De Marzi: Being with the first team is a privilege, the Olimpico moves me

Roma have returned home after concluding their British pre-season training camp and are pursuing two attacking targets: Rodrigo Mora from Porto and Endrick from Real Madrid. The club is attempting to secure a permanent transfer for the Portuguese forward born in 2007, while exploring the possibility of a loan deal for the Brazilian. Both signings represent potential reinforcements to Roma's forward line as the 2026–27 season approaches. Mora, a 2007 birth-year prospect from Porto, is being actively pursued on a permanent basis, while negotiations for Endrick centre on a temporary arrangement that would see the Real Madrid player join on loan. Francesco Petrachi has also been discussing Cacciamani, though specific details of those talks were not outlined in the latest update.

Roma have submitted their opening bid for Porto's Rodrigo Mora, a 2007-born attacking midfielder and winger regarded as one of Europe's most promising young talents. The offer consists of a €5 million loan fee with a €45 million purchase option triggered by easily achievable conditions. Gasperini has identified attacking reinforcement as a priority, and Roma are pushing to secure Mora's release from Porto between today and tomorrow, having apparently overtaken Galatasaray in the race for his signature. Meanwhile, the departure of Matías Soulé from Roma has moved closer to reality. The arrival of a new winger—with Endrick and Rodrigo Mora leading the shortlist—could push the Argentine down Gasperini's hierarchy. Soulé is not considered a guaranteed stay at the club. AC Milan have maintained long-standing interest and held fresh contact with his representatives yesterday to clarify their intention to negotiate a deal. Roma are demanding at least €35 million to let him leave. Torino's chief of staff, Gianluca Petrachi—formerly Roma's director of sport—reopened discussion around midfielder Alessio Cacciamani after initially appearing to close the door on a sale. On Cacciamani's future, Petrachi told Sportitalia: "He is a youth academy player, very interesting. He has to confirm himself in Serie A, but he has everything to grow and grow a lot. He is certainly being monitored. We would like to continue with players like him, but we must also deal with a market that sometimes presents absurd, mad prices that one cannot take into account. Our intention is to keep him."

Radosław Żelezny, Roma's Polish goalkeeper, will join Serie C side Perugia on loan with a purchase option as the club continues to move out youth talent. The 2006-born shot-stopper, formerly of Juventus, arrived at Roma a year ago on a contract running until 2029 with an additional optional year. Roma have secured a counter-purchase clause protecting their interests in the deal. Żelezny is expected to link up with Perugia and manager Aimo Diana from tomorrow. The departure underlines Roma's summer strategy of loaning out academy prospects and fringe players to gain competitive football elsewhere. Żelezny's initial contract terms—through 2029 with an extension option—reflected Roma's intention to develop him at Trigoria, but limited first-team opportunities have prompted the temporary move. The arrangement allows both clubs flexibility: Perugia can assess the goalkeeper at senior level while Roma maintain a financial safeguard through their counter-option. Żelezny becomes another young player exiting on loan this window as Roma reshape their squad for the 2026–27 campaign.

Roma's defence, which finished as Serie A's second-best last season, has shown alarming fragility during their pre-season tour of Britain. The Giallorossi conceded eight goals across three friendlies—four against Cardiff, one against Newport, and three against Brighton—with the tally rising to 11 when including a 3–3 draw against Cannes. Against Brighton on 8 August, Gasperini made wholesale defensive changes after Roma had shipped three goals in 49 minutes, introducing Ghilardi and new arrival Koulierakis while withdrawing N'Dicka and Hermoso. The ivory-coast central defender had failed to close down Ayari's double, prompting Gasperini to turn to the bench and shout "Let's change." Hermoso, managing an ankle problem, allowed Rutter to nearly extend the lead moments after the 3–0. Earlier defensive lapses against Cardiff exposed deeper issues: Ahsford's opener came after N'Dicka slipped and a rebound off Rensch, while Salech's second followed a costly Svilar error on a dangerous Wesley backpass. El Aynaoui was substituted at half-time after a misplaced pass that set up Ayari's second goal, and Rensch drew criticism for poor decision-making. The unit that had anchored Roma's recent success now appears fragile heading into the season. Gasperini acknowledged the work ahead, saying "the team is struggling to switch back on," highlighting the scale of the challenge to restore defensive solidity before competitive fixtures begin.

