Koné and El Aynaoui emerge as Gasperini's World Cup treasures

The Lazio Region has approved the Technical and Economic Feasibility Project for AS Roma's new stadium, marking a significant step forward in the club's long-running infrastructure plans. The announcement comes as Roma continue to await developments on the transfer market front. Bryan Cristante will discuss the news in an interview with Sportweek, with the full piece to be published tomorrow. The stadium project has been a central ambition for the Friedkin Group ownership, which took control of the club in August 2020. The regional approval clears a major administrative hurdle for the proposed new ground, though further steps remain in the approval process before any construction can begin. Elsewhere, midfielder Manu Koné impressed in France's recent match against Morocco, drawing praise from Adrien Rabiot. Roma's women's team has also confirmed the date and time for their opening fixture in the Serie A Women's Cup.

Roma are pursuing Bruges striker Nicolò Tresoldi as they look to strengthen their attacking department. The 2004-born centre-forward, valued at approximately €30 million by the Belgian club, is viewed by Roma's management as the ideal profile to complement Donyell Malen in the forward line. The club's strategy has shifted: Roma plan to attempt closing the deal without waiting for Artem Dovbyk's departure first. However, convincing Bruges remains a significant obstacle. Alejandro Garnacho has been offered to Roma in recent weeks, but the club would only consider the move on a loan basis, whereas Chelsea continues to pursue an outright purchase. A potential Roma move for Garnacho could only materialise later in the transfer window if the operation's terms change. Separately, Roma's season-ticket campaign has made a strong start, with 18,000 renewals already signed in the first three days. The renewal phase for existing holders runs until 23 July, with the waiting-list phase opening from 27 July. Midfielder Bryan Cristante has spoken positively about working under Gian Piero Gasperini. In an interview with Sportweek, he praised the coach's attacking approach, saying: "You run a lot, but you enjoy yourself. You understand immediately what he wants from you." Cristante also reflected on the Derby della Capitale's significance: "When I arrived at Roma they told me it was the most important match. It goes beyond three points."

Alejandro Garnacho, Chelsea's Argentine winger, has been proposed to AS Roma as the club looks to strengthen its attacking options under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Roma's position on any deal is clear-cut: the club would only consider a loan arrangement at this stage of the transfer window. A permanent investment does not form part of Roma's current plans as the club carefully manages its financial resources. According to Fabrizio Romano, any concrete move would depend entirely on Chelsea's willingness to negotiate a loan formula. The differing positions on the structure of the deal currently represents the main obstacle to a potential approach. The operation could become realistic later in the summer transfer window should Chelsea soften its stance on a temporary arrangement. For now, Roma remains focused on evaluating loan opportunities to add depth to the forward line without committing significant capital. The class of 2004 winger's profile could attract stronger interest from the Giallorossi once both clubs align on the terms.

Manu Koné produced an outstanding performance as France defeated Morocco 2-0, showcasing the intensity and ball-winning prowess that have marked his tournament. Deployed in midfield as Tchouameni faced repeated fitness issues, Koné made his fourth World Cup start across six appearances, playing 71 minutes before being replaced by Zaire-Emery. His display was characterised by relentless pressing and tactical discipline, recovering possession at crucial moments—including one key intervention early in the second half on a Brahim Diaz counter-attack that could have shifted the match's trajectory. Koné's statistics underlined his control of the middle ground: 35 completed passes from 38 attempts (92% accuracy), one key pass, six ball recoveries, four tackles won, and one shot attempted. His energetic contribution drew praise from supporters on social media. The Roma midfielder's combative style marks a departure from his domestic approach, where he typically operates with more restraint. Notably, his Roma teammate Neil El Aynaoui also featured in the fixture. France now advance to the semi-finals, where they will face either Spain or Belgium.

France reached the World Cup 2026 semi-finals with a 2–0 victory over Morocco, with Roma midfielder Manu Koné playing a central role in the triumph. Adrien Rabiot, his partner in France's midfield, publicly praised Koné's display after the match, highlighting their dominance in the middle of the park. Rabiot said: "Me and Manu were devastating, we ate them up," referring to the midfield duel. He added broader context on France's control: "We had the feeling that in moments when we didn't have the ball and let them have it, they weren't very dangerous. We had little to fear from this team. That's the feeling we had on the pitch. It's surprising. But they remain a team that can make a difference at any moment because they have extraordinary individual players. That's why we always stayed alert." French media gave Koné equally strong marks. Le Parisien called him "omnipresent", while L'Équipe praised his dominant performance and complete display. The match carried special significance for Roma: Koné and fellow club teammate Neil El Aynaoui faced each other with a semi-final berth at stake. The Frenchman advanced while the Moroccan's tournament ended at the quarter-final stage. After the final whistle, the two Roma players embraced in a show of mutual respect, a gesture later shared on social media by Koné's partner.

France advanced to the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup on 9 July, beating Morocco 2–0 in a quarter-final that pitted two AS Roma midfielders against each other. Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé scored for France, with Manu Koné and Neil El Aynaoui both starting in midfield and clashing repeatedly in central play throughout an intense contest. Koné was substituted in the 70th minute by manager Deschamps, a precautionary step to shield the Roma midfielder from yellow-card suspension ahead of the semi-final. Koné was on a booking and risked missing France's next match; Zaire-Emery replaced him as France controlled the scoreline. El Aynaoui played the entire match and was a constant presence in Morocco's midfield until the final whistle, though the team's World Cup campaign ended at the quarter-final stage. Koné remains the only AS Roma player still active in the tournament and will feature in France's semi-final against the winner of Spain–Belgium. El Aynaoui completed a World Cup in which he started every match for Morocco, delivering consistency and reliability in central midfield throughout the competition.