Koné injury doubt for Derby della Capitale; Pisilli set for first start

Konstantinos Koulierakis will change his shirt number at AS Roma from 33 to 3, the club has announced. The Greek defender arrived in the capital only days ago and initially presented himself wearing number 33, but will now don the number 3 from Roma's next pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund, the final warm-up match before the league season begins.

Roma are working to sign Tottenham left-back Udogie, an Italy international and former Verona and Udinese player, after he gave his availability to return to Italian football. The move is positioned as a reinforcement on the flanks following the departures of Angeliño, Çelik and Tsimikas from last season, with only Molina having arrived so far to fill that void. Negotiations are currently on hold, however, as Roma's director of football must resolve two preliminary tasks. The first is to complete a deal for winger Mora — expected to be Gasperini's next signing — from a London club asking around 30 million euros, which would free up funds to pursue Udogie. Fiorentina have also targeted the Tottenham player, but the club do not appear inclined to make an investment of that scale. Roma are more committed to the pursuit. Udogie was previously approached by Fiorentina through Paolo Paratici, the former Tottenham executive, and has indicated willingness to join. His agent, Emeka, is understood to be facilitating the move. The agent is keen to rehabilitate his reputation following what is characterised as poor handling of negotiations over Sancho last season.

Roma are stepping up their pursuit of Porto teenager Rodrigo Mora, with talks between the clubs now active. The Giallorossi have submitted proposals to Porto and there is optimism about reaching an agreement. Gasperini wants to add another attacking option to his squad on the trequarti. Mora, born in 2007 in Porto, came through Porto's youth academy and became the youngest debutant in Portuguese professional football history when he appeared for the club's second team at age 15. He made his senior debut in September 2024. The right-sided attacking midfielder, 168 centimetres tall, is known for his pace in tight spaces, excellent dribbling, and one-on-one ability. In his first season in Portugal's top flight he scored 10 goals and provided 4 assists; his second campaign brought 1 goal and 1 assist in the league, though he won the national title and scored 3 goals in Europa League. In Gasperini's 3-4-2-1 formation, Mora would operate as one of two attacking midfielders behind the striker. His unpredictability, change of pace, and ability to create numerical superiority align with the coach's demands of attacking players. His youth and physical build may require an adaptation period in Serie A, a tactically demanding and intense league, though his pace in confined spaces and movement between the lines could prove valuable against compact defences.

Roma have tabled a €25 million offer plus bonuses and a sell-on clause for Porto winger Rodrigo Mora, though the clubs remain at odds over structure—Porto prefer an outright sale with a valuation of €45–50 million, while Roma tested the waters for a loan with an option to buy. Galatasaray are also pursuing Mora. Simultaneously, Roma are preparing a bumped offer for Torino prospect Alessio Cacciamani, building on an earlier €12 million bid plus €3 million in bonuses; Torino wish to retain him but acknowledge they must generate profit through a sale this summer. Meanwhile, Roma have completed the return of Lorenzo Pellegrini on a one-year contract with an option. Pellegrini spent the summer as a free agent following a thigh procedure and has reduced his wages to rejoin the club, mirroring a similar pay cut accepted by Paulo Dybala. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini stated Pellegrini would not be ready to play for at least a month as he continues his rehabilitation. Gasperini has shown particular aptitude for developing young talent, though the club would presumably welcome a more established star capable of immediate impact. Roma's transfer targets have become progressively younger and less ambitious in scope—though not necessarily cheaper—as the window progresses.

Wesley addressed the media during Roma's British pre-season tour following a heavy defeat to Brighton, offering a measured assessment of the club's preparations for the 2026-27 season. The Brazilian winger struck a pragmatic note about the loss, saying: "We come from a fantastic year, now we are working hard to face the new season and if there must be matches that go wrong or something happens that is wrong it is better that it happens in these pre-season friendlies. We must understand before the start of the championship what we are getting wrong and how to correct it. So there is nothing left but to improve and ensure that what we saw with Brighton does not happen when things become serious in a couple of weeks. I am sure that at the start we will be ready and stronger." When asked about a potential arrival of fellow Brazilian Endrick, Wesley acknowledged his interest while emphasising that recruitment decisions rest with the club hierarchy: "It is clear that I would like him to come, but these are decisions that do not belong to me. They belong to him, to the club. There are many Brazilian players who could come and help us, but these are decisions that belong to the sporting director." Wesley also praised the return of Lorenzo Pellegrini to the squad and expressed his anticipation ahead of Champions League football: "I am happy he has returned with us in the squad, he is a player who can give us a great hand. Champions? I do not know what it will be like to play it, for me it is the first time. The Libertadores is a very hard and difficult competition but I do not think it can come close to the Champions which for the players who participate in it is a sort of World Cup. I am very curious, I expect to play great matches and thus give so much happiness to all Roma fans."

Roma returned to Italy on the afternoon of 8 August following a 3–0 friendly defeat to Brighton during their ten-day training camp in Wales and England. The squad travelled by coach to London before boarding a direct flight to Fiumicino. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini granted his players two full days of rest before resuming work. Training resumes on Tuesday at the Fulvio Bernardini centre in Trigoria, where Lorenzo Pellegrini will rejoin the group. Gasperini also expects to have Nahuel Molina on the pitch the same day. The Argentine right-back is set to arrive in Rome in the coming days to undergo medical tests ahead of signing his contract with Roma.

