Roma players set for World Cup action on Saturday — all except Koné

Boca Juniors have not abandoned their interest in Paulo Dybala. Rodolfo Arruabarrena, the club's newly appointed coach, has made direct contact with the Roma forward to explain the technical project and stress that Boca want him at any cost. However, Dybala remains focused on extending his contract with Roma for the time being, though negotiations have not yet reached agreement. Roma have tabled a renewal offer worth 2 million euros per season plus 60,000 euros per appearance of 45 minutes or more. Dybala has countered with his own proposal: 3 million euros annually with a lower performance bonus, or alternatively 2 million euros plus 60,000 euros per appearance regardless of playing time. The two sides are expected to resume talks in the coming days, with Roma's negotiator D'Amico now fully operational following an exemption that was granted two days prior.

AS Roma has received formal approval from the Serie A League for Tony D'Amico to serve as sporting director, clearing the way for accelerated activity across multiple transfer fronts. The club is pursuing English forward Mason Greenwood from Marseille, who are seeking €50 million plus €5 million in bonuses. Roma has already reached personal terms with Greenwood and is working on a payment structure with Marseille: an initial €15–20 million upfront, with the remainder spread across 2–3 seasons. This approach allows Marseille to book the full transaction in their current financial year while keeping Roma's outlay sustainable. Vice-president Ryan Friedkin is involved in negotiations. The pursuit of West Ham attacker Crysencio Summerville appears unlikely to materialize, as Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have entered the race. On the left flank, Roma continues monitoring French options, including Diego Moreira of Strasbourg—though his €40 million asking price is considered excessive. Roma is exploring a loan with obligation to buy structure set at €25 million instead. Other fullback targets remain under consideration. In parallel, negotiations continue over Paulo Dybala's contract renewal. Roma is seeking to bridge differences on base salary and performance-related bonuses. The club's heightened operational capacity under D'Amico is expected to facilitate progress on multiple fronts, particularly before Greenwood's transfer clause rises in July.

Roma midfielder Manu Koné has spoken about how the 2024 Paris Olympics transformed his career trajectory. The French midfielder, who is currently competing in the ongoing Copa América, granted an interview to Le Parisien in which he discussed his journey to prominence and the challenges he faced early on. Koné explained: "They changed my life, I was no longer considered a kid." The 2000-born midfielder acknowledged that his early years were complicated by his own personality and demeanor. He revealed moments of self-doubt during his development: "Without doubt because of my character. I was young, I was very discreet, sometimes even a bit cold. Sometimes I had the impression of not receiving what I deserved. At certain moments, I even asked myself if I wasn't overvaluing myself." Koné recounted a difficult period following a knee injury at Mönchengladbach, when major European clubs showed interest and media speculation linked him to top teams, only for that attention to disappear overnight. The midfielder's emergence at the Olympics marked a significant turning point, establishing him as one of Roma's key assets heading into the current transfer window.

Neil El Aynaoui delivered another strong performance for Morocco following an impressive display against Brazil, helping his country to victory. El Aynaoui demonstrated leadership qualities and influential play, while also helping to neutralize Scotland midfielder McTominay during the match. The performance underscores his growing importance to the Moroccan national team setup. For Roma, the display represents continued positive form from the midfielder on the international stage, building momentum as he balances club and country commitments.

Neil El Aynaoui delivered a commanding display in Morocco's 1–0 victory over Scotland in World Cup action, establishing himself as a central figure in the North African nation's midfield. The Roma midfielder was omnipresent across the pitch, recording 98 touches with 95% passing accuracy while creating chances in the attacking third. He won 6 duels and 4 challenges, bringing defensive stability and intensity to Morocco's setup under coach Ouahbi. His performance included a gladiatorial physical contest with Scotland's McTominay in the first half—a challenge that left El Aynaoui bleeding from the mouth but undeterred—and another confrontation during a corner kick in the second half that resulted in a torn shirt. El Aynaoui's form continues to catch attention as Morocco pursues qualification from Group C. The midfielder demonstrated strong understanding with fellow Moroccan talent Bouaddi, an 18-year-old from Lille who has been linked with Roma as a potential alternative in midfield recruitment discussions. Social media reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, with supporters highlighting his work-rate and composure: one observer noted, "Miglior giocatore del Marocco nelle prime due partite. Facile da sottovalutare, impossibile da ignorare" (Best player for Morocco in the first two matches. Easy to underestimate, impossible to ignore). El Aynaoui will return to action on June 25 in Morocco's final group match against Haiti. He was greeted by Roma supporters with chants of "Forza Roma!" upon his return to Fiumicino airport following the Scotland clash.

Morocco defeated Scotland 1–0 in World Cup Group C action, with a goal from Saibari early in the match. The Moroccan side climbed to the top of the group with 4 points after two matches, level with Brazil, who won 3–0 against Haiti. AS Roma midfielder El Aynaoui played the full 90 minutes alongside Bouaddi in Morocco's midfield, delivering another strong performance marked by defensive recoveries and shots from distance. During the first half, El Aynaoui was involved in a collision with McTominay at the 36-minute mark; he suffered a mouth injury that caused bleeding but continued playing. Turkey's World Cup campaign ended after a second consecutive defeat. The Turkish side lost 1–0 to Paraguay, with Galarza scoring after just two minutes. This loss followed Turkey's opening 2–0 defeat to Australia. Roma's Çelik remained on the bench during the Paraguay match. Turkey's squad was guided by former Roma manager Montella. The knockout blow came in the second half when Paraguay played with 10 men following Almiron's red card in first-half stoppage time; the dismissal followed a VAR review of an incident involving Muldur. With two losses from two matches, Turkey was mathematically eliminated from the 2026 World Cup.

