Genoa pursuing Baldanzi redemption as Roma negotiate discount

Roma have made a sudden push to sign Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessié, attempting to capitalize on Juventus's stalled negotiations for the player. According to Sky Sport, Roma accelerated their efforts in recent hours, looking to turn a previous interest into a concrete transfer opportunity. Juventus had intensified contact with Kessié's representatives but has not yet closed a deal; the Bianconeri need to complete further outgoings first, and the sale of Miretti to Besiktas alone would not create sufficient space for the signing. Roma are now attempting to insert themselves into the race. For club director D'Amico, bringing Kessié would add significant international experience to midfield and offer different qualities to those already in the squad. The prospect is made particularly attractive by his previous connection with Gasperini, Roma's current head coach. Gasperini was the manager who launched Kessié at Atalanta during the 2016–17 season, rapidly establishing him as one of Serie A's standout midfielders. After a gap of ten years, their paths could cross again. Juventus remains in contention, but Roma's move could shift the balance of the negotiation in the final days of the transfer window.

Roma have entered the race to sign Franck Kessie, the Ivorian midfielder currently a free agent who has long signalled his preference to join Juventus and return to Serie A. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is pushing for the midfielder, whom he knows from their time together at Atalanta. If the deal closes, Roma could send Neil El Aynaoui out on loan or sell him permanently. Manu Koné, by contrast, is considered a key piece of the squad and will not be moved.

Roma have entered the race to sign Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessié in the closing stages of the transfer window, according to Gianluca Di Marzio. Juventus remain strongly interested and continue to pursue the player, though they need to complete outgoing transfers first to accelerate their move. Gasperini, who managed Kessié during his time at Atalanta, is keen on the midfielder and Roma are looking to make a strong push in what could be a competitive chase. The midfield is expected to remain active in the final days of the market as the clubs manoeuvre for position.

Roman radio stations analysed Gasperini's post-match demeanour and Roma's transfer window on 24 August, with the coach reportedly venting frustration after a pre-match press conference. David Rossi of Rete Sport said Gasperini "attempted to maintain composure during the conference, so much so that once it finished he let off steam—we have audio of what he said after the conference, but we won't play it because we're decent people—but hearing the post-conference outburst tells you he is not serene." Gasperini has been actively involved in the market alongside D'Amico, reiterating his desire for a left-footed winger and left-sided striker, though the station noted that if those signings do not arrive, it is not a failure to pursue them but a failure to secure them. The broader consensus across the stations was mixed. Piero Torri of Manà Manà Sport identified Fofana as "the best option that remains," better than other targets, suggesting Lyon's potential Champions League qualification could enable a deal structured as a loan with a conditional obligation to buy. Daniele Lo Monaco of Radio Romanista offered strong backing of the existing squad, stating: "With him you would not win the Champions League, but you would not have won it either with Summerville; in fact, I think you have more chances with Mora than with the Dutchman. If you signed Gittens, you would have Gittens, Mora, Dybala, Soulé, Castro and Malen… Last year you had Venturino, Zaragoza, Baldanzi, Dovbyk, Ferguson… and we finished third. This is why I tell you we must be very satisfied with what is happening, very satisfied. And all of this without selling players. But guys, what more do we want? For me, if the market completes in this manner, it will be the best since the days of Batistuta." Analysts debated the likely formation and deployment of recent arrivals. Lorenzo Pes suggested Roma could play with a trequartista behind two strikers, noting uncertainty over whether Soulé or Rodrigo Mora would occupy that role. Mario Mattioli expressed scepticism about Mora's involvement, predicting he would not start and questioning whether he could break through substantially. Roberto Pruzzo backed Santiago Castro as a strong addition who would receive more minutes than expected, while Checco Oddo Casano voiced concern that Roma was not equipped to compete for the Champions League, predicting a third- to sixth-place finish in Serie A. Alessio Nardo highlighted Dybala's history of injury problems at Roma, noting that last season his meniscus injury was mismanaged; he added that should Dybala complete the season without significant injury, "it would be a sort of miracle of Gasperini and his staff." The match against Fiorentina was set for the evening of 24 August. Pes cautioned that Fiorentina would be difficult to assess as an opponent, having conducted an ambitious transfer window under new management. The window closes on 31 August, with Gasperini's requirements for additional signings still unmet.

