Gasperini names Roma squad for Cannes friendly; Pisilli and Vaz absent through injury

Roma are pushing to sign Bologna forward Castro, who has already agreed in principle to move to the Stadio Olimpico. The Argentine is favoured by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with initial contact already underway. Bologna value Castro at approximately €40 million, and further talks are expected in the coming days to negotiate the fee. Roma depart for Wales on Friday, with Gasperini hopeful of welcoming at least one new signing before then. Artem Dovbyk, meanwhile, is on his way out. The Ukrainian forward does not fit Gasperini's plans and an exit appears increasingly likely. The club is working on finding the right solution, though negotiations are complicated. Roma want to sell Dovbyk outright and are demanding more than €20 million, a fee no interested club has yet matched. Genoa, Fiorentina and Villarreal are among those monitoring the situation.

Roma have intensified contact with Bologna over a move for striker Santiago Castro, shifting focus after ruling out Nicolò Tresoldi due to Club Brugge's steep financial demands. Bologna value Castro at €40 million, though negotiations between the two clubs have already begun with the aim of narrowing the gap and finding a formula acceptable to both sides. The operation is concrete and could become one of Roma's market priorities in the coming weeks. Roma are exploring the possibility of including Artem Dovbyk in the deal to reduce the cash outlay required by Bologna. The Ukrainian forward is not considered untouchable and could represent a welcome option for lowering the financial element of any transaction. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has given the green light to Castro's arrival, viewing the Argentine as an ideal profile to strengthen the attacking department. With Tresoldi increasingly difficult to secure due to Brugge's demands and international competition, Castro has returned to the top of Roma's striker shortlist as the club seeks to deliver a new centre-forward to their coach.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad for Roma's friendly against Cannes. The goalkeeper contingent includes De Marzi, Gollini and Svilar, whilst the defence features Rensch, Angeliño, Ndicka, Hermoso, Mancini, Ziolkowski, Wesley, Nardin, Lulli and Ghilardi. Midfield options are Cristante, Panico, Di Nunzio, Giammattei and Bah, with Dovbyk, Malen, Soulé, Dybala and Arena leading the attack. Roma have made an official bid to Club America for defender Israel Reyes, the Mexican defender born in 2000 and valued at approximately €8 million, according to journalist Gibran Araje. The contacts between the clubs are ongoing, and should the deal succeed, Reyes could become Roma's first summer signing. Simultaneously, Roma have been forced to abandon the pursuit of winger Said El Mala, the 2006-born talent who has rejected a move to the Giallorossi and prefers to continue his development in Germany, potentially waiting for a call from Borussia Dortmund or staying at Cologne. Manu Koné remains central to Gasperini's plans despite European interest following his World Cup success with France. Manchester United have cooled their approach to the midfielder, reportedly reflecting on a potential €60 million investment, though they have not entirely abandoned the pursuit.

Roma travel to France on Friday for their third pre-season friendly against Cannes, the club owned by the Friedkin Group. Gasperini has ruled out Pisilli and Robinio Vaz from the fixture, while Cherubini is also sidelined with fever. Soulé returns to the squad after missing the previous match for workload management and will feature in attack alongside Dybala and Malen. Roma have won their opening two warm-up games decisively, recording 6–0 victories over both the Primavera and Trastevere. The Cannes match represents a more competitive test before the Serie A campaign begins. The squad will return to Rome immediately after the fixture, following which Gasperini will grant the players two days of rest. Gasperini's matchday squad includes goalkeepers De Marzi, Gollini and Svilar; defenders Rensch, Angelino, Ndicka, Hermoso, Mancini, Ziolkowski, Wesley, Nardin, Lulli and Ghilardi; midfielders Cristante, Panico, Di Nunzio, Giammattei and Bah; and forwards Dovbyk, Malen, Soulé, Dybala and Arena.

Roma take on Cannes in a pre-season friendly on Sunday 26 July at 17:30 at Stade Pierre de Coubertin. The match marks another step in Gian Piero Gasperini's preparation after earlier fixtures against Primavera and Trastevere. Roma will be without Pisilli and Vaz, both currently sidelined through injury. Gasperini has named a 3-4-2-1 lineup: Svilar in goal; Mancini, Ndicka and Hermoso in defence; Rensch, Bah, Cristante and Wesley across midfield; Dybala and Cherubini behind Malen up front. The fixture takes on added significance as Cannes is owned by the Friedkin Group, which also controls Roma, making this an internal test ahead of the competitive campaign. Tickets remain on sale through the official Cannes website. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN, with live text updates available on ilromanista.eu.

