Wesley absent as Brazil opens World Cup 2026; Roma players feature across tournament openers

Roma midfielder Koné has rejected an approach from Atlético Madrid as he waits for concrete interest from PSG. Arsenal, finalists in the last Champions League, have now made concrete moves for the 2001-born French midfielder, with initial contact reportedly made with his representatives. The Arsenal option is reportedly appealing to Koné, whose future remains uncertain. Roma's priority under head coach Gasperini and the club is to meet the Settlement Agreement requirements of 50 million euros by 30 June without sacrificing major players like Ndicka and Koné. The plan focuses on selling players such as Soulé (linked with Aston Villa, Borussia Dortmund, and Arab clubs), Ziolkowski, and other minor assets. However, if attractive offers arrive that are difficult to refuse, Koné would represent a valuable sale for profit purposes, with several European clubs having shown interest in the French midfielder. Beyond Inter, Atlético Madrid was the first to make a move for Koné. Should he depart Roma, the club has Musah in their sights as a potential replacement. Details on the timeline or fee structure remain unclear.

Paulo Dybala has refused to commit to a new contract with AS Roma, stating he has not yet decided his future while speaking from Argentina. The forward said: "Vedremo che cosa succederà. Ormai tutte le squadre sono un'opzione, persino l'Instituto Cordoba, così la gente non si arrabbia. Sono ancora un giocatore della Roma fino alla fine del mese, quindi, per rispetto nei confronti del club non parlerò del mio futuro. Tuttavia, non ho ancora deciso." He added that "Tutto è possibile, nel calcio non si sa mai" and acknowledged that Boca Juniors is also an option, though he declined to elaborate. Despite Dybala's cautious public stance, Roma's hierarchy remains confident that negotiations are progressing. The 32-year-old has submitted a counter-proposal to the club that includes performance bonuses, a flexible contract structure (1+1), and involvement in Roma's centenary celebrations, with the possibility of ending his career at the club. The salary being discussed is approximately €500,000 annually higher than Roma's initial offer of €2 million. The renewal discussions were previously handled by club officials but have now been transferred to newly announced sporting director D'Amico, who will take over negotiations going forward. Roma is also working on separate contract extensions for defenders Çelik and midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini, though Pellegrini is awaiting contact from the club.

A Roma figure identified as Faccini has stated that goalkeeper Mile Svilar, midfielder Konè, and winger Donyell Malen are not for sale in the transfer market. Faccini, who grew up in Roma's youth academy and scored the first goal of the club's historic 1982–83 Serie A title-winning season, made the declaration regarding the club's transfer strategy. The statement signals Roma's intent to retain key players during the upcoming market window, reinforcing their commitment to building around this core group under current management.

Roma are actively pursuing Ruggeri, the former Atalanta defender, as they seek to strengthen their wing positions under head coach Gasperini. The club views him as part of a broader effort to refresh the lateral areas of the pitch, with Wesley alone deemed insufficient to meet the squad's needs. However, Roma face competition from Fiorentina, who have reportedly already made initial contact to test the feasibility of a deal. Ruggeri has made his intentions clear: he wishes to remain at Atlético Madrid, and the Spanish club appears unwilling to part with him. Roma nonetheless remain attentive to developments and ready to pursue the opportunity should an opening arise. Gasperini is keen to add immediate, ready-to-use players to elevate Roma's performance and compete for titles immediately. Beyond the left-back search, Roma's summer transfer activity extends across multiple positions. The club continues to monitor various targets as they work toward strengthening the squad ahead of the new season.

