El Aynaoui celebrates birthday at World Cup as Roma sends wishes

Roma is actively pursuing a rejuvenation of its attacking department in the transfer market. The club has reportedly reached an agreement with Tresoldi; however, the completion of this deal depends on the departure of current striker Dovbyk. Roma's strategy focuses on reducing the average age of its offensive options and reshaping the forward line. The exact timeline and financial details of both the potential Tresoldi arrival and Dovbyk's exit remain unclear, though the moves are seen as interconnected components of the club's broader squad restructuring plans.

Artem Dovbyk's position at Roma remains uncertain as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini does not plan to include the Ukrainian striker in his plans. The club is actively seeking a solution for the 28-year-old, who has fallen out of favour following a difficult second season at the Stadio Olimpico. Dovbyk scored 17 goals in his first season but managed only 3 in the most recent campaign, hampered by injury and a lack of tactical fit under Gasperini's system. Dovbyk previously stated in a Ukrainian podcast: "I want to understand if there is still space for me at Roma." Spanish clubs have emerged as potential destinations, with Real Betis showing the strongest interest, though they are reluctant to meet Roma's €25 million asking price. Atlético Madrid has also been mentioned as a possible alternative, with coach Diego Simeone viewing him as a potential attacking option. The former Girona striker, who enjoyed his best form in La Liga and was named Pichichi before joining Roma, was initially persuaded to move to the club by former manager Daniele De Rossi. Roma is considering various options, including a loan arrangement to preserve the player's value. Details of other interested clubs remain unclear, though a reported Genoa link was quickly dismissed. The situation remains fluid heading into the summer transfer window.

Mile Svilar is preparing for the upcoming season with renewed determination to compete for AS Roma in both domestic and European competitions. The goalkeeper is undergoing intense training sessions as the club prepares for its summer retreat, signaling his readiness to be a key figure for the Giallorossi in the campaign ahead. Svilar's focus on pre-season conditioning reflects Roma's ambitions to challenge for silverware and establish themselves as Champions League contenders. His commitment during this preparatory phase underscores his importance to head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's plans for the new season. The club is prioritizing fitness and tactical development as players return for their summer training schedule. Details regarding the specific timing and location of Roma's summer retreat remain unclear, though the club is evidently prioritizing comprehensive preparation ahead of competitive fixtures. Svilar's determination to deliver for Roma highlights the squad's collective mindset as they look to make an impact both domestically and on the European stage.

Morocco eliminated the Netherlands at the World Cup overnight, advancing to the knockout stages. The result has starkly different implications for two Roma players. Donyell Malen remained on the bench for the entire match and did not play a single minute as the Netherlands were eliminated. Malen had been a key figure in Roma's Champions League push this season, but Netherlands coach Koeman dropped him after a training ground disagreement, initially trying him as a central striker before moving him to the wing. The attacker is now free to return to Europe and plans to enjoy a deserved holiday before joining Roma's preseason training at Trigoria. El Aynaoui, Roma's midfielder, played limited minutes for the club during the regular season but has now seen Morocco reach the World Cup quarter-finals, keeping his tournament dream alive. His impressive performances have reportedly attracted interest from major European clubs. However, Roma has no intention of selling him and plans to promote El Aynaoui to regular starter status next season. His return to Trigoria will be delayed as Morocco continues its World Cup campaign. Malen aims to be available for Roma's early preseason sessions and will look to rebuild his form with the Giallorossi.

Mehdi Benatia has commented on El Aynaoui's time at Roma, noting that the midfielder played less than expected during his time with the Giallorossi. Benatia revealed he previously attempted to bring El Aynaoui to Marseille, suggesting the player was a target for the French club during his tenure there. The exact context of when these events occurred and Benatia's current role remain unclear from the available information.

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.

Evan Ndicka, AS Roma's defender, has been eliminated from the World Cup after Ivory Coast's defeat to Norway. Ndicka remained on the bench throughout the match, continuing a pattern of limited playing time at the tournament. The elimination adds to Roma's international departures, following earlier exits by teammates Celik and Malen from their respective World Cup campaigns. The bench role raises questions about Ndicka's form and selection decisions during the competition.

