Gasperini and Friedkin to hold summit this weekend to plan Roma's future

Abel Xavier, the Portuguese defender who became one of AS Roma's most notorious transfer failures, has undergone a complete life transformation. Xavier arrived at Roma in 2004 on a pay-per-appearance contract during the club's chaotic five-manager season, but managed only four appearances in a single campaign marked more by his eccentric public image—bleached hair and provocative styling—than his on-pitch performances. Despite earlier career stints at major clubs including Liverpool, Benfica, Everton, and Galatasaray, Xavier struggled to establish himself at the Giallorossi. Today, Xavier has converted to Islam and changed his name to Faisal. In an interview with Portuguese newspaper Caras, he explained: "Potete chiamarmi Abel, Faisal o Abel Faisal Xavier. In sostanza, volevo mantenere lo stesso nome, ma essere riconosciuto da un nome storico nell'Islam, che mi era stato attribuito dal fratello del re degli Emirati, che mi battezzò e che mi rese orgoglioso di scegliere un nome così importante." He attributed his past struggles to being judged by his image and attitude rather than truly understood as a person, describing himself as having "a volcano inside" that eventually had to explode. Since retiring from football in 2009, Xavier has pursued diverse endeavours including humanitarian work with the United Nations, commentary for CNN, and appearances in cinema, including a 2016 Brazilian horror series episode and a 2009 documentary. He later worked as a coach, managing Mozambique's national team after spells in Portugal.

Roma-supporting singer Ultimo held a record-breaking concert at Tor Vergata in Rome, attended by approximately 250,000 people, many of them Giallorossi fans. During the show, fans transformed Ultimo's 2018 single "Ipocondria" into a chant dedicated to Roma midfielders Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné. A banner spotted in the crowd read: "A me va bene anche Cristante, tanto c'ho Manu Koné" (I'm fine with Cristante too, as long as I have Manu Koné), adapting lyrics from the original song into a football-themed version that highlighted the midfielder pairing. The moment reflected the creative way Roma supporters express their connection to the club through popular culture and music. Ultimo, a prominent Roman artist and Giallorossi fan, has long been associated with the club's fanbase. The concert became a spontaneous celebration of Roma's squad, with thousands of fans participating in the reimagined chant. The incident was widely documented on social media, with photographs and videos of the banner and the crowd reaction circulating online.

AS Roma will announce details of its 2025–26 season ticket campaign on Monday, 6 July. The club posted social media hints with hourglass emojis signalling the announcement. The subscription drive will unfold in phases: first for renewals at the same seat, then for seat changes and the 25,000 fans on the waiting list. Roma aims to reach 40,000 season ticket holders, matching last season's target. A separate Champions League season ticket campaign will launch in late July or early August. Meanwhile, images of Roma's new kit for next season have surfaced online from overseas retailers ahead of the official reveal. The collar will feature the text "Con tutte le nostre forze" (With all our strength). Details of the design were already known, but the video confirms the kit is already in circulation in international stores. Transfer speculation continues around potential squad additions, with Pinamonti mentioned as a possible backup option to Malen.

Juventus have begun their search for a new goalkeeper after deciding to part ways with Michele Di Gregorio, who underperformed last season and lost his starting position to Mattia Perin. The club's first choice was AS Roma's Mile Svilar, but Roma rejected a substantial €42 million offer. Gian Piero Gasperini has no intention of selling his starting keeper, particularly as Roma prepare for their first Champions League appearance in nearly a decade. With Svilar unavailable, Juventus have shifted focus to Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez. Martinez has impressed both for Argentina on World Cup duty and for Villa, where he helped secure a Europa League trophy and a top-four Premier League finish. However, his contract at Villa Park runs until 2029, and the club has set a €15 million price tag on the Argentine goalkeeper. Juventus have already deemed Villa's valuation excessive, considering Martinez will turn 34 in September. Despite his age, the report suggests he could serve as a short-term solution for the Italian club, though details remain unclear on whether negotiations will progress further.

Mile Svilar is preparing for the upcoming season with renewed determination to compete for AS Roma in both domestic and European competitions. The goalkeeper is undergoing intense training sessions as the club prepares for its summer retreat, signaling his readiness to be a key figure for the Giallorossi in the campaign ahead. Svilar's focus on pre-season conditioning reflects Roma's ambitions to challenge for silverware and establish themselves as Champions League contenders. His commitment during this preparatory phase underscores his importance to head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's plans for the new season. The club is prioritizing fitness and tactical development as players return for their summer training schedule. Details regarding the specific timing and location of Roma's summer retreat remain unclear, though the club is evidently prioritizing comprehensive preparation ahead of competitive fixtures. Svilar's determination to deliver for Roma highlights the squad's collective mindset as they look to make an impact both domestically and on the European stage.

