Gemitaiz on Roma: 'Life and passion, but not an easy team to support'

Radio commentators weighed in on Roma's transfer window and squad stability on 2 August. Rossomando stated that Lorenzo Pellegrini's desire to remain at the club is evident, arguing that if he wanted to leave, he would already have pursued other options with his agent. Rossomando attributed Roma's wider difficulties to ownership and management rather than individual player decisions, noting that other Italian clubs are also experiencing transfer delays. Conflitti offered a defence of the club's sporting directors, suggesting that this summer's events have clarified that transfer delays at Roma cannot be blamed solely on Ghisolfi, Massara, and D'Amico. He acknowledged that some errors may have occurred but argued the responsibility extends beyond the sporting department to the broader structure of the organisation. Both commentators spoke on Radio Manà Manà Sport as part of Romanews.eu's daily radio commentary column. Rossomando said: "The will of Pellegrini to stay at Roma is clear, otherwise he would have already found other solutions with his agent. As always the problems arise from whoever runs this company, namely the ownership. Many other clubs in Italy are also behind schedule." Conflitti added: "I would say that this summer has dispelled some doubts about what Roma's problems are regarding market delays. The blame clearly was not solely on the sporting directors, so we need to reconsider some of the thinking on Ghisolfi, Massara and also D'Amico, aside from some mistakes that may have been made."

Radio commentators have weighed in on Roma's defensive recruitment and tactical priorities this summer. Marcacci told Radio Radio that Koulierakis appears to be the type of tough, no-nonsense defender capable of adapting well to Serie A, adding: "Probably he will start as a backup, but he is a player of greater reliability compared to many others we have seen pass through. With the ball at his feet he is not stronger than Hermoso but he can be more disciplined." Matera, also speaking to Radio Radio, identified a gap in Roma's squad in the left wing role, both for the starting position and the bench. He suggested the club is unwilling to compromise on quality: "The feeling is that Roma do not want to settle for taking players just for the sake of it. Gasperini wants to have level-appropriate alternatives in every role." The assessment reflects head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's approach to squad depth across all positions.

Aldo Maldera, who died some years ago, is remembered as much for his character as for his achievements. A defender of rare humility and tactical intelligence, Maldera joined Roma in summer 1982 under manager Nils Liedholm, who recognized qualities that others believed had already peaked. Playing left-back, Maldera brought experience, tactical awareness, and a cultured left foot to a squad that would become Serie A champions. His equilibrium on the flank allowed the Roma defence to take shape as a historic unit, with his positioning and versatility enabling tactical flexibility elsewhere in the backline. Maldera's legacy at Roma extends beyond his technical gifts. He was reserved, dignified, and loyal—a player who let his work speak rather than seeking the spotlight. He contributed to Roma's 1983 Scudetto with authority, both in defence and in attack, combining defensive solidity with fluid attacking support. Yet his career at Roma carries an enduring regret: his absence from the 1984 European Cup final against Liverpool at the Olimpico due to suspension. Roma supporters have long believed his experience, his left foot from the penalty spot, and his personality might have altered the course of that evening.

Radio commentators weighed in on Roma's transfer window and squad stability on 2 August. Rossomando stated that Lorenzo Pellegrini's desire to remain at the club is evident, arguing that if he wanted to leave, he would already have pursued other options with his agent. Rossomando attributed Roma's wider difficulties to ownership and management rather than individual player decisions, noting that other Italian clubs are also experiencing transfer delays. Conflitti offered a defence of the club's sporting directors, suggesting that this summer's events have clarified that transfer delays at Roma cannot be blamed solely on Ghisolfi, Massara, and D'Amico. He acknowledged that some errors may have occurred but argued the responsibility extends beyond the sporting department to the broader structure of the organisation. Both commentators spoke on Radio Manà Manà Sport as part of Romanews.eu's daily radio commentary column. Rossomando said: "The will of Pellegrini to stay at Roma is clear, otherwise he would have already found other solutions with his agent. As always the problems arise from whoever runs this company, namely the ownership. Many other clubs in Italy are also behind schedule." Conflitti added: "I would say that this summer has dispelled some doubts about what Roma's problems are regarding market delays. The blame clearly was not solely on the sporting directors, so we need to reconsider some of the thinking on Ghisolfi, Massara and also D'Amico, aside from some mistakes that may have been made."

Lorenzo Pellegrini is on the verge of signing a new contract with Roma after the club revised its initial offer. The Friedkin Group had proposed a one-year deal expiring in June 2027, but Pellegrini sought a three-year commitment. The two parties are now expected to agree on a two-year deal with an option worth €2.5 million per season. Pellegrini has accepted a significant pay cut and awaits final approval from ownership. The midfielder's commitment to Roma has never wavered despite the protracted negotiations, and he remains eager to continue under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Pellegrini did not travel to Cardiff with his squad and is currently training in Rome with a personal physiotherapist as he nears complete recovery from an injury sustained late in the previous season. The contract renewal is expected to be finalised pending the Friedkin Group's definitive sign-off. Once fit, Pellegrini will be available to resume full duties in the 2026–27 campaign.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is awaiting final approval from the Friedkin Group to complete his contract renewal with Roma, with the deal expected to be concluded in the coming days. The captain did not travel to Cardiff with his squad and is continuing his recovery from a late-season injury while training in Rome with a personal fitness coach. According to Il Messaggero, the club's ownership initially proposed a single-year contract extension that would have seen his deal expire in June 2027—a formula the player found unsatisfactory after requesting a three-year deal. The two parties are now close to agreement on a two-year contract with an option valued at €2.5 million per season. Pellegrini has agreed to a significant reduction in his wages and is prepared to return to full availability for the Giallorossi. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is waiting for the midfielder to be ready for action.

