Malen and Castro: Why Gasperini demands two elite strikers

Roma remain committed to signing Diego Moreira despite negotiations with Strasbourg stalling over valuation. The French club initially demanded nearly €60 million for the left-back, a figure Roma deemed excessive. However, the transfer of an ex-Cagliari player has shifted dynamics: BlueCo, which owns both Strasbourg and Chelsea, is now willing to sell Moreira at a similar price. Roma's strategy, orchestrated by D'Amico, involves waiting for Strasbourg to lower their asking price, banking on the fact that no other club is prepared to meet their current demands. Mendes, Moreira's agent, is pushing for the move. Personal terms have already been agreed with the Belgian winger, who would receive a contract worth approximately €2.5 million per season—a significant increase from his current €900,000 annual salary. D'Amico plans to return to Strasbourg within days to resume negotiations. Meanwhile, Roma are exploring alternative options across the pitch. On the right flank, attention is focused on Fresneda, a Spanish 2004-born prospect from Sporting CP, where negotiations are underway. Sporting are asking €25 million; Roma hope to negotiate closer to €15 million. Belghali of Verona, capable of playing both flanks and also of interest to Napoli, remains an option. In terms of departures, Salah-Eddine and Angeliño are available for transfer, whilst Alessio Cacciamani of Torino is under consideration as a backup to Wesley.

Santiago Castro has joined the ranks of Roma's costliest acquisitions, with the club paying 33 million euros in fixed fees and bonuses to secure him. He now ranks fifth in the club's transfer history, sitting between Gabriel Batistuta and Antonio Cassano in the all-time spending table. Patrik Schick remains Roma's record signing at 42 million euros in summer 2017. Artem Dovbyk, who arrived in 2024, cost 41.1 million euros and sits second, followed by Tammy Abraham at 41 million euros in August 2021. The article notes that aside from Abraham's strong first season, all three have delivered performances well below expectations. Gabriel Batistuta was signed for the equivalent of 36.15 million euros in 2000, while Antonio Cassano cost roughly 31 million euros in 2001—both figures now adjusted for inflation and the pre-euro era. Leonardo Spinazzola ranks seventh at 29.5 million euros in summer 2019, though Luca Pellegrini's inclusion in that deal reduced Roma's net outlay to 7.5 million euros. Matías Soulé, who arrived alongside Dovbyk in summer 2024, cost 28.6 million euros and ranks eighth. Steven Nzonzi (26.65 million euros, summer 2018) and Marash Kumbulla (26.5 million euros) complete the top ten.

Gianluca Mancini has renewed his contract with Roma until 2029, reinforcing his commitment to the club despite interest from elsewhere. The defender, who has tattooed SPQR on his quadriceps, rejected approaches to leave the capital. His agent Giuseppe Riso acknowledged the situation: "I wanted to take him away. I told him that for me he's mad, but he loves Roma... Gasperini and D'Amico were better at convincing him than I was. I would have taken him away, but he refused: he wanted Roma. This is a gesture he makes for the Roma people. I'm happy because he's happy." Mancini's renewal comes as Roma continue their summer squad overhaul under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Bryan Cristante has also extended his contract with the club, and Riso praised the midfielder: "Bryan is the captain. He has 360 matches for Roma, he is a pillar and I believe he will enter Roma's history." Roma are pursuing reinforcements across multiple positions. Priority targets include a left-back with a right foot, with Nusa and Ezzalzouli (Betis) under consideration. Movement at Leipzig involving Diomande could free up Endrick from Real Madrid for a loan deal. In defence, Gasperini is seeking a left-sided centre-back, with Fresneda among profiles monitored. At full-back, Wesley and Rensch currently provide options, though Roma aim to sign two additional players for wide positions.

Santiago Castro will meet Gian Piero Gasperini for the first time today and is immediately available for the resumption of training. The Argentine forward arrived in Rome yesterday with his wife Agustina Gonzalez, completed medical examinations, and signed a contract until 2031. Castro joins as deputy to Donyell Malen but is expected to play a much broader role in Roma's attack. Roma's offensive output struggled last season before Malen's arrival stabilised the side. Since joining, Malen has been ever-present in the league, scoring 14 goals in 18 starts and never missing a match. Castro's addition means Malen is no longer isolated, a significant boost for Gasperini's system. The coach prefers a 3-4-2-1 formation but has also deployed 3-4-1-2 during his career; Castro can operate as a second striker and may be paired with Malen as early as Saturday's fixture against Cardiff. The Argentine can also play across the attacking line, offering tactical flexibility. Matías Soulé remains on Roma's transfer list and has been offered to AC Milan in recent days; Sunderland is also monitoring the midfielder. Gasperini will have both options available from the weekend onwards as Roma strengthen their attacking depth.

