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

Roma travel to Lecce on Monday 31 August at 18:30 for the second round of Serie A 2026–27, aiming to build on a commanding 4–0 opening-day victory over Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has injury concerns ahead of the fixture at the Stadio Via del Mare: Devyne Rensch is sidelined with a strain to the left thigh flexor, and Lorenzo Pellegrini remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from a right thigh rectus femoris injury. Gasperini is expected to field a settled defensive shape with Mile Svilar in goal and a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. Nahuel Molina's availability is being assessed; if he cannot play, Giorgio De Marzi will step in after an impressive display against Fiorentina. Wesley continues at left wing-back. Bryan Cristante is assured of his midfield place alongside Manu Koné. In the attacking third, the main selection question concerns Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé; Mora started against Fiorentina and impressed, forcing a good save from De Gea, while Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are primed to lead the line. Malen was the star of Roma's opening fixture, scoring three goals and supplying three assists against Fiorentina, while Dybala also contributed three assists. Niccolò Pisilli rounded off the rout with Roma's fourth goal. The visitors hold a commanding historical record: across 42 meetings with Lecce, Roma have won 29, drawn 11 and lost only twice. The clubs last met in the 2025–26 season, when Roma won 1–0 at home through Robinio Vaz. Lecce arrive after an away victory over Venezia (2–0, goals from Gorter and Tiago Gabriel) and will play in a 4–3–3 formation under manager Eusebio Di Francesco. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN, Sky Sport and NOW. Official team sheets will be released approximately one hour before kickoff.

Real Madrid have been drawn as one of Roma's eight opponents in the Champions League league phase, with the fixture to be held at the Olimpico. Emilio Butragueno, the club's institutional relations director and a Madrid legend, outlined the scale of the task ahead after the draw. Roma will face one of Europe's most successful sides in a fixture of considerable prestige. Butragueno stressed the difficulty of such encounters, shaped by the passion with which they are played and the quality they demand. He explained that Madrid approach every match with enthusiasm and confidence in their players, while remaining acutely aware of the challenge posed. Butragueno said: "We are talking about the Champions League. We are aware of the passion with which matches of this type are lived, and this always makes them extremely difficult. We fight with great enthusiasm, as always, with full confidence in our players, but also aware that every match is a challenge and requires a highest-level performance from the squad if we want to reach our objectives." He added that the new format is "particularly demanding because, unlike the previous one, now you compete against everyone. This forces us to consider every match practically as a final, because the objective is to get into the top eight, ideally the top four, which would guarantee us the home advantage until the end. This must be our horizon, and also, if possible, avoid playing the knockout playoff. It is fundamental to start earning points from the early matches, so that the squad gains the confidence needed to finish among the best."

Rodrigo Mora announced himself to AS Roma supporters with an influential display on his first outing in the giallorosso shirt, earning immediate praise from head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The Portuguese talent, who arrived with the tag of a €52 million investment despite an initial outlay of €25 million, demonstrated rare maturity for his age. Operating on the left wing to exploit his pace and create numerical advantage, Mora showed glimpses of his quality throughout the contest, most notably executing a cutting switch to his right foot and curling a shot towards the top corner that required a fine save from the opposition goalkeeper. Gasperini was visibly enthused by what he saw. After the match, the Roma coach highlighted Mora's versatility, emphasizing that he is capable of playing as a playmaker or across the flanks. He noted that Mora creates something meaningful every time he touches the ball. The wide role allowed the Portuguese winger to exploit his dribbling ability—a quality that had already caught attention during his time in La Liga—while demonstrating his adaptability to Roma's demanding environment. Alongside strong contributions from Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala, the evening provided early evidence that Mora possesses the foundations needed to become a key player for the club.

Roma are poised to complete a defensive reshuffle with four days left in the transfer window. Jan Ziółkowski will join Monza on loan with a €18 million purchase option, clearing the way for Gonzalo Balerdi to arrive from Marseille. The 1999-born Argentine, who holds Italian citizenship and captains Marseille, will bring experience to Gasperini's back line and becomes the fifth Argentine in the squad. The deal moves forward after Adriel Oosterwolde's proposed transfer collapsed following his medical at Fenerbahce, to which he has returned. Gasperini still requires two further signings: a left-sided midfielder and a left winger, with the latter the priority. Negotiations with Chelsea over Atalanta's Mateo Gittens have continued, with an intermediary working to persuade the Blues to accept a costly loan with a conditional mandatory purchase totalling over €40 million. Bosnian midfielder Mohamed Fofana remains a target despite his desire to leave Lyon, though a deal for Franck Kessié is judged too expensive. Neil El Aynaoui's agent has fielded only loan offers from clubs in Germany and England. In outgoing moves, Robinio Vaz is close to joining Hull City on a loan worth €2 million with a €30 million purchase option.

