Gollini already at Trigoria as pre-season gathering approaches

AS Roma's youth academy is undergoing structural change, with Mattia Scala appointed as the new Primavera head coach. The move marks the departure of Federico Guidi, who leaves after one season—ending his second spell at the club a year earlier than his contract was due to expire. Massimo Margiotta, Roma's new youth sector director, confirmed Scala as his first official decision in the role, signalling a fresh methodological and technical direction for the academy. Scala's appointment represents promotion from within after a successful track record since 2021. He has managed Roma's Under 14, Under 16, and Under 18 sides with strong results, earning recognition for his development work at Trigoria. The decision underscores the academy's commitment to identifying and nurturing its best young talent through continuity in leadership while shifting the overall approach.

Manu Koné has become a standout performer for France at the World Cup, with his midfield displays drawing widespread acclaim. The Roma midfielder is showcasing the full range of his qualities through consistent performances that highlight his technical and tactical strengths. Koné remains a key player in Gian Piero Gasperini's plans at Roma, though his contract situation and longer-term future at the club have yet to be clarified. His form with the national team underscores his importance to Roma's midfield setup as the club prepares for the season ahead. Rabiot has publicly praised Koné's contributions, while the French media has singled him out for his omnipresent influence on the pitch throughout the tournament.

Mattia Scala has been named the new head coach of Roma Primavera, marking the first decision by Massimo Margiotta in his new role as head of the club's youth academy. Federico Guidi's second spell in charge has ended after just one year, departing a year before his contract was due to expire. Scala, who has coached the Primavera programme's Under 14, Under 16, and Under 18 sides from 2021 to 2026, steps up from the youth ranks to take the senior Primavera post. His appointment represents a promotion within Roma's academy structure and reflects Margiotta's early direction for the youth development sector.

Stephan El Shaarawy married Ludovica Pagani in a civil ceremony attended by several current Roma players and members of the football world. Lorenzo Pellegrini, Gianluca Mancini, Pierluigi Gollini, and Bryan Cristante were among the guests, reflecting the close friendships El Shaarawy has built within the Roma squad. The presence of these four squad leaders underscores the unity fostered in the dressing room beyond the pitch. El Shaarawy, who wore the Roma number 92, remains connected to his former teammates despite his departure from the club. Sergio Oliveira, the Portuguese midfielder who featured in Roma's 2022 UEFA Europa Conference League triumph, also attended to celebrate the occasion with his friend. The wedding brought together the close-knit group that has defined Roma's recent campaigns.

Stephan El Shaarawy married Ludovica Pagani at Villa Aldobrandini near Frascati, with a significant Roma contingent in attendance. Current Roma players Gianluca Mancini, Bryan Cristante, and Lorenzo Pellegrini were among the guests, joined by former Roma midfielder Sergio Oliveira, who was visiting Rome for the occasion. Gollini also attended the celebration. A photograph posted on social media showed Oliveira and Pellegrini together, featuring emoji of a yellow heart, red heart, and the Roma wolf symbol. The reunion held special significance for several attendees. Mancini, Cristante, Oliveira, and Pellegrini all shared a memorable experience in 2022 when they won the UEFA Europa Conference League in Tirana. The wedding brought together members of that historic squad to celebrate El Shaarawy's marriage to the Bergamo-based DJ and influencer. The gathering highlighted the close bonds that persist among Roma's players and former squad members. El Shaarawy, nicknamed "the Pharaoh," has been part of Roma's recent history, and the presence of current players underscored the team's tight-knit culture.

Stephan El Shaarawy, Roma's forward, married influencer and DJ Ludovica Pagani on 27 June at Villa Aldobrandini in Frascati. The couple had already undergone a civil ceremony in Rome in May but celebrated their religious marriage with family, friends, and numerous celebrities. El Shaarawy will officially become a free agent on 1 July following the conclusion of Roma's qualifying campaign for the Champions League, during which he scored the second goal in a victory against Verona. Several of El Shaarawy's Roma teammates attended the celebration, described as his closest companions: Gollini, Mancini, Cristante, and Pellegrini. The latter was reportedly juggling attendance at two weddings on the same day, as confirmed on social media by his wife. The guest list extended beyond the Roma contingent to include prominent figures from music and sport, with Pagani's side of the celebration drawing entertainment and athletics personalities. Guests included singer Elettra Lamborghini, fellow musician Giulia Penna, and basketball player Valentina Vignali, who documented the ceremony's most memorable moments on Instagram. El Shaarawy and Pagani's relationship began in 2020 and has now reached formal marriage status following the festivities at the historic villa.

