Koné's World Cup journey: from teenage Pogba photo to France starter

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.

Roma will return to their Fulvio Bernardini training centre on Monday for the start of their summer retreat, marking the official beginning of preparations for the new season. The squad will work at reduced strength initially, with several key players still absent due to international commitments. The first two weeks will combine training sessions with a series of friendlies to build match fitness. Roma's opening friendly schedule has undergone a change: the originally planned match against Roma City has been cancelled and replaced by a fixture against Sorianese, an Eccellenza-level club from the Lazio region, on 16 July. Between 19 and 24 July, the club will play two further internal tests, facing the Primavera side and then Trastevere. This framework of fixtures will allow the coaching staff to gradually integrate players returning from their respective national team duties.

Roma have secured contract extensions with Paulo Dybala and Zeki Çelik after lengthy negotiations. Dybala has accepted a one-year deal with a team option for an additional campaign, with his salary cut by more than half compared to 2025/26. The Argentine will earn approximately €3M plus bonuses tied to appearances and objectives. Çelik will also remain at the club on improved terms, though Roma will continue to benefit from fiscal savings on his wages. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini championed both renewals and will work closely with Dybala's staff to manage his availability throughout a more demanding season that includes UEFA Champions League football. The revised wage structure reflects Dybala's part-time role given the fixture schedule and his recent injury history. Roma will announce both agreements shortly. Lorenzo Pellegrini is next on the agenda, with the two parties reported to be close despite no deal yet finalised; Pellegrini rejected a proposal from Besiktas. Gasperini and his assistants will prioritise minimising the frequent injuries that have hampered Dybala in recent years. The club sought to balance financial prudence with retaining key players, and negotiations proved demanding—though Roma secured terms they believe represent good value given circumstances and the difficulty in sourcing replacement options.

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.

Two Roma midfielders will face each other at the World Cup quarter-finals when France take on Morocco on 9 July at 22:00 Italian time at Gillette Stadium in Boston. Manu Koné and Neil El Aynaoui, both Giallorossi players, will compete in a fixture that opens the door to the semi-final stage. The match represents another occasion on which Roma players have been pitted against each other at this tournament, following an earlier meeting between Dutch and Moroccan opponents during the round of 16. Whichever of the two Roma centrocampists progresses will guarantee at least one Giallorossi representative in the World Cup semi-finals on American soil. The winner will face the victor of Spain versus Belgium in the next round. Tv viewers in Italy can watch live on Rai 1, with streaming available via Rai Play and Dazn.

Paulo Dybala has paid tribute to José Mourinho as the decisive figure behind his decision to join Roma, describing the former manager in glowing terms during an interview with YouTuber Davoo. "Mourinho is a genius and a good person," Dybala said. "He always spoke to us with respect, took care of us, loved us, and Roma's people fell in love with him for what he gave. Thanks to him I arrived in the Capital." The Argentine forward also turned his attention to the international stage, singling out El Aynaoui for praise. "He's having a great World Cup, I'm following him closely," Dybala remarked. "At Roma, beyond saying he's a strong player, he's also a good lad." Dybala also identified Barcelona's Lamine Yamal as a potential successor to Lionel Messi, backing the young talent's trajectory. Dybala revisited the painful memory of Roma's Europa League final defeat to Sevilla in Budapest, addressing controversial refereeing decisions. "It's true, the handball was absurd, but there was more to it than just that during the match," he explained. "There were various moments when the referee made strange calls." The interview gave the Roma playmaker an opportunity to reflect candidly on his time at the club, from Mourinho's impact to lingering disappointment from European competition.