Santiago Castro has completed his medical assessment at Campus Biomedico and arrived at Trigoria to begin life as AS Roma's new number 9. The Argentine forward, signed from Vélez, embodies the profile favoured by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini—combining the dynamism that reminds the manager of Donyell Malen or Luis Muriel from his time at Atalanta. Castro will undergo his official presentation, take his first training session under Gasperini, and link up with Roma's Argentine contingent of Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala before joining the squad for their pre-season training camp in Wales. Gasperini views Castro's arrival as a significant boost to Roma's attacking options. The 21-year-old can operate as a pure centre-forward, a mobile second striker, or a left-sided attacker, giving the Italian tactician flexibility across multiple competitions and knockout fixtures. With Paulo Dybala positioned as a playmaker, the pairing promises to unlock different offensive configurations. Castro's versatility allows Roma to tailor their formation and approach based on the opposition, strengthening the squad depth and providing certainty during the demanding season ahead.

Santiago Castro has completed his move to Roma on a five-year contract worth €1.5 million plus bonuses per season, with the signing formally concluded today. The deal forms part of a package involving Artem Dovbyk's departure to Bologna. Castro was greeted by crowds at Termini railway station despite the weekday timing, and will now begin training under Gian Piero Gasperini alongside his new teammates. The Argentine will wear the number 9 shirt—the traditional pure strikers' number. Castro, 20, impressed Gasperini during Atalanta's Coppa Italia quarter-final win over Roma in February 2025, a match the Argentine won with a goal that sent Atalanta to the final. Roma face that same Atalanta side again when they begin preparations in Wales this Friday, with friendlies against Cardiff, Newport, and Brighton scheduled before an Ferragosto test against Borussia Dortmund. His competitive debut comes on 24 August. In attack, Castro will initially operate alongside fellow Argentines Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé, who are currently Roma's only playmakers. Soulé and Castro are linked by a strong friendship and spent part of their holidays training together at Comunicaciones, the club owned by Soulé's father. Donyell Malen will also feature, with Castro serving as his primary alternative, though Gasperini may deploy the pair's combined pace and dynamism simultaneously.

Santiago Castro has joined the ranks of Roma's costliest acquisitions, with the club paying 33 million euros in fixed fees and bonuses to secure him. He now ranks fifth in the club's transfer history, sitting between Gabriel Batistuta and Antonio Cassano in the all-time spending table. Patrik Schick remains Roma's record signing at 42 million euros in summer 2017. Artem Dovbyk, who arrived in 2024, cost 41.1 million euros and sits second, followed by Tammy Abraham at 41 million euros in August 2021. The article notes that aside from Abraham's strong first season, all three have delivered performances well below expectations. Gabriel Batistuta was signed for the equivalent of 36.15 million euros in 2000, while Antonio Cassano cost roughly 31 million euros in 2001—both figures now adjusted for inflation and the pre-euro era. Leonardo Spinazzola ranks seventh at 29.5 million euros in summer 2019, though Luca Pellegrini's inclusion in that deal reduced Roma's net outlay to 7.5 million euros. Matías Soulé, who arrived alongside Dovbyk in summer 2024, cost 28.6 million euros and ranks eighth. Steven Nzonzi (26.65 million euros, summer 2018) and Marash Kumbulla (26.5 million euros) complete the top ten.

Santiago Castro has completed his move to Roma on a five-year contract worth €1.5 million plus bonuses per season, with the signing formally concluded today. The deal forms part of a package involving Artem Dovbyk's departure to Bologna. Castro was greeted by crowds at Termini railway station despite the weekday timing, and will now begin training under Gian Piero Gasperini alongside his new teammates. The Argentine will wear the number 9 shirt—the traditional pure strikers' number. Castro, 20, impressed Gasperini during Atalanta's Coppa Italia quarter-final win over Roma in February 2025, a match the Argentine won with a goal that sent Atalanta to the final. Roma face that same Atalanta side again when they begin preparations in Wales this Friday, with friendlies against Cardiff, Newport, and Brighton scheduled before an Ferragosto test against Borussia Dortmund. His competitive debut comes on 24 August. In attack, Castro will initially operate alongside fellow Argentines Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé, who are currently Roma's only playmakers. Soulé and Castro are linked by a strong friendship and spent part of their holidays training together at Comunicaciones, the club owned by Soulé's father. Donyell Malen will also feature, with Castro serving as his primary alternative, though Gasperini may deploy the pair's combined pace and dynamism simultaneously.

