El Shaarawy set for Saudi Arabia switch after rejecting Italian clubs

Nicolò Tresoldi wants Roma and is currently awaiting the club's next move. The Club Brugge striker has been identified by the giallorossi as a potential deputy to Donyell Malen and is convinced by Gian Piero Gasperini's project, having already spoken with Niccolò Pisilli. Roma's pursuit of Tresoldi operates independently of any potential departure by Artem Dovbyk, who remains without a new club at present. The giallorossi could proceed with the signing even without selling the Ukrainian forward, though Tresoldi's valuation is high, ranging between €25–30 million. Despite considerable interest from other clubs, Tresoldi is focused solely on Roma's movements in the transfer market. An acceleration in negotiations is expected in the coming week.

Paulo Dybala has returned to the Italian capital ahead of Roma's pre-season retreat, which begins in two days. The Argentine forward stopped short of confirming his contract renewal publicly, telling Il Romanista: "Rennoval? We cannot confirm it yet." However, the deal is all but complete, with only his signature remaining before official confirmation arrives in the coming days. Dybala will begin summer preparation at Trigoria after spending time in Argentina with his wife Oriana and daughter Gia. The 30-year-old's future at Roma is not in doubt despite his cautious remarks. He left a message for the giallorossi supporters ahead of his return to training, saying: "I will greet them when we see each other." His renewal comes as Matías Soulé, a fellow Roma attacking player, recently raised questions about his own future with the club.

Paulo Dybala has returned to Italy to prepare for the new season, arriving at Rome's Fiumicino airport in the evening alongside his wife Oriana and daughter Gia. The move comes less than two days before Roma's squad reconvenes at Trigoria. When asked about greeting supporters, Dybala said: "I tifosi li saluterò quando ci vedremo" (I will greet the fans when we see each other). The club is now awaiting the announcement of his contract renewal.

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.

Stephan El Shaarawy's decade at Roma ended with a goal against Verona in the final fixture of the season, a moment already etched into club folklore. The winger started the campaign as captain under new coach Gian Piero Gasperini on 23 August 2025 in the opener against Bologna, rewarded for having the most appearances of any Roma player. The captaincy lasted only three matches before Bryan Cristante and Lorenzo Pellegrini superseded him, while a long Achilles tendon inflammation kept him sidelined for 9 matches. He made just 9 starts all season. El Shaarawy appeared 27 times overall in a campaign that marked his lowest appearance count since arriving at Roma (excluding two spells that began in January). He provided 3 assists and scored only once in league play before that final moment at the Bentegodi—a Europa League goal against Midtjylland in November proved his only other strike. The 34-year-old had squandered a clear late chance against Lazio at the Olimpico in his penultimate appearance. His journey from a once-heralded young talent whose image appeared on trading cards and video games to a squad player willing to sacrifice wages during his Shanghai Shenhua spell to return to Roma was defined by selflessness, including a standout European performance as a defender against AC Milan two years earlier. The goal at Verona provided the perfect send-off for a married man departing after a beautiful era.