Dybala free-kick and Malen strike lead Roma to 3-3 draw with Cannes

Paulo Dybala illuminated Roma's pre-season friendly against Cannes in France, but the 3–3 draw starkly exposed the club's dependency on the Argentine midfielder. Dybala opened the scoring with a masterful free-kick and produced a string of high-class moments before leaving the pitch; Roma then collapsed completely, conceding three unanswered goals to the newly promoted third-tier hosts and surrendering a late equaliser from a penalty carelessly conceded by Artem Dovbyk in stoppage time. With the transfer window still sluggish, the medical room full, contract renewals stalled, and painful departures including Zeki Çelik's move to Juventus, Dybala has become Roma's essential lifeline—both on the field and as a symbolic figure for the club. His significance was underscored during Roma's centenary celebrations on the night of 21–22 July, when he embraced ten thousand supporters gathered at via degli Uffici del Vicario. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini prioritised keeping Dybala, a decision that protects the club from both technical and emotional impoverishment and confirms the star as the anchor holding the entire project together.

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.

Santiago Castro has completed his move to Roma from Bologna for €35 million including bonuses on a five-year contract. The Argentine striker will arrive at Termini station around 23:45 this evening before undergoing medical examinations tomorrow and signing his deal. His arrival triggers Artem Dovbyk's departure to Bologna on a loan with a purchase option, with the Ukrainian's €3.5 million salary covered by the Emilian club. Dovbyk will travel to Bologna tomorrow for his medical. Castro's signing marks Roma's primary attacking reinforcement ahead of the new season, particularly with Champions League football on the horizon. Gasperini has prioritised two strong forward options, and club sources confirm Roma rejected a loan approach for Robinio Vaz before Bologna proposed Dovbyk as an alternative. Roma's hierarchy has also made Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract renewal a priority. Following recent signings of Dybala, Mancini, and Cristante, the club aims to extend Pellegrini's deal before the squad departs for a pre-season training camp in Wales. Pellegrini's new contract is projected to run until 2028 with an optional further season, offering €2.5 million annually plus bonuses. Rome's mayor Gualtieri confirmed progress on the new Stadio della Roma at Pietralata. At an institutional meeting on Friday involving Regional President Rocca and ministers Abodi and Salvini, Gualtieri stated: "Today we make another leap forward in the procedures for stadium construction. An entire area regeneration with a stadium at its centre that will have the world's largest Curva and will be a joy for all sports fans. The services conference will be concluded by September." Roma legend Roberto Pruzzo praised Castro as "a great player, strong" with quality to play centre-forward or provide assists.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is close to signing a new contract with Roma after his deal expired on 30 June. The club has made the midfielder's renewal a priority following recent extensions for Paulo Dybala, Gianluca Mancini, and Bryan Cristante. Pellegrini, who continues to put Roma first despite being out of contract, remains sidelined by injury and has missed the early stages of pre-season. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini views Pellegrini as essential to the squad both technically and as a leader in the dressing room. The player is equally committed to staying in Rome, and negotiations are progressing with confidence. Roma aim to finalise the deal in the coming days—ideally before the team departs for their training camp in Wales. The proposed agreement runs until 2028 with an option for a further season, at a salary of 2.5 million euros per season plus bonuses. Once signed, Pellegrini could rejoin the squad during the second phase of summer preparation and begin working with Gasperini ahead of the new season.

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.

Roma have signed Santiago Castro from Bologna for €35 million plus bonuses, with the Emilia-Romagna club retaining 10% of any future sale. The 20-year-old Argentine striker enters the club's all-time transfer rankings at fifth place, surpassing Antonio Cassano's €31 million fee from Bari in 2001–02. Only Gabriel Batistuta (€36.15 million from Fiorentina in 2000–01) ranks ahead in a crowded top five. The podium is occupied by Tammy Abraham (€41 million from Chelsea), Artem Dovbyk (€41.1 million from Girona), and Luka Schick (€42 million from Sampdoria). Castro will operate as more than a backup to Donyell Malen, representing the opening salvo of a potentially expansive January window under the Friedkin Group's ownership. The club has set ambitious targets across the market; figures in the frame include Nusa, for whom RB Leipzig are reportedly seeking over €55 million, as well as Adingra, Leao (reportedly close to a Turkish club move), Alajbegovic, and Martinelli.

Roma have completed their first significant transfer move of the window, securing striker Castro. While the signings of Greenwood and Summerville fell through, the acquisition of the 21-year-old Argentine represents a strategically sound addition rather than a consolation prize. Castro addresses multiple needs in Gasperini's squad. First, Roma required an alternative to Malen ahead of their Champions League return, with the coach known for his demanding approach to substitutions. Second, Castro operates across the entire attacking front and can partner with the Dutch winger rather than simply replace him—a model proven at Atalanta, where Zapata and Muriel played alongside one another. Third, Castro has already proven his worth in Italian football, scoring double figures over the past two seasons across league and cup competitions while contributing thirteen assists, demonstrating his capacity to function in a more robust front line if needed. The 21-year-old's credentials extend beyond club form. He featured in Argentina's pre-World Cup selection despite competing with world-class attackers for national team places. By contrast, Retegui managed just seven goals at Genoa before becoming a prolific scorer at Bergamo—a trajectory that underscores Castro's superior track record in Serie A.

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 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 surrendered a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 against Cannes, a third-tier French club owned by the Friedkin Group, in a pre-season friendly that exposed defensive fragility. Paulo Dybala opened the scoring with a moment of skill, then set up Donyell Malen for the second goal. Dybala added a third himself to complete a brace, but the match turned when Wesley was sent off late in the first half after receiving a second yellow card that drew question marks. Playing with a numerical advantage in the second half, Cannes staged a comeback through two goals by Lopez and a penalty converted by Oggad to secure the draw. The result marks Roma's final warm-up fixture before Gian Piero Gasperini's side departs for Wales on 30 July. Dybala's creative display (rated 7.5) underlined his importance to the team's attacking play, while Malen (6.5) scored despite a mixed outing. Wesley's performance (5) was hampered by his early dismissal, and Artem Dovbyk (5) made limited impact on the match despite operating throughout.