Desirée Maldera: A daughter's tribute to her father's Roma legacy

Roma travelled to Wales on Thursday afternoon to begin the second phase of their pre-season preparation, based at the Vale Resort in Hensol until 8 August. The squad departed Rome's Fiumicino airport with a one-hour flight delay but arrived in Cardiff in the evening. Gian Piero Gasperini named seven young players for the camp: defenders Mannini, Nardin, Reale and Lulli, midfielders Panico and Bah, and forward Charubini. Midfielder Niccolò Pisilli, recovering from a soleus injury, also travelled with the group and will continue his rehabilitation. Director D'Amico did not travel, and defender Koulierakis will join after completing medical tests in Rome. Roma will conduct double training sessions and friendlies throughout the camp to assess their preparation. The first test comes at 16:00 Italian time today against Cardiff at Cardiff City Stadium. Gasperini is intent on building continuity from pre-season work at Trigoria and has no time to waste in constructing a strong season. The squad remains awaiting additional reinforcements from the transfer market.

Roma face Cardiff City at the Cardiff City Stadium today at 16:00 in a pre-season friendly that carries significant weight for the Welsh club. Cardiff, newly promoted to the Championship after immediate return from League One, regard the match as one of the most important appointments of their summer preparation. Around 10,000 tickets have already been sold, with further sales expected before kickoff. For Cardiff, managed by Brian Barry-Murphy, this is the final friendly before their official Championship debut on Monday 17 August. The fixture carries symbolic importance beyond the pitch. Cardiff have dedicated their matchday programme cover to Francesco Totti, reproducing the celebrated mural from Rome's Monti district depicting the former Roma captain with his finger pointed to the sky—an unexpected gesture of sportsmanship that has resonated with Roma supporters. Both clubs will use the WRU National Centre of Excellence in Hensol as their base during the visit, a facility chosen by Roma as their headquarters for the British tour. The match offers diagnostic value for both teams: Cardiff will test their progress since promotion against European-standard opposition, while Roma will gain their first serious examination of the summer tour ahead of subsequent friendlies against Newport and Brighton.

Roma are actively negotiating to sign Givairo Read as director Tony D'Amico works across multiple transfer fronts with the season starting in just over three weeks. The Giallorossi are in competition with Nottingham Forest for Read, after reports emerged that the English club had stepped back from an auction-style bidding war being fuelled by Feyenoord. Earlier, D'Amico completed the signing of Koulierakis from Wolfsburg for 16 million euros plus 1.5 million in bonuses and 20 per cent of future sale proceeds. Gasperini has requested at least four reinforcements: two attacking wingers and two defensive full-backs, though a potential departure of Koné would necessitate a direct replacement of equal standing. Nusa remains the primary left-wing target, with discussions ongoing over whether the Norwegian arrival would displace Lorenzo Pellegrini in the squad hierarchy. At centre-forward, Roma have established they can secure both Endrick and Mastantuono following discussions in Madrid on Wednesday. The Brazilian prospect, who would rotate with Paulo Dybala in Gasperini's preferred pairing system, holds the greater appeal. The club is prepared to accelerate a move for Endrick after 15 August, provided Real Madrid agrees to a deal beyond a straight loan, with Matías Soulé potentially playing a balancing role in the squad's finances and formation decisions.