Gasperini counts his troops for Cannes clash as injury list grows

Roma defeated Trastevere 6-0 in a training match at Trigoria, but the Giallorossi suffered a significant setback when midfielder Niccolò Pisilli sustained a first-degree muscle-fascia injury to his soleus. The injury will sideline the academy product during a critical period of the season. The club remains active in the transfer market ahead of the January window. Roma have intensified their pursuit of Antonio Nusa as an attacking winger for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, following the decision by Crysencio Summerville to reconsider his move to the Stadio Olimpico. Club officials are also exploring options for a back-up to Donyell Malen, with Castro and Tresoldi among the names under consideration. Midfielder Bryan Cristante addressed the squad's status, stating that Roma are awaiting the return of Lorenzo Pellegrini, signalling the importance of having the captain fit and available for upcoming fixtures. The 6-0 victory over Trastevere provided a positive note on the training ground, though the loss of Pisilli to injury represents a concern for squad depth in midfield.

Roma claimed a second consecutive friendly victory under Gian Piero Gasperini, dismantling Trastevere 6-0 in a two-half, 35-minute-per-side test at Trigoria. New sporting director Tony D'Amico watched from the stands as six different goalscorers found the net: Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala, Bryan Cristante, Luigi Cherubini, Angeliño, and Arena. Gasperini rotated two separate squads across the halves, with Gianluca Mancini receiving the only booking of the match. Cristante spoke positively about Roma's preparations following the victory. "We are working well and with intensity. Someone will arrive, the club is thinking about it," the midfielder said. He expressed hope that Lorenzo Pellegrini would return to group training soon, saying, "We await him with open arms, we hope he returns to the group as soon as possible." On Roma's objectives, Cristante stated: "We want to provide continuity and grow. In the Champions League you face the best, we must be ready." However, the outing was marked by injury news: midfielder Niccolò Pisilli withdrew from the friendly due to a first-degree lesion of the left soleus muscle. His condition is not considered serious, though he will require a period of rest.

Niccolò Pisilli has suffered a first-degree strain of the left soleus muscle, medical scans confirmed. The midfielder will miss today's friendly against Trastevere and could be sidelined for several days. Gasperini already faces an injury concern with Robinio Vaz, the French player who will rejoin the squad in Wales. With Pisilli unavailable for the 18:00 friendly fixture, Cristante will anchor midfield alongside young prospect Bah. El Aynaoui and Koné will also sit out, having been granted extended leave following World Cup commitments. Neil El Aynaoui will return on 30 July ahead of the squad's departure to Cardiff, while Manu Koné is not expected back until 10 August, dependent on any transfer activity.

Radio pundits across Rome's airwaves have dissected Roma's troubled summer transfer window, with widespread concern about the club's pursuit of unrealistic targets and a squad stretched thin ahead of the new season. Pes stated on Teleradio Stereo: "Roma has trapped itself in unachievable targets; I fear the same will happen with Nusa." The club enters pre-season with seven fewer players than last year, and with one month until the league begins, key absences remain: Soulé and Pisilli were unavailable for a recent test match. Carina on Radio Radio highlighted structural problems: "There are seven players fewer than last year, and a month before the start of the season arrives: it means you should buy two players a week." Carina also criticised the Pellegrini contract stalemate, noting the captain has halved his salary to under €3 million but the Friedkin Group has offered only a two-year deal when Pellegrini requests three years. Cristofori noted Leipzig's price for Koné exceeds their bid for Summerville—a signing they funded but who did not perform—while Ciotti warned that rival clubs now know Roma's spending power and will raise prices accordingly. Pruzzo questioned whether the Friedkin Group had chosen the wrong players or if target players had used Roma to secure better moves elsewhere. Carina added: "Now Gasperini says he is delayed in the market because it is he who is seeking this summer move." Pes urged the club to pursue signings quietly, away from media attention.