Roma have tabled a €25 million offer plus bonuses and a sell-on clause for Porto winger Rodrigo Mora, though the clubs remain at odds over structure—Porto prefer an outright sale with a valuation of €45–50 million, while Roma tested the waters for a loan with an option to buy. Galatasaray are also pursuing Mora. Simultaneously, Roma are preparing a bumped offer for Torino prospect Alessio Cacciamani, building on an earlier €12 million bid plus €3 million in bonuses; Torino wish to retain him but acknowledge they must generate profit through a sale this summer. Meanwhile, Roma have completed the return of Lorenzo Pellegrini on a one-year contract with an option. Pellegrini spent the summer as a free agent following a thigh procedure and has reduced his wages to rejoin the club, mirroring a similar pay cut accepted by Paulo Dybala. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini stated Pellegrini would not be ready to play for at least a month as he continues his rehabilitation. Gasperini has shown particular aptitude for developing young talent, though the club would presumably welcome a more established star capable of immediate impact. Roma's transfer targets have become progressively younger and less ambitious in scope—though not necessarily cheaper—as the window progresses.

Wesley has backed a move to Roma for Endrick, saying he would be delighted if the Brazilian joined the club. Speaking to Italian media, the Roma winger reflected on his pre-season programme across Cardiff and Brighton, assessing the team's preparation for the new campaign. "It is obvious that I would very much like it if he came to Roma but it is him who decides what is best for his future. I would like to see many Brazilians here, there are several who could be useful to us but in the end it is always the sporting director who decides. Anyway if he came I would be very happy," Wesley said. Wesley, who missed the World Cup after a late injury, has established himself as Roma's left winger under Gian Piero Gasperini despite it not being his natural position. He praised the arrival of Molina, describing the new recruit as a great footballer who will provide significant help. Roma have secured Champions League football for the first time in seven years, and Wesley expressed his enthusiasm for the competition, calling it a sort of World Cup for participating players but acknowledging it is very difficult and demanding. Wesley also spoke warmly of his bond with Paulo Dybala, noting that despite being the only Brazilian in a dressing room full of Argentines, he has no issues with his teammates. He remains curious about Roma's campaign in European competition and the challenges that lie ahead in the new season.

Gian Piero Gasperini is pursuing a dual attacking recruitment strategy to reshape Roma's forward line around existing talents Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé. The primary target is Rodrigo Mora, a Portuguese playmaker born in 2007, whom Roma are negotiating to sign permanently from Porto for a fee in the region of €45–50 million. Mora was the standout performer at the 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship with five goals and two assists, and scored 10 goals with four assists in Porto's league campaign at age 17. He has since been capped by Portugal's senior side, though a March 2025 injury ruled him out of friendlies against Mexico and the United States. Under Porto's current setup, Mora appeared off the bench in yesterday's first-league match against Alverca, a 2–0 victory, and the club is now receptive to a permanent sale as Roma navigate the financial structure of a deal involving amortization and wages. Roma's ambition extends to a loan move for Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa, a Brazilian forward born in 2006 whom Real Madrid acquired as a 16-year-old for €72 million. Endrick spent the past season on loan at Olympique Lione, where he scored five goals and provided seven assists across 16 appearances. Roma are seeking a loan formula that includes a purchase option, while Real Madrid would retain a buy-back clause valued above €100 million. At just 39 years combined age, the pair would offer Gasperini flexibility across the forward line: Mora as a creative, attacking midfielder and Endrick as a left-sided winger or centre-forward. Cafu and Wesley have both publicly endorsed Endrick's arrival. A decision is expected in the coming days.

Roma players Wesley and Donyell Malen featured in a viral video while relaxing on the island of Ponza. The footage, shared across social media, captured the pair in a light-hearted encounter with a local ice-cream boat attraction known as 'Il Barchino dei Gelati', one of the island's best-known features. The clip showed the players smiling, waving and enjoying downtime together in a relaxed atmosphere that quickly gained thousands of views and comments. The video was widely reposted by Roma fan accounts and social media pages, with supporters delighted to see their players taking time to unwind before returning to competitive fixtures. The moment generated significant engagement across platforms as fans shared their enjoyment of the pair's casual holiday appearance together.

Roma players Wesley and Donyell Malen encountered Alfio Boschi, the celebrated ice cream boat vendor who has become famous on social media for meeting celebrities, during an outing on Ponza. The interaction produced a lighthearted exchange, with Boschi asking Malen: "How many goals have you scored?", before turning to Wesley with: "And what pressure do you put on your opponents? Don't you let them breathe!". Boschi's ice cream boat has become known for its encounters with high-profile figures from football and beyond, regularly shared across social platforms. The encounter between the two Roma players and the Ponza vendor is the latest in a series of celebrity meetings the boat has facilitated.

Wesley and Donyell Malen shared a lighthearted seaside encounter at Ponza, the footage of which has gone viral on social media. The Roma pair were the stars of an entertaining scene involving the famous "Barchino dei Gelati" (ice-cream boat), a well-known fixture in the area.