Dybala praises Mourinho as Roma contract extension nears completion

Roma prepare for their Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday evening at the Olimpico, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini running through final selection details. The squad is virtually at full strength, with Lorenzo Pellegrini the sole absentee as he continues his rehabilitation programme. Gasperini has been resolving key tactical questions in recent training sessions as Roma adopt their familiar 3-4-1-2 formation. The main selection uncertainty centres on midfield and the attacking three. In defence, the back three will comprise Gianluca Mancini on the centre-right, Evan N'Dicka in the middle, and Mario Hermoso on the left. Molina will operate on the right flank and Wesley on the left, both tasked with providing attacking thrust and quick defensive cover. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are locked in as the attacking partnership. Gasperini is considering fielding young Rodrigo Mora in the number 10 role from the start, a move that would sacrifice some defensive balance but offer greater attacking quality. In central midfield, Niccolò Pisilli holds a clear advantage over Neil El Aynaoui in the battle to partner Manu Koné and provide dynamism and forward runs. This positioning could see Bryan Cristante start on the bench despite featuring heavily in pre-season friendlies. Roma will hold a final training session this afternoon at Trigoria before the squad remains overnight at the Fulvio Bernardini sports centre ahead of Monday's debut against Fiorentina.

Roma are seeking exits for at least two squad members as they continue to reshape the squad. Salah-Eddine is effectively sidelined and will not feature in the matchday squad for the league campaign opener, having missed the entire pre-season training camp in Wales and trained separately since his return. The winger rejected a move to Olympiacos, who offered close to €10 million, after earlier loan stints elsewhere proved unsuccessful; PSV attempted to secure him but were rebuffed. Roma are now seeking alternative buyers, though only loan offers have materialized, particularly from the Netherlands. Defender Ziółkowski has attracted attention from two Saudi Arabian clubs, with Roma valuing him at €20 million—a figure that includes a 10 per cent sell-on clause owed to Legia Warszawa. Should the Polish defender or fellow centre-back Ghilardi (targeted by Bologna) depart, Roma plan to recruit another defender on loan. Head coach Gasperini explained that any further departures would only occur as part of planned tactical adjustments, telling the club to "switch" positions as needed. Porter Vazquez, equally marginal to the project, would suit a loan arrangement. By contrast, Robinio Vaz will remain; he impressed Gasperini during pre-season, and Roma rejected several Serie A loan offers for the young defender. Roma's loan-based strategy reflects their careful approach to the transfer window with the campaign now underway.

Jayden Oosterwolde is on the verge of joining Roma from Fenerbahçe on a deal worth a reported €17–18 million overall, structured as a loan with a conditional right of purchase tied to appearances. The move will add depth to Gasperini's squad in multiple positions: Oosterwolde will arrive as a left-back, effectively as cover for Wesley, a role he played early in his career at Twente, but can also operate as a central defender if needed. Fenerbahçe need to sell to trim their UEFA list, having already offloaded Cherif to Coventry, Fayed to Frosinone and Musaba to Norwich. Oosterwolde is currently sidelined with a muscle injury sustained in a Champions League qualifier against Sturm Graz and is unlikely to feature before mid-September. The signing addresses one of two gaps Gasperini identified in Roma's squad planning. The club can register 23 players on their Europa Conference League list and have slots to fill before the window closes. Gasperini told his press conference: "Numerically we can insert 23 players into the Europa lists and so we have free spots to fill — we hope to complete the squad in these last ten days, but I am very satisfied with the players who have arrived so far." Roma's technical staff value Oosterwolde for his physical strength and pace, which allows him to progress the ball in attack while maintaining solid defensive recovery numbers.

Roma prepare for their Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday evening at the Olimpico, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini running through final selection details. The squad is virtually at full strength, with Lorenzo Pellegrini the sole absentee as he continues his rehabilitation programme. Gasperini has been resolving key tactical questions in recent training sessions as Roma adopt their familiar 3-4-1-2 formation. The main selection uncertainty centres on midfield and the attacking three. In defence, the back three will comprise Gianluca Mancini on the centre-right, Evan N'Dicka in the middle, and Mario Hermoso on the left. Molina will operate on the right flank and Wesley on the left, both tasked with providing attacking thrust and quick defensive cover. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are locked in as the attacking partnership. Gasperini is considering fielding young Rodrigo Mora in the number 10 role from the start, a move that would sacrifice some defensive balance but offer greater attacking quality. In central midfield, Niccolò Pisilli holds a clear advantage over Neil El Aynaoui in the battle to partner Manu Koné and provide dynamism and forward runs. This positioning could see Bryan Cristante start on the bench despite featuring heavily in pre-season friendlies. Roma will hold a final training session this afternoon at Trigoria before the squad remains overnight at the Fulvio Bernardini sports centre ahead of Monday's debut against Fiorentina.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini confirmed in a press conference that the club still has two vacant squad slots to fill with ten days remaining in the transfer window. "Whoever arrives is strongly desired and wants strongly to come and play for Roma," Gasperini said. He acknowledged the shift in transfer strategy imposed by Financial Fair Play constraints. "We started with very high-profile names, that is no secret. But we had to confront the need to keep the wage bill under certain limits. So you cannot go and pick established players." Roma face Fiorentina in their Serie A campaign opener in less than 48 hours. On Paulo Dybala's fitness, Gasperini expressed optimism: "He will have a great season. The hope is that no anomalies happen like last year." The club continues to pursue reinforcements before the August deadline, with the recruitment focus now shifted toward more cost-effective targets that fit within stricter financial parameters.

