Gasperini Sets Strict Transfer Rules: Quality Over Quantity, €50m for Greenwood

Zeki Çelik has joined Juventus, forcing Roma to act quickly in the transfer market. Sporting director D'Amico is already compiling a shortlist of potential replacements for the right-back, with Molina of Atlético Madrid and Dodò of Fiorentina both under consideration. Molina, the Argentine full-back who previously attracted interest from coach Gasperini, remains valued at around 20 million euros. D'Amico is simultaneously pursuing moves for Moreira and Summerville, but Çelik's sudden departure to Juventus has created an urgent need to strengthen the right flank. Molina has indicated he does not wish to discuss his future until after the World Cup concludes. Dodò, currently at Fiorentina, is also an option as the Tuscan club look to move him on.

Fresh details have emerged about Zeki Çelik's move to Juventus, revealing Roma was blindsided by the transfer. The Turkish right-back was scheduled to sign his contract renewal with Roma on Friday and attend the club's weekend training camp. Roma had already purchased his return flight to Fiumicino and prepared the documentation, but Çelik never countersigned his portion of the contract. Instead, he travelled to Turin for a medical examination and joined Juventus. According to Fabrizio Romano, Roma had already signed their section of the renewal agreement while remaining unaware of Çelik's intentions to leave. Sporting director Massara seized the opportunity to move quickly once the situation became clear. The manoeuvre left Gian Piero Gasperini without a key defender as the squad prepared for the new season.

Zeki Çelik has left AS Roma to join Juventus on a free transfer, ending four seasons at the Giallorossi. The Turkish full-back underwent medical tests at Juventus's J Medical facility in Turin and signed a contract binding him to the Bianconeri until 30 June 2029. Çelik was expected to return to Roma's Trigoria training ground in the coming days to resume pre-season work, but instead opted to depart after an initial verbal agreement with Roma over a contract renewal fell through. Çelik made 115 appearances and scored 2 goals during his time in the capital. His departure represents a significant loss to Roma's squad depth at right-back, a position now requiring reinforcement. The move reunites him with Ricky Massara, who recently left his role as Roma's sporting director to become Chief Football Officer at Juventus. Juventus confirmed the signing in an official statement, detailing that Çelik's deal runs through the 2028–29 season.

Roma's squad reported to Trigoria by 12 noon on Monday to begin their first week of training under Gian Piero Gasperini, who enters his second season in charge following the club's return to the Champions League. The first session, preceded by routine medical checks, was scheduled for the afternoon after lunch. The squad welcomed back no new faces, with departures including El Shaarawy, Ferguson, Zaragoza and Tsimikas, and the club opted not to publish the squad list publicly. The decision to withhold squad details reflects uncertainty over Paulo Dybala's contract situation. Roma's hierarchy worked to complete all formalities of Dybala's contract renewal by Monday morning, with the financial terms already agreed for several days. Çelik will be the first player to return following his involvement in international competition, though his own renewal announcement has not yet been confirmed. The full or near-full squad is expected only when the team convenes for a training camp in Wales. Gasperini is awaiting reinforcements from the club's sporting director D'Amico, who has drawn up a target list prioritising Moreira, while Garnacho and Tresoldi remain under consideration for the attack and centre-back positions respectively.

Roma began their pre-season on Tuesday, exactly fifty days after their victory in Verona, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini arriving at Trigoria. Only fourteen outfield players reported initially, with several absentees due to extended World Cup breaks or departures. Stephan El Shaarawy, Kostas Tsimikas, Evan Ferguson, Bryan Zaragoza, Zeki Çelik, Evan N'Dicka, Donyell Malen, Salah-Eddine, and Neil El Aynaoui were unavailable, while Manu Koné remained absent. Players were required to arrive at the training ground by noon for medical checks before their first session in the afternoon. Paulo Dybala is set to sign a one-year contract extension to begin his fifth season at Roma, with the announcement expected on Tuesday. Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract situation remains unresolved, with further discussions scheduled in the coming days. Wesley has recovered fully from an adductor muscle injury sustained before the World Cup. Daniele De Rossi's successor Gasperini arrived Monday morning and will oversee an intensive two-week training block at Trigoria before the squad relocates to Wales for the second phase of pre-season, departing 30 July and returning 18 August following a fixture against Brighton. Several players with uncertain futures, including Artem Dovbyk and Robinio Vaz, will use the coming weeks to impress Gasperini. Donyell Malen is expected to rejoin the squad around 22 July. Sporting director Tony D'Amico, representing the Friedkin Group ownership, attended to welcome the squad.

