Gasperini plans pre-season recall away from Trigoria in September

Roma's defence, which finished as Serie A's second-best last season, has shown alarming fragility during their pre-season tour of Britain. The Giallorossi conceded eight goals across three friendlies—four against Cardiff, one against Newport, and three against Brighton—with the tally rising to 11 when including a 3–3 draw against Cannes. Against Brighton on 8 August, Gasperini made wholesale defensive changes after Roma had shipped three goals in 49 minutes, introducing Ghilardi and new arrival Koulierakis while withdrawing N'Dicka and Hermoso. The ivory-coast central defender had failed to close down Ayari's double, prompting Gasperini to turn to the bench and shout "Let's change." Hermoso, managing an ankle problem, allowed Rutter to nearly extend the lead moments after the 3–0. Earlier defensive lapses against Cardiff exposed deeper issues: Ahsford's opener came after N'Dicka slipped and a rebound off Rensch, while Salech's second followed a costly Svilar error on a dangerous Wesley backpass. El Aynaoui was substituted at half-time after a misplaced pass that set up Ayari's second goal, and Rensch drew criticism for poor decision-making. The unit that had anchored Roma's recent success now appears fragile heading into the season. Gasperini acknowledged the work ahead, saying "the team is struggling to switch back on," highlighting the scale of the challenge to restore defensive solidity before competitive fixtures begin.

Manu Koné's future at Roma remains uncertain despite Manchester United's pursuit failing to materialise. The French midfielder will return to Gasperini's squad from Tuesday following the post-World Cup break, but could still leave the capital in the coming weeks. Chelsea have emerged as a serious threat to sign him, according to Il Messaggero. The Blues risk losing Enzo Fernández to Manchester City, who are expected to part with Rodri in the coming hours and are also monitoring Buoaddi as a Spanish alternative. Should that move go through, Xabi Alonso's side would be positioned to make their move for Koné. Gasperini offered clarity on Roma's transfer stance in the aftermath of Brighton–Roma, telling reporters: "I don't know if we will avoid departures. We have a chief executive; you should ask him these questions." The conditional nature of any Chelsea move means Roma's position on selling the number 17 remains a critical variable in whether negotiations progress.

Roma returned to Italy on the afternoon of 8 August following a 3–0 friendly defeat to Brighton during their ten-day training camp in Wales and England. The squad travelled by coach to London before boarding a direct flight to Fiumicino. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini granted his players two full days of rest before resuming work. Training resumes on Tuesday at the Fulvio Bernardini centre in Trigoria, where Lorenzo Pellegrini will rejoin the group. Gasperini also expects to have Nahuel Molina on the pitch the same day. The Argentine right-back is set to arrive in Rome in the coming days to undergo medical tests ahead of signing his contract with Roma.

Roma returned to Italy on the afternoon of 8 August following a 3–0 friendly defeat to Brighton during their ten-day training camp in Wales and England. The squad travelled by coach to London before boarding a direct flight to Fiumicino. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini granted his players two full days of rest before resuming work. Training resumes on Tuesday at the Fulvio Bernardini centre in Trigoria, where Lorenzo Pellegrini will rejoin the group. Gasperini also expects to have Nahuel Molina on the pitch the same day. The Argentine right-back is set to arrive in Rome in the coming days to undergo medical tests ahead of signing his contract with Roma.

Gian Piero Gasperini is evaluating the possibility of organising a second training camp away from Trigoria during the first international break of the season, which will last three weeks this year. The Roma head coach identified multiple areas to refine following the summer tour of Wales and England, where he was able to integrate only new arrival Konstantinos Koulierakis into his system while awaiting the arrival of Nahuel Molina in the capital. The squad resumes work at Trigoria on Tuesday to prepare for a friendly against Borussia Dortmund on 15 August, the final warm-up before the Serie A season opener against Fiorentina on Monday 24 August. The proposed September retreat holds particular strategic importance for Lorenzo Pellegrini, Roma's recently renewed captain. Pellegrini missed the summer training camp for the second consecutive year due to ongoing physical issues and is expected to return between late September and early October. A second pre-season block would allow him to build the necessary fitness to reach full condition. Gasperini's wider focus extends beyond squad integration, with the strategic use of the extended international break providing an opportunity to fine-tune preparations ahead of the campaign's crucial opening weeks.

Lorenzo Pellegrini has signed a new one-year contract with Roma, accepting a significant wage reduction from €6.5 million to approximately €2.5 million net as he rejected offers from Turkey and Juventus to remain at the club. The captain completed his medical and formalized the agreement, which includes no extension options. Roma highlighted his decision as a strong commitment to the club's values and sporting vision. Pellegrini has been recovering from a tendon operation performed in early June and working with a personal trainer to regain fitness. He will return to the Trigoria training ground from Tuesday, though the club is taking a cautious approach to his recovery. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini confirmed that Pellegrini is expected to return to action in September, targeting availability between the third and fourth Serie A matchdays.