Koné reflects on life-changing 2024 Paris Olympics and difficult early career

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 defenders Gianluca Mancini and Lorenzo Pellegrini visited a Roman-themed pizzeria in Ibiza, delighting the owner and staff. The establishment displays strong giallorossi colors and evident Roma branding, creating an enthusiastic atmosphere when the two players arrived. The pizzeria owner and personnel reacted with visible joy at the unexpected visit from the Roma players. Both Mancini and Pellegrini have strong connections to Roma—Mancini is a key defensive figure in the squad, while Pellegrini, a Rome native, wears the captain's armband and represents the club's identity both on and off the pitch. The visit underscores the global reach of AS Roma's fanbase and the affection supporters maintain for the club across different regions. Such interactions between players and diaspora Roma communities abroad help strengthen the bond between the club and its international supporters.

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.