Ferguson's ankle injury worse than expected, Ireland boss warns of lengthy recovery

Fiorentina will arrive at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday 24 August for the opening day of the 2026-27 Serie A season, three days away. Midfielder Arthur Atta and midfielder Rolando Mandragora remain sidelined, continuing individual work away from the squad after the previous day's session. Both players have yet to rejoin full training, a situation that has begun to cause concern. Alex Jimenez and Joao Mario have already returned to group training on Wednesday. Their availability for Roma's trip is now in doubt. Today's training session will be decisive in determining whether Atta and Mandragora can be fit and available for the fixture on 24 August.

Niccolò Pisilli has cleared medical checks at Trigoria and is on course for selection in Roma's opening Serie A fixture against Fiorentina. The academy product has resumed regular group training after recovering from a calf muscle injury that sidelined him since late July, and is pushing Manu Koné for a starting berth alongside Bryan Cristante in midfield, though Koné currently holds the edge in Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical plans. Pisilli, born in 2004, was unavailable for much of the pre-season campaign but is now building momentum four days before the season opener. Koné, meanwhile, missed most of pre-season preparation owing to post-World Cup rest, yet remains slightly favoured for the midfield role. Wesley, the left-sided Brazilian defender, sustained a minor ankle sprain in recent days that forced him to sit out an August 15th friendly against Borussia Dortmund. The club has implemented precautionary measures with partial training for Wesley, but he is expected to start on the left flank for Roma's debut at Stadio Olimpico.

Roma prepare for their Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday evening at the Stadio Olimpico with Paulo Dybala leading the charge. The Argentine forward posted images of last season's final home fixture—the derby, where Gianluca Mancini scored twice—as motivation for the new campaign. Rodrigo Mora, the Portuguese attacking midfielder, completed his second training session at Trigoria on 20 August under Gasperini's watch, adding renewed creativity and unpredictability to the attacking unit. Niccolò Pisilli returned to full training after a calf injury sustained in late July, while Wesley managed only a partial session following a slight ankle sprain suffered ahead of the Borussia Dortmund friendly. Mora's arrival bolsters an attacking setup that Gasperini had sought to strengthen last season before Donyell Malen's arrival reshaped the forward line. The Portuguese midfielder described his key strength: "I believe my main point of strength is the ability to free myself from opponents in complicated situations." Squad availability shapes team selection for the Fiorentina match, with Mora potentially deployed as a pure attacking midfielder alongside Dybala and Malen against Grosso's side or introduced during the match. Lorenzo Pellegrini requires more time to return to availability. Gasperini will hold his first press conference of the 2026–27 season on 22 August at 13:30. Roma's initial fixtures include Lecce, Atalanta, Torino and Inter before the September break. The UEFA Champions League league-phase draw will be revealed on 27 August at 18:00.

Genoa and Brighton have reached an agreement to loan Evan Ferguson to the Serie A club, with Brighton covering 30 per cent of his wages. The move requires only final approval from the Irish striker, who is expected to be available from early October following left ankle surgery he underwent in March. Ferguson, a former Roma player, joins Daniele De Rossi's Genoa squad as the club prepares for the 2026–27 season. The 21-year-old arrived at Roma on loan from Brighton last summer with a €40 million purchase option, but that deal did not result in a permanent transfer. His return to Serie A on loan represents a fresh opportunity after his recovery from surgery.

Evan Ferguson is on the verge of joining Genoa on loan from Brighton as manager Daniele De Rossi seeks to bolster his attacking options. The Irish forward endured a difficult spell at Roma last season, scoring 3 goals and providing 2 assists in Serie A. Genoa have been in negotiations with Brighton for several days to complete the loan move, with the transfer reportedly close to completion. Ferguson's departure from Roma comes after an underwhelming campaign that saw the 2004-born attacker make limited impact. The move would give him a fresh opportunity to prove himself in Serie A. Earlier in his time at Roma, Ferguson had impressed in early matches of the previous season against Bologna and Pisa, earning praise even from Gasperini during that period. His move to Genoa would follow the arrival of Baldanzi to De Rossi's squad.

Roma take on Borussia Dortmund in a pre-season friendly at 17:30 today, but the clash is overshadowed by an injury crisis that has left Gian Piero Gasperini with just 23 players available — only 16 outfield players and three goalkeepers. Wesley suffered a right ankle sprain yesterday, joining Niccolò Pisilli (soleus injury) and Lorenzo Pellegrini (returning to group training in mid-September) on the sidelines. The Brazilian's injury mirrors problems sustained during the Welsh training camp. With 15 days remaining in the summer transfer window, Roma's squad position has deteriorated markedly. Eight players have departed — Dovbyk, Ferguson, Angeliño, Tsimikas, Celik, Zaragoza, Venturino and El Shaarawy — while only three signings have arrived: Molina, Castro and Koulierakis. Gasperini highlighted the shortage with a pointed response on competitiveness versus last season: "According to you?", underlining particular weaknesses on the flanks, in attack and midfield, where only three players are currently available. The Dortmund match will provide minutes for Molina while also testing Roma's defensive resilience; the rearguard conceded 11 goals across four pre-season matches against Cannes, Brighton, Cardiff and Newport without a clean sheet.