Evan Ndicka's World Cup campaign has ended without him taking the pitch. The AS Roma defender, who suffered an injury during the derby clash in late May, was unable to recover in time to feature for Ivory Coast. The team was eliminated after losing 2–1 to Norway, who advanced to the knockout stage. Ndicka departs the tournament without appearing in any match. For Roma, Ndicka is now expected to return to the capital imminently. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is awaiting his arrival for the second phase of pre-season training. Teammate Donyell Malen, who was eliminated from the World Cup yesterday, is also anticipated to rejoin the squad around 20 July. Gasperini has signalled his intention to keep both players at the club as the team prepares for the upcoming season. Norway's progression was secured by goals from Nusa and Erling Haaland, with a goal from Diallo temporarily levelling the match in between. Norway now faces Brazil in the next round.

Donyell Malen has turned down a lucrative offer from a Saudi Arabian club in recent days, choosing instead to remain committed to AS Roma. The Dutch forward departed for the Netherlands' World Cup campaign with hopes of establishing himself as a key player for his national team, but a difficult relationship with coach Ronald Koeman led to his exclusion from the squad. Koeman questioned Malen's role and leadership, telling him "he must understand this is high-level football," and the tensions escalated ahead of the Netherlands-Morocco match, resulting in his removal from the squad. Malen is now set to take a holiday before returning to Rome around July 22–23 to begin pre-season training with Roma ahead of the club's departure for Wales. The 26-year-old has made a clear statement of intent by rejecting the Saudi approach, signaling his desire to rebuild his confidence at Stadio Olimpico under Gian Piero Gasperini. The forward's commitment to Roma despite the international disappointment suggests the club views him as a key part of their plans moving forward.

Brazilian fullback Wesley continues his summer recovery work following the shoulder injury that ruled him out of the World Cup. The player is progressing through rehabilitation exercises that now include ball work, with his return to full team training on the horizon. Wesley's injury was a significant setback during the off-season, forcing him to miss the international tournament. His gradual return to activity, now incorporating technical drills with the ball, signals positive progress in his recovery. The player is working toward rejoining the squad for the upcoming pre-season training camp. The rehabilitation process is being managed under medical supervision. Wesley's return to action represents an important boost for Roma's defensive depth ahead of the new season, particularly on the flanks where his pace and attacking contributions are valued.

Roma turned away advances from Juventus, Inter, and Porto for key players during the June 30 financial deadline, successfully protecting Mile Svilar, Niccolò Pisilli, and others from departure. Matías Soulé rejected a move to Saudi Arabia, though his agent expressed frustration over how the situation was handled. Despite pressure from rival clubs, Roma's hierarchy chose not to seek a postponement and instead relied on a tacit UEFA extension granted to all teams due to the World Cup, which allows them an additional month to include sales in last season's accounts. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is committed to retaining core players including Wesley, Evan N'Dicka, and Manu Koné, and the club's decision-makers are unwilling to displease the manager by forcing sales. Roma's strategy centers on containing financial losses through peripheral transfers rather than major exits. The club must demonstrate sufficient loss containment to UEFA within the coming month; failure to do so could result in a fine exceeding €10 million and squad limitations in 2027–28, though harsher penalties remain unlikely. The Giallorossi aim to strengthen the squad while keeping their top players intact, positioning themselves for a serious Serie A title challenge, provided their financial calculations prove sound.

Zeki Celik is close to signing a new three-year contract with AS Roma following Turkey's elimination from the World Cup at the group stage. The club and player have reached an agreement in principle, with an announcement expected in the coming days. However, Celik will not be Gasperini's starting right-back. The head coach has requested reinforcement on the right flank and views Celik as a versatile option who can operate on either wing or as a right centre-back to rotate with Gianluca Mancini. Gasperini's primary target for the right-back position is a younger profile than Molina, who is considered a secondary option at 28 years old. Dodô is not being pursued, as Roma has not made any formal approach for the player. On the left side, Wesley remains a key part of the plans after rejecting Chelsea and is ready for the upcoming season. Ruggeri is not a target for Roma. The club will seek an alternative to Wesley on the left, with Angeliño expected to depart. Roma continues to work on contract extensions for key players, with Celik's renewal progressing alongside talks with Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini regarding their own deals.