Leonardo Balerdi is expected to arrive at Roma on 29 August for medical tests and to sign his contract, completing director D'Amico's moves in defence. The Argentine centre-back, who has spent six years at Marseille after rising through Boca Juniors, joins on an expensive loan of 1 million euros with a right of redemption set at approximately 20 million euros that converts to an obligation after a certain number of appearances. Balerdi numerically replaces Jan Ziółkowski, who moves to Monza on loan with a 18 million euro right of redemption. Roma's primary focus now shifts to the left wing attack, with two names leading the shortlist: Gittens and Fofana, in that order of preference, according to reporting from Il Messaggero. Gittens is described as the ideal profile, physically strong and comparable to Lookman, but Chelsea continues to resist a loan move despite the player being outside Xabi Alonso's plans. The Fofana path is complicated by obstacles: Lyon must sell but demands a permanent transfer, and despite D'Amico reaching agreement with Lyon on a 30 million euro base plus 3 million in bonuses, the club's ownership has not yet given approval to complete the deal. A surprise purchase cannot be ruled out. In midfield, Roma will likely retain Wesley, Rensch, Lulli and Molina unless an unexpected development occurs. Should El Aynaoui depart—only on a permanent basis—Kessié has emerged as a target. Robinio Vaz is described as close to a move to Hull City.

Neil El Aynaoui has attracted interest from two European clubs in the final days of the transfer window. Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen have both expressed interest in the Roma midfielder, according to journalist Nicolò Schira. The English Premier League side has been monitoring the Moroccan for several days, and the German Bundesliga champions have now joined the race. Both clubs have made enquiries and gathered information on El Aynaoui's situation. Roma have not yet received any official offers for the 2001-born midfielder from either club. Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen have limited their approach to soundings and expressions of interest, with no formal negotiations underway. The interest extends across two of Europe's top competitions — Premier League and Bundesliga clubs are tracking his profile — but no concrete proposal for his transfer has been tabled so far. The focus remains firmly on preliminary discussions and information-gathering at this stage. With the summer transfer window drawing to a close, it remains unclear whether either side will move to a concrete approach. Roma are waiting to see if one of the two clubs decides to submit an official bid or whether their interest will remain purely exploratory. For now, the situation is confined to the early phases of the market, without any real negotiations having begun.

Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen produced a devastating partnership in Roma's opening league match against Fiorentina, with the Argentine setting up three assists for three goals from the Dutch forward. The duo combines quality, creativity, strength and a sharp finishing instinct—and both are now ready to operate on Europe's biggest stage as Roma begin their Champions League campaign. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's emphasis on attacking football and deploying five or six forwards per match may have been shaped by his time leading Atalanta in the Champions League. To compete with Europe's elite and maintain a title challenge in Serie A, Roma must prioritize attacking play and field players capable of both scoring and creating goals. Last season Roma struggled to achieve this, partly due to underperformance from existing squad members; this season Gasperini has been explicit about his demands. While Roma's attack may not match the firepower of PSG or Real Madrid, Dybala and Malen elevate the club to parity with most other Champions League opponents. Matías Soulé offers further depth in attack, though he lacks experience in Europe's premier competition. Gasperini's rivals have invested heavily: Real Madrid continues to spend lavishly on forwards, while PSG has recruited Ferran Torres to join their established attacking arsenal. Manchester United also defends competently. Most other Roma opponents sit at or below Roma's level. A match against Fenerbahçe will pose a different challenge. If Gasperini acquires one more forward, Roma will have the championship-calibre attacking partnerships to compete across all competitions.

Gian Piero Gasperini's offensive philosophy, honed during his time managing Atalanta in the Champions League, is shaping Roma's approach to European competition this season. The coach has made clear that Roma's attack will not match the firepower of PSG and Real Madrid, but intends to compete effectively against the other sides in the competition. Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala are at the required standard and elevate Roma's level, forming a front line capable of standing alongside Europe's strongest. Roma have been building their attacking threat for two years, though last season saw a failure driven chiefly by the underperformance of players already in the squad. This season Gasperini has been explicit about his demands. Matías Soulé adds depth to the attacking pool, though he lacks experience in a major European competition; he possesses the numbers and quality required at this level. The European landscape features Real Madrid continuing heavy investment in attack, while PSG has assembled proven attacking talent including Ferran Torres, and Manchester United defends solidly. The rest of Roma's Champions League opponents sit at or below the Giallorossi's level. According to analysis by Alessandro Angeloni in Il Messaggero, Gasperini's tactical imprint reflects a continuous pursuit of goals and attacking play to compete with Europe's strongest. The upcoming fixture against Fenerbahçe will offer a different challenge. Should Gasperini secure an additional attacking player, Roma would possess the championship-winning attacking pairings needed to compete across all fronts.