Roma have renewed their pursuit of Diego Moreira, the 2004-born Strasbourg winger who featured for Belgium at the World Cup, as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's priority reinforcement on the left side. The French club values the Belgian at €40 million—a figure Roma director Tony D'Amico will attempt to reduce through negotiation. A previous approach came before the World Cup tournament, and the club has now resumed talks. Moreira's arrival would restore Wesley to his natural position on the right flank. The winger impressed on the opposite side last season, but Gasperini's vision centres on strengthening the left, a flank without a settled incumbent. Salah-Eddine is being moved on, Angeliño will be evaluated during the pre-season retreat, and Kostas Tsimikas departed a month ago. Gasperini views Moreira as the ideal fit: quick, technical, and with sharp attacking capabilities demonstrated in matches such as the encounter against Senegal. Last season the Belgian recorded 4 goals and 7 assists. The decision now rests with the Friedkin Group ownership.

Roma's squad reported to Trigoria by 12 noon on Monday to begin their first week of training under Gian Piero Gasperini, who enters his second season in charge following the club's return to the Champions League. The first session, preceded by routine medical checks, was scheduled for the afternoon after lunch. The squad welcomed back no new faces, with departures including El Shaarawy, Ferguson, Zaragoza and Tsimikas, and the club opted not to publish the squad list publicly. The decision to withhold squad details reflects uncertainty over Paulo Dybala's contract situation. Roma's hierarchy worked to complete all formalities of Dybala's contract renewal by Monday morning, with the financial terms already agreed for several days. Çelik will be the first player to return following his involvement in international competition, though his own renewal announcement has not yet been confirmed. The full or near-full squad is expected only when the team convenes for a training camp in Wales. Gasperini is awaiting reinforcements from the club's sporting director D'Amico, who has drawn up a target list prioritising Moreira, while Garnacho and Tresoldi remain under consideration for the attack and centre-back positions respectively.

Roma began their pre-season on Tuesday, exactly fifty days after their victory in Verona, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini arriving at Trigoria. Only fourteen outfield players reported initially, with several absentees due to extended World Cup breaks or departures. Stephan El Shaarawy, Kostas Tsimikas, Evan Ferguson, Bryan Zaragoza, Zeki Çelik, Evan N'Dicka, Donyell Malen, Salah-Eddine, and Neil El Aynaoui were unavailable, while Manu Koné remained absent. Players were required to arrive at the training ground by noon for medical checks before their first session in the afternoon. Paulo Dybala is set to sign a one-year contract extension to begin his fifth season at Roma, with the announcement expected on Tuesday. Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract situation remains unresolved, with further discussions scheduled in the coming days. Wesley has recovered fully from an adductor muscle injury sustained before the World Cup. Daniele De Rossi's successor Gasperini arrived Monday morning and will oversee an intensive two-week training block at Trigoria before the squad relocates to Wales for the second phase of pre-season, departing 30 July and returning 18 August following a fixture against Brighton. Several players with uncertain futures, including Artem Dovbyk and Robinio Vaz, will use the coming weeks to impress Gasperini. Donyell Malen is expected to rejoin the squad around 22 July. Sporting director Tony D'Amico, representing the Friedkin Group ownership, attended to welcome the squad.

Nine players assembled during Gian Piero Gasperini's first season at Roma have combined for 100 appearances across Serie A and cup competitions but have failed to establish themselves as regular contributors. Pierluigi Gollini featured only once, against Panathinaikos in January's final Europa League group stage match. Angeliño made brief appearances against Celtic and Panathinaikos before a March return to the Olimpico against Lecce, where he saw limited action in the run-in. Robinio Vaz, signed for 20 million euros plus 5 million in bonuses in January alongside Donyell Malen, scored his sole Roma goal against Lecce but has proven too raw for immediate impact as deputy striker. Bryan Zaragoza arrived on loan from Bayern Munich in January and impressed on his second appearance, starting against Napoli and providing an assist for Malen's opening goal from the seventh minute, yet proved costly when he came on in Roma's Europa League elimination against Bologna in extra time. Lorenzo Venturino, an 18-year-old winger on loan from Genoa, saw limited use due to his age. Evan Ferguson, signed on loan with a purchase option from Brighton, closed the season with 40 combined appearances across both strikers; the 20-year-old's campaign ended in January after injury and limited backing from Gasperini. Artem Dovbyk meanwhile struggled to meet the technical demands of the role and reappeared late in the season with only two minutes in the final two matches.