Gasperini's demands: Roma plot to keep their top stars

Roma continue negotiations with RB Leipzig and the representatives of Nusa as Gian Piero Gasperini pushes the club to strengthen the attacking wing position. According to transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà, the Giallorossi have maintained contact with both the Norwegian winger's agents and the Bundesliga club, though no agreement has yet been reached. The pursuit of Nusa comes as Roma look to bolster the offensive department following the arrival of Castro and with defender Koulierakis close to completion. Gasperini has made an additional attacking midfielder his priority requirement for sporting director D'Amico. Nusa has been on Roma's radar for several days, though the club may have initially used interest in the player as cover for work on alternative targets. Pedullà stressed that while dialogue continues between Roma, the player's agents, and Leipzig, no deal is currently in place. Ezzalzouli remains another option being considered, but that avenue is presently proving difficult to pursue.

Roma are maintaining their interest in Endrick, the 2006-born striker currently owned by Real Madrid, as they look to add further reinforcements to their attacking department this summer. The move would follow Roma's acquisition of Santiago Castro, with Endrick identified as one of several targets on the club's shortlist. Endrick recently featured for Brazil at the World Cup and spent the previous season on loan at Lyon. Real Madrid are open to allowing the forward to leave on loan again to secure more regular playing time. Roma's interest forms part of a broader summer recruitment plan as the club seeks to strengthen its offensive options under the direction of recruitment staff.

Roma remain interested in signing Real Madrid forward Endrick as they continue to strengthen their attacking options. The Brazilian, born 2006, is not expected to feature regularly at the Bernabéu in the coming season, and Real Madrid are exploring a loan move to develop the player. Roma have already moved to secure midfielder Castro, with an official announcement expected soon, and are close to agreeing a deal for defender Koulierakis, but priority remains upgrading the forward line. Endrick comes fresh from a positive spell at Lyon and now appears on Roma's radar alongside other targets identified in recent weeks. The proposed structure would see the Brazilian join on loan with an option to buy valued at approximately 45 million euros, plus a counter-option reserved for Real Madrid to reclaim the player. The loan-with-obligation framework reflects both clubs' flexibility in the current transfer window.

Santiago Castro has completed his medical assessment at Campus Biomedico and arrived at Trigoria to begin life as AS Roma's new number 9. The Argentine forward, signed from Vélez, embodies the profile favoured by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini—combining the dynamism that reminds the manager of Donyell Malen or Luis Muriel from his time at Atalanta. Castro will undergo his official presentation, take his first training session under Gasperini, and link up with Roma's Argentine contingent of Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala before joining the squad for their pre-season training camp in Wales. Gasperini views Castro's arrival as a significant boost to Roma's attacking options. The 21-year-old can operate as a pure centre-forward, a mobile second striker, or a left-sided attacker, giving the Italian tactician flexibility across multiple competitions and knockout fixtures. With Paulo Dybala positioned as a playmaker, the pairing promises to unlock different offensive configurations. Castro's versatility allows Roma to tailor their formation and approach based on the opposition, strengthening the squad depth and providing certainty during the demanding season ahead.

Santiago Castro has completed his medical at Campus Biomedico and arrived at Trigoria as a Roma player, choosing the number 9 shirt. The striker will be formally presented today and take his first training session under Gian Piero Gasperini. Castro joins a forward line that includes Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, reconnecting with fellow Argentine Matías Soulé at the club. Gasperini has identified in Castro echoes of earlier successful central strikers he has managed—a profile similar to Malen or Luis Muriel during his Atalanta years. Castro inherits a prestigious shirt with deep roots in Roma's attacking tradition. The 23-year-old can operate as a centre-forward, attacking midfielder, or left-sided winger, the position he occupied at Velez. Gasperini has demonstrated at Bergamo that central attackers can coexist and elevate one another's play, particularly when orchestrated by a creative presence like Dybala. Castro's positional versatility will give the coach tactical flexibility and the ability to rotate his forward line based on opposition and match demands, while maintaining continuity in key fixtures.

