Derby Disciplinary Review: Hermoso, Cancellieri and Taylor Cautioned

Mario Hermoso left the field early in the second half during Roma's 3–0 friendly defeat to Brighton on 8 August after a collision caused sharp pain in his left ankle, but head coach Gian Piero Gasperini withdrew him purely as a precaution rather than due to any inability to continue play. The Spanish defender is expected to be fit and available for Roma's next test against Borussia Dortmund on 15 August. Roma's heavy loss to Brighton came without the additional concern of a serious injury to their defence. Gasperini's decision to substitute Hermoso reflected a cautious approach to the player's status ahead of the Dortmund fixture, which will serve as further preparation before the competitive season begins.

Roma lost 3–0 to Brighton in a friendly at the Falmer Stadium but came away reassured over Mario Hermoso's fitness after the Spanish defender suffered an ankle problem early in the second half. Following a collision with a Brighton player, Hermoso remained on the ground in pain with a left ankle issue. Gasperini opted to substitute him as a precautionary measure, and Hermoso walked off the pitch unaided before taking a seat on the bench to watch the remainder of the match. According to reports, Hermoso's condition does not give cause for serious concern. The withdrawal was purely protective rather than a response to a significant injury, allowing the Roma coaching staff to err on the side of caution with a key defensive player. Gasperini is expected to have Hermoso available for Roma's next friendly fixture, a match against Borussia Dortmund.

Roma's English pre-season tour ended in concern after a 3–0 defeat at Brighton laid bare significant defensive lapses and attacking impotence. The performance revealed delays both in physical conditioning and the absorption of tactical patterns, leaving Roma having conceded 11 goals across their last four friendly outings. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini expressed open frustration on the touchline, demanding greater midfield screening and emphasising the urgent need to activate the team's intensity. The match highlighted glaring defensive oversights and minimal cutting edge up front. Devyne Rensch came under constant pressure on the counter-attack from Yankuba Minteh, while Mario Hermoso had an off day in marking Georginio Rutter. Donyell Malen showed signs of being short of match fitness. The attacking partnership of Santiago Castro and Paulo Dybala made little impression on goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. With two weeks remaining before Roma's competitive league debut, Gasperini will have crucial time to accelerate both recruitment and work at Trigoria to correct these problems.

Mario Hermoso left the field early in the second half during Roma's 3–0 friendly defeat to Brighton on 8 August after a collision caused sharp pain in his left ankle, but head coach Gian Piero Gasperini withdrew him purely as a precaution rather than due to any inability to continue play. The Spanish defender is expected to be fit and available for Roma's next test against Borussia Dortmund on 15 August. Roma's heavy loss to Brighton came without the additional concern of a serious injury to their defence. Gasperini's decision to substitute Hermoso reflected a cautious approach to the player's status ahead of the Dortmund fixture, which will serve as further preparation before the competitive season begins.

Roma lost 3–0 to Brighton in a friendly at the Falmer Stadium but came away reassured over Mario Hermoso's fitness after the Spanish defender suffered an ankle problem early in the second half. Following a collision with a Brighton player, Hermoso remained on the ground in pain with a left ankle issue. Gasperini opted to substitute him as a precautionary measure, and Hermoso walked off the pitch unaided before taking a seat on the bench to watch the remainder of the match. According to reports, Hermoso's condition does not give cause for serious concern. The withdrawal was purely protective rather than a response to a significant injury, allowing the Roma coaching staff to err on the side of caution with a key defensive player. Gasperini is expected to have Hermoso available for Roma's next friendly fixture, a match against Borussia Dortmund.

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.

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.

Evan Ferguson, the Roma forward on loan from Brighton, was present at the Amex Stadium on 8 August and exchanged greetings with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and the club's staff. Ferguson remains sidelined following an ankle injury sustained in January 2025. The Irish striker's appearance at Brighton ahead of the fixture underlined his continued recovery from the injury that has kept him unavailable since the start of 2025. His presence among the Roma party offered a chance to reconnect with his former coach and teammates despite his absence from the squad on the pitch. Ferguson joined Roma on loan from Brighton in July 2025 with an option to make the move permanent for €40 million.

Roma's English pre-season tour ended in concern after a 3–0 defeat at Brighton laid bare significant defensive lapses and attacking impotence. The performance revealed delays both in physical conditioning and the absorption of tactical patterns, leaving Roma having conceded 11 goals across their last four friendly outings. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini expressed open frustration on the touchline, demanding greater midfield screening and emphasising the urgent need to activate the team's intensity. The match highlighted glaring defensive oversights and minimal cutting edge up front. Devyne Rensch came under constant pressure on the counter-attack from Yankuba Minteh, while Mario Hermoso had an off day in marking Georginio Rutter. Donyell Malen showed signs of being short of match fitness. The attacking partnership of Santiago Castro and Paulo Dybala made little impression on goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. With two weeks remaining before Roma's competitive league debut, Gasperini will have crucial time to accelerate both recruitment and work at Trigoria to correct these problems.

Roma are in the decisive phase of their summer transfer window hunt for a left-winger to strengthen their attack. With Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract renewal formalized and Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé securing the right flank, sporting director Tony D'Amico is looking to provide head coach Gian Piero Gasperini a player capable of delivering goals and depth. Gasperini's brief is clear: a young but already sufficiently prominent profile to match the club's ambitions. Malick Fofana of Olympique Lyonnais is the primary target, valued at approximately 40 million euros. The Belgian winger's pursuit faces significant obstacles, chiefly competition from RB Leipzig—fresh from selling Diomande to Real Madrid—who shares the same agency (Roc Nation) with Fofana. Roma are therefore exploring alternatives of high calibre. Jamie Gittens, available after Chelsea's acquisition of him a year ago from Borussia Dortmund for 60 million, features prominently among them. The club is also quietly exploring the possibility of a loan move for Endrick from Real Madrid.

Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged Roma's transfer shortfall after a poor showing in a friendly against Brighton, conceding that the club lacks adequate depth. The head coach said: "If we do the count, numerically there is still a need for something, but you know how it is. D'Amico is negotiating very young and very important players. That is the indication." Gasperini stressed that squad decisions rest with the club's chief executive, saying: "We have a chief executive, you will have to ask him these questions and he will say what Roma can and cannot do. On numbers and market possibilities the ball passes to him." Gasperini cited returnees from international duty—Evan N'Dicka, Neil El Aynaoui, and Donyell Malen—as still recovering their sharpness. He praised Paulo Dybala's fitness and noted that recent arrivals from the start of preseason had performed well. The manager confirmed that an injured player "will be out for at least a month," with discussion to resume from September onward. Gasperini also highlighted recent squad changes: "We replaced Çelik with Molina, whom we will see on Tuesday. We replaced Dovbyk with Castro, who I believe will give us great satisfaction. And then Koulierakis arrived, who seems interesting to complete the defence."