through Roma's youth academy but departed at age 16 to join PSV. He later had successful spells at Sassuolo before stints at West Ham and Atalanta, though an ACL injury in April 2024 set back his progress. Roma may attempt to use Dovbyk as a bargaining chip in negotiations. Fiorentina have shown interest in the Ukrainian forward, who has underperformed in Serie A, while Fiorentina's Roberto Piccoli faces similar struggles after a reported €30 million investment. A swap deal between the clubs could benefit both sides. Roma's transfer budget for this role may depend on funds recovered from Dovbyk's departure, as financial constraints limit spending on additional positions.

Roma travel to Stadio Ennio Tardini on Sunday to face Parma in a crucial Serie A fixture as they pursue Champions League qualification. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's side sit three points behind fourth-placed Milan and cannot afford mistakes in their bid to secure a top-four finish. Roma have won three of their last four league matches, including a 4-0 victory over Fiorentina on Monday, and are seeking their second consecutive double over Parma after a 2-1 win in the reverse fixture in October. Parma have struggled at home recently, going winless in three of their last four league outings at the Ennio Tardini, though they achieved a 1-1 draw against Napoli in that sequence. Head coach Carlos Cuesta's side have won only two of their last three home meetings with Roma. Roma's record away from home presents concerns—they have lost four of their last six Serie A games on the road, though they have been formidable against lower-ranked opponents this season with 19 wins from 23 top-flight clashes against sides currently outside the top seven. For team news, Roma will be without Lorenzo Pellegrini, Evan Ferguson, Artem Dovbyk, and Bryan Zaragoza. Paulo Dybala and Manu Kone are expected back from injury, with Dybala likely to start on the bench. Matías Soulé and Niccolò Pisilli are anticipated to feature behind striker Donyell Malen. Parma face absences including Adrian Bernabe (muscle injury) and Gaetano Oristanio (knee problem). Roma are predicted to secure a narrow away victory.

Roma returned to training on Friday morning to prepare for Sunday's Derby della Capitale against Lazio, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini having his full squad available for the first time this season. Key players Lorenzo Pellegrini and Dovbyk have recovered from injury, with only Ferguson remaining sidelined since January. Gasperini plans to field almost the same lineup that defeated Parma, with Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen guaranteed starting positions. The main selection decision centers on the attacking midfield role, where Niccolò Pisilli holds a slight edge over Matías Soulé. The defensive line is expected to consist of Gianluca Mancini, Ndicka, and Hermeso in front of goalkeeper Mile Svilar. Celik and Wesley will operate on the flanks, with Bryan Cristante and Koné forming the midfield partnership. This represents a significant shift in Gasperini's options, as squad depth and injury recovery have previously limited his tactical flexibility throughout the campaign.

Italian radio commentators discussed Roma's approaching Derby della Capitale fixture, focusing on the midday kick-off time and likely team lineup. Roberto Pruzzo remarked on the advantages of an early start, saying: "Playing earlier is better: time flies, and at a dietary level it's simpler, especially because there are no dead time. In terms of logistics, for a footballer it's the best solution." Piero Torri suggested Lorenzo Pellegrini is unlikely to start, with the choice between Matías Soulé and Bryan Cristante to replace him. He noted that Niccolò Pisilli is performing well and would likely be retained, with Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen expected to lead the attack. Stefano Agresti defended Roma's organizational capacity and questioned the debate over the noon fixture in May, stating the climate should not pose a problem. Lorenzo Pes highlighted Lazio's difficult situation following their Coppa Italia defeat, noting the absence of key defenders and suggesting their main attacking threat lies with their wide players on the counterattack. Alessandro Fusco criticized the scheduling decision as problematic from a public order perspective, claiming the fixture should not have been scheduled on the same day as another major final.

Donyell Malen's transfer to AS Roma has been officially completed after a mandatory purchase clause was triggered. Lazio's defeat to Inter in the Coppa Italia final automatically secured Roma's qualification for at least the Europa League, which activated the obligation to buy the Dutch winger for €25 million on a four-year contract. Malen arrived in Italy in mid-January and has since scored 14 goals in his debut season, breaking Mario Balotelli's record as the most prolific foreign acquisition in Serie A history. Malen now prepares for the Derby della Capitale against Lazio, seeking to add to his impressive tally. His form has been vital to Roma's Champions League ambitions, with crucial goals scored against Parma last weekend helping keep the club in contention. The derby arrives at a significant moment for the club: Paulo Dybala's contract renewal talks have progressed favourably following Ryan Friedkin's recent presence at the club's training ground, though the deal hinges on salary reductions offset by appearance-based bonuses. Lorenzo Pellegrini is close to extending his own deal and should return to the squad after serving a suspension. In midfield, Niccolò Pisilli is favoured to start ahead of Matías Soulé following Roma's recovery of key personnel. The club has also registered interest in Saviolo from Vitória Guimarães, though details remain unclear on the scope of that pursuit.

Donyell Malen has been nominated for Serie A's EA SPORTS FC Player of the Month award for May following an outstanding run of form. The Dutch forward scored 2 goals in Roma's two matches during the month, including a brace against Parma, and provided an assist against Fiorentina. Since his arrival in mid-January, Malen has netted 13 goals, making him the best January signing by goals scored in Serie A history. Under head coach Gasperini, Malen has become a driving force in Roma's push for Champions League qualification. His impact in Serie A has been described as significant, and his nomination reflects his consistent contributions on both goal-scoring and playmaking fronts. The forward's number 14 shirt has become central to Roma's attacking approach this season. Malen faces competition from five other nominees: Laurientè (Sassuolo), Lautaro Martinez (Inter), Noslin (Lazio), Okoye (Udinese), and Vlahovic (Juventus). The Serie A selection process used advanced analytics from Kama Sport, incorporating Hawk-Eye tracking data alongside traditional statistics to evaluate player performance across positioning, movement off the ball, decision-making, and overall team contribution across matches 35–36 of the 2025–26 season.

Mason Greenwood, currently at Marseille, is reportedly Roma's primary attacking target under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The club believes that securing Malen alone will not be sufficient to close the technical gap between Roma and competing Serie A sides. Greenwood tops Gasperini's wishlist as Roma look to strengthen their forward options in the transfer market. The move would represent a significant investment in attacking reinforcement as the club aims to bridge the quality divide with rival teams this season.

Ivory Coast has named Ndicka in its squad for the upcoming World Cup. The African nation will compete in Group E alongside Ecuador, Germany, and Curaçao. Ivory Coast's tournament begins on 15 June against Ecuador, followed by a match against Germany on 20 June and a group-stage finale against Curaçao on 25 June. Ndicka's selection comes as several AS Roma players have received international call-ups ahead of the tournament. Alongside Ndicka, Roma players Celik, Wesley, El Aynaoui, and Malen are expected to participate in the World Cup. Matías Soulé has been included in Argentina's preliminary squad list. The Roma contingent continues to feature prominently in international football, with multiple squad members earning spots in their respective national teams for the global competition.