Roma prepare for Monday's trip to Lecce with three days to go, with Gian Piero Gasperini having almost the full squad available. Devyne Rensch and Lorenzo Pellegrini are out; Rensch did not train today and will attempt to recover for the Atalanta fixture on 5 September at 20:45. Robinio Vaz also missed training as a precaution, with his move to Hull City on an incoming loan (€2 million with a €30 million purchase option) increasingly likely. Nahuel Molina has recovered fully and will compete with Lulli for the right-wing spot, while Wesley is ready on the opposite flank. The midfield sees a duel between Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé for a trequartista role, with Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala paired up front. Roma seek their second consecutive victory.

Rodrigo Mora has impressed head coach Gian Piero Gasperini despite being deployed from the first minute, but the manager has signalled that a second attacking reinforcement is needed to complete the summer overhaul. Mora's contract contains a €110 million release clause. Sports director D'Amico is focused on identifying that final piece after closing the Oosterwolde deal, responding to Gasperini's requests made at the start of summer. With Lyon's decision on Fofana still pending, Donyell Malen sits atop Roma's target list. Chelsea have already rejected Roma's opening proposal for the winger, but the club intends to return with a fresh bid in the coming days. Chelsea have also registered interest in Manu Koné should Enzo Fernandez depart, while Crystal Palace have reportedly approached Roma regarding Neil El Aynaoui. Meanwhile, Roma are working to find solutions for surplus players Anass Salah-Eddine and Vasquez, the remaining members outside the project still at Trigoria.

The imminent arrival of Jayden Oosterwolde could trigger a departure in Roma's defence, with the new acquisition able to play both left-back and centre-back, offering head coach Gian Piero Gasperini additional flexibility. In the final days of the transfer window, either Jan Ziolkowski or Daniele Ghilardi may leave the club. Ziolkowski is the more marketable asset. The Polish defender has attracted interest from two Saudi clubs, particularly Neom, which has registered strong interest. Roma value him at around €20 million, partly because Legia Varsavia retain 10% of any future sale. According to Corriere dello Sport, Roma are awaiting an offer in the region of €16 million from the Saudi club—a figure that could open genuine negotiations. A sale would carry significant importance for Roma's incoming transfers; with Oosterwolde acquired through a deal that defers much of the expenditure, any proceeds from Ziolkowski could become a small fund to reinvest in the attacking winger Gasperini has requested. Oosterwolde's arrival would also permit Roma to lose a centre-back without becoming numerically exposed in defence. Ghilardi is also under scrutiny following reported interest from Bologna. Roma will assess any proposals, and should either defender depart, D'Amico may pursue another centre-back on loan in the final days. Salah-Eddine remains outside the plans, continuing to train separately after rejecting several transfer options including Olympiacos.

Roma remain active in the transfer market with one day until their Serie A opener against Fiorentina, but several targets remain out of reach. The club has completed the signing of Oosterwolde, who is expected to arrive in the capital in the coming hours, and sporting director D'Amico continues searching for a final piece to complete Gasperini's squad. Left winger remains the priority, with three names under consideration: Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Malick Fofana and Rafael Leão. Chelsea have flatly rejected Roma's approach for Gittens on loan, with the London club insisting on a permanent transfer only and viewing the player as not for sale. Roma plan a fresh meeting with Chelsea in the coming week to explore whether the club might reconsider, but the obstacle remains substantial. For Leão, Milan are asking for €40 million plus €5 million in bonuses, though the Portuguese winger has opened to a move to Roma and put Turkish proposals on hold. Roma are reasoning around a package of €45 million, with agent Jorge Mendes playing a central role in negotiations. Fofana's availability hinges on whether Lyon qualify for the Champions League—their return leg against Fenerbahçe takes place on 26 August. If they advance, the Belgian winger will stay; otherwise, a sale becomes likely. Luis Henrique remains far from completion despite Roma and Inter making progress on transfer terms. The key obstacle is a lack of agreement with the player himself. Elsewhere, Roma have made contact with Brighton regarding Yasin Ayari, a 2003-born midfielder, though Borussia Dortmund are competing for his signature. Jan Ziółkowski is available for transfer at €20 million valuation, with Saudi Arabian clubs showing interest. Should he depart, Roma plan to pursue a defender on loan, with Salah-Eddine continuing to field other offers after rejecting Olympiacos.