Malen's goals and midfield raids: how Roma will battle for Champions League

Roma concluded their first pre-season friendly with a commanding 6–0 victory over the Primavera side. Matías Soulé, Bryan Cristante, Artem Dovbyk and Paulo Dybala were among the scorers, with Dovbyk and Dybala each netting twice. The result provided a positive opening statement as Roma prepare for the campaign ahead. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini granted his squad a rest day following the dominant display. Training resumes on Tuesday at 18:00 when the team will step up their physical and tactical work. The progressive increase in intensity is designed to build match fitness ahead of further pre-season fixtures and the official start of the season. Gasperini and his coaching staff are satisfied with the early indicators but emphasise that preparation is in its infancy.

Roma defeated their Primavera side 6-0 in a pre-season fixture at 09:00, with Paulo Dybala and Artem Dovbyk each scoring twice. Bryan Cristante and Matías Soulé added single goals in a match that served as preparation for Gian Piero Gasperini's second season in charge. The friendly was divided into four 20-minute periods, allowing Gasperini to assess his squad ahead of the campaign. Dybala and Dovbyk impressed most prominently throughout the contest. Mario Hermoso departed the field with ice applied to his knee, though no serious concern was immediately indicated. The Primavera squad included players D'Amico, Margiotta and Frara. Roma fielded a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal, a back line of Daniele Ghilardi, Jan Ziółkowski and Hermoso, and Devyne Rensch, a player listed as Bah, Niccolò Pisilli and Angeliño across the midfield, with Soulé and a player listed as Cherubini supporting Dovbyk. Goals came on 8 minutes (Dovbyk), 40 minutes (Soulé), 49 minutes (Dybala), 52 minutes (Cristante), 56 minutes (Dybala) and 62 minutes (Dovbyk).

AS Roma opened their 2026–27 season with an in-house friendly against the Primavera at the Fulvio Bernardini training centre on a sweltering July morning in Rome. The match kicked off at 09:00 and finished the first half goalless, with referee Neglia in charge. The fixture was structured in four 20-minute periods. Roma fielded a 3–4–2–1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal, a back line of Daniele Ghilardi, Jan Ziółkowski, and Mario Hermoso, Devyne Rensch and Angeliño as wing-backs, Niccolò Pisilli and Bryan Bah in midfield, Matías Soulé and another midfielder supporting striker Artem Dovbyk. The Primavera, guided by new coach Mattia Scala, lined up in 4–5–1. New director of sport Tony D'Amico attended the match to observe the squad's opening preparations.

Roma played their opening pre-season friendly at Trigoria under Gasperini, welcoming back Paulo Dybala and Wesley following recent absences. Dybala was formally a free agent until days ago, while Wesley returned from injury that caused him to miss the World Cup. Robinio Vaz remained unavailable through injury, and Zeki Çelik travelled to Turin, leaving Gasperini with a limited squad for the session. The main concern came when Mario Hermoso, the Spanish defender, left the pitch with ice applied to his right leg just below the knee late in the friendly. The issue appeared to stem from a knock, though Roma will monitor his condition closely over the coming hours. With few outfield players fit and available, Gasperini will be hoping the injury proves minor.

Roma have reached an agreement in principle with Diego Moreira's representatives over personal terms, with the Belgian winger offered a contract worth €2 million per season plus bonuses. The 21-year-old left-winger, who plays for Strasbourg, fits Gasperini's blueprint for a modern full-back capable of operating across both flanks. However, the French club is demanding over €40 million for his transfer, while Roma are unwilling to exceed €30 million. The clubs are in talks to bridge the €10 million gap through structured bonus clauses. The pursuit of Moreira underscores Roma's urgent need to reinforce their external positions following Zeki Çelik's departure to Juventus. With Wesley, Rensch, and Angeliño currently the only available wide options at Trigoria, Gasperini is short of depth on both flanks. Moreira, born in 2004, is a left-footed player equally capable on the right and has made 76 appearances for Strasbourg, contributing 16 assists. He also holds four senior caps for Belgium, including an appearance in last year's World Cup knockout stage against Senegal. Parallel to the Moreira negotiation, Roma have renewed their interest in Fiorentina right-back Dodo, the Brazilian defender previously monitored before the club moved away from the prospect. Fiorentina value the former Shakhtar player at approximately €15 million, which Roma consider their absolute ceiling for the deal. While no formal written offer has yet been tabled, Roma's technical staff view Dodo as an attractive option should the economics align in coming days.

Roma's first friendly of the season takes place tomorrow at 9 a.m. at the Fulvio Bernardini training centre, with Gian Piero Gasperini's side facing the Primavera team coached by Mattia Scala. The fixture serves as an early-season workout for the capital club, who have yet to complete any summer signings. Gasperini will have the chance to assess his squad's condition and test potential attacking combinations. Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé are expected to feature behind centre-forward Artem Dovbyk in a 3-4-2-1 formation. The squad selected reflects the current roster without any new arrivals to integrate. Roma's line-up: Svilar; Ghilardi, Mancini, Hermoso; Wesley, Cristante, Pisilli, Angeliño; Dybala, Soulé; Dovbyk. Live text coverage will be available on romanews.eu.

