Malen says criticism doesn't concern him ahead of World Cup

AS Roma has resumed negotiations with Kerim Alajbegovic, a 2007-born winger at Bayer Leverkusen, following head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's backing for the move. The club is actively seeking to strengthen its attacking options ahead of the upcoming season. Alajbegovic impressed last season on loan at Salisburgo, recording 9 goals and 3 assists before Bayer Leverkusen exercised their option to reacquire him. Roma faces significant competition from English side Sunderland, where former Roma director Florent Ghisolfi holds influence and would like to bring Alajbegovic to the Premier League. The financial hurdle remains substantial: Bayer Leverkusen is reportedly demanding approximately €30 million for the Bosnian talent. While this fee is lower than the €50–55 million Marseille is asking for Mason Greenwood, it still represents a considerable investment for Roma as the club reshapes its squad under Gasperini's direction. The club's pursuit of multiple offensive reinforcements signals their intent to compete strongly in the coming campaign, though multiple suitors for the available targets may complicate matters.

Younès El Aynaoui, a former professional tennis player, has spoken about his son Neil's development in an interview with Belgian broadcaster RTBF. The father discussed Neil's ambitions and his move to Roma, noting that his son was keen to find playing space at a major club. Details of Neil's specific role at Roma remain unclear from the available information.

Roma's incoming director Tony D'Amico is targeting Atalanta left-back Lorenzo Bernasconi as his first major signing. The 2003-born winger has impressed at Atalanta this season and has reportedly earned approval from Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini, who previously worked with him. However, Atalanta will demand a fee of €20–25 million to release the player and are unlikely to negotiate on price. Bernasconi has established himself as one of Serie A's most effective left-backs this season, recording 1.8 crosses per game with a 28.3% success rate and creating 1.55 chances per 90 minutes. The product of Atalanta's academy has drawn attention from multiple European clubs beyond Roma. D'Amico, who has recently completed his move from Atalanta to take the director role at Roma, is said to have clear ideas about the squad's needs and views Bernasconi as a priority target. Bernasconi's departure from Atalanta remains uncertain, though summer is considered a likely window for a potential move. Details remain unclear on Roma's readiness to meet Atalanta's valuation or the timeline for any formal approach.

Roma have opened the door to loaning out Robinio Vaz, the French attacker who arrived from Marseille in January for €22 million. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini does not yet consider the 2007-born talent ready to serve as a reliable understudy to Donyell Malen, prompting the club to explore loan options to provide him with more playing time and continuity. The move aims to accelerate his development away from the club before potentially reintegrating him into Roma's future plans. Vaz has impressed in flashes during his six months in Rome, including scoring a significant goal against Lecce, but Gasperini's assessment suggests he requires match experience at a higher level than the squad's current setup can offer him. The club will listen to offers for the young forward, who has already attracted interest from several Italian clubs, notably Bologna, who were impressed by his performances in Europa League matches. By securing a loan move, Vaz would gain the opportunity to demonstrate his qualities in a more prominent role while Roma preserve his long-term value. The strategy reflects the club's confidence in his potential while acknowledging the competitive pressures of the current squad.

AS Roma sent a message of encouragement to five players competing in the FIFA World Cup, posting personalised messages across their social media channels. The club wished luck to Ndicka, Celik, El Aynaoui, Malen, and Koné ahead of the tournament. Wesley, who was also expected to participate with Brazil, was unavailable due to an injury sustained in a friendly match before the squad's departure. The five Roma representatives will make their tournament debuts across consecutive days. El Aynaoui will be the first to take the field on 14 June at midnight (Italian time) as his team faces Brazil. On the same day, Celik and Turkey play Australia at 6 a.m., while Malen and the Netherlands face Japan at 10 p.m. Evan Ndicka and the Côte d'Ivoire will play Ecuador on 15 June, with Manu Koné completing Roma's World Cup contingent on 16 June against Senegal at 9 p.m.

Donyell Malen squandered a straightforward goal-scoring opportunity in a Netherlands warm-up match against Uzbekistan, which the Dutch won 2–0 through two penalties converted by Gakpo. Malen, a current AS Roma player, failed to capitalize on the chance in the penalty area—an uncharacteristic error for him. This marked his second blank outing in the pre-World Cup friendlies, having also failed to score in an earlier test against Algeria, which ended in defeat. Netherlands coach Koeman addressed the finishing concerns in his post-match press conference, acknowledging the squad's broader issue with converting opportunities. The coach noted that in both recent friendlies, the team had scored only from penalties, adding pressure to performers in open play. Koeman stated: "In these two matches we've scored two goals from penalties. We create the chances, but if we don't score these matches we risk drawing them. Summerville and Malen missed two goals." The Netherlands opens its World Cup campaign on 14 June against Japan, followed by matches against Sweden and Tunisia. Malen's involvement in those fixtures will be closely watched given his recent form in front of goal during the preparatory phase.