Wesley relaxes on Ponza island after World Cup exit

AS Roma players have begun their 2026 World Cup campaigns. El Aynaoui impressed in his opening match, while Celik suffered an injury during his nation's fixture. The tournament marks the start of international duty for the Giallorossi contingent. Details of specific performances and match outcomes remain unclear from the available information. Roma will monitor their squad members' progress throughout the competition, particularly given Celik's reported injury concern, which could have implications for the club's availability when domestic football resumes.

Alessandro Romano, a young Italian-Swiss talent from Roma's academy, has attracted significant interest from several Serie A clubs following a positive loan spell at Spezia last season. Bologna, Torino, Fiorentina, and Sassuolo are all monitoring the prospect, with Bologna having attempted to sign him a year earlier. Romano is expected to return to Roma this summer but is unlikely to remain at the club, instead moving elsewhere either permanently or on loan. Roma's academy at Trigoria has long been a source of talent and revenue for the club. The Giallorossi are reportedly anticipating a competitive auction scenario for Romano's services, which could significantly raise his market value well above the initial €2 million figure. Such a sale would also generate a full capital gain (plusvalenza) for the club's financial accounts. The interest from multiple clubs reflects the value Roma places on their youth academy graduates, particularly young Italian players developed at Trigoria. Details remain unclear on the timeline for Romano's departure or the final destination, but the reported auction among Serie A rivals suggests the player's next move could come soon.

Donyell Malen is set to play for the Netherlands against Japan in a key international fixture, with Dutch football figures and supporters expressing confidence in the AS Roma forward despite some poor finishing in recent friendlies. The match comes at a time when the Netherlands is debating who should lead the attack, with Malen facing competition for the starting role. Malen has enjoyed an impressive run of form over recent months with Roma, but made some costly mistakes in his last two warm-up games. Nevertheless, the majority of Dutch opinion remains firmly in his corner. Ibrahim Afellay, a former Netherlands international now serving as PSV vice-coach and pundit, publicly backed the Roma forward, stating: "For me there is nothing to discuss. I would play him in attack. Depay has certainly shown he deserves that spot, that is clear. But he is not yet in form. Should we perhaps bench someone like Malen, who is at the height of his form and who has played brilliantly with Roma for six months, simply because he missed chances in two matches? I also believe you must give him opportunities and long-term confidence. He is the future of the Netherlands." Dutch supporters interviewed by DAZN echoed this backing, with comments including: "He will score today, he will be the top scorer!", "I really like him, he will be decisive!", and "So far he hasn't had the chance to show everything he is worth, I hope he manages it in this tournament."

AS Roma winger Wesley is recovering from injury with a day of rest at sea following his withdrawal from the Brazil national team setup. The player, sidelined due to an injury that forced him to leave the Brazilian camp, has been enjoying downtime on a boat near Ponza. Wesley's absence from the World Cup represents a setback for both the player and Roma's squad depth. His time away from football allows for recovery before returning to competitive action. The injury that led to his departure from international duty remains a concern for Roma's management as they assess his availability for upcoming matches.

Roma is reshaping its fullback options this summer. Angeliño, a 1997-born left-back, is reportedly a target for Deportivo La Coruña, the Spanish club where he developed and recently returned to Liga. However, Angeliño's priority is to prove his value to Gasperini at Roma after missing most of last season through a serious, prolonged injury that affected his fitness and availability. With Wesley established on the left and Tsimikas returning to Liverpool, Angeliño's future remains uncertain as he seeks to regain his place in the squad. On the right flank, Roma's interest in Dodò has reportedly strengthened. The Brazilian fullback, 27, plays for Fiorentina under a contract running until 2027 but desires Champions League football. Napoli has also pursued him, though the club may step back from the competition soon. Rensch's status at Roma is described as uncertain, while Celik moves closer to a contract extension. Roma's fullback reshuffling reflects the need for greater depth and injury resilience across both flanks after a disrupted campaign.

AS Roma midfielder Wesley will miss Brazil's opening match at the 2026 World Cup against Morocco, which takes place at midnight at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Wesley, who was travelling towards a starting-place selection, is sidelined from Brazil's Group C opener under former Roma coach Carlo Ancelotti. The match will be broadcast on RAI and DAZN. Other Roma players are set to feature in the tournament's opening fixtures. Turkish defender Celik takes the field on Sunday morning at 6 a.m. as part of Montella's Turkey squad against Australia in Group D. Netherlands winger Malen will debut Sunday evening at 10 p.m. against Japan. Additional Roma-connected players include Costa d'Avorio's Ndicka, who opens Monday night against Ecuador, and France's Koné, scheduled for Tuesday evening against Senegal. Wesley received a warm reception from Roma fans at Fiumicino airport ahead of his World Cup departure, with supporters chanting 'Forza Roma!' The tournament represents the first World Cup featuring Roma players at the 2026 edition. Brazil's squad will be without one of their key midfield options as they begin their campaign in Group C.