Roma and Juventus are competing for Atletico Madrid left-back Matteo Ruggeri, who could leave the Spanish club after one season. Atletico Madrid paid €17 million to acquire Ruggeri from Atalanta and are now seeking €28–30 million to sell him, with both Serie A clubs potentially willing to pay €22–25 million including add-ons. The 24-year-old made 47 appearances for Atletico in 2025–26 and registered 6 assists. Roma are prioritizing a new left-back regardless of negotiations with Zeki Celik, whose contract expires on June 30th. Ruggeri fits the club's profile and is familiar with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The move would provide balance alongside Wesley's aggressive play on the opposite flank. Juventus, meanwhile, are also pursuing other Atletico Madrid targets, including Alexander Sorloth and Nicolas Gonzalez, and are considering fullbacks in case they sell Andrea Cambiaso later in the summer. Atletico Madrid are also exploring alternatives including Marc Cucurella, Maxi Araujo, and Alejandro Grimaldo, suggesting Ruggeri's future remains uncertain. The defender's solid performances have attracted attention, though questions linger over whether his profile precisely matches what either club ultimately requires this summer.

Angeliño is spending the summer break in Mauritius with his family after a difficult 2024–25 season. The Spanish left-back suffered from bronchitis around October and subsequently struggled to maintain the physical condition demanded by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, becoming a peripheral figure in Roma's closing matches. His wife, Rocio Galindo, shared holiday photos on Instagram. Angeliño faces an uncertain future at Roma. Gasperini is notoriously demanding of his full-backs, and Wesley has already been deployed on the left wing to cover the absence of the former Lipsia defender. The Spaniard has until mid-July to convince Gasperini of his worth during the upcoming pre-season. Though his contract extends until 2028, Roma will explore a sale if Gasperini remains unconvinced. A recovery and retention would benefit both sides, allowing the club to focus its transfer activity elsewhere.

A Roma figure identified as Faccini has stated that goalkeeper Mile Svilar, midfielder Konè, and winger Donyell Malen are not for sale in the transfer market. Faccini, who grew up in Roma's youth academy and scored the first goal of the club's historic 1982–83 Serie A title-winning season, made the declaration regarding the club's transfer strategy. The statement signals Roma's intent to retain key players during the upcoming market window, reinforcing their commitment to building around this core group under current management.

Head coach Gasperini has identified Mason Greenwood and Christian Pulisic as key targets to strengthen Roma's attacking lineup for the upcoming season. A potential Roma front four could feature Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala, Pulisic, and Greenwood, though bringing both players to the club remains challenging at this stage. Greenwood, currently at Marseille, is Gasperini's primary objective, while Pulisic is also a direct request from the coach. Negotiations with the French club are expected to be complex. What particularly attracts Gasperini to both players is a shared technical characteristic: both are genuinely two-footed. They perform with equal ability using either foot regardless of their position on the pitch, a quality that translates to increased match-day danger and unpredictability. This ambidexterity is relatively rare among elite footballers. Gasperini views both as international-level profiles ready for a Champions League campaign and capable of delivering quality, goals, and the kind of performances that energize supporters. Current constraints limit Roma's immediate pursuit of both targets. The club must balance Financial Fair Play requirements, with a €60 million net spend target by June 30, though qualifying for the Champions League has strengthened Roma's negotiating position. Dybala is expected to renew his contract, while Malen remains a confirmed fixture in the squad.

Donyell Malen has faced criticism from the Netherlands following two friendly matches in the World Cup buildup, with concerns raised about whether his strong end-of-season form at Roma was genuine. Dutch figures including Huntelaar and Van Nistelrooy have offered advice, while some have questioned the quality of Italian football. However, the article argues these concerns are overblown by drawing a parallel to Kylian Mbappé, who similarly failed to score in France's two pre-tournament friendlies despite being the tournament favorites' star striker. The piece contends that Mbappé's situation proves that poor friendly performances should not trigger alarm. France's manager Deschamps reportedly joked that Mbappé was conserving his goals for the actual World Cup, and French media remained unconcerned. By this logic, the Netherlands should have equal confidence in Malen, who impressed Roma fans late in the domestic season and has delivered in crucial matches, including Champions League competition. Coach Koeman is described as having already anticipated Malen as the ideal forward for World Cup ambitions. The article suggests that if Koeman hopes to achieve something significant at the tournament, he must place his faith in Malen—described as Roma's "man of destiny." The broader point emphasizes that World Cup preparation friendlies often provide limited statistical value, serving mainly to build match fitness before competition begins in earnest.