Gasperini targets left-footed right-back starter to strengthen Roma's defence

Santiago Castro will wear the number 9 shirt at Roma, with exclusive imagery confirming the personalisation of his kit as "S. CASTRO" on the back. The Argentine striker selected the number for his first season in giallorossi colours, and the shirt design has already been finalised ahead of the official announcement of his transfer. The kit personalisation represents further confirmation of the forward's arrival as Roma work through final bureaucratic steps to complete the deal. With the shirt design confirmed and ready for release, supporters will be able to purchase the number 9 Castro jersey once the club makes the move official. The commercial side of the transfer is already in motion, ensuring that replica kits bearing Castro's name and number will be available for fans to buy immediately following the formal confirmation from Roma.

Angeliño is close to leaving Roma on a free loan to Deportivo la Coruña, with the Spanish club holding a €2 million purchase option. According to Matteo Moretto, only minor details remain to be finalised before the left-back departs for his home country. Angeliño failed to convince head coach Gian Piero Gasperini during pre-season and exits after a season of mixed fortunes. The 2024–25 campaign proved inconsistent for the Spanish defender, and his departure marks another outgoing alongside fellow squad member Salah-Eddine. Roma are now exploring replacements for Angeliño's deputy role on the left flank, with Torino's Alessio Cacciamani on the club's radar. The 2007-born prospect spent last season on loan at Juve Stabia, and Torino are seeking over €5 million for his services.

Roma have intensified their search for attacking reinforcements and a wing-back following Zeki Çelik's departure, with Ivan Fresneda of Sporting CP and Real Betis forward Abde Ezzalzouli emerging as primary targets. The club has held three recent talks with Fresneda and his representatives; the Portuguese defender is valued at around €17–18 million plus substantial bonuses. Fresneda joined Sporting from Real Valladolid for €9 million in 2023 and has made 81 appearances, scoring 4 goals and providing 3 assists. Ezzalzouli carries a similarly high price tag. The Real Betis attacker has scored 29 goals and laid on 18 assists in 128 games, while earning 37 caps for Morocco. Roma have also explored options lower down the valuation chain. They tabled a €2.5 million bid for Club America's Israel Reyes on the wing, but the Mexican side demanded €7 million—Reyes has featured 146 times for his current club over five seasons. The Giallorossi remain in complex negotiations over Antonio Nusa but have not abandoned the pursuit. While Santiago Castro's arrival has bolstered the attacking department, Roma's need for multiple wing-backs after Çelik's exit may limit their ability to invest heavily in a second premium signing, though Wesley and Devyne Rensch offer tactical flexibility.

Santiago Castro has arrived at Roma as the summer's first signing, with the class of 2004 striker set to partner or rotate with Donyell Malen as Gasperini builds attacking depth for a season that includes Champions League football. Castro was welcomed by supporters at Termini Station two days before his official presentation; his role will not be secondary, as the dual-striker system has been a recurring theme throughout Gasperini's tenure at Atalanta. Gasperini's track record shows a consistent preference for rotating or pairing two attacking players. At Atalanta, he deployed Petagna and Cornelius (2017–18, 6 goals each) before signing Duvan Zapata from Sampdoria for 26 million euros total and adopting a 3-4-1-2 formation with two strikers. Zapata and Alfredo Morelos combined for 38 goals in 2019–20 (19 each), while Zapata and Alejandro Muriel posted 19 and 26 goals respectively in 2020–21. Later signings included Matteo Scamacca, who scored 19 times in 2023–24, and eventually Mateo Retegui, who managed 28 goals last season while playing as sole striker or in partnership—the lone exception to Gasperini's two-striker preference that still delivered Champions League qualification. At Roma, Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson have been ruled out through injury and poor form; Malen's 15 goals secured European football. Castro joins a squad that also includes Robinio Vaz and reportedly others, offering Gasperini the flexibility to deploy two forward options when needed.

Santiago Castro will meet Gian Piero Gasperini for the first time today and is immediately available for the resumption of training. The Argentine forward arrived in Rome yesterday with his wife Agustina Gonzalez, completed medical examinations, and signed a contract until 2031. Castro joins as deputy to Donyell Malen but is expected to play a much broader role in Roma's attack. Roma's offensive output struggled last season before Malen's arrival stabilised the side. Since joining, Malen has been ever-present in the league, scoring 14 goals in 18 starts and never missing a match. Castro's addition means Malen is no longer isolated, a significant boost for Gasperini's system. The coach prefers a 3-4-2-1 formation but has also deployed 3-4-1-2 during his career; Castro can operate as a second striker and may be paired with Malen as early as Saturday's fixture against Cardiff. The Argentine can also play across the attacking line, offering tactical flexibility. Matías Soulé remains on Roma's transfer list and has been offered to AC Milan in recent days; Sunderland is also monitoring the midfielder. Gasperini will have both options available from the weekend onwards as Roma strengthen their attacking depth.

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.