Santiago Castro has completed his move to Roma on a five-year contract worth €1.5 million plus bonuses per season, with the signing formally concluded today. The deal forms part of a package involving Artem Dovbyk's departure to Bologna. Castro was greeted by crowds at Termini railway station despite the weekday timing, and will now begin training under Gian Piero Gasperini alongside his new teammates. The Argentine will wear the number 9 shirt—the traditional pure strikers' number. Castro, 20, impressed Gasperini during Atalanta's Coppa Italia quarter-final win over Roma in February 2025, a match the Argentine won with a goal that sent Atalanta to the final. Roma face that same Atalanta side again when they begin preparations in Wales this Friday, with friendlies against Cardiff, Newport, and Brighton scheduled before an Ferragosto test against Borussia Dortmund. His competitive debut comes on 24 August. In attack, Castro will initially operate alongside fellow Argentines Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé, who are currently Roma's only playmakers. Soulé and Castro are linked by a strong friendship and spent part of their holidays training together at Comunicaciones, the club owned by Soulé's father. Donyell Malen will also feature, with Castro serving as his primary alternative, though Gasperini may deploy the pair's combined pace and dynamism simultaneously.

Roma are close to completing the signing of Koulierakis from Wolfsburg for a fee near €15 million, according to radio commentary. The move forms part of the club's broader recruitment plans, which include defensive reinforcements and wide options in midfield. Radio analysts outlined Roma's transfer strategy: should Matías Soulé depart, a second winger will be brought in alongside new signings Nusa and Koulierakis. Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract situation remains in flux after Juventus tabled a concrete three-year offer to the number 7, though he has rejected a move to the Bianconeri. Pellegrini's original agreement with Roma was structured as two years plus one optional year; he may now sign a single-year extension instead. Elsewhere, Castro's incoming deal includes performance-related bonuses described as straightforward to achieve, with the player set to earn €1.5 million annually. The recruitment drive reflects Roma's intent to strengthen across multiple positions ahead of the new season.

Santiago Castro has joined the ranks of Roma's costliest acquisitions, with the club paying 33 million euros in fixed fees and bonuses to secure him. He now ranks fifth in the club's transfer history, sitting between Gabriel Batistuta and Antonio Cassano in the all-time spending table. Patrik Schick remains Roma's record signing at 42 million euros in summer 2017. Artem Dovbyk, who arrived in 2024, cost 41.1 million euros and sits second, followed by Tammy Abraham at 41 million euros in August 2021. The article notes that aside from Abraham's strong first season, all three have delivered performances well below expectations. Gabriel Batistuta was signed for the equivalent of 36.15 million euros in 2000, while Antonio Cassano cost roughly 31 million euros in 2001—both figures now adjusted for inflation and the pre-euro era. Leonardo Spinazzola ranks seventh at 29.5 million euros in summer 2019, though Luca Pellegrini's inclusion in that deal reduced Roma's net outlay to 7.5 million euros. Matías Soulé, who arrived alongside Dovbyk in summer 2024, cost 28.6 million euros and ranks eighth. Steven Nzonzi (26.65 million euros, summer 2018) and Marash Kumbulla (26.5 million euros) complete the top ten.

Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract renewal at AS Roma remains unsigned despite an agreement being reached in principle between the club and his agent Pocetta. The midfielder is set to earn 2.5 million euros plus bonuses over two seasons, with a unilateral option for the club to extend the deal until 2029. However, the signing has been delayed, with Pellegrini's physical condition emerging as a complicating factor. Pellegrini suffered a setback to a right thigh muscular injury in May while attempting to recover in time for the Derby della Capitale. The injury stems from a torn rectus femoris tendon sustained in May 2025, for which he underwent surgery by Dr. Lempainen in Finland. Pellegrini reportedly travelled to Finland for a follow-up examination with the specialist, during which a procedure to clean the old scar tissue was performed. Head coach Gian Piero Gasparini, Bryan Cristante, and Mile Svilar have all publicly expressed hope for a positive resolution. Final approval from the Friedkin Group is awaited before the contract can be completed, with expectations that the signature could arrive in the coming week.