Mile Svilar has reaffirmed his commitment to AS Roma, stating he has no interest in a move to Juventus despite reported interest from the Serie A champions following his performance in a friendly against Cannes. The goalkeeper's declaration comes as Roma awaits official confirmation of Santiago Castro, the club's first summer signing. Artem Dovbyk has departed for Bologna, marking another change in Roma's forward line as the club reshapes its squad during the transfer window. Svilar's public stance underscores Roma's defensive strength and his intention to remain at the Giallorossi despite external interest from rival clubs. Elsewhere, Roma's women's team announced new signings, while the Italian national team continues its rebuild under Mancini and Ranieri.

Artem Dovbyk's stint at Roma has ended with the Ukrainian forward moving to Bologna on loan as part of the deal that brings Castro to the capital. Dovbyk departs after scoring 20 goals in 63 appearances, leaving a sense of what might have been following a transfer that cost the club 41 million euros in the summer of 2024. Dovbyk's first season proved reasonably productive despite Roma's turbulent campaign. He scored his opening goal on 15 September at Marassi under Daniele De Rossi, and added 17 goals in 45 appearances during 2024–25, with crucial strikes against Como, Cagliari, Lecce, and Fiorentina helping Roma climb to fifth place under Claudio Ranieri. However, the 29-year-old, fresh from a 24-goal season at Girona where he won the Pichichi, never truly settled in the capital. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, competition from loan signing Evan Ferguson intensified, and Dovbyk's impact diminished. He missed two penalties against Viktoria Plzen, suffered a thigh strain, then endured a three-month layoff from a left thigh tendon injury. His final appearance came on 17 May in the derby, a two-minute cameo as substitute for Paulo Dybala. The disconnect between the forward and the Roma fanbase was evident throughout. While individual performances warranted optimism at moments, Dovbyk struggled to operate effectively with teammates and lacked conviction in physical challenges. The separation reflects mutual recognition that the substantial investment failed to yield the expected returns.

Santiago Castro has arrived as Roma's first summer signing, reportedly costing around 35 million euros. The Argentine striker was acquired to challenge Donyell Malen for the centre-forward role, but his impact is expected to extend far beyond that of a mere substitute. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini has repeatedly shown his need for genuine attacking depth, with last season exposing the toll on Malen of playing nearly every match without adequate relief. Robinio Vaz failed to convince as an alternative, while Evan Ferguson and Artem Dovbyk were hampered by injury. Castro's profile—goal-scoring instinct, ability to attack space, ball retention, and defensive work-rate—fits Gasperini's demands perfectly. Last season at Bologna, he committed more fouls than any teammate, a marker of his combative nature. He was also second in the squad for duels won. Rather than operate solely as a backup, Castro can start alongside Malen in a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Matías Soulé or Paulo Dybala deployed behind the two strikers. This shape, a Gasperini favourite from his Atalanta years, allows Castro's defensive intensity to free Malen for ball-carrying and finishing. Gasperini seldom deploys attackers on the wing; he requires his forwards positioned as close to goal as possible. The signing signals Roma's intent to reinvigorate an attack that misfired last season.

Roma's acquisition of forward Castro for 35 million euros has drawn wide approval from the capital's radio commentators, though opinions differ on his role and the club's broader transfer strategy. Castro is widely seen as a versatile attacking option who can operate across the front line and create chances for teammates, not merely a backup to Donyell Malen. Roberto Pruzzo told Radio Radio Mattino that Castro resembles Muriel: "a great player, strong. I don't think he can play 45 matches at high level, but he has quality. He can play as a centre-forward but also assist; he is an excellent signing." Nando Orsi echoed the view, calling Castro "an excellent player" who "makes others score and scores decisive goals himself." The 35-million fee raises questions about Roma's willingness to invest heavily in attacking depth while other squad positions remain exposed. Francesco Balzani noted that switching from Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson to Malen and Castro represents "a very big upgrade as centre-forwards," adding that head coach Gasperini rotates his strikers extensively. Balzani suggested Roma's budget for a left-winger—potentially around 50 million—remains intact, separate from the Castro outlay. Francesca Ferrazza described Castro as having "enormous potential" under Gasperini's guidance, positioned as Malen's deputy rather than an out-and-out winger. Dovbyk, who scored 18 goals in his first season, struggled physically last term and is expected to seek opportunities elsewhere.