Dybala's Champions League return: from Budapest heartbreak to assist master

Marash Kumbulla has expressed openness to remaining at Roma under new head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, though his long-term future at the club remains undecided. Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, the defender said: "Ancora non lo so. Intanto sono a Roma, poi vedremo se potrò giocare le mie carte o se invece cercheremo una soluzione condivisa con la società. Se resterò, bene, non ho mai avuto problemi di alcun tipo. Altrimenti spero di andare in un club dove poter restare più anni, dove ci sia un progetto insomma." He added that Serie A and La Liga are the leagues best suited to his style. Kumbulla believes his defensive attributes could suit Gasperini's high-intensity approach. "Ho delle caratteristiche che potrebbero essere adatte al gioco di Gasperini," he explained, noting his previous experience under Juric at Verona, whose methods shared similarities with the former Real Madrid coach. The 25-year-old praised Gasperini as "uno dei migliori allenatori d'Italia e d'Europa," and expressed how meaningful it would be to work under him again, reflecting on his earlier time together that included winning the UEFA Europa Conference League at home in Tirana—"una delle notti più belle della mia vita."

Artem Dovbyk is preparing to leave Roma after two seasons, with Ajax now among the clubs interested in signing the 29-year-old Ukrainian forward. Roma paid €30.5 million plus €5.5 million in bonuses to acquire him in 2024 after he won La Liga's Golden Boot at Girona in 2023–24, but he has failed to adapt to Serie A. Last season he made just 14 league appearances and scored three goals, falling out of favour with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. With Donyell Malen now signed permanently and Roma pursuing high-profile targets including Diego Moreira and Alejandro Garnacho, the club must raise funds through player sales. Roma have set Dovbyk's asking price at €23 million and appear reluctant to negotiate. Ajax could provide him with regular first-team football, though whether they will meet the valuation is uncertain. Meanwhile, Daniele De Rossi is reportedly keen to bring Dovbyk to Genoa, though that move would likely require Roma to lower their demands significantly.

Roma are pursuing dual transfers for Alejandro Garnacho and Moreira, both players linked to the BlueCo ownership structure. Chelsea are demanding 50 million euros for Garnacho, while Strasbourg are asking the same fee for Moreira. The two transfers are complicated individually, but Roma believe a shared ownership angle could unlock both deals. Garnacho is a Chelsea academy product available for transfer, while Moreira is an external addition to Strasbourg, which operates as a development club within the BlueCo consortium led by Todd Boehly. Roma's strategy centres on the multi-ownership factor: since both Chelsea and Strasbourg belong to the same American-led group, the club believe they could negotiate a single package deal rather than two separate transactions. This approach could allow all parties to reach a compromise on fees and structure. The giallorossi are considering a comprehensive agreement that would make both moves more sustainable financially while giving BlueCo flexibility across its portfolio.

Radio commentators have offered contrasting views on Lorenzo Pellegrini's absence from Roma's training camp. Aspri stated the midfielder's non-appearance is purely physical rather than a sign of trouble, saying: "The absence of Lorenzo at the gathering I don't see as an alarm; they're telling us the absence is mainly for the physical aspect, he's not yet well and this would not have allowed him to be there even with a contract." Aspri expressed certainty over contract renewals for Dybala, Çelik, and Pellegrini, claiming they require only "special adjustments" and that the project could become fundamental for the 30-year-old captain. Pruzzo offered a starkly different perspective, suggesting Roma would not be troubled if Pellegrini moved elsewhere. "If Roma found itself in another situation with Pellegrini they wouldn't tear their hair out," Pruzzo said. "If he were to change air, Roma wouldn't mind too much—that's my impression. I don't believe the new Roma should be rebuilt around Pellegrini." Bernabai raised concerns about contract delay timelines, noting that as of mid-July neither Çelik nor Dybala had signed, and questioned whether Dybala would be available the following day. Gasperini's focus remains on securing three attacking signings and addressing unresolved contract matters before the competitive season begins.

Lorenzo Pellegrini will miss Roma's official training camp opening at Trigoria tomorrow, though negotiations over his contract renewal have moved closer to completion in recent days. The midfielder and the club are increasingly aligned on extending their partnership, with concrete progress reported in talks. Pellegrini's entourage is reaching a verbal agreement with Roma, though a formal deal has not yet been announced. Pellegrini's absence from tomorrow's session is due to two factors: the contractual situation remains awaiting formal finalisation, and an injury sustained late last season requires careful management of his return. Meanwhile, contract situations for Paulo Dybala and Zeki Çelik are already advancing towards resolution.

Roma's pre-season camp begins Monday 13 July at Trigoria under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Paulo Dybala will be present after signing a one-year contract with an option until 2028, with the deal's official confirmation expected in the coming days. Zeki Çelik and Lorenzo Pellegrini will be absent, both currently free agents in negotiations to renew with the club. While Çelik's deal is nearly finalised, talks with Pellegrini continue with a €500,000 gap between the club's offer and his demand, though optimism is filtering through. The pair's absences extend beyond contract matters. Çelik, recovering from Turkey's early elimination from the World Cup, receives standard additional rest alongside other international players. Pellegrini, however, will not train regardless of negotiations—a recurring injury sustained in May's derby, which cost him the end of last season, continues to trouble him. The squad will train at Trigoria before the second phase of pre-season begins on 31 July in Wales, running until 8 August, with further friendlies scheduled thereafter.

