El Aynaoui books World Cup last-16 spot; potential Roma clash with Malen looms

France manager Deschamps expressed doubts about referee Barton's capability to oversee the World Cup semifinal between France and Spain, which the Spanish won. The 35-year-old Salvadoran official, in his seventh World Cup match overall and third of this tournament, made two notable errors early in the contest: he initially forgot the spray used to enforce free-kick distances, then awarded a penalty in controversial circumstances. The disputed penalty came when Lucas Digne, the former Roma defender, misjudged a ball in the Spanish penalty area and was beaten by Yamal. Digne had already swung his leg to clear the ball when he struck the Spanish attacker, who went down. Barton immediately indicated the spot-kick, drew criticism from the French players who surrounded him, but upheld his decision after consulting. Deschamps said: "I don't seek excuses; Spain was superior and we were poor, but I do wonder whether the referee was up to the standard of this match. I don't say it because we lost, but there were several situations to discuss." Barton has made history as the first referee to send off a player for covering his mouth during play, having dismissed Almiron in Turkey–Paraguay during the group stage.

Spain defeated France 2–0 in the 2026 World Cup semi-final at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with goals from Oyarzabal's penalty after 22 minutes and Pedro Porro in the 58th minute. Manu Koné, the Roma midfielder, started on the bench, with France manager Deschamps selecting Tchouameni in his place despite Koné's praised performance in the quarter-final against Morocco. Koné came on at half-time to replace the cautioned Rabiot, but France could not overturn the deficit. The defeat ends France's World Cup ambitions, with Koné set to feature in the third-place play-off on Saturday 18 July against the loser of tomorrow's other semi-final between England and Argentina. That match kicks off at 21:00 Italian time. The final, between Spain and the England–Argentina winner, is scheduled for Sunday 19 July.

France take on reigning European champions Spain in the World Cup semi-final at Dallas Stadium at 21:00 this evening. The clash will decide who advances to the tournament final. Manu Koné, the Roma midfielder, has featured in four of France's six matches at the World Cup under Deschamps, but could start from the bench tonight. The France boss is more likely to deploy Tchouameni in midfield alongside Rabiot in a 4-2-3-1 formation, though no final decision has yet been confirmed. The match will be broadcast live on Rai 1, with streaming available on Rai Play and Dazn.

Roma started serious preparation for the 2026–27 season on Monday with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini naming a 17-man squad for initial training at Trigoria. Paulo Dybala featured in the group and marked his contract renewal with a short interview on Roma's official channels. Wesley returned to training immediately following the injury that forced him to miss the World Cup, training alongside teammates in the new kit that showcases the restored classic crest. Gasperini was accompanied by sporting director Tony D'Amico. The initial squad includes four goalkeepers—Svilar, Gollini, De Marzi, and Vasquez—and seven defenders: Angeliño, Ghilardi, Hermoso, Mancini, Rensch, Wesley, and Ziolkowski. Çelik will join on 18 August after completing his holiday following his contract renewal, while N'Dicka is due to arrive on 22 August. Only Pisilli and Cristante are currently available in midfield, with El Aynaoui expected on 30 August and Koné's arrival date to be confirmed pending the end of the World Cup. The attacking line features Dybala, Dovbyk, Soulé, and Vaz, with Dybala the only forward certain to remain at the club long-term. The squad is staying overnight at Fulvio Bernardini training centre and will undergo a double session today—training at 08:00 and 18:00. Roma have also opened ticket sales for their first official pre-season match at Cannes on 26 July at Pierre de Coubertin stadium, with visiting supporters' tickets priced at €15 each through AS Cannes' official website.

AS Roma opened summer training at Trigoria on Monday with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and his squad, with dozens of supporters present to greet the team. Players reported around 12:00 and completed their first session at 18:00. Notably absent from the squad call were World Cup representatives Koné (still in competition), N'Dicka, El Aynaoui, Malen, and Çelik—who is close to renewing his contract—as well as Pellegrini, sidelined by injury but nearing a contract extension. Paulo Dybala's renewal has been officially confirmed through 30 June 2027. The forward said: "This story continues, as everyone wanted—the club, me, and the fans. I'm happy to play another season here, another year in this city. Being able to defend Roma's shirt is a privilege for me. Roma means many things to me: honour, responsibility, beauty. There are also many personal reasons that brought me to be here today. When the music we've all been waiting for plays—the Champions League—we'll look at each other, us on the pitch and you in the stands, and we'll be proud of what we're doing." Gasperini told Rai Radio Uno the Friedkins will arrive in the coming hours and stressed the importance of their presence. "From today there will be important accelerations. We hope to do good business in the market and give answers to the enthusiasm of a city that has already made many subscriptions," he said. Pellegrini is set to sign until 2028 with a 2029 option, earning €2.5 million per season plus bonuses; the deal is in final stages before signature.