Gian Piero Gasperini held his pre-season press conference on the eve of Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday evening at the Olimpico, addressing the club's transfer strategy, squad depth and the financial constraints imposed by UEFA regulations. He confirmed Roma currently have 23 squad slots available but two remain empty, with four players arriving this summer: Nahuel Molina, described as "an important player, a world champion already mature and solid"; Santiago Castro, following the departures of Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson; Konstantinos Koulierakis, "a player we didn't have in defence with these characteristics"; and Rodrigo Mora, described as "a very young lad but who has already reached important levels. An important acquisition for the club, especially in perspective. He has all the characteristics to emerge." Gasperini also noted departures of Stephan El Shaarawy, Venturino and Zaragoza, and said: "One has arrived, I hope another does. Then Angelino and Tsimikas left and we hope to be able to replace them too." Gasperini acknowledged that Roma have been forced to pursue a different transfer strategy due to UEFA Financial Fair Play restrictions. He explained: "We started with very high profiles and it's no surprise. We had to confront the need to maintain the wage bill within a certain limit and we weren't able to take established players with those characteristics. The society has made investments on other profiles, I think we have good variety." He praised Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Bryan Cristante for accepting significant wage reductions. Gasperini stated: "The Fair Play is limiting, perhaps Roma is the only club in Italy that pays for this situation that stems from a past for which we are not responsible. But it is so and we must look ahead trying anyway to improve the squad." On Matías Soulé's fitness, Gasperini reported: "He had pubalgia, was quite immobile before the retreat and arrived quite overweight and not healed 100%. During preparation he got back in shape and now is in excellent condition, played excellent matches and recovered very well both physically and athletically." Regarding Wesley, Evan N'Dicka, Donyell Malen and Manu Koné, who returned late from international commitments, Gasperini said: "Wesley missed the World Cup and is well. N'Dicka recovers very quickly, gave good signals at Dortmund. Malen suffered the World Cup more psychologically; feeling important for this squad will help him find condition. Koné arrived last but recovers very quickly. El Aynaoui is in between. They take little time to recover—a week or two more." On whether the left wing position remains a priority, Gasperini said: "Only if it can be added value, otherwise no, I don't load myself with players just for that. Those who arrive is because they want Roma strongly. We can add only two players if we can take them under certain conditions, if the market offers this well, otherwise we stay like this." He expressed confidence in Dybala's prospects: "I'm sure yes, I see him particularly strong. He's done a preparation he hasn't done for a long time, without injuries. Muscles seem much more toned to me, he no longer has the power and speed of when he was younger but has improved other qualities. He's 32, in his prime, I think he'll have a great season." Roma lost Dovbyk to transfer, Ferguson on loan departure, and have two gaps to fill before defending their third-place finish from last season.

Roma's head coach Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the squad ahead of the Serie A season opener against Fiorentina in two days at the Stadio Olimpico. The club has registered four new arrivals and still has two squad slots available for the 23 permitted by UEFA. Gasperini outlined the summer changes: Molina, the World Cup winner who reached the final two months ago, has come in as a replacement for the departed Evan Ferguson; Dovbyk and Ferguson have left while Castro has arrived; Koulierakis joined to fill a gap in defence; and Mora completed the signings. El Shaarawy, Venturino and Zaragoza have also departed since May. Angeliño and Kostas Tsimikas have left, with Gasperini hoping replacements arrive. The coach stressed that wage costs have been reduced by necessity and said he remains hopeful of further progress in the remaining ten days of the window. "Ridurremo dunque sicuramente la rosa, cercando di renderla però più competitiva," he said, adding that all new signings wanted the club strongly. On the prospect of promoting youth, Gasperini highlighted Mora as particularly significant: "Mora è un ragazzo giovanissimo che ha già raggiunto numeri importanti. Due anni fa al Porto ha raggiunto dieci gol." The coach described the young forward as an important investment for the future with the characteristics to emerge and perform well.