Derby postponement chaos: Serie A to challenge administrative order at administrative court

Gian Piero Gasperini has training back underway at Roma after a two-day rest period, with midfielder Manu Koné returning to the squad and forward Molina joining the group. Both players arrive as World Cup reinforcements after reaching the latter stages of the tournament in South America: Koné featured in the third-place playoff against England, while Molina played in the final that Argentina lost to Spain. Koné, who spent the summer as a transfer target, is now available for selection and will follow a personalised training programme to bring him up to speed with his teammates. Gasperini cannot afford to lose him for the opening Serie A fixture against Fiorentina, barring any unexpected transfer market developments in the coming days.

Serie A clubs are intensifying their pre-season preparations ahead of the new campaign, with friendly matches serving as a crucial tool for fitness, tactical development, and assessing new personnel. The summer fixtures offer coaches the chance to understand their recent arrivals and implement their tactical blueprint before the league begins. Some clubs have already played their opening warm-up match, while others are still to start their pre-season schedule. Roma features among the notable pre-season meetings, with their clash against Borussia Dortmund among the standout fixtures on the summer calendar. These friendly encounters are a standard part of Serie A clubs' build-up, allowing managers to fine-tune team dynamics and establish new hierarchies within the squad before competitive football resumes.

Jonathan Rowe, Bologna's striker, has praised Santiago Castro's move to Roma and offered warm words about Artem Dovbyk, who has made the reverse journey from the Giallorossi to Bologna this summer. Rowe told Gazzetta dello Sport: "I'm happy for him. I wish him to grow further at Roma because he's an excellent player and a friend. It will be very strange to face him, we hope he does well except against us." On Dovbyk, who departed Roma for Bologna, Rowe said: "For me he's a top player. He has physicality, technique, he sees the goal. He has everything to do well and to get his revenge. I'm very happy he's with us." The comments reflect the close relationship between the two Serie A sides, with Castro and Dovbyk swapping clubs in the current transfer window.