Source: Roma News
AS Roma is preparing for Sunday's Serie A match against Parma at Stadio Ennio Tardini (18:00 kick-off). El Shaarawy has been ruled out due to injury during training at Trigoria. Lorenzo Pellegrini and another player remain sidelined and are continuing individual training sessions rather than participating in full squad work. The extent of these injuries and expected timelines for their return remain unclear. Roma will need to assess squad availability ahead of the fixture.
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Wesley is close to returning to full training at Roma's Trigoria facility, bringing positive news for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini ahead of the summer preparation period. The midfielder's recovery is progressing well through its staged phases. Details of his specific injury timeline and expected availability remain unclear from the available information.
The World Cup Round of 16 stage begins today with Morocco playing Canada at 19:00, followed by France versus Paraguay at 23:00. Morocco, fresh from eliminating the Netherlands, will field El Aynaoui and Bouaddi in midfield, with a possible opportunity for Salah-Eddine on the left wing. France remain undefeated and face Paraguay seeking to advance to the quarter-finals. The winner of the Morocco-Canada match will meet France or Paraguay in the next round, potentially creating an all-Roma derby scenario. Meanwhile, AS Roma has three players still in World Cup contention: Koné, El Aynaoui, and Salah-Eddine. Koné will start for France in place of Aurélien Tchouameni, the Real Madrid midfielder who is sidelined by a thigh injury but is expected to recover for the quarter-finals if France progresses. Three other Roma players—Çelik, Ndicka, and Malen—have been eliminated from the tournament in recent days.
Paulo Dybala is close to signing a contract renewal with AS Roma, with an agreement reportedly within hours. The Argentine playmaker has impressed Roma in recent matches, convincing the club to extend his stay for another season. Final details surrounding a bonus from the previous season are being resolved. Dybala underwent surgery in March under Professor Pier Paolo Mariani, who addressed questions about the player's future durability. Mariani dismissed concerns that Dybala cannot sustain peak performance over a full campaign, attributing his past absences to muscular injuries and functional overload rather than structural weakness or fragility. He stated: "According to me there are a few prejudices linked to his ability to be competitive for the entire season. Knowing human physiology well, I believe Dybala is an absolute world-class player. In the past his problems were mainly linked to muscle injuries or functional overloads, not a problem concerning his durability or the supposed fragility of the player. With expertise linked especially to preparation and with personalized training he can be managed, because it is better to prevent than to cure. With these attentions he can have total durability and can play at high levels until he is 40 years old." Mariani confirmed Dybala made excellent progress in his recovery, working with great consistency during rehabilitation. The surgeon emphasized that differentiated programming and tailored training regimens can prevent recurring issues.
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.
Stephan El Shaarawy married Ludovica Pagani at Villa Aldobrandini near Frascati, with a significant Roma contingent in attendance. Current Roma players Gianluca Mancini, Bryan Cristante, and Lorenzo Pellegrini were among the guests, joined by former Roma midfielder Sergio Oliveira, who was visiting Rome for the occasion. Gollini also attended the celebration. A photograph posted on social media showed Oliveira and Pellegrini together, featuring emoji of a yellow heart, red heart, and the Roma wolf symbol. The reunion held special significance for several attendees. Mancini, Cristante, Oliveira, and Pellegrini all shared a memorable experience in 2022 when they won the UEFA Europa Conference League in Tirana. The wedding brought together members of that historic squad to celebrate El Shaarawy's marriage to the Bergamo-based DJ and influencer. The gathering highlighted the close bonds that persist among Roma's players and former squad members. El Shaarawy, nicknamed "the Pharaoh," has been part of Roma's recent history, and the presence of current players underscored the team's tight-knit culture.
Roma's senior squad members have made a collective decision to back the club's sporting project, with Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini among those signalling their commitment to remain. The move follows the Friedkin Group's backing of the team's direction. The core group of established players are betting heavily on the technical plan moving forward, representing a show of unity from within the squad at a crucial moment for the club.
AS Roma are pushing forward with contract renewal negotiations during a busy period at the club. Lorenzo Pellegrini's renewal is seeing accelerated progress, while Zeki Celik's deal is reportedly nearing completion, with only the official announcement pending. The club is balancing new signings with efforts to extend deals for key squad members. Details on the exact terms and timeline for both renewals remain unclear.
Head coach Gasperini is urging the Friedkin Group to accelerate Roma's transfer activity ahead of the squad's return on 13 July. With only 13 players currently available and the club's pre-season camp fast approaching, the coach wants new signings in place as soon as possible. Gasperini has identified Mason Greenwood and Moreira as his top priorities to strengthen the squad immediately. Greenwood remains the primary target to elevate Roma's competitive level, though competition is intense. Fenerbahce continues to pursue the English winger, though Champions League qualification remains uncertain for the Istanbul club. Atlético Madrid has also shown interest but must first resolve the Julian Álvarez situation with manager Simeone. Al Hilal has made an offer, but Greenwood prefers to remain in Europe. For Moreira, Roma maintains contact with Strasbourg, where the midfielder's valuation sits around €40 million and negotiations are ongoing. Chelsea's potential involvement could complicate that deal. Additionally, Roma has scouted alternatives including Garnacho, though Real Sociedad manager Xabi Alonso intends to evaluate him further. The club is also monitoring Kumbedi for the wing position, while striker Dovbyk will not move to Genoa. Roma's senior players Pellegrini, Dybala, and Çelik must finalize contract renewals before the July 20 return of international players.