Koné visits former club Toulouse during France camp before Roma return

Evan Ferguson was present at the Amex Stadium for Brighton's friendly against Roma on 8 August 2026, though the Irish striker did not feature in the match. Ferguson spent last summer on loan at Roma with a purchase option before returning to Brighton at the end of the 2025–26 season. Ahead of the test match, he took time to greet Gasperini's coaching staff and his former Roma teammate Gollini. Ferguson arrived at Roma last summer under a loan agreement that included a €40 million purchase option, but that clause was not exercised when his spell ended with the conclusion of the previous campaign. His appearance at the Amex reflected the ongoing connection between the two clubs as they prepare for the new season.

Roma faced Brighton at the Amex Stadium in the final warm-up match of their British tour. Gasperini named Donyell Malen in the starting eleven, while leaving new arrivals Castro and Koulierakis on the bench to manage their workload ahead of the 2026–27 season opener. The Roma boss fielded a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, and a four-strong midfield of Devyne Rensch, Bryan Cristante, Neil El Aynaoui, and Wesley. Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala occupied the advanced midfield roles, with Malen leading the attack. The fixture served as a final examination of the squad's preparation during the pre-season tour, with Gasperini using the match to assess combinations and match sharpness before competitive action resumes.

Manu Koné is taking a detour through Spain before rejoining Roma, visiting his former club Toulouse in San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia, where the French club are conducting their summer training camp. The Roma midfielder, who will return to Gasperini's squad on Monday 10 August, has spent time there reconnecting with the club where he developed as a player before his move to Borussia Mönchlegladbach. Koné posted on social media to mark the visit, saying: "When I was at the centre, I was told that once you've worn the violet shirt, you become part of the Toulouse family forever. It was important to come back here, meet familiar faces and exchange with the new generation of pitchounes. Thanks to everyone for the welcome, I wish you the best for this season." Koné, who wore number 17 for Roma, has recently recovered from the demands of representing France at the World Cup and was linked with Manchester United in recent weeks, though that move did not materialise. His return to first-team training will add depth to Roma's midfield as Gasperini prepares the squad for the coming campaign.