Radio commentators have weighed in on Roma's transfer activity ahead of the January window, with particular focus on midfielder Manu Koné and attacking targets. Marcacci told Radio Radio that Moreira is a player perfectly aligned with Gasperini's tactical approach, though his market value has risen following World Cup exposure. He also mentioned alternatives including Nusa, Garnacho, and Tresoldi, while noting that Mason Greenwood's wages are beyond reach for Italian clubs despite his Champions League absence with Fenerbahçe. Koné's situation appears more complex. According to Pes on TeleradioStereo, the midfielder's valuation has climbed from 40 million to 50 million euros, with Premier League clubs regarded as the likeliest destination. Pes stated: "The ambition of Koné seems clear: he wants to try something else." Ranieri, former manager, had previously indicated Gasperini was open to Koné's departure to finance attacking reinforcements, though the coach later cited available options including Malen and Wesley. Fidanza and Ciotti both expressed reluctance at losing Koné but acknowledged that if a sale occurs, it should not fall below 50 million euros and should strengthen the squad elsewhere. Ciotti suggested Koné might become a starter in the semi-final following his recent France performance, while Soulé's future depends on Gasperini's technical preference for alternative attacking profiles.

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 recorded a strong start to their new campaign with a subscription surge, shifting 11,000 season tickets on the opening day of sales. The Friedkin Group is targeting 40,000 total subscriptions before closing the window to reserve match-day allocations for individual fixtures throughout the season. Preparations are underway at Trigoria under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini ahead of the 2024–25 campaign. The squad will begin pre-season testing on Thursday 16 July against Sorianese, a regional competition side, followed by fixtures against the Primavera on 19 July and Trastevere on 23 July. Winger Wesley has cut short his holiday to return early to Rome and accelerate his recovery from the injury that ruled him out of the World Cup. The Brazilian has already trained at Trigoria to complete his rehabilitation and aims to be fully available from the earliest days of the pre-season programme, positioning himself as a key player in Gasperini's newly configured squad.

AS Roma is close to completing contract renewals for its core squad following the club's return to the Champions League after seven years. Three players — Paulo Dybala, Zeki Çelik, and Lorenzo Pellegrini — are currently out of contract, with agreements already reached with Dybala and Çelik in recent days; both deals are now in the drafting stage. Pellegrini remains the main outstanding issue, with negotiations ongoing and a potential decisive meeting expected as soon as today. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini told Sky Sport: "The players are happy, the club will handle the announcements." The squad must be finalised before Monday, when the team gathers at Trigoria. Pellegrini is seeking a three-year contract to resist approaches from abroad, while Roma is holding out for a two-year deal. Despite the gap, both sides are expected to reach an agreement, possibly with added options as a compromise. The defensive pair Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante are also due for renewal; Mancini is likely to sign a new three-year contract to ward off interest from Inter, while Cristante could accept two years. Stephan El Shaarawy was recently released from the club following Verona's final match of the season.

Stephan El Shaarawy's decade at Roma ended with a goal against Verona in the final fixture of the season, a moment already etched into club folklore. The winger started the campaign as captain under new coach Gian Piero Gasperini on 23 August 2025 in the opener against Bologna, rewarded for having the most appearances of any Roma player. The captaincy lasted only three matches before Bryan Cristante and Lorenzo Pellegrini superseded him, while a long Achilles tendon inflammation kept him sidelined for 9 matches. He made just 9 starts all season. El Shaarawy appeared 27 times overall in a campaign that marked his lowest appearance count since arriving at Roma (excluding two spells that began in January). He provided 3 assists and scored only once in league play before that final moment at the Bentegodi—a Europa League goal against Midtjylland in November proved his only other strike. The 34-year-old had squandered a clear late chance against Lazio at the Olimpico in his penultimate appearance. His journey from a once-heralded young talent whose image appeared on trading cards and video games to a squad player willing to sacrifice wages during his Shanghai Shenhua spell to return to Roma was defined by selflessness, including a standout European performance as a defender against AC Milan two years earlier. The goal at Verona provided the perfect send-off for a married man departing after a beautiful era.

Stephan El Shaarawy is poised to join Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab after leaving Roma. The forward, who became a free agent on 30 June, has accepted the club's proposal, though contract details remain under negotiation. Al Shabab has offered a two-year deal, while El Shaarawy is seeking a three-year agreement. The annual salary is reportedly slightly under €9 million. El Shaarawy departed Roma at the end of his contract and has now prioritized the Saudi opportunity over other options. De Rossi had personally approached the attacker about joining Genoa, but no agreement was reached in those discussions. The financial package from Al Shabab proved significantly more attractive to the Italian forward.