El Aynaoui's father reveals Barcelona preference amid transfer speculation

Palermo is actively pushing to sign Alessandro Romano, a 2006-born midfielder from Roma's youth academy, with negotiations between the clubs currently ongoing. Roma has set an initial asking price of approximately 7–8 million euros for the prospect, who has also attracted interest from Bologna and Cagliari in recent days. The transfer represents one of several minor sales Roma is attempting to finalize before the 30 June deadline. The move comes as Roma's sporting director Tony D'Amico held his first meeting with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini to discuss the summer transfer strategy. Roma is working to complete several smaller exits to avoid losing key players such as Koné and Ndicka. D'Amico is also managing the departure of Dovbyk, an attacker who remains on the exit list with Real Betis reportedly among interested clubs and Trabzonspor resuming talks for his signature. Romano's potential sale would represent one of the squad-building adjustments Roma needs to complete in the coming weeks. The exact timeline for resolving negotiations with Palermo remains unclear, though the club's 30 June deadline applies pressure to conclude outstanding transfers.

Artem Dovbyk remains a priority departure for AS Roma during the summer transfer window. The Ukrainian striker has failed to convince head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who is seeking different attacking qualities. Real Betis have now entered the bidding alongside Turkish club Trabzonspor, with the Spanish side also making contact regarding left-back Angelino. A significant valuation gap exists between Roma and Betis over Dovbyk. Roma are demanding at least €25 million for the former Girona player, while Betis are willing to offer approximately €15–16 million. Despite the distance in negotiations, talks are expected to continue as Roma look to complete a sale before the 30 June deadline. A loan arrangement remains a potential alternative if a permanent deal cannot be reached. Director D'Amico is actively working to facilitate Dovbyk's exit as part of Roma's summer restructuring plans.

Manu Koné, the AS Roma midfielder, started for France in their World Cup 2026 match against Iraq on 22 June. He was selected by manager Deschamps to replace Tchouaméni alongside Rabiot in midfield after France's opening victory against Senegal. This marks Koné's first World Cup appearance, underlining his development since joining Roma. The midfielder has attracted significant attention from European clubs. Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham have been monitoring his progress for several weeks. No official transfer offers have reached Roma's headquarters yet, but Koné remains one of the club's most valued prospects in the European market. His emergence as a France international reinforces his standing as a key player in Gasperini's squad plans, though his future remains a point of consideration amid external interest.

Neil El Aynaoui featured in all minutes of Morocco's first two World Cup matches and is determined to establish himself as a key midfielder at Roma following an inconsistent start to his Roma career. The midfielder's physical attributes—speed, dynamism, and work rate—align closely with Gasperini's tactical demands of high pressing, quick transitions, and two-phase play. At the World Cup, El Aynaoui ranks in the top five midfielders for tackles won (15) and defensive contributions (16), and dominated against Scotland alongside Saibari. At Roma, El Aynaoui has underperformed relative to his €25 million transfer fee, scoring sparingly despite averaging 8 goals in 24 appearances for Lens. His Roma struggles partly stem from Gasperini's tactical instructions to drop deeper for build-up play rather than push forward, where he was most dangerous at his previous club. Niccolò Pisilli is also expected to develop further in midfield, and the club may keep Manu Koné—despite interest from Arsenal, Tottenham, and Chelsea—to avoid excessive squad churn in that department. Gasperini expects a marked improvement from El Aynaoui and Pisilli as Roma aims to have four reliable starting midfielders for both Serie A and Champions League competition. El Aynaoui must regain the confidence and creative boldness he displays with Morocco, where he plays alongside the technically proficient Bouaddi. Ricky Massara assured supporters last summer: "He's strong, you will see."

Morocco midfielder Neil El Aynaoui has demonstrated his strong commitment to AS Roma during the American World Cup tournament. Playing a central role in his team's opening matches, El Aynaoui has made visible gestures of loyalty to the giallorossi, appearing in the mixed zone after Morocco's match against Scotland wearing a Roma backpack with the club's logo prominently displayed. Earlier, he had arrived at Morocco's training camp in Rabat with only a tablet and a Roma bag, eschewing the costly branded apparel worn by many teammates and opponents. The midfielder's actions reflect both his personal humility and his deep connection to Roma. Following Morocco's opening match against Brazil, El Aynaoui had already reassured Roma supporters of his commitment to the club, easing concerns about a potential departure during the tournament. His conduct stands in contrast to many fellow international footballers who maintain more institutional or commercially focused approaches to their national team duties. El Aynaoui's sustained visible support for Roma during a major international tournament underscores the strength of his bond with the club and his desire to maintain that connection despite competing at the highest level with his national team.

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.