Malen's Passions: Cars, Music, and a Confession About an Accident

Midfielder Manu Koné is set to make his World Cup debut for France against Senegal, with Arsenal actively monitoring his performance. The Gunners have accelerated their pursuit and reportedly reached an agreement with the French midfielder, who plays for Roma. Koné rejected Atlético Madrid and continues to await an offer from PSG, his hometown club, but Arsenal remains a serious suitor offering Premier League football that suits his profile. Roma faces a critical transfer decision with a 30 June deadline approaching. Head coach Gasperini wants to retain Koné but the club may need to sell him to fund incoming transfers, particularly winger Mason Greenwood from Marseille. Matías Soulé, the Argentine winger, was initially viewed as the more expendable option due to lower expected resale value, but concrete offers have not materialized. Roma is reportedly demanding €50 million for Koné and will not accept a lower figure, even from Arsenal. The club aims to complete a settlement agreement to avoid further financial constraints on the transfer market. With just two weeks until the deadline, Roma must decide which player to sell. Without concrete offers for Soulé, the club may be forced to consider Koné's departure, despite Gasperini's preference to keep him. Koné remains one of the most sought-after players in the market and could generate significant funds for Roma's summer business.

Mason Greenwood has accepted AS Roma's offer as Head Coach Gian Piero Gasperini pursues the English forward to strengthen the club's attacking department. Greenwood would earn approximately 4.5 million euros per season under a contract that could increase over time. However, an agreement with Marseille remains outstanding, with the French club holding firm on an initial asking price of at least 50 million euros. Gasperini views Greenwood as the ideal addition to transform Roma into a Champions League-calibre team. Roma and Marseille are working through the financial details of the deal, with a resale percentage to Manchester United now set at 30% thanks to a clause in the previous agreement between the two clubs. The negotiations are expected to intensify in the coming weeks, as both clubs face pressing financial considerations. Marseille's request may increase from July onwards, when a 60 million euro release clause is scheduled to activate. However, Greenwood's departure from Marseille before month's end remains probable given the French club's severe financial difficulties. Roma is maintaining active contact with both the player and Marseille as discussions advance.

France begin their 2026 World Cup campaign on Tuesday, 16 June at 21:00 against Senegal. The focus falls on midfielder Koné, a Roma player, as he prepares for his tournament debut on this significant stage. His performance is expected to attract the attention of several top European clubs monitoring his development. The match represents an important opportunity for Koné to showcase his abilities at the highest level of international football.

Paolo Marcacci has issued his weekly ratings for notable performers across Italian football, highlighting an emerging talent in Bouaddi and praising the performance of Donyell Malen. The ratings cover a range of players and matches from the week's action. Malen, AS Roma's Dutch winger, featured prominently in the assessment following a positive showing. The piece provides critical evaluation of form and contribution across the broader Italian football landscape during the period.

Summerville has moved ahead of Donyell Malen in Roma's transfer priorities following an impressive display for the Netherlands against Japan at the World Cup. The winger delivered a standout performance that drew praise and increased attention from other clubs, complicating Roma's pursuit. Head coach Gasperini is keen on the player, who possesses the quality and technical ability the club seeks. However, multiple obstacles stand between Summerville and a move to the Giallorossi. His wage demands of €6 million per season are considered excessive for Roma's budget, pushing the club to explore alternative targets. More significantly, his World Cup performance has raised his profile and market value, attracting additional suitors and increasing the West Ham asking price. Roma risks Summerville following the path of other players who gained prominence at the tournament; the example of Saibari, who moved to Bayern Munich for approximately €60 million after scoring against Brazil, illustrates how World Cup visibility can dramatically alter transfer dynamics and costs. Roma continues to monitor the situation and harbors ambitions of eventually securing both Summerville and Malen in yellow and red. The club acknowledges the transfer could become more difficult and expensive if Summerville maintains strong form throughout the tournament. In the meantime, Roma may pivot toward more accessible and concrete targets.

Head coach Gasperini has identified goal-scoring as Roma's key area for improvement heading into next season, despite finishing third in Serie A. The team struggled in attack until January, cycling through Dovbyk, Ferguson, and Baldanzi as false nines without consistent results. Since acquiring Donyell Malen, Gasperini wants to add more threat across the pitch, particularly in midfield and attacking areas. Matías Soulé, who scored 6 goals this season as Roma's second-leading marksman behind Malen, has emerged as a potential sacrifice in pursuit of that ambition. Gasperini believes Soulé lacks the killer instinct demanded in the penalty area, prompting Roma to target replacements with superior finishing records. Prospective targets include Mason Greenwood, Luis Summerville, Christian Pulisic, and Christopher Nkunku—all players accustomed to contributing goals regularly. Statistical comparison reveals Soulé ranked last among these candidates for expected goals (3.96 xG), well behind Greenwood (14.39), Nkunku (9.48), and Pulisic (8.07). The analysis also highlighted Soulé's excessive ball losses—averaging 12.0 per match compared to 3.6 for Nkunku and 7.6 for Pulisic—a pattern both Claudio Ranieri and Gasperini have previously emphasized as frustrating. Gasperini's ideal profile targets concrete, efficient attacking play with fewer unnecessary touches and fewer turnovers. For Roma to compete at Champions League level, the coaching staff prioritizes goals, intensity, and consistency in the final third of the pitch.