Hermoso shines in unfamiliar midfield role as Roma beat Newport; new signings awaited

Roma bounced back from a defeat at Cardiff with a dominant 4-1 victory over fourth-tier Newport County in a pre-season friendly today. Goals from Hermoso, Castro, Koulierakis and Soulé secured the win under the watch of Ryan Friedkin, with Cameron grabbing Newport's consolation late on. Castro impressed in an unfamiliar midfield role, scoring once and winning a penalty, while Dybala orchestrated play from attacking positions and assisted Koulierakis's header before becoming involved in a brief skirmish triggered by a heavy challenge from Evans. Gasperini has reasons to smile ahead of fresh arrivals, with negotiations advancing for Molina but the Read transfer path becoming more complicated. The friendly served as a positive tune-up for Roma's squad depth, with young players given minutes in the closing stages. Donyell Malen missed the match due to fever. Roma continue their pre-season schedule with another training session at Hensol tomorrow, followed by a final friendly against Brighton on Saturday before returning to the capital.

Roma claimed a commanding 4–1 victory over Newport County in a friendly at Rodney Parade. Gian Piero Gasperini's side weathered an uncertain start—Newport's Biggins struck the crossbar and Mile Svilar made an error that could have changed the match—before quality prevailed. Mario Hermoso opened the scoring late in the first half, then Castro converted from the penalty spot and Koulierakis added a third, both scoring for the first time in Roma colours. Matías Soulé completed the rout with the fourth goal. Cameron netted a late consolation for the hosts. The emphatic result underlines Roma's growing threat in attack as the 2026–27 season approaches. Hermoso, Castro and Koulierakis all featured prominently, with the newcomers Castro and Koulierakis marking their debuts with goals—a significant boost to Gasperini's preparations ahead of competitive action. The comfortable nature of the victory suggests Roma are building momentum in their pre-season schedule.

Roma recovered from Saturday's defeat to Cardiff with a commanding 4–1 victory over Newport. Vice-president Ryan Friedkin watched from the stands and was visibly satisfied with the performance, captured on DAZN cameras alongside CEO Galantic smiling after Roma's fourth goal. Paulo Dybala and his teammates delivered an impressive display. The win marks a swift response to the weekend setback, though head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is not fully content. He wants four additional signings to strengthen the squad ahead of the competitive season. Transfer activity is now a priority, with recruitment pushing forward on multiple fronts. One target is reportedly being pursued from Spain, with scouts working to accelerate a deal.

Roma bounced back from a defeat at Cardiff with a dominant 4-1 victory over fourth-tier Newport County in a pre-season friendly today. Goals from Hermoso, Castro, Koulierakis and Soulé secured the win under the watch of Ryan Friedkin, with Cameron grabbing Newport's consolation late on. Castro impressed in an unfamiliar midfield role, scoring once and winning a penalty, while Dybala orchestrated play from attacking positions and assisted Koulierakis's header before becoming involved in a brief skirmish triggered by a heavy challenge from Evans. Gasperini has reasons to smile ahead of fresh arrivals, with negotiations advancing for Molina but the Read transfer path becoming more complicated. The friendly served as a positive tune-up for Roma's squad depth, with young players given minutes in the closing stages. Donyell Malen missed the match due to fever. Roma continue their pre-season schedule with another training session at Hensol tomorrow, followed by a final friendly against Brighton on Saturday before returning to the capital.

Roma claimed a commanding 4–1 victory over Newport County in a friendly at Rodney Parade. Gian Piero Gasperini's side weathered an uncertain start—Newport's Biggins struck the crossbar and Mile Svilar made an error that could have changed the match—before quality prevailed. Mario Hermoso opened the scoring late in the first half, then Castro converted from the penalty spot and Koulierakis added a third, both scoring for the first time in Roma colours. Matías Soulé completed the rout with the fourth goal. Cameron netted a late consolation for the hosts. The emphatic result underlines Roma's growing threat in attack as the 2026–27 season approaches. Hermoso, Castro and Koulierakis all featured prominently, with the newcomers Castro and Koulierakis marking their debuts with goals—a significant boost to Gasperini's preparations ahead of competitive action. The comfortable nature of the victory suggests Roma are building momentum in their pre-season schedule.

Mario Hermoso praised Roma's performance in a friendly against Newport County, highlighting a strong second-half display. The defender played in an unfamiliar role but felt comfortable alongside his teammates. "Yes, we had a great match, especially in the second half. At the start they pressed hard, it was more difficult. For me it was a role quite different from usual, but I felt good with my teammates. The important thing is to win: it brings confidence ahead of the next matches," Hermoso said. Hermoso acknowledged that Roma are still awaiting arrival of new players to complete the squad. He backed the club's recruitment strategy, noting that the sporting director and board handle transfer decisions while the players focus on their preparation. "We are a strong team, we are united, we want to do great things," he explained, adding: "All the teammates who arrive to fight with us are welcome." When asked about Castro and Koulierakis specifically, Hermoso described them as ambitious young players joining a squad that had a strong season last year. "They are important pieces to perform well in the league, Champions League and Coppa Italia," he said. Hermoso stressed Roma's commitment to working toward a major season and competing across all competitions.