De Rossi pushes for Baldanzi permanence at Genoa; Gollini attracting strong Besiktas interest

Roma are closing in on the signing of Porto midfielder Rodrigo Mora, with the two clubs finalising the structure of a deal in recent hours. The transfer will be completed on a €25 million basis plus 50% of any future resale fee, with Roma granted the right to purchase the remaining 50% within a year for a further €25 million. Mora will sign a five-year contract worth approximately €2.5 million per year, featuring a release clause exceeding €100 million. The move is being orchestrated by Jorge Mendes, with Roma's sporting director D'Amico leading negotiations. Medical tests and the player's arrival in the capital are expected imminently. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will deploy Mora in an attacking midfield role behind the striker alongside Paulo Dybala, a significant tactical shift from his position at Porto, where manager Farioli used him as a box-to-box midfielder in a 4-3-3 system. The Italian coach is eager to deploy Mora's talents in a different area of the pitch. Roma's pursuit of additional attacking talent has also targeted Real Madrid forward Endrick; however, that target appears to have closed off after Madrid confirmed his squad number and signalled their intention to provide him with playing time in the coming season. Should the Endrick avenue remain blocked, Roma may revisit their interest in Luis Henrique as an alternative option for the right flank.

Roma's hopes of signing Brazilian forward Endrick have dimmed significantly after Real Madrid communicated to the player and his representatives their intention to retain him at the club. The contacts between Roma and Endrick's camp had been continuous in recent days, but Real Madrid's decision to keep the player in the Spanish capital appears to have closed that avenue. Real Madrid manager Mourinho has approved the decision, with the club's recent pre-season period convincing him that Endrick has shown enough quality to remain useful to the team. The development forces Roma's recruitment strategy to shift. The club had identified Endrick as one of two primary attacking targets, alongside Mora, who remains a more realistic prospect. The player's growth and performances during Madrid's training camp have persuaded the Portuguese coach that selling him is unnecessary. This outcome means Roma's technical director D'Amico may now need to pivot to alternative attacking targets as the transfer window continues.

Nahuel Molina has completed his move from Atlético Madrid to AS Roma on a deal worth 13 million euros plus 4 million in bonuses. The Argentine defender touched down at Rome's Ciampino airport, where around 100 supporters greeted him with chants and songs. Molina responded with smiles, selfies, autographs and a message of "Forza Roma". Medical examinations and contract signature are scheduled, with his first training session under Gasperini expected tomorrow. Roma have accelerated negotiations for Portuguese talent Rodrigo Mora, reaching a personal agreement on a five-year contract. Agent Jorge Mendes is pushing Roma as the priority in talks with Porto, and the two clubs are converging on Roma's revised offer of 25 million euros immediately plus a further 25 million in 2027. Roma hold the advantage over Galatasaray and are working with optimism to complete the deal in the coming hours. Negotiations also continue over Brazilian forward Endrick. Roma have been working behind the scenes for weeks to convince him that the capital offers the ideal platform to revive his career, though he remains keen to stay at Madrid to fight for his chances. Aston Villa present strong competition for his signature. Meanwhile, Roma are evaluating Inter's Luis Henrique as an option to strengthen the wing, with the Brazilian capable of operating as a secondary striker as well. Inter value Henrique at approximately 30 million euros, but several Premier League clubs are also interested.

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.