Dybala emerges as Roma's sole certainty as Cannes friendly reveals heavy reliance on Argentine star

Roma drew 3–3 with Cannes in a pre-season friendly at the Pierre de Coubertin stadium, Gian Piero Gasperini's third test match ahead of the squad's departure for a training camp in Wales. Paulo Dybala was the standout performer, opening the scoring with a free-kick before adding a second from a solo run on the right after the hour mark. Donyell Malen doubled Roma's advantage at 44 minutes, capitalizing on Dybala's pressure and an opponent's defensive error to give the Giallorossi a commanding 3–0 lead. The match was disrupted when Wesley received a red card for a second yellow in an unusual incident for a friendly, a dismissal that shifted the game's complexion. From the 69th minute onwards, Cannes mounted a comeback with a brace from Lopez and a penalty goal from Ogadd in the final second to equalize. Gasperini used the fixture to trial positional changes, frequently inverting Wesley and Devyne Rensch on the flanks alongside Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé in attacking roles. The opening period at Pierre de Coubertin saw slow rhythms and French defensive organisation, though Roma grew increasingly dominant. Young players featured prominently, with mixed performances; Artem Dovbyk and Daniele Ghilardi made less convincing impacts. Ryan Friedkin watched from the stands.

Roma drew 3–3 with the Friedkin Group's Cannes side in a pre-season friendly in France on Monday. Paulo Dybala scored twice and Donyell Malen added a goal for the Giallorossi, though Wesley was sent off. The match followed the first phase of Roma's training camp at Trigoria, which featured tactical work and internal fixtures against the Primavera and Trastevere. Gian Piero Gasperini has scheduled two days off for the squad on Tuesday and Wednesday, allowing players to recover before resuming full training on Wednesday, 29 July. The head coach is still awaiting reinforcements from the transfer market as Roma prepare for the new season. The friendly represents Roma's latest step in their summer programme after relocating to France for this phase of pre-season.

Roma drew 3–3 with Cannes in a friendly, with Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen each scoring twice but falling short of victory. The result marked the Giallorossi's third pre-season match. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini responded by granting the squad two days off; players will not train on either Monday or Tuesday and will return to the pitch on Wednesday afternoon. The friendly fixture highlighted Roma's attacking intent during their pre-season schedule, though the failure to convert chances into a win reflects areas Gasperini will target as the new campaign approaches. The rest period provides recovery time for players ahead of continued preparation.

Santiago Castro's potential arrival at Roma would place him in a storied line of Argentine forwards who have worn the giallorossi shirt. Arturo Chini Luduena, Roma's first foreign player in history, scored 61 goals in 180 appearances between 1927 and 1934. He was followed by Enrique Guaita, who netted 43 goals in 63 matches before departing alongside compatriots Stagnaro and Scopelli out of fear of conscription into the Italian army for the Ethiopian war. The bond between Roma and Argentina has remained strong, particularly among attackers. Argentine influence shaped Roma's first Scudetto, with Miguel Angel Pantò partnering alongside Amadei and Krieziu. In the all-time top scorers list, "Piedone" Manfredini ranks sixth with 104 goals in 164 games, contributing to the Coppa delle Fiere victory in 1960–61 and Coppa Italia success in 1963–64. Abel Balbo stands eighth with 82 goals in 182 appearances across the 1990s and early 2000s; after departing in 1998, he returned in 2000 alongside Gabriel Omar Batistuta. Batistuta made an immediate impact with 20 goals in a single season, helping Roma claim their third Serie A title, though age and injury limited his effectiveness thereafter. More recent Argentine figures include Caniggia, Perotti, Lamela and Osvaldo. Paulo Dybala arrived in summer 2022 following a contract renewal and has since recorded 139 appearances and 45 goals. If negotiations succeed, Castro will join the Argentine contingent at the club.