Gian Piero Gasperini has announced his initial squad of 17 players for Roma's pre-season training camp at Trigoria as the 2026–27 season officially begins. The Giallorossi are preparing for the new Serie A campaign and a return to Champions League football. Several key players are absent from the initial group. Zeki Çelik is unavailable after his contract expired on 30 June; the Turkish defender is completing his break following the World Cup with his national team, though a contract renewal remains under discussion. Lorenzo Pellegrini is similarly without a deal at present. A staggered return has been arranged for other recent internationals: Evan N'Dicka and Donyell Malen, both recently eliminated from the World Cup, will join the squad later, as will El Aynaoui. Manu Koné's arrival date is yet to be confirmed as he continues with France at the World Cup. Several players returning from loan spells will also train with the first team while their future transfers are resolved. For all involved, the pre-season retreat represents an opportunity to impress Gasperini and stake their claim for the campaign ahead.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, sporting director D'Amico, and owner Friedkin Jr. held their first working summit at Trigoria to assess the transfer market. Summerville is Gasperini's first choice, having been identified as a target since January. West Ham's asking price has dropped from 60 million euros—with the player seeking 6 million per season—after a month of failed approaches by other clubs. Roma have confirmed their interest and met with the winger's agents, who are in Rome to finalise another deal. The club will not exceed a wage cap of 4 million euros and is unwilling to go beyond 40 million for the transfer fee. Summerville can revive his career at Roma, join fellow Dutchman Donyell Malen, and has limited alternative suitors capable of matching his salary demands. As a backup option, Roma have proposed to Manchester United a loan deal with a 5 million euro fee, plus a right of redemption at 35 million that converts to an obligation under specified conditions. The protracted nature of the Roma transfer machine remains an ongoing challenge, but the arrival of Friedkin Jr. signals a sharper operational focus alongside Gasperini and D'Amico.

Roma are pushing for a swift decision from Donyell Malen's representatives over a move to the Giallorossi. The club made contact with an Italian manager working for The Team agency—which also represents Malen—on Tuesday evening to gauge the Dutch winger's genuine interest in joining. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has identified Summerville as his primary target for the left-wing position since January, and Roma's sporting director met with the player's camp mid-morning to present the club's offer, which includes only modest bonuses rather than significant raises. A response was expected after lunch but had not arrived by the time of reporting. Ryan Friedkin's arrival in Rome and presence at Trigoria since Tuesday morning has bolstered the club's negotiating position. Roma have placed Garnacho on standby as an alternative, though Chelsea are reluctant to sanction a loan deal. Gasperini continues to push for Moreira of Strasbourg, a midfielder capable of playing across both flanks, while interest in West Ham's Summerville remains the priority. The club has also ruled out Mohamed Greenwood and is eyeing Real Madrid's Endrick, the 20-year-old on loan at Lyon until June with the same arrangement appealing to Roma. Endrick earns 2.5 million annually, fitting the club's revised wage structure.

Roma have emerged as contenders to sign Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa, the 20-year-old Brazilian forward, on a loan deal from Real Madrid. The approach, which surfaced around late June, follows Roma's earlier pursuit of other attacking targets including Summerville and Garnacho. Real Madrid are prepared to send Endrick out on a paid loan with the option of an agreement that could include a substantial buyout clause and a buyback clause in the club's favour. Endrick has attracted the interest of head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who views him as a versatile second striker capable of operating across the attack and suited to Roma's tactical system, including a potential 3-4-1-2 formation. The 20-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Lyon, where he scored 7 goals in 19 matches, and faces intense competition for minutes at Real Madrid. Salary is not a significant obstacle—Endrick earns 2.5 million euros gross per season. Roma's squad already includes Wesley, Endrick's Brazilian national-team colleague, which could ease his integration. For Gasperini, Endrick could also provide cover for Donyell Malen in the attacking line.