Dybala contract renewal close; Inter pursue Mancini, Juventus target Svilar

Roma are tracking Barcelona right-back Hector Fort as director D'Amico expands the club's search for defensive reinforcements following the Rodrigo Mora operation. The 20-year-old Spanish defender, born in 2006, has received proposals from both Roma and Real Sociedad but is prioritising a move to Borussia Dortmund. Fort is willing to wait until the final day of the transfer window to complete a transfer to Germany, where Dortmund and Barcelona are in direct contact to find a solution. The hunt for a full-back comes as Roma continue their summer recruitment drive. Luis Henrique is among other targets being monitored by the club's recruitment department as Gasperini's side prepares for the 2026-27 season. Fort is capable of playing on both flanks, adding versatility to any potential move.

Rodrigo Mora has arrived at Roma as a new signing and is eager to prove himself to head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, hoping to feature in Monday's match against Fiorentina. The 19-year-old Portuguese forward, who has 80 appearances for Porto's first team, is generating optimism among supporters. However, Jeda, a former Brazilian striker who played under Gasperini at Crotone in the 2005–06 season, has issued a cautionary message on social media. Jeda scored 15 goals in 42 appearances that season—his personal best in a single campaign—and credited Gasperini's demanding approach. Jeda told Mora: "When I read that Rodrigo Mora had arrived at Roma under Gasperini, I smiled. My boy, prepare yourself. Because Gasperini, when he sees talent, doesn't stroke it. He puts it to the test. He asks you for one more run, one more duel, one more sacrifice. And when you think you've given him everything, he still manages to find something more to pull out of you. I lived this on my own skin. At Crotone I played 42 matches. All of them. I scored 15 goals, my personal record in a season. Gasp respected me from day one, but that respect never became a discount. He constantly pushed me beyond the limit I thought I had. And today I can say it with gratitude: an important part of that season also bears his signature." Jeda urged Mora not to live on compliments and to work hard, listen, and embrace Gasperini's relentless demands. "The talent opened the door for you," he concluded. "Hunger will decide how far you can go."

Roma have signed Rodrigo Mora, a 2007-born prospect, from Porto in a deal structured at €25 million up front plus 50% of any future sell-on fee, with an option for Roma to secure full ownership by paying an additional €25 million to the Portuguese club. The initial €25 million outlay ranks Mora as the eighth-most expensive Under-19 signing in Serie A history. Should Roma exercise the buyout clause and pay the extra €25 million, Mora would jump to third place on that all-time list, behind only Nico Paz (€66 million) and De Ligt (€85.5 million). The 19-year-old wears the number 86 shirt and represents a significant investment in Roma's youth strategy. The deal's structure—allowing Roma to defer the completion fee while retaining a financial stake in any onward transfer—reflects modern football's creative approach to high-risk signings of teenage talent. Mora's potential move into the top three most expensive U19 signings would underline Roma's ambition in the market.

Paulo Dybala has shared photographs from Roma's final home match of last season on social media as the club prepares for the opening fixture against Fiorentina. The Argentine forward posted images from a May encounter and wrote: "The last match at home, with great desire to start the same way." Roma won that fixture 2–0, and Dybala's post reflects the squad's anticipation ahead of their return to the Olimpico for the new campaign. With the 2025–26 season now closed, Roma are looking to build momentum under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The opening match against Fiorentina marks the beginning of the 2026–27 season, and the players have been expressing their excitement through social media as they prepare for competitive action. Dybala's message underlines the squad's determination to replicate the strong finish of the previous campaign and carry that confidence into the new term.

Paulo Dybala has stoked Roma's anticipation for the 2026–27 season with a message on Instagram ahead of the home fixture against Fiorentina on Monday 24 August at 20:45. The Argentine forward posted images from the 2–0 derby win on 17 May, writing: "The last home match, with desire to begin the same way." That victory saw Dybala play a starring role before Roma sealed Champions League qualification days later at Verona. The Olimpico is expected to be at full capacity as the giallorossi prepare for their season opener. Dybala enters his fifth season at the club in sharp condition following a high-level pre-season. Wearing number 21, he will be central to Roma's ambitions under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini as the campaign begins. The forward's public enthusiasm reflects the mood in the dressing room, where desire to replicate last season's closing surge is running high.

Paulo Dybala has posted on Instagram expressing his eagerness to return to the Olimpico as Roma prepare for their opening fixture of the 2026-27 season. Roma face Fiorentina on Monday 24 August at 20:45 in Serie A's first round. Dybala shared photos from the derby against Lazio on 17 May, which Roma won 2-0, writing: "The last home match, with great desire to start the same way." He played a decisive role in that victory and subsequently contributed to Roma's return to the Champions League with a match-winning display in the away fixture at Verona days later. The number 21 has completed an intense pre-season and is now entering his fifth season at the club, determined to make a strong start to the campaign.

Rodrigo Mora impressed in his first training session and now has four days to convince Gasperini he deserves the starting role in Roma's match against Fiorentina on Monday. The Portuguese forward will compete with Matías Soulé for the trequartista position in a 3-4-1-2 formation that Roma trialled on 19 August. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are set to start as the two strikers, with Mora eyeing an opportunity to stake his claim in the role that suits him best. Soulé's availability for the match remains uncertain as AC Milan continues to press for his signature, alongside English club Sunderland. The competition for places elsewhere in the team appears settled: Molina is ready to make his debut, Wesley will start at left-back, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné will operate in midfield, and the defensive line in front of Mile Svilar will comprise Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso. Gasperini's early feedback on Mora has been positive, giving the forward genuine scope to earn a starting berth.

