Roma's final day of the summer transfer window unfolded in two acts of disappointment. On the morning of 1 September, Chelsea submitted an official offer exceeding €60 million for Manu Koné; the Friedkin Group declined it. That afternoon, Roma made a desperate attempt to sign Leweling, an attacker capable of filling both vacant wing positions, but abandoned the pursuit within hours due to lack of time. The two collapsed deals—one outgoing, one incoming—are directly connected. The ownership can now claim it refused to sell its leading players this summer while simultaneously justifying the failure to bring in the forward the coach has been requesting for a year. The logic does not hold. Disappointment is total, not least among Gian Piero Gasperini and the supporters, who cannot comprehend why such an opportunity was not seized.
Delay has marked nearly every move this summer, not only the final operation. Now that the window has closed, the club's management has failed to convince. The approach was slow and uncertain despite numerous negotiations conducted. The two absent wingers would have been valuable both in profile and output. Roma will prepare its Champions League squad list with 22 players, of whom 3 are goalkeepers, leaving only 19 outfield players—plus Emanuele Lulli in the B list, totalling 20, or 2 per position. No one fills the left-wing slot. Lorenzo Pellegrini, still unavailable, and Rodrigo Mora, presented as a playmaker, will cover the position. The attacking winger expected since last season should have been signed on 25 May, the day after Roma's success at Verona that secured Champions League return. Instead, 1 September arrived with no arrival. The regret is real and must not be underestimated, given the substantial work Gasperini has undertaken.
During the summer, ownership was frequently absent, regardless of CEO Galactic's arrival, which made no impact. It appeared only on Sunday, relaunching an Everton offer alongside Stuttgart for Leweling—a development both surprising and troubling.
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Roma's summer transfer window closed on 1 September without a single new signing, as the club's desperate late pursuit of Stuttgart winger Jamie Leweling collapsed in the final hours. Roma had reached agreement with Stuttgart on a fee—outlets differ on the exact figure, with some reporting €30 million fixed plus €5 million in add-ons, while others cite €35 million—and even prepared a private jet to transport the 25-year-old German forward to Rome. However, Leweling ultimately rejected the move after being summoned to Stuttgart's offices for talks. According to Sky Sport reports, he requested time to consider his future and chose to remain at the Bundesliga club, also turning down a concrete late offer from Everton that came during the night.
The failed Leweling pursuit represented Roma's final roll of the dice after a summer marked by delays and missed opportunities. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini had sought attacking reinforcements to fill vacant wing positions, particularly after the arrival of midfielder Marten de Roon freed resources for that role. Beyond Leweling, Roma pursued alternative targets including England's Jamie Bynoe-Gittens at Chelsea—who remained unavailable after Chelsea refused a loan arrangement—and Brazilian Luiz Henrique from Zenit, though that deal also fell through over complications involving agent commissions. The club also missed out on left-back targets, with Juan Cabal rejecting approaches from both Roma and Atalanta to remain at Juventus.
The window's conclusion leaves Gasperini without the attacking additions he requested for a year. Departures included Neil El Aynaoui, who completed his move to Leipzig, and 19-year-old Robinio Vaz, who joined Hull City. With only 22 players confirmed for Roma's squad—including three goalkeepers—the club will proceed with just 19 outfield options, leaving the left-wing position unfilled as Lorenzo Pellegrini remains unavailable and Rodrigo Mora, presented as a playmaker, must cover the role.
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Testo Originale / Source Text
“A due facce l’ultima giornata di mercato. Di mattina l’offerta ufficiale del Chelsea, superiore ai 60 milioni di euro, per Koné e, a seguire, il no travagliato della proprietà al club di Londra. Nel pomeriggio il tentativo disperato di prendere Leweling e, in poche ore, la rinuncia scontata…”
Read the full article in Italian at Forza Roma.