Roma have intensified their search for attacking reinforcements and a wing-back following Zeki Çelik's departure, with Ivan Fresneda of Sporting CP and Real Betis forward Abde Ezzalzouli emerging as primary targets. The club has held three recent talks with Fresneda and his representatives; the Portuguese defender is valued at around €17–18 million plus substantial bonuses. Fresneda joined Sporting from Real Valladolid for €9 million in 2023 and has made 81 appearances, scoring 4 goals and providing 3 assists. Ezzalzouli carries a similarly high price tag. The Real Betis attacker has scored 29 goals and laid on 18 assists in 128 games, while earning 37 caps for Morocco. Roma have also explored options lower down the valuation chain. They tabled a €2.5 million bid for Club America's Israel Reyes on the wing, but the Mexican side demanded €7 million—Reyes has featured 146 times for his current club over five seasons. The Giallorossi remain in complex negotiations over Antonio Nusa but have not abandoned the pursuit. While Santiago Castro's arrival has bolstered the attacking department, Roma's need for multiple wing-backs after Çelik's exit may limit their ability to invest heavily in a second premium signing, though Wesley and Devyne Rensch offer tactical flexibility.

Roma remain committed to signing Diego Moreira despite negotiations with Strasbourg stalling over valuation. The French club initially demanded nearly €60 million for the left-back, a figure Roma deemed excessive. However, the transfer of an ex-Cagliari player has shifted dynamics: BlueCo, which owns both Strasbourg and Chelsea, is now willing to sell Moreira at a similar price. Roma's strategy, orchestrated by D'Amico, involves waiting for Strasbourg to lower their asking price, banking on the fact that no other club is prepared to meet their current demands. Mendes, Moreira's agent, is pushing for the move. Personal terms have already been agreed with the Belgian winger, who would receive a contract worth approximately €2.5 million per season—a significant increase from his current €900,000 annual salary. D'Amico plans to return to Strasbourg within days to resume negotiations. Meanwhile, Roma are exploring alternative options across the pitch. On the right flank, attention is focused on Fresneda, a Spanish 2004-born prospect from Sporting CP, where negotiations are underway. Sporting are asking €25 million; Roma hope to negotiate closer to €15 million. Belghali of Verona, capable of playing both flanks and also of interest to Napoli, remains an option. In terms of departures, Salah-Eddine and Angeliño are available for transfer, whilst Alessio Cacciamani of Torino is under consideration as a backup to Wesley.

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 have intensified their search for attacking reinforcements and a wing-back following Zeki Çelik's departure, with Ivan Fresneda of Sporting CP and Real Betis forward Abde Ezzalzouli emerging as primary targets. The club has held three recent talks with Fresneda and his representatives; the Portuguese defender is valued at around €17–18 million plus substantial bonuses. Fresneda joined Sporting from Real Valladolid for €9 million in 2023 and has made 81 appearances, scoring 4 goals and providing 3 assists. Ezzalzouli carries a similarly high price tag. The Real Betis attacker has scored 29 goals and laid on 18 assists in 128 games, while earning 37 caps for Morocco. Roma have also explored options lower down the valuation chain. They tabled a €2.5 million bid for Club America's Israel Reyes on the wing, but the Mexican side demanded €7 million—Reyes has featured 146 times for his current club over five seasons. The Giallorossi remain in complex negotiations over Antonio Nusa but have not abandoned the pursuit. While Santiago Castro's arrival has bolstered the attacking department, Roma's need for multiple wing-backs after Çelik's exit may limit their ability to invest heavily in a second premium signing, though Wesley and Devyne Rensch offer tactical flexibility.

Roma have set a deadline of tonight for RB Leipzig to lower their asking price for Antonio Nusa, with sporting director D'Amico prepared to pivot to other targets if the club does not budge from nearly 60 million euros. The Giallorossi are hunting two wide forwards ahead of their pre-season training camp in Wales, with moves potentially accelerated to come before that departure. Among the alternatives under consideration are Abde Ezzalzouli of Betis, valued at 55 million euros after scoring 10 goals and registering 9 assists in La Liga last season, and Jean-Mattéo Bahoya of Eintracht Frankfurt, rated at just under 35 million. Malick Fofana of Lyon is also being tracked. On the right flank, Ivan Fresneda has emerged as a candidate to fill the gap left by Zeki Çelik's departure, while Diego Moreira remains the primary target for the left-wing-back position. The club are also eyeing Israel Reyes of Club America for defensive cover, though current offers of 3 million euros fall short of requirements. If midfielder Manu Koné departs, Roma would need to invest significantly in midfield, with Habib Diarra of Sunderland and Nicolas Raskin of Glasgow Rangers among the names attracting attention.

Matías Soulé has been proposed to AC Milan through intermediaries as Roma reshape their attacking department. The Argentine playboy, whose future at Trigoria remains uncertain amid the club's offensive restyling, could offer a solution for the Rossoneri. The proposal arrives at a critical moment in the summer window, with Roma eager to generate funds and unlock the incoming transfers demanded by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Milan has not yet responded officially to the possibility of opening talks. Roma's primary focus remains the right flank, where Zeki Çelik's departure to Juventus on a free transfer has created a significant gap. The club's director of sport Tony D'Amico has identified Ivan Fresneda, a Spanish fullback born in 2004 currently at Sporting Lisbon, as the main target. However, Sporting's valuation of at least 25 million euros complicates negotiations, and Roma are weighing the economic sustainability of a potential deal. Elsewhere, Mile Svilar has ruled out any move away from Roma, telling Corriere dello Sport: "For me there has only ever been Roma, you should know that by now after my renewal. I am focused on giving my best for this shirt, this club and these fans. My heart is here." In a separate development, Claudio Ranieri has been named director and president of Club Italia alongside the return of Roberto Mancini as Italy head coach—a decision they made jointly with federation president Giovanni Malagò.