Summerville-Gasperini: A long-standing admiration as Dutch winger emerges as Roma's left-wing priority

Mason Greenwood is waiting for a decisive call from Roma as the club pursues the English forward from Marseille. The Friedkin Group has indicated concrete interest in Greenwood, though they have asked for patience. Marseille is demanding €55 million including bonuses—a significant sum but one viewed as manageable by those in the sport. A notable factor in the pursuit is the role of Roma forward Robinio Vaz, who built a strong relationship with Greenwood during their time together at Marseille. The two have maintained contact, and Vaz has been discussing Roma's potential with Greenwood, highlighting coach Gian Piero Gasperini's work and the opportunities available in the Italian capital. The connection was forged on the pitch in France, where the pair demonstrated productive chemistry: Vaz scored against Paris FC with an assist from Greenwood, and later returned the favour with the crucial pass for Greenwood's goal against Le Havre. This mutual understanding has fostered genuine respect and now translates into a meaningful assist in the transfer market. Roma continues to pursue Greenwood as part of their ambitions to strengthen the squad and compete immediately. The forward awaits the signal that will transform the club's stated interest into formal negotiations.

Roma is preparing to officially announce Tony D'Amico's appointment following negotiations with Atalanta. Among D'Amico's early priorities is addressing the club's flanking options, with Zappacosta emerging as a target. However, Atalanta has resisted Roma's approach for the player, creating an obstacle to the potential transfer. Details on the timeline and Roma's alternative plans remain unclear.

Cristian Volpato is reportedly attracting interest from Fiorentina following a productive season on loan at Sassuolo, where he gained regular playing time. Roma is monitoring the situation closely as potential suitors circle the young talent. The club faces a decision on Volpato's future, with the winger having established himself as a prospect during his time away from the Stadio Olimpico. Details remain unclear regarding Roma's plans to either integrate him into the squad or facilitate a permanent move.

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 has spoken about his approach to handling criticism in football, ahead of his first World Cup with the Netherlands. The Roma attacker will face Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia in the tournament. In an interview with Men's Health, Malen reflected on the nature of professional football, saying: "In football, if you score you're a hero. If you don't touch the ball or miss a goal, you immediately come under fire from criticism. I talk a lot with my wife and the people closest to me: they are the only opinions that can really hurt me. Everything else I let slide off me. And then, when things don't go well, often I'm the first to notice." Malen explained that expectations from supporters reflect their appreciation. He emphasized that he trusts the counsel of his inner circle rather than external judgment, and maintains self-awareness about his own performances. On the World Cup, Malen expressed the significance of the tournament: "It's something you dream about as a kid. Wearing this shirt is a source of pride." The attacker is preparing for what represents a major milestone in his international career with the Dutch national team.