El Aynaoui: No Easy Matches at World Cup; In Contact with Gasperini

AS Roma have officially confirmed a pre-season friendly against Newport County on 4 August at Rodney Parade stadium in Wales, with kickoff at 19:00 local time (20:00 Italy time). The match is managed by former Leicester manager Fuchs and represents Roma's second test in the United Kingdom during their summer schedule. Information for visiting supporters' tickets will be communicated in the coming days. The Newport County fixture slots into Roma's busy pre-season calendar as they prepare for the Serie A season opener against Fiorentina. The friendly comes after an earlier match against Cardiff on 1 August, followed by another game at Brighton on 8 August. After these English fixtures, Roma will face Borussia Dortmund on 15 August in their final warm-up before domestic competition resumes. These matches form part of the club's preparations under their summer training camp, with player fitness and tactical development a priority ahead of the new season.

France advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals with a narrow 1–0 victory over Paraguay, secured by a penalty converted by Kylian Mbappé. The South American side proved a tough and physical opponent, but France maintained composure and achieved their objective. Midfielder Manu Koné was among those praised for his performance in a demanding match. Koné, who currently plays for AS Roma, delivered a composed display in midfield against Paraguay's aggressive approach. He spoke about the nature of the contest after the match, noting the physicality on display and the tactical awareness required to navigate it without being drawn into unnecessary confrontation. The midfielder highlighted France's preparation and intelligence in handling the situation. In his post-match comments to beIN Sports, Koné reflected: "It was a very hard match, but we are happy. Today we adapted. They were a rather... physical team! We choose our words carefully (smiles). We managed to stand up to our opponents in the challenges, we won 1–0, we were effective. There were some excessive interventions, but we didn't fall into their trap. The coach had warned us during the week. We were intelligent, we just wanted to win." France's disciplined approach proved decisive in securing progression to the next stage.

El Aynaoui, the Roma midfielder, will start in Morocco's World Cup round-of-16 match against Canada, serving as a key pivot in the team's midfield alongside Bouaddi and Ounahi. The North African nation faces Canada in the opening knockout fixture, having eliminated the Netherlands in the group stage. El Aynaoui has impressed throughout the tournament and has attracted transfer interest following his performances. Anass Salah-Eddine, the other Roma player in the squad, will begin the match on the bench. The midfielder hopes to feature during the match and make an impact that could convince head coach Gasperini to evaluate him during pre-season training. El Aynaoui's influential displays in recent weeks have made him a central figure for Morocco's push toward the quarter-finals.

Manchester United has expressed strong interest in signing Roma midfielder El Aynaoui, according to recent reports. The English club has made contact with Roma's management, but the Italian club has signalled that €30 million may not be enough to secure the player's departure. Roma views El Aynaoui as a key asset and has no intention of offering a discount on any transfer fee. El Aynaoui's market value has risen considerably following his impressive performances at the World Cup with Morocco, where he became a regular starter from the opening match. Beyond Manchester United, other European clubs including Barcelona, Everton, and Liverpool have also shown interest. Roma's position is firm: the club does not wish to sell the midfielder after just one season, viewing him as an integral part of their project moving forward. El Aynaoui himself is keen to demonstrate his abilities in his second year under the guidance of head coach Gasperini, having established himself as a cornerstone of Roma's midfield. The player's World Cup success and Roma's reluctance to part with him have combined to strengthen his negotiating position, putting pressure on interested suitors to match the club's valuation if they wish to proceed.

Neil El Aynaoui continues to draw interest from major European clubs following a strong World Cup performance. Roma has responded by taking a firm stance to protect the player amid widespread transfer speculation. The defender's form at international level has made him a target for several top European sides. Details remain unclear regarding the specific clubs involved or the exact nature of Roma's resistance to potential offers.

Two AS Roma players are set to face each other in the 2026 World Cup semifinals. Manu Koné and Neil El Aynaoui are both representing their respective national teams at the tournament. The match will pit the two Giallorossi squad members against one another on football's biggest stage, highlighting Roma's contribution to the competition. Details about their performances and team assignments remain unclear from the available information.