Half of the Premier League tracking El Aynaoui, Roma midfielder draws interest from English top flight

Roma's pursuit of Mason Greenwood has stalled following fresh salary demands from his father and agent, prompting the Friedkin Group to pull the plug on negotiations. Fenerbahçe has seized the initiative and will attempt to wrap up a deal with Marseille in the coming hours, with an offer close to 50 million euros. Director Tony D'Amico has begun exploring alternative targets as coach Gasperini seeks a right-sided attacking midfielder capable of rotating with Paulo Dybala. Two names remain in Roma's sights: Stuttgart's Leweling, valued at nearly 50 million euros, and Rafael Leão, who has been offered to the Giallorossi in recent days. AC Milan are seeking a destination for the Portuguese winger, valued at approximately 60 million euros. Roma committed to Gasperini that a Champions-level attacking signing would arrive, and Leão's profile appeals to the club, though he would address the left flank rather than the right. A loan deal with a conditional obligation to buy could prove palatable to both clubs.

Mason Greenwood will not be joining Roma after negotiations broke down over wage demands. Roma accepted the English forward's initial terms, but his father subsequently increased salary requirements, prompting the Friedkin Group to withdraw from the pursuit. Fenerbahçe is now closing a deal with Marseille for Greenwood, with an offer approaching the initial asking price of €50 million. The Turkish club has prepared a four-year contract worth €8 million per season for the player. Roma has begun exploring alternatives, with Antony of Betis, Ndoye (formerly of Bologna), and Rafa Leao among the names under consideration. Leao has been proposed to the club in recent days. On the domestic front, Roma has made significant progress on contract renewals. Zeki Çelik's extension is now complete: the Turkish defender will sign a three-year deal worth just under €3 million annually. Negotiations with Lorenzo Pellegrini remain ongoing, with further talks expected between his representatives and the club. Roma's opening offer for the midfielder stands at €2 million per season, rising to €2.5 million with performance bonuses.

Paulo Dybala has credited José Mourinho with bringing him to Roma, describing the former manager as "a genius and a good person" who earned the affection of supporters through his dedication. Speaking to YouTuber Davoo, Dybala reflected on his time in the capital, commenting on fellow squad member El Aynaoui's World Cup performance and recalling the controversial Europa Conference League final defeat to Sevilla, where he acknowledged a handball incident but noted that "throughout the match there were various moments in which the referee made strange decisions." Meanwhile, Fenerbahçe has intensified efforts to sign Mason Greenwood ahead of Roma, engaging directly with the English forward's representatives and Marseille. Roma's pursuit is complicated by Marseille's firm €50 million valuation, which is reinforced by a pre-existing agreement requiring 40% of any future sale to be paid to Manchester United. This financial rigidity leaves Roma facing pressure to move quickly or risk losing the target to the Turkish club. Roma's pre-season schedule has been adjusted. The originally planned friendly against Roma City has been cancelled and replaced by a match against Sorianese on 16 July. Between 19–24 July, the squad will face two further internal friendlies: against the Primavera side and then Trastevere.

Paulo Dybala has credited José Mourinho with bringing him to Roma, describing the former manager as "a genius and a good person" who earned the affection of supporters through his dedication. Speaking to YouTuber Davoo, Dybala reflected on his time in the capital, commenting on fellow squad member El Aynaoui's World Cup performance and recalling the controversial Europa Conference League final defeat to Sevilla, where he acknowledged a handball incident but noted that "throughout the match there were various moments in which the referee made strange decisions." Meanwhile, Fenerbahçe has intensified efforts to sign Mason Greenwood ahead of Roma, engaging directly with the English forward's representatives and Marseille. Roma's pursuit is complicated by Marseille's firm €50 million valuation, which is reinforced by a pre-existing agreement requiring 40% of any future sale to be paid to Manchester United. This financial rigidity leaves Roma facing pressure to move quickly or risk losing the target to the Turkish club. Roma's pre-season schedule has been adjusted. The originally planned friendly against Roma City has been cancelled and replaced by a match against Sorianese on 16 July. Between 19–24 July, the squad will face two further internal friendlies: against the Primavera side and then Trastevere.

Manu Koné has progressed from a starstruck teenager who photographed Paul Pogba at Euro 2016 to a key player in France's World Cup campaign. Roma signed the midfielder for €18 million, and his performances at the club earned him his international debut on 6 September 2024 at age 23 — the same dream he held when he admired Pogba years earlier. Koné has featured prominently in France's tournament run, appearing in group matches against Iraq and Norway, then in the knockout stages against Paraguay after resting against Sweden. The midfielder has documented his journey with compelling social media content, including a comic posted one day before the tournament began showing his family celebrating and thanking manager Deschamps, alongside memories stretching back to May 2012 when his brother first told him about a World Cup dream. He has remained engaged even when not called upon, and stands ready to step in if Aurélien Tchouameni is unavailable for the quarter-finals against Morocco in Boston — notably featuring Roma teammate Neil El Aynaoui on the opposing side.

Neil El Aynaoui has transformed from a source of tension among Morocco supporters into a cornerstone of the national team's midfield. A year ago, fans questioned his commitment to the Atlas Lions after he missed a June gathering with the squad—initially due to an injury sustained while at Lens—and attended a charity match in Nancy, his birthplace in France, sparking speculation he was waiting for France's call. His father Younes later confirmed his absolute intention to represent Morocco. Since joining Roma, El Aynaoui made his eagerly awaited national team debut in August 2025 and immediately claimed a starting role in midfield. His breakthrough accelerated during the Africa Cup of Nations, where his Instagram following surged from 50,000 to over one million. What captivates supporters is not merely technical quality but his tenacity, work rate, and fighting spirit. He has become an omnipresent force—relentless in pressing and ball recovery, tireless in attacking contributions, and complementary to midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. Distance covered in recent matches: 11.77 km against Brazil, 12.29 km against Scotland, 10.29 km against Haiti, 14.37 km against the Netherlands, and 11.04 km against Canada. El Aynaoui now faces the most significant challenge of his career at the ongoing World Cup. A fellow Roma midfielder, Manu Koné, plays for France—creating a special intersection not only through their shared giallorossi identity but also the broader narrative of a Nancy-born player seeking to close a chapter and pursue his dream.