Roma swept past Trastevere 6–0 in a pre-season friendly at Trigoria, with Donyell Malen making an immediate impact on his first appearance of the season. The Dutch forward unlocked the match after three minutes and provided an assist for Bryan Cristante's goal, though he squandered a close-range opportunity. Paulo Dybala and Cherubini completed the first-half scoring, while Angeliño and young player Arena added second-half goals. Despite the emphatic victory, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini faces a depleted squad. Seven players from last season remain unresolved in the transfer market, and several more are absent due to post-World Cup leave—including Manu Koné and Neil El Aynaoui. Matías Soulé was rested as a precaution, while Robinio Vaz and Niccolò Pisilli have physical issues; Pisilli is sidelined with a first-degree soleus muscle-fascial strain. Evan N'Dicka appears fully recovered and Cristante impressed with his solidity and attacking threat, though Angeliño showed signs of lacking match fitness despite his goal. Prospect Camara delivered a convincing display under close staff observation. Cristante reiterated Roma's ambitions for the upcoming Champions League campaign and expressed confidence in new signings arriving soon, while signalling full openness to Lorenzo Pellegrini's return to the group.

Roma cruised to a 6-0 victory over Trastevere in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Trigoria, with Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala among the scorers. The match was played over two 35-minute halves, with first-half goals coming from Malen (3rd minute, set up by Devyne Rensch), Dybala (12th, from Bryan Cristante), Bryan Cristante (assist from Malen), and Rensch (30th, teeing up Cherubini). In the second half, with Gasperini fielding a largely youth-based XI, Angeliño and Arena added the final two goals in the closing minutes. The friendly marked Malen and Evan N'Dicka's return to full training following their World Cup campaigns with the Netherlands, both key players in Roma's recent Champions League qualification push. Matías Soulé was rested for load management, while Niccolò Pisilli missed out with a grade-one soleus muscle injury and will be assessed for recovery. Mario Hermoso impressed as the standout defender in the first half, while Malen showed signs of shaking off rustiness despite limited pre-season minutes alongside Dybala. Sports director Tony D'Amico attended from the dugout alongside Massimo Margiotta, the new youth academy director. The second half saw extensive minutes for academy players, continuing Roma's recent pattern from a 6-0 win over the senior Primavera side on the previous Sunday.

Roma's plans to strengthen the attack are dependent on outgoings first. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini wants a new partner to support Donyell Malen, but the club must lighten its forward line and free up wage space before investing. Artem Dovbyk is the primary target for departure, with his sale crucial for Roma to raise funds and create salary room. The Ukrainian striker has attracted interest from Genoa and Fiorentina, while Bologna are monitoring a potential swap involving Santiago Castro, and Villarreal are also keeping watch from abroad. In addition to Dovbyk's permanent exit, Roma's sporting director Tony D'Amico plans to move young Robinio Vaz out on loan to guarantee him regular playing time. The capital club's strategy is now clearly defined: reduce the wage bill, generate the necessary resources, and then pursue the attacking reinforcement requested by Gasperini. The restructuring of the squad reflects Roma's intention to reshape the forward department while maintaining financial discipline.

Antonio Nusa of RB Leipzig remains Gian Piero Gasperini's first choice for the left-wing position, but Roma's summer planning continues to clash with negotiating reality. The German club's €60 million valuation is beyond Roma's parameters, with Newcastle also strongly positioned for the player. Nusa, who cuts infield from the left flank, became the priority after failed moves for Greenwood and Summerville. On outgoings, Manchester United continues to pursue midfielder Manu Koné and is prepared to offer €55 million. Roma are also working on a deputy striker to Donyell Malen, anticipating departures of Artem Dovbyk and young prospect Robinio Vaz. Club Brugge rejected Roma's opening bid of €35 million for striker Nicolò Tresoldi, considering the 2004-born forward untouchable following their €40 million sale of Tzolis, though Manchester United has also entered the race. Roma have turned attention to Bologna's Santiago Castro, the Argentine striker valued at approximately €40 million by the Emiliani, who may negotiate if presented with €30–32 million plus bonuses; Castro scored 11 goals last season. Separately, Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract renewal remains unresolved, with the prospect of departure on a free transfer becoming increasingly concrete without a final agreement.

