Ferguson greets Gollini ahead of Brighton–Roma friendly

Roma suffered a heavy defeat to Brighton in their final pre-season friendly in England, conceding three goals in the first 50 minutes. The capitulation prompted Gian Piero Gasperini to make immediate changes, with Ziolkowski, Ghilardi and Koulierakis warming up on the sidelines. Hermoso was at fault for the opening goal, leaving too much space for Rutter, while N'Dicka's positioning proved costly for the third. Gasperini turned to his bench and demanded action, declaring: "Cambiamo" (We're changing). The last two substitutes entered within seconds of each other. This was Roma's third consecutive defeat on their UK tour, following a 4-1 loss to Cardiff. Gasperini also identified midfield frailties during the first half, noting the lack of protection in front of the back four. El Aynaoui was withdrawn at half-time without returning for the second period, replaced by Mannini. The full-back had been directly culpable for the second goal when his poor pass to Hermoso allowed Ayari to beat Svilar. Rensch, operating on the opposite flank, also drew Gasperini's ire for a series of misplaced decisions during the opening 45 minutes.

Roma faced Brighton at the Amex Stadium in the final warm-up match of their British tour. Gasperini named Donyell Malen in the starting eleven, while leaving new arrivals Castro and Koulierakis on the bench to manage their workload ahead of the 2026–27 season opener. The Roma boss fielded a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, and a four-strong midfield of Devyne Rensch, Bryan Cristante, Neil El Aynaoui, and Wesley. Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala occupied the advanced midfield roles, with Malen leading the attack. The fixture served as a final examination of the squad's preparation during the pre-season tour, with Gasperini using the match to assess combinations and match sharpness before competitive action resumes.

Manu Koné travelled to San Pedro del Pinatar in Murcia to visit his former club Toulouse while the French national team completed their summer training camp. The Roma midfielder posted on social media about the visit, saying: "When I was in the centre, I was told that once you wear the violet shirt, you become part of the Toulouse family forever. It was important to come back here, meet familiar faces and exchange with the new generation of pitchounes. Thank you all for the welcome, I wish you the best for this season." Koné is set to return to the centre of Gian Piero Gasperini's midfield after his international commitments. He is expected in Rome on Monday 10 August to begin pre-season preparation. The number 17 had been subject to market speculation linking him to Manchester United, but those reports have now been put to rest.

Evan Ferguson, the Roma forward on loan from Brighton, was present at the Amex Stadium on 8 August and exchanged greetings with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and the club's staff. Ferguson remains sidelined following an ankle injury sustained in January 2025. The Irish striker's appearance at Brighton ahead of the fixture underlined his continued recovery from the injury that has kept him unavailable since the start of 2025. His presence among the Roma party offered a chance to reconnect with his former coach and teammates despite his absence from the squad on the pitch. Ferguson joined Roma on loan from Brighton in July 2025 with an option to make the move permanent for €40 million.

Torino have opened talks with Evan Ferguson regarding a potential move to Serie A, according to reports. The Giallorossi forward, currently on loan at Roma, is being targeted by the Turin club as they seek attacking reinforcement ahead of the 2026–27 season. Torino's injury worries — particularly with Zapata dealing with a knee problem, Adams in the squad, and Njie potentially departing — have prompted the club to explore fresh options in the final third. Ferguson scored five goals during his time in a Roma shirt but endured a complicated campaign hampered by injuries, which necessitated surgical intervention. The 22-year-old arrived at the Stadio Olimpico on loan from Brighton with a €40 million option to buy last summer. His injury struggles and limited opportunities have now caught the attention of Torino, who believe a fresh start in Turin could benefit both player and club. Initial contact between Torino and Ferguson's representatives has been made to assess the feasibility and terms of a potential transfer.

Evan Ferguson could return to Italian football. The 21-year-old Irish striker, currently sidelined by an ankle injury sustained in January, spent time on loan at Roma last season but has not featured since. According to Football Insider, Torino have opened talks with Brighton to sign Ferguson, with the English club open to discussing his departure. Ferguson's Roma spell was disappointing and cut short by injury. He arrived on loan from Brighton during the 2025–26 season but struggled to make an impact before the ankle problem ended his time at the Stadio Olimpico. Torino have identified him as an attacking reinforcement, in a move that coincides with Roma's own interest in acquiring Torino's Cacciamani.

Roma travel to Wales this evening for the second phase of their pre-season training camp, with Niccolò Pisilli returning to the squad after a calf injury sidelined him in recent days. Robinio Vaz, who had recovered a few days earlier, is also included in the group named by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The full squad for the Welsh camp comprises three goalkeepers (De Marzi, Gollini, Svilar), thirteen defenders (Rensch, Ndicka, Hermoso, Mancini, Ziolkowski, Wesley, Mannini, Nardin, Reale, Lulli, Ghilardi), five midfielders (Cristante, El Aynaoui, Pisilli, Panico, Bah), and six forwards (Castro, Malen, Soulé, Dybala, Cherubini, Vaz). Pisilli's availability marks a significant boost to Gasperini's options as Roma continue their preparations for the new season.

Paolo Marcacci's weekly ratings roundup highlights Paulo Dybala's perfectly struck free-kick against Cannes in a friendly, earning top marks for technical excellence regardless of the opposition's standard. Donyell Malen has returned from his recent World Cup commitments with renewed hunger for goals and prominence in Roma's attacking play, while Devyne Rensch is already showing signs of sharpness and remains underrated heading into official fixtures. Pierluigi Gollini's position as second-choice keeper warrants reflection from the club. Matías Soulé's fitness condition drew specific mention from Gasperini in a recent press conference, with Soulé appearing among those most behind pace during the Cannes match—though this observation carries no bearing on ongoing transfer considerations. Angeliño's search for match sharpness requires respectful patience rather than unsolicited commentary. The wider ratings reflect concerns about Italy's national team setup under new management, with political interference in sporting matters undermining both the sport itself and public confidence.

Roma closed their pre-Wales training camp friendlies with a 3–3 draw against Cannes, offering Gasperini both encouraging signs and lingering doubts. Paulo Dybala starred, opening the scoring with a free-kick and adding a third goal at the end of a perfect counterattack, with Donyell Malen adding the second and striking an immediate understanding with the Argentine. Cannes mounted a second-half comeback and equalised from the penalty spot at the 95th minute when Oggad beat Pierluigi Gollini with a chip after Artem Dovbyk's unnecessary foul. Wesley's red card, issued for a second yellow that left the bench incredulous, complicated Roma's shape in midfield; even Gasperini struggled to explain the referee's decision. Matías Soulé, not yet at full fitness, failed to impose himself, while the Dybala–Malen combination proved increasingly central to Roma's attacking play. The friendly offered useful tactical information ahead of the Cardiff match on 1 August, when serious preparation intensifies. For Dovbyk, the remaining minutes may have been his last in a Roma shirt.