Liverpool boss Slot confirms Tsimikas will not be signed permanently by Roma

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has given Roma's squad two days of rest following a friendly draw against Cannes. Training resumes on Wednesday, with the team then departing for Wales on Thursday to begin the second phase of their pre-season camp. Neil El Aynaoui will rejoin the group after completing extra rest days following World Cup commitments. Salah-Eddine will not travel, having been deemed outside the coach's technical plans and is currently seeking a new club. Gasperini is hopeful that Santiago Castro will be available for the move to the capital, with Thursday expected to be a decisive day in finalising the signing once remaining details are resolved.

Roma drew 3–3 with Cannes in a friendly match after leading 3–0, with defender Wesley sent off in what the source describes as an absurd decision. The giallorossi surrendered their commanding advantage to finish level, a result overshadowed by the controversial dismissal. On the transfer front, Roma are edging closer to securing Castro's arrival while preparing to move on Artem Dovbyk. The dual activity signals a significant reshaping of the attacking department as the club progresses through the window.

AC Milan winger Rafael Leao has reportedly been offered to Roma, with talks described as still in the exploratory phase. The 27-year-old former Lille player is keen to leave San Siro after seven years, but Milan have maintained a substantial €50 million asking price. Leao has rejected interest from Turkish clubs Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, and despite alleged overtures from Manchester United, agent Jorge Mendes is exploring options at top European clubs. Roma face a significant obstacle in financing such a deal, given the club's cash constraints. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who guided Roma back to the Champions League for the first time since 2018, is reportedly keen to strengthen the squad ahead of an ambitious title push. Signing Leao, rated among Serie A's best performers despite a difficult last season, would represent a major coup and could elevate Roma from top-four contenders into genuine Scudetto challengers. However, Roma must first generate sufficient funds to meet Milan's valuation, and Leao's willingness to join the Giallorossi remains unclear.

Roma played a pre-season friendly against Cannes, with Paulo Dybala scoring twice and assisting Donyell Malen in the first half to put the Giallorossi 3–0 ahead. Wesley was sent off in the 45th minute for a second yellow card, leaving Roma with ten men for the second half. Cannes staged a comeback with a brace from Lopez and a penalty goal from Oggad, which was caused by Artem Dovbyk. Dybala's strong display underscores his recent contract renewal and his commitment to Roma; his left foot proved decisive throughout the match. Malen responded well to a poor start to pre-season, finishing the chance created by Dybala without hesitation. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini used the fixture to give younger squad members valuable minutes. Gianluca Mancini, another recent renewal, required medical attention after falling in the 30th minute but returned without issue. Kostas Tsimikas (listed as Ndicka in the ratings) maintained his defensive positioning effectively. The squad will depart for Wales next as part of their pre-season schedule ahead of the competitive campaign. The match provided encouraging signs in terms of Dybala's form and Malen's return to previous standard, though defensive vulnerabilities against a second-half onslaught highlight areas for tactical refinement.

Roma find themselves in unexpected stasis on the transfer market one month before their Serie A opener against Fiorentina, hampered by slow planning, a complex summer constrained by Settlement Agreement rules, and difficulty delivering the reinforcements Gian Piero Gasperini has requested. As of late July, Roma had completed zero signings and just one minor departure, leaving six players from last season's squad still to be replaced: El Shaarawy, Ferguson, Tsimikas, Celik, Venturino, and Zaragoza. The club also has several players ready to depart—Salah-Eddine, Kumbulla, and Dovbyk among them—while others including Soulé and Koné remain uncertain. Contract complications surround Dybala, and Pellegrini's position requires clarification. Delays stem from structural issues worsened by Tony D'Amico's late arrival as sporting director, who became operational only in the final ten days of June following a dispute with Atalanta, compounded by World Cup scheduling and Settlement Agreement restrictions. Gasperini intends to compete at the highest level while preserving the squad's core and adding only a few elite signings. Roma pursued Mason Greenwood and Luis Summerville at length, becoming committed to the Dutch player beyond their budgeted limits before the deal collapsed entirely.

Kostas Tsimikas has expressed his joy at returning to Liverpool after spending the previous season on loan at AS Roma. Speaking to the club's official channels, the Greek left-back reflected on his time in the capital and his feelings about rejoining the English side. "I'm very happy to be back, it's as if I never left," Tsimikas said. "I couldn't wait, honestly. Last season was a hard and strange year for me." Tsimikas spent the 2024–25 campaign at Roma but made limited appearances despite training consistently. He acknowledged the difficulties of that period, explaining that he had worked hard on his fitness both during and after the season. His departure from Liverpool was temporary, and he has now completed his return to Merseyside. "I trained hard by myself at the end of the season," the defender continued. "I did so during the season too, even though for some reason I didn't play much. Now I'm here and I'm happy, I can't wait to wear this shirt." The move marks the end of Tsimikas's loan spell and his reintegration into Liverpool's squad.