Gasperini gathers Roma squad for end-of-season breakfast after Champions League triumph

Evan Ferguson was present at the Amex Stadium for Brighton's friendly against Roma on 8 August 2026, though the Irish striker did not feature in the match. Ferguson spent last summer on loan at Roma with a purchase option before returning to Brighton at the end of the 2025–26 season. Ahead of the test match, he took time to greet Gasperini's coaching staff and his former Roma teammate Gollini. Ferguson arrived at Roma last summer under a loan agreement that included a €40 million purchase option, but that clause was not exercised when his spell ended with the conclusion of the previous campaign. His appearance at the Amex reflected the ongoing connection between the two clubs as they prepare for the new season.

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.

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.

Roma played their final pre-season fixture in England at Brighton, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini fielding a squad featuring Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé in support roles behind Donyell Malen in attack. The Giallorossi lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation at the American Express Stadium, with Mile Svilar in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, and Bryan Cristante wearing the captain's armband. The match offered Gasperini a chance to test his players against Brighton, who finished eighth in the Premier League last season, as Roma prepare to return to their training base at Trigoria. The fixture represented the most demanding friendly of Roma's pre-season schedule to date. Gasperini used the encounter to evaluate his squad ahead of any final transfer business before the new season begins. Devyne Rensch and Neil El Aynaoui operated as full-backs, while Manu Koné occupied a midfield spot alongside Cristante. The absence of several first-team regulars from the starting lineup reflected the manager's rotation strategy during the summer preparation period.

Roma faced Brighton in a pre-season friendly at the American Express Stadium at 16:00 CET on 8 August, with head coach Gasperini selecting Donyell Malen to lead the attack after the winger missed the previous match against Newport County due to illness. Malen was supported by Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé in a 3-4-2-1 formation, while Devyne Rensch and Wesley operated as wing-backs. Bryan Cristante and Neil El Aynaoui anchored midfield, with Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso forming the defensive three in front of goalkeeper Mile Svilar. The fixture served as Roma's final warm-up match on their UK tour, following defeats to Cardiff and a victory over Newport County. Gasperini had no fresh squad additions available for the match. Niccolò Pisilli and Bah were unavailable due to injury. Brighton fielded a 4-3-3 formation under manager Hurzeler, while the match was officiated by Bobby Madley.

Roma's attacking department has been decimated ahead of the 2026–27 season, with coach Gian Piero Gasperini now overseeing just five senior forwards for the role — down from ten options at the end of January. The remaining quartet consists of Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé, and Robinio Vaz, with young prospect Arena also available. The collapse mirrors Gasperini's repeated public calls for investment in attack. Speaking exactly a year ago on 4 August 2025 at the English national team's St. George Park facility in Burton Upon Trent, Gasperini outlined his philosophy: "It concerns all clubs that spend large sums on attackers. The offensive department is the most sought after and most expensive. Teams with strong attacking players are more competitive." That same summer, Roma pursued Fabio Silva and Jadon Sancho without success, settling on a loan move for Romain Bailey as a last-minute solution. By the end of 2025, Roma had assembled eight attacking options — Dybala, Artem Dovbyk, Evan Ferguson, Bailey, Soulé, Baldanzi, Stephan El Shaarawy, and Lorenzo Pellegrini — to fill three positions in Gasperini's preferred 3-4-2-1 formation. The winter transfer window swelled that number to ten through the departures of Bailey and Baldanzi and the arrivals of Malen, Vaz, Bryan Zaragoza, and Lorenzo Venturino. However, only Malen performed consistently. With just twenty days until the league campaign begins, Roma faces a critical shortage. The club is reportedly making another approach for Nusa and preparing a move for Fofana to bolster the depleted ranks.

Roma find themselves in unexpected stasis on the transfer market one month before their Serie A opener against Fiorentina, hampered by slow planning, a complex summer constrained by Settlement Agreement rules, and difficulty delivering the reinforcements Gian Piero Gasperini has requested. As of late July, Roma had completed zero signings and just one minor departure, leaving six players from last season's squad still to be replaced: El Shaarawy, Ferguson, Tsimikas, Celik, Venturino, and Zaragoza. The club also has several players ready to depart—Salah-Eddine, Kumbulla, and Dovbyk among them—while others including Soulé and Koné remain uncertain. Contract complications surround Dybala, and Pellegrini's position requires clarification. Delays stem from structural issues worsened by Tony D'Amico's late arrival as sporting director, who became operational only in the final ten days of June following a dispute with Atalanta, compounded by World Cup scheduling and Settlement Agreement restrictions. Gasperini intends to compete at the highest level while preserving the squad's core and adding only a few elite signings. Roma pursued Mason Greenwood and Luis Summerville at length, becoming committed to the Dutch player beyond their budgeted limits before the deal collapsed entirely.

AS Roma are closing in on Crysencio Summerville, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini expecting a resolution in the coming days. The club has raised their bid to €50 million to persuade West Ham to sell the Dutch international and fend off competition from Aston Villa. Gasperini will have final say once Roma and Summerville's agents reach an agreement on personal terms. Despite publicly casting doubt on the transfer during Saturday's press conference—a tactical move to maintain negotiating leverage—Gasperini is eager to bring the winger to Rome. The breakthrough hinges on agreeing contract details with Summerville's representatives, the final hurdle before the deal can be completed. Roma's willingness to climb to the €50 million mark signals their determination to secure one of their priority targets this window. The next 24 to 48 hours are viewed as critical to the outcome. Summerville, who would join a squad already including attackers such as Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk, and Stephan El Shaarawy, represents a significant investment in Gasperini's vision for the team.