Gianluca Mancini has renewed his contract with Roma until 2029, reinforcing his commitment to the club despite interest from elsewhere. The defender, who has tattooed SPQR on his quadriceps, rejected approaches to leave the capital. His agent Giuseppe Riso acknowledged the situation: "I wanted to take him away. I told him that for me he's mad, but he loves Roma... Gasperini and D'Amico were better at convincing him than I was. I would have taken him away, but he refused: he wanted Roma. This is a gesture he makes for the Roma people. I'm happy because he's happy." Mancini's renewal comes as Roma continue their summer squad overhaul under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Bryan Cristante has also extended his contract with the club, and Riso praised the midfielder: "Bryan is the captain. He has 360 matches for Roma, he is a pillar and I believe he will enter Roma's history." Roma are pursuing reinforcements across multiple positions. Priority targets include a left-back with a right foot, with Nusa and Ezzalzouli (Betis) under consideration. Movement at Leipzig involving Diomande could free up Endrick from Real Madrid for a loan deal. In defence, Gasperini is seeking a left-sided centre-back, with Fresneda among profiles monitored. At full-back, Wesley and Rensch currently provide options, though Roma aim to sign two additional players for wide positions.

Roma's sporting director D'Amico is pursuing multiple defensive and attacking targets as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini seeks reinforcements before Friday's departure to Wales. The club has already moved to bolster the squad but work continues across several positions. Among the priorities are wing-backs and attacking midfielders, with Nusa remaining the primary objective despite a persistent €60 million asking price from his club showing no signs of movement. On the right flank, D'Amico has turned attention to Fresneda, a defender schooled at Real Madrid who joined Sporting CP in 2023. Sporting are demanding €25 million, though Roma hope to negotiate a lower fee. Belghali remains a backup option. At left-back, the club is also considering reinforcement. For a vice option to Wesley in defence, D'Amico has identified Alessio Cacciamani of Torino, while Moreira continues to feature in longer-term planning. In midfield and attack, Leweling of Stuttgart and Bahoya of Eintracht Frankfurt have attracted interest from the Bundesliga, though Arsenal's Martinelli has been offered despite his €11 million gross salary acting as a deterrent. Gianluca Mancini has ended transfer speculation by signing a contract extension through 2029, rejecting Inter's interest. His agent, Giuseppe Riso, expressed frustration at the decision, stating: "I wanted to take him away with even more important offers, but he wanted to stay at all costs. I told him he is crazy."

Claudio Ranieri has accepted a role with the Italian Football Federation, joining the national team setup as president of club Italia and technical director alongside head coach Mancini. The move comes a year after Ranieri turned down the Italy job to remain at Roma, a decision he has since come to regret following his departure from the Giallorossi in 2025. Ranieri managed Roma across three separate spells, most recently in 2024–25, when he guided the club from relegation danger towards Champions League qualification before being dismissed. The Friedkin Group had blocked his appointment to the national team last year, refusing to allow him to work on a dual track. His choice to stay proved costly; relations between Ranieri and coach Gian Piero Gasperini deteriorated from the start, and the federation ultimately moved in another direction. In his new advisory capacity, Ranieri will work alongside Mancini and support Italy's path through the upcoming European Championship in two years and beyond towards the next World Cup. At 74, Ranieri brings 1,361 managerial appointments across his career, including his celebrated Leicester City title triumph. His sole previous experience with a national team came during a brief, unsuccessful spell with Greece from July to November 2014, comprising four matches. Ranieri's primary task will be to consult with domestic club coaches without overstepping, a balance he learned to strike during his Roma tenure.