Multiple Premier League clubs are monitoring AS Roma's transfer activity as the summer window progresses. Wesley, the Brazilian winger, has received offers that Roma have rejected, with head coach Gasperini considering him non-negotiable regardless of which flank he plays. Meanwhile, Chelsea has conducted an initial inquiry for midfielder Manu Koné, joining Arsenal in expressing interest, though neither London club has yet made a formal bid. The only concrete offer received for Koné so far comes from Atlético Madrid, valued at 45 million euros with potential bonuses reaching approximately 50 million. Matías Soulé remains a key player under scrutiny from English clubs as a potential departure candidate, particularly in relation to Roma's Settlement Agreement obligations, but no formal offers have reached the club for the Argentine playmaker. The same situation applies to Ziolkowski, who continues to attract attention but has not yet generated concrete proposals. Roma's recruitment strategy appears focused on retaining key assets while managing financial and regulatory requirements, with Gasperini's input proving decisive in squad planning decisions.

Roma are actively reshaping their full-back options ahead of the 2026–27 season. The club is pursuing Diego Moreira, a 21-year-old left winger from Strasbourg who is currently at the World Cup with Belgium and also holds a Portuguese passport. Strasbourg have set an asking price of around €40 million, which Roma consider too high. The club is exploring an alternative structure—a loan deal with a €25 million purchase option—that could make the move feasible. Wesley remains untouchable in the full-back ranks, while Celik's contract renewal is described as near completion. Salah-Eddine is expected to depart, and the futures of Rensch and Angeliño remain uncertain. Roma are also monitoring alternatives including Molina from Atlético Madrid (valued at €15–18 million), with Ruggieri and Dodó from Fiorentina considered less likely targets. On the left flank, Angeliño has attracted interest from Real Betis Sevilla, though the Spanish club is proposing only a loan arrangement. Roma have valued Angeliño at €10 million and are unwilling to discount him, particularly with the June 30 transfer deadline approaching. Angeliño, recovering from a serious injury that limited his involvement last season, is keen to remain at Roma and prove himself to head coach Gian Piero Gasperini during pre-season training, which begins on 13 July.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has ruled out Brazilian winger Dodo as a transfer target for Roma, despite recent speculation linking the Fiorentina player to the club. Gasperini's focus is elsewhere: he prioritizes offensive reinforcements, seeking at least two new attacking signings before addressing other positions, including the wing. Greenwood remains his primary target in attack. Dodo's exclusion from Roma's plans stems from two main factors. Fiorentina's elevated asking price for the Brazilian winger and Gasperini's own preference for alternative profiles have shifted the club's attention away. Among the alternatives now under consideration is Nahuel Molina of Atlético Madrid, whose profile appears to align more closely with the coach's vision for the position. As a result, Dodo is not expected to join Roma as a winger in the coming transfer window, barring unexpected developments. Wesley, Roma's current defender, will continue his partnership with new teammates, with the potential arrival of players like Molina signalling the club's strategic direction. Gasperini's emphasis on attack-first recruitment reflects his tactical priorities as Roma rebuild under the Friedkin Group's ownership.

Donyell Malen will play on the right wing for the Netherlands in their Group B match against Sweden, a fixture already crucial after drawing 0–0 against Japan in their opening game. Coach Ronald Koeman has reshaped the attacking setup, positioning Gakpo on the left, Malen on the right, and Brobbey of Sunderland as the central striker. This marks a change from the first match, where Malen operated in a more central role. Koeman's tactical adjustment aims to generate more attacking opportunities as the Netherlands seeks vital goals in what is effectively a knockout stage match. Malen, who plays for AS Roma in Serie A, will be crucial to the team's attacking threat on the flank rather than leading the line. The strategic shift reflects Koeman's desire to optimize the team's attacking balance while still utilizing Malen's pace and technical abilities in a different capacity. The match against Sweden kicks off at 19:00 local time and represents a critical encounter for the Netherlands' tournament progression.

AS Roma winger Donyell Malen is set to play a leading role for the Netherlands in their World Cup match against Sweden. The tournament has reached a critical phase, and Malen faces an important opportunity to make an impact in attack after a positive opening performance. The extent of his involvement and match details remain unclear from the available information.

Donyell Malen has discussed his approach to professionalism, emphasizing the importance of discipline and a strict lifestyle. The forward has enjoyed a prominent role in Roma's second half of the season, and appears to credit his consistent regimen as central to his performance on the pitch. Malen stated: "Without discipline you don't go anywhere. I follow a rigorous lifestyle." His remarks highlight the mentality he has brought to the club, underscoring his commitment to maintaining the standards required to compete at the highest level.