Gasperini to field dream attack of Soulé, Dybala and Malen in Verona decider

AS Roma earned over 1 million dollars from FIFA's Club Benefits Programme during the 2026 World Cup, ranking sixth among Serie A sides in total club payments. The FIFA scheme, run jointly with the European Football Clubs association, distributed 355 million dollars (300 million euros) to compensate clubs for releasing players to international duty. Each club received a minimum of approximately 5,000 dollars per day (4,300 euros) for every player loaned to their national federation. Roma fielded five players across the tournament held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico: Evan N'Dicka, Zeki Çelik, Neil El Aynaoui, Manu Koné, and Donyell Malen. These five accumulated 211 days of competition, generating 1.055 million dollars for the club. Milan topped Serie A's earnings with over 2.3 million dollars from ten players, followed by Atalanta (1.6 million from eight players) and Inter (1.55 million from seven). Juventus collected 1.2 million and Bologna 1 million. Among individual Roma players, Koné was the most valuable, earning 280,000 dollars for the club—second only to Lautaro Martinez of Inter and Nico Paz of Como, who each generated 285,000 dollars.

Inter, Milan, Juventus and Roma launched their summer training camps on Monday, 13 July as Serie A's leading sides begin preparations ahead of the new season. Many players remain committed to international duty at major tournaments, though several have returned to their clubs ready to start preseason. The four giants are among the first to commence their respective ritiri, or structured training retreats, with friendlies scheduled to build match fitness and tactical cohesion. Roma joins the elite quartet in kicking off summer work, with Gian Piero Gasperini's squad assembling for the intensive preparation phase. The timing reflects the staggered return of internationals, as some personnel are only recently emerging from extended competition calendars. These camps serve as the foundation for competitive readiness before the Serie A campaign resumes. Preseason schedules typically span several weeks and include a mix of internal drills, controlled matches and friendly fixtures against lower-division or regional opponents. The early start by these five major clubs underscores the demands of modern elite football, where conditioning and collective understanding must be rebuilt efficiently during the summer window.

Mario Balotelli has named AS Roma among the contenders for next season's Serie A title, alongside Napoli and Inter. Speaking to Sportmediaset, the former Milan striker said: "Napoli and Inter are the favourites, but I want to add a surprise: Roma will also fight for the Scudetto." Balotelli, now based in Saudi Arabia, predicted that Gian Piero Gasperini's side will be in the mix for the championship despite not being among the usual elite. Roma have not yet completed any significant transfer business ahead of their squad gathering tomorrow. The pursuit of Greenwood has fallen away, while the club continues to work on signing a backup to Malen, with Tresoldi identified as a target, and also Garnacho. The Giallorossi are preparing to restart their season following a challenging campaign. Balotelli's endorsement represents external confidence in Roma's prospects, though the club's transfer activity will be crucial to whether they can genuinely mount a title challenge.

Roma's first team demolished the Primavera 6–0 in a test match at Trigoria under Gian Piero Gasperini, with Artem Dovbyk opening the scoring with a header. Paulo Dybala struck twice, including a volley assisted by Matías Soulé, while Dovbyk added a second. Matías Soulé and Bryan Cristante rounded out the rout with goals to seal the result. The friendly served as preparation ahead of more competitive warm-up fixtures. Gasperini's side continues to build match fitness and tactical cohesion in the coming weeks. D'Amico was present on the sideline during the encounter.

Argentina and Spain will contest the 2026 World Cup final on 19 July at 21:00, with the European champions facing the champions of South America in a match laden with historical significance. The fixture pits Lionel Scaloni's Argentina against Luis de la Fuente's Spain, and will see a generational duel between Lionel Messi and Barcelona's Lamine Yamal. AS Roma surveyed its squad on their preference for the final through a social media video. The vote was decisive: Argentina emerged as the favourite 8-2. Among Roma's players, Bryan Cristante, Matías Soulé, Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk and Mile Svilar all backed Argentina, reflecting the giallorossi's leaning toward the South American side ahead of the showpiece.

AS Roma asked its squad members to reveal which team they will support in tonight's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, kicking off at 21:00 in New York. The club's social media campaign featured responses from Bryan Cristante, Jan Ziółkowski, Matías Soulé, Paulo Dybala, Niccolò Pisilli, Mile Svilar, and Gianluca Mancini among others. Mancini, the club's number 23, backed his former teammate Leandro Paredes with the message: "Vamos Leandro!" The Argentina contingent within Roma's squad showed their colours during the exercise, with both Dybala and Soulé participating in the video responses. The engagement reflects the global reach of Roma's playing staff, with strong connections to both European and South American football. The campaign concluded with Argentina ultimately prevailing among the respondents, though the article emphasises that the pitch will ultimately decide the true winner of the match.

Roma are pushing hard to sign Janis Summerville, with the player's agents having contacted Tony D'Amico to try to close the deal. Summerville has agreed to reduce his wage demands, and Roma's offer of 4 million euros plus bonuses is expected to satisfy him. The club continues to explore other attacking options, with Tresoldi positioned as a deputy to Malen rather than as a primary striker target, though transfer fee figures remain fluid internally. Lorenzo Pellegrini's future hinges on head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's assessment, according to radio analysis. Gasperini wanted to retain all three senior midfielders, but Pellegrini risks following the same trajectory as Zeki Çelik if the club waits until contract expiry to negotiate a renewal. The midfielder is a professional committed to Roma, yet he has the right to explore other opportunities as his contract runs down. A recent photograph posted by Pellegrini suggested he was at the airport exploring options elsewhere. Radio commentators questioned the logic of investing 30 million euros in a deputy to Malen, noting that at 21 years old, Tresoldi remains unproven. With the transfer window open and Pellegrini able to negotiate with other clubs from 19 July onwards, the dynamics around his future remain fluid and could materialise in unexpected directions.

Roma are working simultaneously on two alternative attacking targets for the left flank and could make a final decision imminently. Gasperini and the sporting director D'Amico are actively pursuing both Nusa and Summerville, with the Norwegian reportedly the profile that better fits the coach's overall vision and long-term ideas. For Nusa, discussions with both his club and representatives have progressed and a decisive move to resolve final details could arrive today. For West Ham's Summerville, the financial gap has narrowed on both player and club sides. Roma will not exceed the salary ceiling it has set for wages—nothing that surpasses what the squad that brought Roma back to European ambition earns—with a possible agreement on 4 or 4.5 million euros annually and approximately 45 million to the London club to reach the level of the player's release clause, which can be activated by midnight today. Talks continue but Roma have not yet entered a decisive phase, though time is pressing given Summerville's admirers in the Premier League. Summerville has a friend at Roma in Donyell Malen. Meanwhile, Chelsea talks over Garnacho have been put on hold; Roma want a loan deal while the Blues prefer a permanent transfer or early monetisation guarantee. Separately, Koné and Soulé remain possible sale candidates to balance the financial fair play requirements, though no formal offers have yet arrived at the training ground.

AS Roma are pursuing Nicolò Tresoldi as an attacking reinforcement to partner Donyell Malen, with the Bruges forward having already signalled his willingness to join the Giallorossi. The Italian-German striker, born in 2004, has given Roma an important green light regarding a transfer to the capital, marking a significant step forward in the club's transfer strategy. However, the next move rests with Bruges, who hold Tresoldi's registration. While the player's availability is encouraging, it is not sufficient to complete the deal. Bruges must still communicate their valuation of the player and clarify their intentions regarding Tresoldi's future. Early in the week, the situation surrounding the forward should become clearer as the Belgian club sets out its position on both the fee and willingness to sell.