Wesley returns to Trigoria: recovery updates

The World Cup Round of 16 stage begins today with Morocco playing Canada at 19:00, followed by France versus Paraguay at 23:00. Morocco, fresh from eliminating the Netherlands, will field El Aynaoui and Bouaddi in midfield, with a possible opportunity for Salah-Eddine on the left wing. France remain undefeated and face Paraguay seeking to advance to the quarter-finals. The winner of the Morocco-Canada match will meet France or Paraguay in the next round, potentially creating an all-Roma derby scenario. Meanwhile, AS Roma has three players still in World Cup contention: Koné, El Aynaoui, and Salah-Eddine. Koné will start for France in place of Aurélien Tchouameni, the Real Madrid midfielder who is sidelined by a thigh injury but is expected to recover for the quarter-finals if France progresses. Three other Roma players—Çelik, Ndicka, and Malen—have been eliminated from the tournament in recent days.

Fernando Gago, the Argentine former Roma midfielder, has returned to the bench following a severe acute myocardial infarction that struck him on 18 June. Gago resumed his role as head coach of Universidad de Chile in a Copa Chile match against Union La Calera, which ended in a 0–1 defeat. His return drew widespread attention, marking his first public appearance and statements since the medical emergency. Gago revealed the circumstances of his heart attack for the first time. He initially dismissed the symptoms, waking that Thursday with discomfort he thought was muscular or related to a cough. After a match, he went to hospital where initial tests appeared normal, but further examination identified an obstructed artery. The diagnosis came as a shock: "If I had understood right away that it was something so serious, I would have had myself checked earlier," he explained. Speaking with emotion about his recovery and return, Gago said: "These are life situations you are never really prepared for. I have not yet fully realised what happened, but the most important thing is being able to return to the pitch. I am young and I feel I have a second chance to continue living." His recovery marks a significant milestone after weeks of enforced absence from football.

Genoa have made enquiries about signing Roma forward Artem Dovbyk, who is available to leave the club. The Serie A side have asked about a loan deal, but Roma are seeking a permanent transfer. Betis had previously shown interest before the end of June and were quoted a price of €25 million by Roma, but no deal materialized. Dovbyk has been ruled out for an extended period with injury — head coach Gian Piero Gasperini indicated the Ukrainian striker will not return until late April at the earliest. The forward's departure could open the door for Roma to pursue a backup option for Donyell Malen. A player named Tresoldi has been mentioned as a potential target, though details remain unclear on any formal negotiations at this stage. Dovbyk's move could also resolve Roma's need for an additional forward option. Should the striker depart, the club is expected to accelerate recruitment efforts in that position.

Roma winger Wesley is currently on holiday in Greece, where he has been entertaining himself with a basketball challenge. The Brazilian posted a video showing himself scoring a basketball goal with a header and celebrating enthusiastically. Wesley is in the recovery phase following an injury that forced him to miss a major tournament. The Roma player's lighthearted social media content comes as he works his way back to full fitness after injury. His time away from competitive action demonstrates the importance of proper rehabilitation and recovery in professional football. Wesley remains part of Roma's squad plans as he prepares to return to action. Details of the exact nature and timeline of his return to training remain unclear. The winger's presence on social media suggests he is in good spirits during his recovery period.

AS Roma's Moroccan player El Aynaoui is celebrating his birthday while competing at a World Cup in the United States. The club marked the occasion with a social media message wishing him well. El Aynaoui has emerged as one of the standout performers for Morocco at the tournament, earning widespread recognition for his work rate, quality, and commitment on the pitch. Meanwhile, Roma's World Cup contingent has been significantly reduced. Several players including Celik, Malen, and Ndicka have already been eliminated from the competition. Only Koné and El Aynaoui remain representing Roma at the tournament. Koné has struggled to find regular playing time and has not performed at his best, contrasting sharply with El Aynaoui's impactful contributions, which have made him a focal point of Morocco's campaign. Roma also provided an injury update on Wesley, noting that his recovery continues with ball-based exercises as the club prepares for the resumption of activities. The message sent to El Aynaoui—"Happy birthday, Neil"—was described as simple but heartfelt, reflecting the club's recognition of his performances on the international stage.

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.