Roma are pushing hard to sign Janis Summerville, with the player's agents having contacted Tony D'Amico to try to close the deal. Summerville has agreed to reduce his wage demands, and Roma's offer of 4 million euros plus bonuses is expected to satisfy him. The club continues to explore other attacking options, with Tresoldi positioned as a deputy to Malen rather than as a primary striker target, though transfer fee figures remain fluid internally. Lorenzo Pellegrini's future hinges on head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's assessment, according to radio analysis. Gasperini wanted to retain all three senior midfielders, but Pellegrini risks following the same trajectory as Zeki Çelik if the club waits until contract expiry to negotiate a renewal. The midfielder is a professional committed to Roma, yet he has the right to explore other opportunities as his contract runs down. A recent photograph posted by Pellegrini suggested he was at the airport exploring options elsewhere. Radio commentators questioned the logic of investing 30 million euros in a deputy to Malen, noting that at 21 years old, Tresoldi remains unproven. With the transfer window open and Pellegrini able to negotiate with other clubs from 19 July onwards, the dynamics around his future remain fluid and could materialise in unexpected directions.

Roma are working simultaneously on two alternative attacking targets for the left flank and could make a final decision imminently. Gasperini and the sporting director D'Amico are actively pursuing both Nusa and Summerville, with the Norwegian reportedly the profile that better fits the coach's overall vision and long-term ideas. For Nusa, discussions with both his club and representatives have progressed and a decisive move to resolve final details could arrive today. For West Ham's Summerville, the financial gap has narrowed on both player and club sides. Roma will not exceed the salary ceiling it has set for wages—nothing that surpasses what the squad that brought Roma back to European ambition earns—with a possible agreement on 4 or 4.5 million euros annually and approximately 45 million to the London club to reach the level of the player's release clause, which can be activated by midnight today. Talks continue but Roma have not yet entered a decisive phase, though time is pressing given Summerville's admirers in the Premier League. Summerville has a friend at Roma in Donyell Malen. Meanwhile, Chelsea talks over Garnacho have been put on hold; Roma want a loan deal while the Blues prefer a permanent transfer or early monetisation guarantee. Separately, Koné and Soulé remain possible sale candidates to balance the financial fair play requirements, though no formal offers have yet arrived at the training ground.

AS Roma are pursuing Nicolò Tresoldi as an attacking reinforcement to partner Donyell Malen, with the Bruges forward having already signalled his willingness to join the Giallorossi. The Italian-German striker, born in 2004, has given Roma an important green light regarding a transfer to the capital, marking a significant step forward in the club's transfer strategy. However, the next move rests with Bruges, who hold Tresoldi's registration. While the player's availability is encouraging, it is not sufficient to complete the deal. Bruges must still communicate their valuation of the player and clarify their intentions regarding Tresoldi's future. Early in the week, the situation surrounding the forward should become clearer as the Belgian club sets out its position on both the fee and willingness to sell.

AS Roma asked its squad members to reveal which team they will support in tonight's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, kicking off at 21:00 in New York. The club's social media campaign featured responses from Bryan Cristante, Jan Ziółkowski, Matías Soulé, Paulo Dybala, Niccolò Pisilli, Mile Svilar, and Gianluca Mancini among others. Mancini, the club's number 23, backed his former teammate Leandro Paredes with the message: "Vamos Leandro!" The Argentina contingent within Roma's squad showed their colours during the exercise, with both Dybala and Soulé participating in the video responses. The engagement reflects the global reach of Roma's playing staff, with strong connections to both European and South American football. The campaign concluded with Argentina ultimately prevailing among the respondents, though the article emphasises that the pitch will ultimately decide the true winner of the match.

Roma concluded their first pre-season friendly with a commanding 6–0 victory over the Primavera side. Matías Soulé, Bryan Cristante, Artem Dovbyk and Paulo Dybala were among the scorers, with Dovbyk and Dybala each netting twice. The result provided a positive opening statement as Roma prepare for the campaign ahead. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini granted his squad a rest day following the dominant display. Training resumes on Tuesday at 18:00 when the team will step up their physical and tactical work. The progressive increase in intensity is designed to build match fitness ahead of further pre-season fixtures and the official start of the season. Gasperini and his coaching staff are satisfied with the early indicators but emphasise that preparation is in its infancy.

Roma played their opening pre-season friendly at Trigoria under Gasperini, welcoming back Paulo Dybala and Wesley following recent absences. Dybala was formally a free agent until days ago, while Wesley returned from injury that caused him to miss the World Cup. Robinio Vaz remained unavailable through injury, and Zeki Çelik travelled to Turin, leaving Gasperini with a limited squad for the session. The main concern came when Mario Hermoso, the Spanish defender, left the pitch with ice applied to his right leg just below the knee late in the friendly. The issue appeared to stem from a knock, though Roma will monitor his condition closely over the coming hours. With few outfield players fit and available, Gasperini will be hoping the injury proves minor.