Gian Piero Gasperini will reconvene the Roma squad on Wednesday afternoon at the Fulvio Bernardini training ground following a two-day rest period after the friendly against Cannes. The squad has completed a series of summer warm-up fixtures: two joint training sessions with the Primavera, a test with Trastevere, and the friendly with Cannes. Paulo Dybala has impressed during the pre-season programme, scoring a brace against the Primavera, one goal against Trastevere, and two more in the 3–3 draw with Cannes, while working on his understanding with Donyell Malen, who recently returned to Trigoria. Roma will continue their preparation in Wales from 31 July, where they face Cardiff (1 August), Newport (4 August), and Brighton (8 August) in further friendlies before a prestige test against Borussia Dortmund in Germany on 15 August. The Serie A campaign begins on 24 August at the Olimpico against Fiorentina. Dybala, fresh from a contract renewal, enters his fifth season at Roma after sealing Champions League qualification in the final stretch of last season. El Aynaoui is expected to rejoin the squad on 30 July, while Manu Koné remains on holiday and will link up with the group in August subject to the transfer market.

Roma drew 3–3 with Cannes in a pre-season friendly at the Pierre de Coubertin stadium, Gian Piero Gasperini's third test match ahead of the squad's departure for a training camp in Wales. Paulo Dybala was the standout performer, opening the scoring with a free-kick before adding a second from a solo run on the right after the hour mark. Donyell Malen doubled Roma's advantage at 44 minutes, capitalizing on Dybala's pressure and an opponent's defensive error to give the Giallorossi a commanding 3–0 lead. The match was disrupted when Wesley received a red card for a second yellow in an unusual incident for a friendly, a dismissal that shifted the game's complexion. From the 69th minute onwards, Cannes mounted a comeback with a brace from Lopez and a penalty goal from Ogadd in the final second to equalize. Gasperini used the fixture to trial positional changes, frequently inverting Wesley and Devyne Rensch on the flanks alongside Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé in attacking roles. The opening period at Pierre de Coubertin saw slow rhythms and French defensive organisation, though Roma grew increasingly dominant. Young players featured prominently, with mixed performances; Artem Dovbyk and Daniele Ghilardi made less convincing impacts. Ryan Friedkin watched from the stands.

Roma are on the brink of securing Santiago Castro from Bologna as Gian Piero Gasperini's first attacking reinforcement. The deal is structured at approximately 30 million euros plus 5 million in bonuses, totalling 35 million euros. The Argentine striker has agreed to join on a contract worth 2 million euros per season plus bonuses, with Tony D'Amico finalising payment terms and resale percentages. Parallel negotiations with Bologna extend to Artem Dovbyk's future. The Ukrainian forward has opened to a move to the Emilia-Romagna club after speaking directly with Bologna manager Domenico Tedesco. Roma and Bologna are currently working to finalise the loan formula, with Roma pushing for an obligation to buy and Bologna preferring a right to buy. Both clubs aim to complete the arrangement before the squad departs for pre-season training in Wales.

Santiago Castro's move to Roma was expected to be finalised, with negotiations with Bologna over final details for the Argentine forward's arrival and Artem Dovbyk's departure to Emilia. The deal is structured at 33 million euros plus 2 million in bonuses and includes a 10 per cent sell-on clause. Castro was anticipated to arrive in Rome within the coming day, with Dovbyk's loan terms being agreed in parallel. Once the Castro transfer is complete, Roma will turn their attention to left-wing targets. The club remains interested in other options beyond their preferred candidate, with sporting director D'Amico working multiple fronts. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Sunderland has emerged as a name under consideration; the winger spent last season on loan at Monaco and carries a 35 million euro valuation. His Premier League pedigree and technical profile align with Roma's search criteria. Roma had pursued Club Bruges' Christos Tresoldi earlier in the week, tabling a verbal proposal of 28 million euros plus performance bonuses, but that approach was rejected. The Castro and Dovbyk double move with Bologna represents the culmination of weeks of negotiation and represents the club's opening significant transaction of the transfer window.

