Benatia discusses El Aynaoui's Roma stint and failed Marseille move

Atlético Madrid has set a asking price of €30 million for Argentine defender Molina, who has emerged as a target for Roma as the club seeks a new right-back option. Head coach Gasperini is keen on the former Udinese player, who is also of interest to Inter, Juventus, and Napoli. Molina is contracted to Atlético until 2028, and club leadership under Simeone has indicated a strong desire to retain him, creating a significant obstacle to any potential move. Roma's interest in Molina comes as the club continues to evaluate defensive reinforcements on the right flank. Current right-back Celik is close to agreeing a contract renewal, but the club remains open to alternatives. The €30 million valuation represents a substantial investment, though Atlético's determination to keep Molina—in contrast to their more flexible stance on other defenders like Ruggeri—suggests negotiations could prove challenging. Roma will face competition from multiple Serie A rivals pursuing the same target.

Roma has moved to protect Wesley following recent speculation linking the defender to Inter. The club's position on the matter is described as firm, signalling its intent to retain the player despite reported interest from both Inter and Chelsea. The move represents Roma's clear message to rival clubs that Wesley is not available for departure. Details remain unclear regarding the specific terms of any new agreement or formal statement from the club.

Juventus are reportedly targeting a reunion with Matías Soulé, the AS Roma winger they sold to the Giallorossi in summer 2024 for approximately €25 million. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Turin club are considering Soulé as a potential replacement for Edon Zhegrova after a disappointing season under Luciano Spalletti. Juventus are also pursuing a return for Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain, but Soulé has emerged as a concrete target to bolster their attacking options. Soulé's form at Roma has deteriorated significantly in his second season. The 23-year-old Argentine managed only six goals in 33 Serie A appearances and has lost his starting position under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Roma are reportedly willing to listen to offers for the out-of-favor forward, though Soulé has no desire to move to Saudi Arabia and prefers to remain in Europe. A return to Juventus could be feasible, though the Bianconeri would likely need to spend around €30 million to acquire their former prospect. Soulé established himself as a regular starter during his first campaign in Rome, but declining performance has prompted Gasperini to deem him surplus to requirements. Details on the timeline and likelihood of the move remain unclear.

Mehdi Benatia, a former Roma and Juventus defender now serving as an executive at Marseille, commented on Moroccan midfielder El Aynaoui in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. Benatia expressed surprise at El Aynaoui's limited playing time at Roma despite recognizing his quality. He revealed an attempt to sign the player for Marseille but stated the cost was prohibitive. Benatia said: "He is very strong because he combines quality and quantity. I didn't understand why he played less at Roma than I would have expected. I tried to bring him to my Marseille, but he was too expensive." El Aynaoui has been a Roma midfielder in recent seasons, and the comments suggest the club may not have maximized his deployment. Benatia also praised other Moroccan players, particularly Bouaddi, whom he described as exceptional talent with significant market value—reportedly worth over €100 million—and unlikely to move to Italy due to cost. The interview was conducted during discussion of Morocco's World Cup campaign and performance.

AS Roma players competing at the World Cup have experienced contrasting fortunes in the group stage. Zeki Çelik has been eliminated with Turkey after finishing last in his group, while Mady Koné progressed with France, who defeated Norway 4–1. Evan Ndicka's Ivory Coast will face Norway on the same day as Koné's France takes on Sweden. In a Roma derby clash scheduled for the night of 29–30 June at 3 a.m. Italian time, Donyell Malen's Netherlands will meet the Moroccan side featuring El Aynaoui. The tournament's knockout phase begins on Sunday with the Round of 16 matches. Ndicka has yet to feature in the competition owing to an injury sustained over a month ago in the Derby della Capitale but hopes to start against Norway. Malen, representing the Netherlands, will be in action alongside Moroccan players, setting up a match between two Roma representatives on opposite sides. The progression of Roma's World Cup contingent continues to shape the club's fixture planning and injury recovery schedules heading into the tournament's decisive stages.

Several AS Roma players are competing in World Cup group stages across three host nations, with most facing decisive matches within 24 hours to secure knockout round qualification. Donyell Malen's Netherlands play Tunisia tonight, needing victory to maintain first-place position ahead of Japan and Sweden, though the Dutch are virtually assured of advancing even as runners-up. Equally important is Ivory Coast's clash with Curaçao, where Evan Ndicka—recently returned from injury—needs only a draw to mathematically confirm second place. Morocco, featuring El Aynaoui in a prominent role, has already qualified as runners-up behind Brazil and could face the Netherlands in the Round of 16. Manuel Koné's France has already advanced to the knockout stage and will determine their final group position tomorrow against Norway at 9 p.m. Turkey, however, has been eliminated after two consecutive defeats. Merih Çelik's team faces the United States in a meaningless fixture tomorrow morning. The World Cup's first phase is nearing its end, with these matches serving as the initial elimination round. Roma's contingent of international players will have their qualification hopes resolved or ended within the next day.