Dovbyk marks Roma's pre-season with opener ahead of Trastevere friendly

Gianluca Mancini has posted an image on Instagram showing him celebrating beneath the Curva Sud, accompanied by hearts in Roma's colours, as a show of unity with the club and supporters during pre-season preparation. The defender is among the squad working with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini at the Fulvio Bernardini training centre as Roma prepare for the forthcoming campaign. The gesture comes at a moment when Mancini's contract renewal with the club is a subject of discussion. His public display of commitment reflects his connection to the Giallorossi during what promises to be a busy period for the squad under Gasperini's direction.

Gianluca Mancini has signalled his total commitment to Roma by announcing an imminent contract renewal extending his deal until June 2029. The vice-captain's statement came via Instagram in the aftermath of Zeki Çelik's shock departure to Juventus, aimed at reassuring the club and supporters during a turbulent period in the transfer market. Mancini's decision to publicly reaffirm his loyalty carries particular weight as a show of leadership from within the dressing room. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini had been pushing for the extension since the end of last season. The move shuts down weeks of speculation from Inter, who had made multiple enquiries about a potential transfer to Milan. Both Mancini and Roma's hierarchy resisted those overtures, choosing instead to build continuity around the defender. The renewal also arrives amid wider market concerns at the club, including reports linking Lorenzo Pellegrini with interest from other quarters. By securing Mancini for another three years on a consolidated contract, Roma has anchored one of its senior defensive pillars and sought to project stability to supporters rattled by Çelik's departure. The timing of Mancini's public commitment underscores his role as a senior figure willing to stake his future on the project.

Zeki Çelik's move to Juventus has sparked reaction from the Roma community after the Turkish full-back departed despite being on the verge of signing a new contract with the club. The agreement with Roma was reportedly close to completion, needing only his signature, before he opted instead to join Juventus in Turin. While the transfer does not represent a technical blow, it has fuelled discussion given Çelik's apparent imminent stay had seemed assured. Tennist and Roma supporter Cobolli responded to the departure via social media with a photograph of Devyne Rensch in tears, captioned "Forza Roma"—a post that reads as both a pointed message and a signal to move forward from Çelik to players ready to defend the club's colours. The departure resonated across Roma's fanbase, prompting several prominent Giallorossi figures to weigh in publicly. Rapper and Rome native Gemitaiz also addressed Çelik's exit, writing ironically: "Never stop believing in your dreams."

Roma completed their fourth day of summer training at Trigoria with a joint session against the Primavera squad, lasting around an hour. Artem Dovbyk and Mario Hermoso both scored in the afternoon workout, which allowed Gasperini and Mattia Scala, the club's new youth coach, to assess the development pathway talent alongside the senior group. The players remained overnight at the Trigoria training base to ensure early readiness for the following day's schedule. Gasperini continues to shape Roma's fitness and tactical shape through a structured programme combining running, gym work, and ball drills, with high Roman temperatures expected to test the squad's conditioning during the pre-season phase. The coaching staff are preparing the team for the campaign ahead while awaiting new signings from the market. Sporting director D'Amico attended the session at the Fulvio Bernardini facility, maintaining his oversight of squad development alongside ongoing transfer negotiations. Roma are scheduled to run double sessions today as the preparation builds momentum.

Artem Dovbyk marked Roma's opening week of summer training with the season's first goal, a well-taken header in a one-hour friendly against the Primavera squad on Thursday. The match, played without an official referee, took place at the Trigoria training ground and was attended by director of football D'Amico and youth academy chief Margiotta. The squad spent the night at the training centre and will face Trastevere in a test match on 23 August. Roma's preparation schedule has intensified under the summer heat. Players trained at 8 a.m. on Friday before a gymnasium session at 10.30 and an afternoon training block. The friendly against Trastevere will provide a sharper examination of Gian Piero Gasperini's side ahead of the competitive season. The fixture comes after an initial week focused on building fitness and cohesion following the arrival of the new head coach.

Roma are accelerating their transfer activity under head coach Gasperini and ownership, working to close multiple deals swiftly. The club has already moved to block Tresoldi ahead of interest from Atlético Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, with negotiations with Bruges advancing. The operation is separate from the expected departure of Artem Dovbyk, though both require rapid progress in talks. Director of football Tony D'Amico is pursuing several parallel targets. For Crysencio Summerville, the main barrier remains his wage demands, which Roma consider unsustainably high and a threat to squad harmony. In the case of Diego Moreira, personal terms have been agreed with the player, but Roma and Strasbourg remain far apart on the transfer fee, with the French club holding firm on its valuation. The club is also keeping alive interest in Endrick as a longer-term prospect. No official signings have been confirmed in the first half of July, but the hierarchy is determined to avoid dragging negotiations into a prolonged deadlock or inviting rival clubs to muscle in on targets. All three priority acquisitions—Tresoldi, Summerville, and Moreira—are being pursued with a view to closing them rapidly.