Roma are on the verge of completing the signing of Santiago Castro from Bologna for €35 million in total—comprising a fixed fee and performance bonuses—with the Argentine forward expected to arrive in the capital imminently. The deal has been unlocked by a market arrangement that sees Artem Dovbyk move to Bologna on loan, with Roma contributing to his wages. The transfer was accelerated following a face-to-face meeting in France between Tony D'Amico and Ryan Friedkin, who approved the additional budget required to close the move. The club overcame Dovbyk's initial resistance to the loan switch, despite interest from Genoa, to provide an immediate boost to the squad after recent setbacks in the transfer window, including rejections from Mason Greenwood and Armando Summerville and Zeki Çelik's move to Juventus. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini still requires further reinforcements to complete the roster for the new season, particularly an attacking winger. Nusa remains Roma's primary target in that position, alongside alternative options including Marcus Rashford, El Mala, Schjelderup and Akterkoglu, as well as a full-back to provide depth and defensive solidity across all competitions.

Roma are on the verge of completing the signing of Santiago Castro from Bologna for €35 million in total—comprising a fixed fee and performance bonuses—with the Argentine forward expected to arrive in the capital imminently. The deal has been unlocked by a market arrangement that sees Artem Dovbyk move to Bologna on loan, with Roma contributing to his wages. The transfer was accelerated following a face-to-face meeting in France between Tony D'Amico and Ryan Friedkin, who approved the additional budget required to close the move. The club overcame Dovbyk's initial resistance to the loan switch, despite interest from Genoa, to provide an immediate boost to the squad after recent setbacks in the transfer window, including rejections from Mason Greenwood and Armando Summerville and Zeki Çelik's move to Juventus. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini still requires further reinforcements to complete the roster for the new season, particularly an attacking winger. Nusa remains Roma's primary target in that position, alongside alternative options including Marcus Rashford, El Mala, Schjelderup and Akterkoglu, as well as a full-back to provide depth and defensive solidity across all competitions.

Lorenzo Pellegrini remains in limbo nearly a month after his contract expired on 30 June, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini keen to retain him but negotiations still unresolved ahead of the new season. Gasperini has sought Pellegrini's confirmation alongside Paulo Dybala and Zeki Çelik; Dybala has already signed new terms and Çelik has departed, but Pellegrini's future remains uncertain. The midfielder is currently recovering from a previous season injury and unavailable for training, which has extended talks. Gasperini said: "I hope for the renewal, but at this moment the player could not train. He must recover from injury, for this reason the timescales are a little longer. In the meantime I hope he can recover as soon as possible, then reach an agreement." A banner from the Roma supporters' group appeared at the training ground reading: "Making a mistake can happen... Repeating it means carelessness! Let's hold on to Lorenzo!" Bryan Cristante added his support after Roma's friendly with Trastevere at Trigoria, saying he had been in contact with Pellegrini and was waiting for him with open arms. The sticking point centres on contract duration: Pellegrini is requesting a three-year deal but would reportedly accept two years. The squad will soon relocate from Trigoria to Wales for their summer training camp.

Vice-president Ryan Friedkin arrived at Roma's Trigoria training ground on 14 July to inject momentum into the summer transfer window, having successfully brokered deals during his January visit — most notably the arrival of Donyell Malen, who played a central role in Roma's push to the Champions League. This summer's mission has proved less fruitful. Two primary targets, Greenwood and Summerville, have already fallen through, with the American ownership expressing doubts about spending €50 million on the latter. Roma have also suffered the blow of Çelik signing with Juventus despite an oral agreement being in place. Gasperini had been awaiting Friedkin's arrival on 13 July, the first day of pre-season. With the window stalling, Friedkin has already returned to the United States within the past 48 hours, and no return date has yet been set. He may attend Cannes–Roma, a pre-season friendly between the two Friedkin-owned clubs, on Sunday, though that remains uncertain. The new transfer target is now Nusa, and Ryan will monitor negotiations from afar.