Rodrigo Mora has been assigned shirt number 86 at Roma, completing a historical milestone for the club. The Portuguese player, a class of 2007 talent, chose the number on 19 August, and it marks the first time the 86 has been worn since Roma introduced fixed squad numbers in the 1995–96 season. Mora wore the number at Porto and had worn the 10 in UEFA Youth League there; across Portugal's national youth levels he has worn 11, 24, 20, 17, 28, and 10 in Under-21, but returns to the 8 and 6 combination familiar from his time at Porto. The 86 was the final unassigned number in Roma's history of squad allocation, a gap that has persisted for three decades. Though some numbers have been selected but never worn in matches—such as the 84 given to Del Bello and Louakima in 2022–23 and the 79 assigned to Edoardo Morucci in European League action last January without deployment—the 86 remained untouched until Mora's arrival. The club's iconic numbers include the 10 retired for Francesco Totti since 28 May 2017, the 21 currently worn by Paulo Dybala, the 23 of Gianluca Mancini, the 22 of Mario Hermoso, the 5 of Falcao, the 6 of Aldair, the 16 of Daniele De Rossi, and the 9 of Roberto Pruzzo. Mora will now seek to make the 86 uniquely his own in Roma colours.

Rodrigo Mora landed at Ciampino yesterday to a reception of nearly 500 supporters as Roma completed the Portuguese attacking talent's signing. The 19-year-old expressed his gratitude in an official interview: "I want to thank Roma and Porto. I'm very happy to be here, and I thank the fans for the support they showed me at the airport. I'm very pleased and hope to have a great season here." José Mourinho endorsed the move, calling Mora "one of the greatest talents in Portuguese football. Technically very strong, a creative player who unbalances matches. I think Roma fans will love him." Meanwhile, Roma remain in talks over striker Malick Fofana from Lyon. An agreement in principle is in place for €35 million plus bonuses, but the deal is conditional on Lyon's European preliminary round results and awaits approval from the Friedkin Group ownership, who are reluctant to commit such a sum without significant departures or cheaper payment structures, mindful of financial fair play constraints. Defender Gianluca Mancini discussed the challenge ahead under Gian Piero Gasperini in an interview with Sky Sport. On competing in the Champions League for the first time, he said: "Yes, we pursued it for some years. Last season we secured it and we can't wait to take part in this beautiful competition." He added on Gasperini's training intensity: "I think all preparations are tough because you come from a holiday period and when you restart in the heat the first sessions are tough everywhere, what the manager and his staff do is put us in the right conditions to face the season in the best way possible. We as a group follow exactly what he tells us to do." Manu Koné is expected to remain at Roma after Manchester United withdrew from the race for the French midfielder.

Rodrigo Mora impressed in his first training session and now has four days to convince Gasperini he deserves the starting role in Roma's match against Fiorentina on Monday. The Portuguese forward will compete with Matías Soulé for the trequartista position in a 3-4-1-2 formation that Roma trialled on 19 August. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are set to start as the two strikers, with Mora eyeing an opportunity to stake his claim in the role that suits him best. Soulé's availability for the match remains uncertain as AC Milan continues to press for his signature, alongside English club Sunderland. The competition for places elsewhere in the team appears settled: Molina is ready to make his debut, Wesley will start at left-back, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné will operate in midfield, and the defensive line in front of Mile Svilar will comprise Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso. Gasperini's early feedback on Mora has been positive, giving the forward genuine scope to earn a starting berth.

Roma radio pundits debated the club's transfer strategy on 19 August, with disagreement over whether the Friedkin ownership will fund a €30 million move for Lyon midfielder Fofana. Pes stated that the club cannot afford Rafael Leao, whose salary would exceed Roma's highest earners—Mile Svilar and Donyell Malen on €4 million annually. He said: "The real issue is understanding whether the ownership will have the will to invest €30 million to close the Fofana operation. As of today there are no conditions to close Fofana; you have to understand if you can do a different formula or free up economic space through some sales, otherwise it's a matter of finding a different target." The €25 million investment for Rodrigo Mora and the tentative Fofana talks weigh on the club's evaluations, Pes added, while Gasperini's tactical system requires two reinforcements beyond Mora alone. Carina countered that Roma's market is unfinished, expecting the arrival of a winger and a deputy for Wesley. He assessed the current market positively and said Fofana's arrival would improve matters further, but stressed a lack of favourable conditions for Leao. Orsi suggested Roma needed another midfielder beyond the four from last season's squad, praising the Friedkin Group's measured approach to recruitment and Roma's merit in securing Champions League qualification by remaining competitive through a run of nine wins in ten matches.

Roma begin their 2026–27 campaign with five days to prepare before facing Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico on 24 August. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will resume full-squad training on 19 August at Trigoria, following a brief rest after the pre-season training camp in Wales and a 2–2 friendly against Borussia Dortmund in Germany. Wesley and Niccolò Pisilli are expected to participate despite recent injuries—the Brazilian striker suffered a mild ankle sprain before the Dortmund match and missed that fixture, while the midfielder picked up a calf injury at the end of July during the camp and has yet to train fully with the group. Lorenzo Pellegrini has worked individually throughout the summer while negotiating a contract renewal and will require more time to regain match fitness. Rodriguel Mora, signed as the club's latest attacking reinforcement, arrived in Rome on 18 August afternoon and is undergoing the formalities of medical clearance and administrative procedures before joining Gasperini's sessions. The 2007-born attacking midfielder represents one of several new faces—including Castro, Koulierakis and Molina—awaiting assessment ahead of the Fiorentina fixture. With Mile Svilar secure in goal and a defensive unit anchored by Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, Gasperini has five days to finalize his tactical approach and evaluate which new arrivals might feature from the start or from the bench. Paulo Dybala is expected to feature prominently after an strong pre-season showing.