Roma successfully resisted attempts by rival clubs to acquire key players on June 30th. Juventus approached the club for Mile Svilar, while Inter and Porto both made offers for Niccolò Pisilli. Additionally, Matías Soulé rejected a move to Saudi Arabia, with his agent expressing frustration over how the negotiations were handled. Despite pressure from multiple directions, Roma declined all approaches and maintained their squad. UEFA has granted Roma a one-month extension on the deadline for including player sales in their financial records due to World Cup scheduling, though this grace period does not apply to new acquisitions. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has made clear his desire to retain Wesley, Evan N'Dicka, and Manu Koné as cornerstones of his squad, and the club hierarchy has prioritized keeping the manager satisfied. Roma intends to argue to UEFA that they can manage financial losses through peripheral transactions if necessary. Failure to meet Financial Fair Play requirements could expose Roma to fines exceeding €10 million and squad restrictions in 2027–28, though harsher penalties are considered unlikely. The club's strategy appears focused on retaining its top-tier players while strengthening the squad around the margins in the coming weeks.

AS Roma will announce details of its 2025–26 season ticket campaign on Monday, 6 July. The club posted social media hints with hourglass emojis signalling the announcement. The subscription drive will unfold in phases: first for renewals at the same seat, then for seat changes and the 25,000 fans on the waiting list. Roma aims to reach 40,000 season ticket holders, matching last season's target. A separate Champions League season ticket campaign will launch in late July or early August. Meanwhile, images of Roma's new kit for next season have surfaced online from overseas retailers ahead of the official reveal. The collar will feature the text "Con tutte le nostre forze" (With all our strength). Details of the design were already known, but the video confirms the kit is already in circulation in international stores. Transfer speculation continues around potential squad additions, with Pinamonti mentioned as a possible backup option to Malen.

Roma is exploring attacking reinforcements ahead of the upcoming season, with Pinamonti emerging as a potential option to serve as a backup to Donyell Malen. The club continues to pursue its primary offensive target, though details on the Pinamonti possibility remain limited. Roma's focus on strengthening the attack reflects ambitions to compete effectively in the coming campaign, with multiple options being evaluated in parallel to the main pursuit.

AS Roma is preparing to submit an official offer for English winger Mason Greenwood to Olympique Marseille in the coming days, with the bid expected around Tuesday. The package is reported to be worth approximately €45 million including bonuses, with Roma aiming to move ahead of rival interest from Atlético Madrid. In parallel, Argentine striker Artem Dovbyk is being pursued by Genoa, where former Roma manager Daniele De Rossi now coaches. Roma has shown openness to a loan arrangement for Dovbyk, though his wage demands remain a significant hurdle to any deal materializing. Meanwhile, Roma is also scouting attacking depth. For the role of deputy to Donyell Malen, the club is considering Nicolò Tresoldi from Club Bruges and Andrea Pinamonti from Sassuolo, with Lazio also keen on Pinamonti. Separately, midfielder Leandro Paredes has spoken publicly about Paulo Dybala's future. Paredes said: "For me it would be a pleasure to have him with me at Boca, then he will make his own decisions and surely will have many things on his mind." Dybala's contract status and potential departure remain topics of speculation as the transfer window enters a critical phase.

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.

Roma winger Wesley is currently on holiday in Greece, where he has been entertaining himself with a basketball challenge. The Brazilian posted a video showing himself scoring a basketball goal with a header and celebrating enthusiastically. Wesley is in the recovery phase following an injury that forced him to miss a major tournament. The Roma player's lighthearted social media content comes as he works his way back to full fitness after injury. His time away from competitive action demonstrates the importance of proper rehabilitation and recovery in professional football. Wesley remains part of Roma's squad plans as he prepares to return to action. Details of the exact nature and timeline of his return to training remain unclear. The winger's presence on social media suggests he is in good spirits during his recovery period.

AS Roma's Moroccan player El Aynaoui is celebrating his birthday while competing at a World Cup in the United States. The club marked the occasion with a social media message wishing him well. El Aynaoui has emerged as one of the standout performers for Morocco at the tournament, earning widespread recognition for his work rate, quality, and commitment on the pitch. Meanwhile, Roma's World Cup contingent has been significantly reduced. Several players including Celik, Malen, and Ndicka have already been eliminated from the competition. Only Koné and El Aynaoui remain representing Roma at the tournament. Koné has struggled to find regular playing time and has not performed at his best, contrasting sharply with El Aynaoui's impactful contributions, which have made him a focal point of Morocco's campaign. Roma also provided an injury update on Wesley, noting that his recovery continues with ball-based exercises as the club prepares for the resumption of activities. The message sent to El Aynaoui—"Happy birthday, Neil"—was described as simple but heartfelt, reflecting the club's recognition of his performances on the international stage.