Gian Piero Gasperini held his pre-match press conference at Trigoria two days before Roma's season opener against Fiorentina, addressing the squad's current state and the club's transfer strategy. The coach confirmed the squad remains incomplete, stating: "We still have two vacant slots for four players", but expressed satisfaction with the new arrivals and their commitment to the club. On young midfielder Rodrigo Mora, Gasperini said: "He is a very young lad, but has already reached important levels. He is a very important investment for the society." Dybala and Soulé are in excellent condition, while Gasperini was emphatic about Manu Koné's future: "For me at Roma he is a fundamental player." On the broader challenge ahead, the coach said: "We start from zero every year" and stressed the priority of making a strong opening: "What we don't lack is the will to start strong immediately." Gasperini acknowledged the constraints of financial fair play, explaining that further signings will arrive only if they represent genuine added value to the squad. The club remains active in the transfer market as the window approaches its close. Left-back Jayden Oosterwolde is now close to joining Roma from Fenerbahce on a loan deal with a right of purchase set at €17–18 million, which can become an obligation under certain conditions. The negotiation is in an advanced stage as the club works to finalise the remaining details. Chelsea has closed the door on any exit for winger Jamie Gittens, refusing to consider the loan formula Roma requested. That pursuit therefore remains blocked. Away from the pitch, radio analyst Pugliese noted that the current leadership differs from last season's Massara–Ranieri administration, which had repeatedly stated a significant sale would be needed to respect UEFA's financial rules and avoid European competition exclusion. No major departure has occurred, raising the prospect of substantial fines and squad restrictions. Analyst Marcacci warned that sales of Neil El Aynaoui and Jan Ziółkowski would represent a significant financial benefit but a notable technical loss, particularly in El Aynaoui's case.

Roma prepare for their Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday evening at the Olimpico, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini running through final selection details. The squad is virtually at full strength, with Lorenzo Pellegrini the sole absentee as he continues his rehabilitation programme. Gasperini has been resolving key tactical questions in recent training sessions as Roma adopt their familiar 3-4-1-2 formation. The main selection uncertainty centres on midfield and the attacking three. In defence, the back three will comprise Gianluca Mancini on the centre-right, Evan N'Dicka in the middle, and Mario Hermoso on the left. Molina will operate on the right flank and Wesley on the left, both tasked with providing attacking thrust and quick defensive cover. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are locked in as the attacking partnership. Gasperini is considering fielding young Rodrigo Mora in the number 10 role from the start, a move that would sacrifice some defensive balance but offer greater attacking quality. In central midfield, Niccolò Pisilli holds a clear advantage over Neil El Aynaoui in the battle to partner Manu Koné and provide dynamism and forward runs. This positioning could see Bryan Cristante start on the bench despite featuring heavily in pre-season friendlies. Roma will hold a final training session this afternoon at Trigoria before the squad remains overnight at the Fulvio Bernardini sports centre ahead of Monday's debut against Fiorentina.

Gian Piero Gasperini held his pre-match press conference at Trigoria two days before Roma's season opener against Fiorentina, addressing the squad's current state and the club's transfer strategy. The coach confirmed the squad remains incomplete, stating: "We still have two vacant slots for four players", but expressed satisfaction with the new arrivals and their commitment to the club. On young midfielder Rodrigo Mora, Gasperini said: "He is a very young lad, but has already reached important levels. He is a very important investment for the society." Dybala and Soulé are in excellent condition, while Gasperini was emphatic about Manu Koné's future: "For me at Roma he is a fundamental player." On the broader challenge ahead, the coach said: "We start from zero every year" and stressed the priority of making a strong opening: "What we don't lack is the will to start strong immediately." Gasperini acknowledged the constraints of financial fair play, explaining that further signings will arrive only if they represent genuine added value to the squad. The club remains active in the transfer market as the window approaches its close. Left-back Jayden Oosterwolde is now close to joining Roma from Fenerbahce on a loan deal with a right of purchase set at €17–18 million, which can become an obligation under certain conditions. The negotiation is in an advanced stage as the club works to finalise the remaining details. Chelsea has closed the door on any exit for winger Jamie Gittens, refusing to consider the loan formula Roma requested. That pursuit therefore remains blocked. Away from the pitch, radio analyst Pugliese noted that the current leadership differs from last season's Massara–Ranieri administration, which had repeatedly stated a significant sale would be needed to respect UEFA's financial rules and avoid European competition exclusion. No major departure has occurred, raising the prospect of substantial fines and squad restrictions. Analyst Marcacci warned that sales of Neil El Aynaoui and Jan Ziółkowski would represent a significant financial benefit but a notable technical loss, particularly in El Aynaoui's case.

Radio commentators have weighed Roma's compliance with UEFA financial rules after the club failed to make a significant sale this summer. Pugliese told Radio Radio Pomeriggio that previous management under Massara and Ranieri had repeatedly stated a major exit was necessary to avoid breaching UEFA thresholds and exclusion from European competition. That sale has not materialised, he noted, but Roma now faces the prospect of a substantial fine and squad-size restrictions. "Not having made any major sales, they will have to cut somewhere else," Pugliese said, suggesting the club is calculating these financial penalties at their training ground. Marcacci addressed the potential cost of departures, telling Radio Radio Pomeriggio that selling both El Aynaoui and Ziółkowski would be financially beneficial but technically damaging. "If Roma manage to move El Aynaoui and Ziółkowski in the exit market, it would be an excellent thing from a financial point of view but a great loss from a technical standpoint, especially regarding the Moroccan player," Marcacci said. "His departure would not be painless at all."