Artem Dovbyk is preparing to leave Roma after two seasons, with Ajax now among the clubs interested in signing the 29-year-old Ukrainian forward. Roma paid €30.5 million plus €5.5 million in bonuses to acquire him in 2024 after he won La Liga's Golden Boot at Girona in 2023–24, but he has failed to adapt to Serie A. Last season he made just 14 league appearances and scored three goals, falling out of favour with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. With Donyell Malen now signed permanently and Roma pursuing high-profile targets including Diego Moreira and Alejandro Garnacho, the club must raise funds through player sales. Roma have set Dovbyk's asking price at €23 million and appear reluctant to negotiate. Ajax could provide him with regular first-team football, though whether they will meet the valuation is uncertain. Meanwhile, Daniele De Rossi is reportedly keen to bring Dovbyk to Genoa, though that move would likely require Roma to lower their demands significantly.

Mario Balotelli has named AS Roma among the contenders for next season's Serie A title, alongside Napoli and Inter. Speaking to Sportmediaset, the former Milan striker said: "Napoli and Inter are the favourites, but I want to add a surprise: Roma will also fight for the Scudetto." Balotelli, now based in Saudi Arabia, predicted that Gian Piero Gasperini's side will be in the mix for the championship despite not being among the usual elite. Roma have not yet completed any significant transfer business ahead of their squad gathering tomorrow. The pursuit of Greenwood has fallen away, while the club continues to work on signing a backup to Malen, with Tresoldi identified as a target, and also Garnacho. The Giallorossi are preparing to restart their season following a challenging campaign. Balotelli's endorsement represents external confidence in Roma's prospects, though the club's transfer activity will be crucial to whether they can genuinely mount a title challenge.

Roma have identified Nicolò Tresoldi as a potential signing to strengthen their attacking options. The 20-year-old Italian-German forward, currently at Bruges, has agreed in principle to join the Giallorossi. Tresoldi, born in Cagliari but developed in Germany, represents a target identified by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini as a backup to Donyell Malen. Roma are prioritising a swift conclusion to negotiations with the Belgian club, looking to move ahead of rival suitors regardless of Artem Dovbyk's status at the club, with Genoa continuing to monitor the Ukrainian striker. However, the Bruges board are reluctant to negotiate, viewing Tresoldi as a valuable asset and unwilling to offer discounts. Roma's objective is to complete the deal on the basis of 25 million euros. The club are currently engaged in talks with Bruges in an attempt to lower their financial demands. The transfer could precede other offensive targets Gasperini has requested, including Alejandro Garnacho at Chelsea and Habib Moreira at Strasbourg, both of whom Roma are actively studying.

Marash Kumbulla has returned to Roma following two seasons in La Liga with Espanyol and Mallorca, with his future at the club set to be clarified in the coming days during pre-season training at Trigoria. The Albanian defender spoke to Corriere dello Sport about his prospects under new head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, saying: "I don't know yet. For now I'm in Rome, then we'll see if I can play my cards or if, instead, we'll look for a shared solution with the club. In that case I hope to go to a club where I can stay for several years, where there's a project." Kumbulla expressed openness to remaining in Serie A or La Liga, having benefited from his development abroad. He acknowledged facing numerous elite attackers in Spain, singling out Sorloth as particularly difficult. The 26-year-old also reflected on his time under José Mourinho at Roma, describing it as enriching and recalling "one of the most beautiful nights of my life" when the club won the Coppa Italia in his home country of Albania, specifically in Tirana. Regarding his fit under Gasperini's system, Kumbulla said: "I have characteristics that could be suited to Gasperini's football. So yes, I could use my qualities but, I repeat, we still need to talk. Without doubt he is one of the best coaches in Italy and Europe." He also noted maintaining contact with former teammates, including recent congratulations to Stephan El Shaarawy on his wedding.

Pierluigi Gollini reported to Roma's Trigoria training ground on Thursday morning, three days before the official start of pre-season scheduled for Monday, 13 July. The goalkeeper confirmed his early arrival via an Instagram story, joining Wesley in showing eagerness ahead of the 2026–27 campaign. Both players' enthusiasm underscores the squad's preparation for the new season. Gollini had recently appeared at El Shaarawy's wedding alongside teammates Mancini and Cristante, whose contracts expire in 2027, and Pellegrini, who is awaiting a contract renewal. The gathering reflected the close-knit atmosphere within the squad as players gear up for pre-season, with several key members keen to resolve outstanding contract matters. The official raduno at Trigoria will formally launch Roma's preparations for the campaign ahead.

AS Roma is close to completing contract renewals for its core squad following the club's return to the Champions League after seven years. Three players — Paulo Dybala, Zeki Çelik, and Lorenzo Pellegrini — are currently out of contract, with agreements already reached with Dybala and Çelik in recent days; both deals are now in the drafting stage. Pellegrini remains the main outstanding issue, with negotiations ongoing and a potential decisive meeting expected as soon as today. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini told Sky Sport: "The players are happy, the club will handle the announcements." The squad must be finalised before Monday, when the team gathers at Trigoria. Pellegrini is seeking a three-year contract to resist approaches from abroad, while Roma is holding out for a two-year deal. Despite the gap, both sides are expected to reach an agreement, possibly with added options as a compromise. The defensive pair Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante are also due for renewal; Mancini is likely to sign a new three-year contract to ward off interest from Inter, while Cristante could accept two years. Stephan El Shaarawy was recently released from the club following Verona's final match of the season.