Roma suffered a 4–1 defeat to Cardiff City on 1 August, a match in which the Giallorossi struggled to perform at their best and tensions flared on the pitch. A flashpoint involved captain Bryan Cristante and Paulo Dybala, who had a heated face-to-face exchange following an unblown foul on Castro that led to Cardiff's fourth goal. The pair did not come to blows, but the moment reflected frustration over the refereeing decision. At Roma's training session on 2 August, the atmosphere had eased considerably. Cristante was observed speaking calmly with all three Argentine squad members, indicating a return to normal team dynamics and no lingering ill-feeling between the players involved in the Cardiff incident. The match marked another disappointing pre-season outing for Gasperini's side as preparations for the 2026–27 season continue.

Konstantinos Koulierakis joined Roma's pre-season training camp in Wales on 2 August, a day after his signing was officially announced. The defender arrived at the Vale Resort to meet Gian Piero Gasperini and his teammates, including Bryan Cristante, Gianluca Mancini, Paulo Dybala, and Donyell Malen. The moment was captured on camera as Koulierakis embraced the head coach and squad members. Some Roma supporters at the resort approached the new arrival to request photographs and autographs. Gasperini now has an additional defender available as Roma continues its pre-season preparations. The timing of Koulierakis's arrival reflects the club's push to strengthen the backline during the current transfer window. His integration into the group comes as Roma prepares for the 2026-27 season.

Roma suffered a heavy defeat to Cardiff City in their opening pre-season fixture, losing 4–1 at the Welsh Championship club on 2 August. The Giallorossi conceded three goals in the opening half-hour and went in at 0–3 at the break, with errors from established players including Svilar, N'Dicka, Hermoso, Wesley, Cristante and Dybala contributing to a chaotic first period. Paulo Dybala missed a penalty in spectacular fashion before atoning in the second half with a goal created by Matías Soulé, though Cardiff added a fourth after an apparent foul on debutant Castro went unpunished. The match served as the competitive debut for Castro, who operated as the striker in an all-Argentine attacking triad alongside Dybala and Soulé under coach Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical system. Roma fielded a reduced squad following two weeks of pre-season work, while Cardiff were significantly further along in their preparation ahead of their League Cup campaign starting within days. Officiating decisions favoured the hosts, with romanisti receiving a series of yellow cards distributed seemingly arbitrarily. Wesley and Rensch appeared vulnerable on the flanks, while the centre-backs and midfield operated out of sync. A notable injury concern emerged when Bah suffered a right knee distortion and had to be stretchered off. The second half saw gradual improvements, though Cardiff's quality ensured few clear chances materialised for the visitors. Young midfielder Lulli (born 2007) impressed in a brief appearance.

Koulierakis trained with Roma for the first time on 2 August after arriving at Vale Resort, declaring himself eager to contribute to the club. "I am truly very happy to be here. The welcome has been fantastic," the Greek defender said. "When my agent told me Roma was interested, I responded immediately: 'Yes, let's go'. I want to do my best to become part of this great Italian club. I had no doubt whatsoever." Wesley suffered a right ankle sprain on Saturday during Perry Ng's penalty-kick incident and attempted to train but signalled to Gasperini he was unable to continue. No alarm is warranted, though he is expected to sit out Tuesday's match against Newport to avoid reinjury. Pisilli remains sidelined with a calf problem sustained ten days earlier. El Aynaoui has a minor left knee discomfort but nothing troubling. Bah will undergo an MRI scan on 3 August to assess the extent of his right knee injury. In the transfer market, Roma continues to push for Read. The Dutch winger played the full 90 minutes in a friendly against Atalanta on 2 August but remains committed to joining Roma. His club has rejected an opening bid of €23 million plus €2 million in bonuses, demanding €30 million instead. 3 August could prove decisive in reaching agreement. Roma is also pursuing Cacciamani at Torino and exploring attacking options—Nusa is preferred but his cost complicates matters, while Endrick is also under consideration. Koné has drawn interest from Manchester United, though Arsenal has dropped out of the race. Kumbulla is heading to Rayo Vallecano.

Neil El Aynaoui withdrew from a Roma training session in Wales on 2 August to undertake an extended run around the resort, but stopped when he felt knee discomfort. Gasperini's staff asked whether he wished to halt, after which he resumed running. El Aynaoui returned from holiday on Friday and has joined Roma's pre-season preparations in Wales. The brief interruption reflects the squad's ongoing work in their mid-summer training camp as the 2026–27 season approaches.

Roma continued their pre-season preparation in Cardiff on 2 August with a training session that was disrupted by fresh injury concerns. Koulierakis arrived at the camp after completing his medical and paperwork in Rome, and took part in the open session alongside new CEO John Galantic and about fifteen travelling supporters. However, Wesley was forced to abandon the session after just minutes when an ankle sprain sustained in the previous day's friendly against Cardiff proved too painful to continue; he left the field visibly limping with significant strapping on his right leg. Jan Ziółkowski briefly caused alarm with a knock to his ankle during the session but recovered to continue without issue. Gasperini's squad is preparing for a Tuesday match against Newport while managing workload rotation through the summer window. Niccolò Pisilli remains unavailable despite being in the group, while defender Bah is awaiting an MRI scan scheduled for 3 August after sustaining a knee sprain in training on 1 August. Neil El Aynaoui, recently returned to training following World Cup duty, completed an extended fitness session around the resort and briefly paused for a minor left-knee discomfort before resuming his run.