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

Roma continue to pursue a left winger after weeks of searching, with Chelsea's Gittens emerging as a target. Gasperini's side want to bring the winger to the capital on loan, but Chelsea are reluctant to part with him on those terms. The situation hinges on Mudryk's future at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea are working on an exit for the Ukrainian forward, who is being directed towards a loan move to Strasbourg despite his preference to remain in the Premier League. If Mudryk leaves, Chelsea will have fewer options on the wing, with Rogers as the main reference point and Gittens as an alternative—precisely what makes it difficult for Roma to negotiate his departure. Roma's search for the right winger has been ongoing for months. Earlier targets including Fofana fell through after the Friedkin Group decided against pursuing the player due to physical condition concerns. With the transfer window closing soon, convincing Chelsea to release Gittens on loan will prove extremely challenging. Roma are trying, but the outcome depends on what happens with Mudryk first.

Jamie Gittens has struggled to replicate his Borussia Dortmund form since joining Chelsea in summer 2025 for more than €50 million. The English winger, who arrived at Dortmund from Manchester City's academy in 2020 at age 16, had emerged as one of Europe's most exciting attacking prospects during the 2024–25 season, scoring 12 goals and providing three assists while leading the Bundesliga with an average of 4.2 successful dribbles per match—well ahead of rivals Jamie Leweling, Michael Olise and Kingsley Coman. He also ranked second across Europe's top five leagues for successful dribbles that season with 76, behind only Lamine Yamal. At Chelsea, however, Gittens has managed only 29 appearances, two goals and six assists, hampered by muscular injuries and rotation policy despite the arrival of manager Xabi Alonso. The 2004-born winger's career at Dortmund was marked by repeated setbacks—a serious ankle ligament injury early in his development and a shoulder injury interrupted his progress before his breakthrough in the 2023–24 Champions League season. Gittens scored in a crucial match against AC Milan at San Siro that helped Dortmund reach the knockout stages. His 2024–25 campaign under Nuri Sahin and then Nico Kovac saw him finally deliver on his enormous potential with clinical finishing and elite dribbling. The article suggests Gian Piero Gasperini and Roma could provide the right environment for him to rediscover that form and reignite his trajectory.

Roma have been offered Oosterwolde, the Fenerbahçe defender who can also operate as a left-back, as the club continues to search for reinforcements with eleven days remaining in the transfer window. The Dutch defender has long been on Roma's radar, but his current status is a concern: he is out with a muscle problem, and Roma will conduct fitness evaluations before making any move. Any deal for Oosterwolde would have to be structured as a loan, matching Roma's approach to other potential signings. Luis Henrique is also being pursued on a temporary basis, though negotiations with Inter remain difficult—the Nerazzurri want to include a €28 million obligation in the agreement, creating distance between the clubs. Moves for Cacciamani and Udogie are considered unlikely.

Rodrigo Mora's arrival at Roma is a calculated strategic addition that aligns with Gasperini's established attacking philosophy rather than a departure from it, according to tactical analysis. The Portuguese playmaker, who has generated discussion outside the club's training ground since June, complements rather than overturns the head coach's original plan. Gasperini has consistently sought two different profiles on the left wing in a 3-4-2-1 formation: a more technical player like Mora, and a dynamic runner such as Fofana, who remains a candidate to complete the attack overhaul. Gasperini deployed the 3-4-2-1 throughout the 2025–26 season, using Lorenzo Pellegrini as an attacking midfielder and playmaker rather than a winger. When he needed different characteristics, he rotated players including Venturino, Zaragoza, Baldanzi, Pisilli and El Shaarawy. The trequartista role is integral to his system regardless of Mora's signing, confirming that Roma's attacking architecture has not shifted. Roma's first three league fixtures—against Fiorentina, Lecce and Atalanta—all deploy a back four, matches in which Mora's profile will prove immediately useful behind the striker pairing. Gasperini used the 3-4-1-2 formation in four of five recent pre-season friendlies, fielding Soulé as trequartista three times and Cristante once. Roma's opening match comes Monday evening against Fiorentina at the Olimpico.

Roma will discover their eight group-stage opponents on 27 August 2026, with their first Champions League match scheduled for 8 September. The club returns to European football's premier competition for the first time in seven years, a milestone marked by the famous UEFA Champions League anthem composed by Tony Britten, adapted from Georg Friedrich Händel's Zadok the Priest. The 2026–27 campaign will feature a new league-phase format across 36 clubs, with all final matchday fixtures played simultaneously on 27 January 2027. Under the restructured format, the top eight finishers in the league phase advance directly to the knockout rounds. Teams finishing 9th to 24th must contest a playoff stage, while positions 25 to 36 are eliminated. Roma's captain Stephan El Shaarawy scored the decisive goal that secured the club's qualification for this season, a moment recalled as a turning point after years away from the competition. The Champions League final was initially assigned to San Siro but has been moved to Madrid due to stadium construction work. From 2027 onwards, the defending champions will open each season with a standalone Tuesday evening fixture.

Roma will learn their eight group-stage opponents for the 2026–27 Champions League on 27 August 2026, with their first match scheduled for 8 September. The club will compete in the new 36-team league phase format, where the top eight finishers advance directly to the knockout stages, sides finishing ninth to 24th enter a playoff round, and teams ranked 25th to 36th are eliminated. The campaign concludes on 27 January 2027, when all final matchday fixtures kick off simultaneously. Roma's return to Europe's premier competition marks an end to a seven-year absence from the Champions League. The announcement has sparked anticipation among supporters, with references to Stephan El Shaarawy's goal that secured the club's qualification. The iconic Champions League anthem, composed by Tony Britten and adapted from Georg Friedrich Händel's Zadok the Priest, will herald the giallorossi's participation in the tournament once more. From 2027 onwards, the defending champions will open their season with a standalone Tuesday evening fixture. The 2027 final was initially assigned to San Siro but has been relocated to Madrid due to stadium renovation work.