Roma's injury crisis deepened ahead of Sunday's friendly against Cannes after Niccolò Pisilli joined Robinio Vaz on the sidelines. Pisilli suffered a first-degree muscle-fascia lesion to his left soleus, a calf problem that will sideline him for approximately two weeks as he begins treatment. With the summer transfer window still bare of signings, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini suddenly finds himself short of midfield options for the final days of pre-season training at Trigoria. Bryan Cristante will lead the midfield against Cannes on Sunday, a familiar but occasionally contentious choice, partnered by young player Bah. The centre of the pitch has become Roma's immediate concern as injuries mount across the squad. On a brighter note, Matías Soulé returned to full training after missing the Trastevere fixture due to workload management. The forward's return provides some relief as Gasperini prepares for the weekend friendly in what remains an unsettled pre-season period for the club.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named his squad for Roma's friendly against Cannes. The goalkeeper contingent includes De Marzi, Gollini and Svilar, whilst the defence features Rensch, Angeliño, Ndicka, Hermoso, Mancini, Ziolkowski, Wesley, Nardin, Lulli and Ghilardi. Midfield options are Cristante, Panico, Di Nunzio, Giammattei and Bah, with Dovbyk, Malen, Soulé, Dybala and Arena leading the attack. Roma have made an official bid to Club America for defender Israel Reyes, the Mexican defender born in 2000 and valued at approximately €8 million, according to journalist Gibran Araje. The contacts between the clubs are ongoing, and should the deal succeed, Reyes could become Roma's first summer signing. Simultaneously, Roma have been forced to abandon the pursuit of winger Said El Mala, the 2006-born talent who has rejected a move to the Giallorossi and prefers to continue his development in Germany, potentially waiting for a call from Borussia Dortmund or staying at Cologne. Manu Koné remains central to Gasperini's plans despite European interest following his World Cup success with France. Manchester United have cooled their approach to the midfielder, reportedly reflecting on a potential €60 million investment, though they have not entirely abandoned the pursuit.

Roma travel to France on Friday for their third pre-season friendly against Cannes, the club owned by the Friedkin Group. Gasperini has ruled out Pisilli and Robinio Vaz from the fixture, while Cherubini is also sidelined with fever. Soulé returns to the squad after missing the previous match for workload management and will feature in attack alongside Dybala and Malen. Roma have won their opening two warm-up games decisively, recording 6–0 victories over both the Primavera and Trastevere. The Cannes match represents a more competitive test before the Serie A campaign begins. The squad will return to Rome immediately after the fixture, following which Gasperini will grant the players two days of rest. Gasperini's matchday squad includes goalkeepers De Marzi, Gollini and Svilar; defenders Rensch, Angelino, Ndicka, Hermoso, Mancini, Ziolkowski, Wesley, Nardin, Lulli and Ghilardi; midfielders Cristante, Panico, Di Nunzio, Giammattei and Bah; and forwards Dovbyk, Malen, Soulé, Dybala and Arena.

Roma take on Cannes in a pre-season friendly on Sunday 26 July at 17:30 at Stade Pierre de Coubertin. The match marks another step in Gian Piero Gasperini's preparation after earlier fixtures against Primavera and Trastevere. Roma will be without Pisilli and Vaz, both currently sidelined through injury. Gasperini has named a 3-4-2-1 lineup: Svilar in goal; Mancini, Ndicka and Hermoso in defence; Rensch, Bah, Cristante and Wesley across midfield; Dybala and Cherubini behind Malen up front. The fixture takes on added significance as Cannes is owned by the Friedkin Group, which also controls Roma, making this an internal test ahead of the competitive campaign. Tickets remain on sale through the official Cannes website. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN, with live text updates available on ilromanista.eu.

Manu Koné's Roma future remains in serious doubt despite Manchester United's ongoing interest in the midfielder. Although the Premier League club continues to monitor the Frenchman, the negotiation is proceeding slowly and Roma has yet to receive a formal offer. The delay is critical for the club's finances: Roma must complete a permanent sale by 31 July to meet the financial targets of their UEFA settlement agreement. Koné, eliminated at the semifinal stage of the World Cup, will take his allocated vacation days and rejoin Roma's squad only on 10 August, well into their pre-season training camp in Wales. The club faces mounting pressure to offload him before the deadline. In contrast, midfielder Neil El Aynaoui, whose World Cup campaign ended on 18 July, will report to Fulvio Bernardini on 30 July and travel with the main group to Wales on 31 July, despite Premier League interest in the Moroccan. Defender Anass Salah-Eddine is unlikely to be included in the Wales tour squad and will train separately at the club's facility while awaiting a new club. Gasperini and Roma's coaching staff have otherwise managed the post-tournament return schedule methodically, welcoming back Donyell Malen and Evan N'Dicka in preceding days.

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.