El Shaarawy heads to Saudi Arabia; Kessié eyes Serie A return

Roma are closing in on a deal to sign Mason Greenwood from Marseille, with the Englishman having reached a 'silent pact' with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini over a transfer. The attacker has already agreed personal terms with the Giallorossi and is keen on the move, returning to training with Marseille while negotiations continue. Roma have prepared an offer of €45 million and are ironing out final details before presenting it formally to the French club, but Marseille's demand currently stands at €50 million, creating a €5 million gap. The transfer remains unresolved as Roma look to complete the signing before their training camp. Greenwood has been handed a key role in Roma's project under Gasperini, making the deal a priority for the club. Roma's offer of €45 million falls short of Marseille's asking price, though the amount Roma are prepared to spend is unusually high for their typical transfer strategy. To bridge the gap, Roma are expected to unlock additional finances through a player sale, which would allow them to reach Marseille's €50 million valuation and secure the ex-Manchester United player's arrival.

Roma has presented a formal contract renewal proposal to Zeki Çelik's representatives and reached a preliminary agreement, but the deal remains unsigned as bureaucratic formalities have delayed progress. The Turkish defender's situation stands in contrast to Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose renewals are finalised and set to be announced by the club in the coming days. With Çelik currently without a contract, rival clubs have begun making direct contact with the player during this period of standstill. According to transfer expert Matteo Moretto, Roma and Çelik share full understanding and contacts remain positive, though the transaction cannot yet be considered complete. The Giallorossi are keen to accelerate the process and aim to definitively secure the defender and resolve all renewal matters within the coming days to prevent unwanted competition from other suitors. The club's urgency reflects concern that extended delays could invite interference from interested parties.

Roma are pushing to resolve Zeki Çelik's contract renewal in the coming days, with optimism filtering through that a deal will be struck, though the matter remains unsigned. The club sent a formal proposal to the Turkish defender's agent in recent days and received a positive response, but administrative formalities are delaying completion. The situation has attracted attention from other clubs, who have begun making direct contact with Çelik, currently without a club. Meanwhile, Roma have already settled terms with Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini, with official announcements expected shortly. However, Çelik's negotiations have proven more protracted. According to transfer expert Matteo Moretto, there is mutual understanding between Roma and the player and optimism surrounds the renewal's closure, but it cannot yet be considered done. The Giallorossi are determined to accelerate the process and aim to wrap up the renewal chapter within days.

Stephan El Shaarawy is poised to join Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab after leaving Roma. The forward, who became a free agent on 30 June, has accepted the club's proposal, though contract details remain under negotiation. Al Shabab has offered a two-year deal, while El Shaarawy is seeking a three-year agreement. The annual salary is reportedly slightly under €9 million. El Shaarawy departed Roma at the end of his contract and has now prioritized the Saudi opportunity over other options. De Rossi had personally approached the attacker about joining Genoa, but no agreement was reached in those discussions. The financial package from Al Shabab proved significantly more attractive to the Italian forward.

Stephan El Shaarawy is poised to join Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab on a two-year contract worth 10 million euros per season. The move comes shortly after the winger's wedding to Ludovica Pagani. El Shaarawy's departure represents a significant outflow from Roma's roster as the club navigates the summer transfer window. With El Shaarawy exiting, Roma is reportedly among clubs considering a move for Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessié, who is looking to leave Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli and return to European football. Juventus is also mentioned as a potential suitor. Kessié had been earning 14 million euros annually in Saudi Arabia and would accept a substantially reduced salary to rejoin Serie A. The possibility of Kessié's arrival suggests Roma is reshaping its midfield options ahead of the new season. Details regarding the timeline and final terms of negotiations for both players remain unclear.

Sergio Oliveira, the Portuguese midfielder who left Roma, returned to the city to attend the wedding of El Shaarawy and Ludovica Pagani. At the celebration, Oliveira reconnected with former teammates Lorenzo Pellegrini, Bryan Cristante, and Gianluca Mancini—players with whom he won the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2022. Oliveira shared his reflections on social media about his time at Roma, saying: "Roma is special. It has brought me so much. Not only sporting moments but mainly fantastic people. I am very happy to be here on this beautiful day, a truly special moment for my friend Ste. Even though we spent little time together, when you share the same values it becomes easy to understand each other and lend a hand. Thank you to you all and I wish you a life full of happiness." The post underscores the bond formed during the Giallorossi's successful European campaign and the lasting relationships built within the club. The wedding also included attendance from other Roma-connected figures, with details of their presence marking another chapter in the club's recent history of trophy success.