Gian Piero Gasperini expressed sharp disappointment with Roma's display in a friendly against Brighton on 8 August, conceding three goals and struggling to build momentum ahead of the new season. The defeat extended Roma's poor run to eleven goals conceded in their last four outings. Gasperini said: "It was a very bad match, without doubt. We put in a poor performance. The feeling I have is that we are struggling to switch on." The coach's frustration extended beyond the pitch to the club's transfer activity. With the squad lacking numerical depth, Gasperini acknowledged Roma are unable to accelerate their transfer business at the pace he had hoped. He stated: "I thought we would be further ahead. We cannot do the market because we have too few players... Numerically it seems to me there is still a need for something. On who to target and how to close we will see. Possible departures? Ask the CEO." Defensive vulnerabilities have become a recurring concern, with Svilar and the entire back line appearing exposed when pressed at speed. Forward Donyell Malen showed signs of being out of condition and overweight. Gasperini's comments underline the urgency Roma face in both the transfer market and regaining the collective shape and understanding that underpinned their previous campaigns.

Roma's pre-season tour of England closed with a 3–0 defeat to Brighton at the Amex Stadium on 8 August. Georginio Rutter opened the scoring in the 29th minute after Wesley squandered a one-on-one chance against Verbruggen in the 28th, with Yasin Ayari doubling the lead before half-time and completing his brace early in the second half at the 49th minute. The result capped a disappointing week for Gasperini's side, following a heavy loss to Cardiff City, with only an improved performance against Newport offering respite. Wesley's missed opportunity proved decisive; from the resulting counter-attack, Rutter fired past Svilar, and the concession of the opening goal triggered a psychological collapse that Brighton exploited ruthlessly through their pace and directness. Gasperini's Roma controlled stretches of the match and came closest to opening the scoring when Wesley was played through one-on-one in the 28th minute but shot over from a favourable position. The side's lack of clinical finishing and defensive frailty were stark: Brighton's attacks repeatedly found space, particularly down the flanks, and Roma's back line appeared disorganised and slow to react. Svilar made several key saves to prevent a larger scoreline. The heavy rotation Gasperini introduced in the second half, giving opportunities to younger squad members, failed to ignite a response from a team that appeared depleted and lacking intensity. Evan Ferguson, still recovering from injury, was present at the stadium to greet his former teammates before kick-off. Roma's next fixture is a friendly against Borussia Dortmund on 15 August, a match Gasperini will view as essential for rebuilding confidence and addressing the defensive and mental issues laid bare at the Amex.

Evan Ferguson was present at the Amex Stadium for Brighton's friendly against Roma on 8 August 2026, though the Irish striker did not feature in the match. Ferguson spent last summer on loan at Roma with a purchase option before returning to Brighton at the end of the 2025–26 season. Ahead of the test match, he took time to greet Gasperini's coaching staff and his former Roma teammate Gollini. Ferguson arrived at Roma last summer under a loan agreement that included a €40 million purchase option, but that clause was not exercised when his spell ended with the conclusion of the previous campaign. His appearance at the Amex reflected the ongoing connection between the two clubs as they prepare for the new season.

Roma travel to Wales this evening for the second phase of their pre-season training camp, with Niccolò Pisilli returning to the squad after a calf injury sidelined him in recent days. Robinio Vaz, who had recovered a few days earlier, is also included in the group named by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The full squad for the Welsh camp comprises three goalkeepers (De Marzi, Gollini, Svilar), thirteen defenders (Rensch, Ndicka, Hermoso, Mancini, Ziolkowski, Wesley, Mannini, Nardin, Reale, Lulli, Ghilardi), five midfielders (Cristante, El Aynaoui, Pisilli, Panico, Bah), and six forwards (Castro, Malen, Soulé, Dybala, Cherubini, Vaz). Pisilli's availability marks a significant boost to Gasperini's options as Roma continue their preparations for the new season.

Paolo Marcacci's weekly ratings roundup highlights Paulo Dybala's perfectly struck free-kick against Cannes in a friendly, earning top marks for technical excellence regardless of the opposition's standard. Donyell Malen has returned from his recent World Cup commitments with renewed hunger for goals and prominence in Roma's attacking play, while Devyne Rensch is already showing signs of sharpness and remains underrated heading into official fixtures. Pierluigi Gollini's position as second-choice keeper warrants reflection from the club. Matías Soulé's fitness condition drew specific mention from Gasperini in a recent press conference, with Soulé appearing among those most behind pace during the Cannes match—though this observation carries no bearing on ongoing transfer considerations. Angeliño's search for match sharpness requires respectful patience rather than unsolicited commentary. The wider ratings reflect concerns about Italy's national team setup under new management, with political interference in sporting matters undermining both the sport itself and public confidence.