Rome's radio stations have weighed in on Roma's summer transfer activity, with prominent voices expressing scepticism about the club's pursuit of winger Nusa and questioning the overall direction of the market strategy. Francesco Balzani said: "According to me Nusa is all smoke and mirrors, I believe there are few chances of seeing him at Roma. The Giallorossi are behind on everything. Roma a month before the start of the championship is worse than last year." Lorenzo Pes echoed the concerns, stating: "Nusa does not convince from a physical point of view. At this moment behind Malen there are Dovbyk who is leaving and Vaz who is not at the centre of the project. I think that Nusa is a distraction in order to try this time to stay more hidden on the real objectives. For me the real names are others." Piero Torri argued that any market talk beyond external positions is designed to divert attention from Roma's primary need: "Any market voice other than that of the wingers is a voice to divert attention from what Roma is doing. Now the main objective is to make the wingers." Marco Juric raised fitness concerns about Nusa's knee condition and questioned coach Gian Piero Gasperini's long-term recruitment vision. Roberto Pruzzo, Roma legend, expressed frustration with how negotiations have unfolded, suggesting that players have used Roma to extract better offers from other clubs: "When you have the agreement with the player you feel protected, but it is not so, and the latest situations are demonstrating it." Mario Mattioli placed Roma's struggles in a broader context, arguing that Italian football lacks the economic firepower to compete with European rivals.

Roma will face Cannes in a friendly match on Sunday 26 July, with kickoff at 17:30. The fixture represents the Giallorossi's third pre-season test under Gasperini, following successive 6–0 victories over the Primavera and Trastevere. Cannes, owned by the Friedkin Group, will offer a more demanding examination than those earlier opponents as Roma's summer preparation continues. Gasperini is expected to deploy Bah alongside Cristante in midfield due to a shortage of alternatives in that area. In attack, Malen and Dybala are likely to feature, with the latter already showing excellent form during the pre-season campaign. This match will give the coach more significant insights into the work completed so far in the preparation period. The match will be broadcast exclusively live on DAZN. Viewers can watch via the DAZN app on smart TV, gaming consoles including Xbox and PlayStation, or alternative devices such as Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and TIM VISION Box. An active DAZN subscription is required. Live updates will also be available through Forzaroma.info's live blog and Roma's social media channels on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Lorenzo Pellegrini remains in limbo nearly a month after his contract expired on 30 June, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini keen to retain him but negotiations still unresolved ahead of the new season. Gasperini has sought Pellegrini's confirmation alongside Paulo Dybala and Zeki Çelik; Dybala has already signed new terms and Çelik has departed, but Pellegrini's future remains uncertain. The midfielder is currently recovering from a previous season injury and unavailable for training, which has extended talks. Gasperini said: "I hope for the renewal, but at this moment the player could not train. He must recover from injury, for this reason the timescales are a little longer. In the meantime I hope he can recover as soon as possible, then reach an agreement." A banner from the Roma supporters' group appeared at the training ground reading: "Making a mistake can happen... Repeating it means carelessness! Let's hold on to Lorenzo!" Bryan Cristante added his support after Roma's friendly with Trastevere at Trigoria, saying he had been in contact with Pellegrini and was waiting for him with open arms. The sticking point centres on contract duration: Pellegrini is requesting a three-year deal but would reportedly accept two years. The squad will soon relocate from Trigoria to Wales for their summer training camp.

A meeting is scheduled for Monday regarding Roma's new stadium project. In the transfer market, Roma have made contact with RB Leipzig over winger Nusa, but Leipzig value the player highly and there remains a significant gap between the clubs' valuations. Nusa has not yet opened the door to a Roma move. Roma have also been proposed numerous other wide players, including Luiz Henrique of Zenit, though he was not pursued. Meanwhile, Gian Piero Gasperini and the Roma squad await the return of Lorenzo Pellegrini following injury. The midfielder wants to secure a contract renewal and has accepted reducing his salary, but a key sticking point remains: Pellegrini is pushing for a three-year deal while the club currently offers only two years. Nevertheless, both the player and the club show clear willingness to stay together. After Roma's friendly against Trastevere, Bryan Cristante spoke openly about his teammate, emphasising the squad is waiting for Pellegrini with open arms. Pellegrini was also spotted dining with Gianluca Mancini at a Roman trattoria, a signal of his continued bond with the group. Elsewhere, Roma are tracking Franck Kessié as Juventus pursue the midfielder. Juventus have been in contact for several weeks but no agreement has been reached, with salary and squad integration among points still to be finalised. Roma are prepared to move decisively should Manu Koné depart.