Malen targets top scorer honour and backs Read arrival

Mohamed Bah suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Roma's friendly against Cardiff on 3 August and will undergo surgery with Dr Georg Ahlbaumer, with a recovery period estimated at approximately nine months. The 19-year-old Gambian midfielder's season is over before it has begun. Bah was struck by the same injury two years ago during the summer 2024 pre-season retreat under Daniele De Rossi, when he tore the ACL in his left knee at Saint Moritz and missed eleven months of action. Roma's pre-season training at Vale Resort in Hensol continues under Gian Piero Gasperini, who has maintained high-intensity work as the squad prepares for their second warm-up fixture. Wesley is unavailable for tonight's friendly at Rodney Parade in Newport, having sustained a minor ankle sprain in Saturday's match against Cardiff City, which Roma lost 4–1. The club is taking precautionary rest with the winger. Neil El Aynaoui is gradually returning to full training. Tonight's Newport County match kicks off at 19:00 local time (20:00 Italian time). Kostas Koulierakis, the latest arrival, trained with the squad for the first time on Sunday after joining the Welsh retreat on Saturday afternoon and will feature as Roma look to improve on Saturday's defensive display, when clear lapses in concentration contributed to a heavy defeat.

Roma's midfield contingency plans have unravelled during the early stages of pre-season. Niccolò Pisilli suffered a calf injury after only ten days of training at Trigoria and is unlikely to feature in the remaining friendly matches in Wales, while Bryan Cristante also picked up an injury in the opening test against Cardiff. With Manu Koné on extended leave following France's World Cup campaign until 18 July, and Neil El Aynaoui only recently returning after Morocco's quarter-final exit at the same tournament, Roma's midfielder options are severely depleted ahead of the new season. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini had entered the summer transfer window with a complete and balanced midfield — two senior players per role, plus academy prospects for rotation during pre-season — but injuries have forced a rethink. El Aynaoui's tournament performances have impressed; his Morocco squad reached the quarter-finals and he featured prominently, continuing the form that earned him inclusion in Africa Cup of Nations glory. During his first season in a Roma shirt, the continental competition had limited his early impact, but once his ambition period ended, the number 8 demonstrated strong technical ability, positioning, and defensive work that convinced Gasperini. With only Cristante and El Aynaoui available in midfield before Roma return to Italy, the Moroccan now has a golden opportunity to establish himself in the hierarchy as the 2026–27 campaign approaches.

Konstantinos Koulierakis has joined Roma and reached the squad in Wales, allowing head coach Gian Piero Gasperini to complete his central defence options with six defenders available for three positions. The arrival marks a significant milestone in Roma's history: Koulierakis becomes the tenth Greek player to wear the giallorossi shirt since 1995. The first Greek to play for Roma was Lambros Choutos, who served from 1995 to 2000 without leaving a lasting impression. Traianos Dellas followed from 2002 to 2005, also a centre-back. In the 2005–06 season, goalkeeper Dimitros Eleftheropoulos arrived but never appeared in a match. The 2012–13 campaign saw Panagiotis Tachtsidis and Vasilis Torosidis both arrive; Tachtsidis, under Zeman, notably displaced Daniele De Rossi but lasted only one season amid controversy, while Torosidis, a reliable right-back, is remembered for a fine goal at San Siro against Inter in the Coppa Italia. Holebas, a left-back, also features in Roma's Greek heritage after scoring a notable goal at the Olimpico against Inter in front of the Curva Sud. Keramitsis made his debut in 2022 under Mou. The two most recent arrivals are Manolas and Kostas Tsimikas—one remembered eternally, the other already forgotten.

Donyell Malen has settled quickly at Roma and dreams of celebrating a Serie A title at the Circo Massimo, recalling footage of the club's 2001 Scudetto celebrations there. The Dutch forward credits head coach Gasperini with giving him clear direction and confidence. "The trust he has placed in me, the clarity with which he expresses himself," Malen said. "It's hard not to understand what he asks. He knows my qualities and puts me in the best conditions to finish the team's work." Malen reflected on his journey through the Netherlands, Germany, England, and now Italy, noting that Roma's path to Champions League qualification after seven years was more significant than individual goal tallies. He acknowledged Gasperini's recent suggestion that he and Santiago Castro may rarely start together, accepting the coach's tactical decisions. On Paulo Dybala, he said simply: "A magician." Malen spoke warmly of his wife Delisha, whom he has known since adolescence, and their recent addition—daughter Shiloh, now six months old, joining three older sons. His mother, who worked night shifts as a taxi driver to support the family during the day, earned particular gratitude. Growing up in a rural area with farms and animals, Malen earned the childhood nickname "the farmer with clogs" after copying his grandfather's footwear.

Roma face Newport County in their second pre-season friendly in Wales on 4 August at 20:00 at the Rodney Parade. The match follows an earlier fixture against Cardiff City during the summer preparation period under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Gasperini is expected to deploy a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Mile Svilar in goal; Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Koulierakis across the back; Devyne Rensch and Wesley as wing-backs; Neil El Aynaoui and Bryan Cristante in midfield; Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé in the attacking midfield line; and Donyell Malen leading the attack. Tickets are available through Newport County's official website. The friendly will be broadcast live on DAZN, with live text coverage available on ilromanista.eu.

Donyell Malen has set his sights on a repeat of Roma's impressive 2025–26 campaign, speaking from the club's preseason base in Cardiff. The Dutch forward scored 15 goals in 20 appearances in his first six months at Roma and is determined to maintain that trajectory in the 2026–27 season. Malen reflected on last season's primary achievement: the Champions League qualification that ended a long drought for the club. "Always nice for a striker to score many goals and help the team win," he said. "In the end, the big success of last year wasn't my scoring record, but the Champions League place we secured. Roma hadn't played in it for so many years. It would be a dream to replicate what we achieved last year." When asked about winning the Serie A Golden Boot, Malen stressed that individual accolades are secondary to overall performance. "Dream of becoming top scorer? The important thing is to play at a high level. It's not just about goals, but creating plenty of chances and providing assists. I know my qualities in finishing, and if I improve week after week, who knows where I can get to," he said.

Donyell Malen has settled quickly at Roma and dreams of celebrating a Serie A title at the Circo Massimo, recalling footage of the club's 2001 Scudetto celebrations there. The Dutch forward credits head coach Gasperini with giving him clear direction and confidence. "The trust he has placed in me, the clarity with which he expresses himself," Malen said. "It's hard not to understand what he asks. He knows my qualities and puts me in the best conditions to finish the team's work." Malen reflected on his journey through the Netherlands, Germany, England, and now Italy, noting that Roma's path to Champions League qualification after seven years was more significant than individual goal tallies. He acknowledged Gasperini's recent suggestion that he and Santiago Castro may rarely start together, accepting the coach's tactical decisions. On Paulo Dybala, he said simply: "A magician." Malen spoke warmly of his wife Delisha, whom he has known since adolescence, and their recent addition—daughter Shiloh, now six months old, joining three older sons. His mother, who worked night shifts as a taxi driver to support the family during the day, earned particular gratitude. Growing up in a rural area with farms and animals, Malen earned the childhood nickname "the farmer with clogs" after copying his grandfather's footwear.

Devyne Rensch has spoken of his emotional arrival at Roma, telling Romanews.eu from the club's Cardiff training camp: "It is a feeling difficult to explain. These are sensations you don't experience often but only in very special moments. When I signed for Roma it was a special moment for me and so the emotions came out. My mother was crying too and that is one of the reasons why that moment was so special." Midfielder Muhammed Bah suffered a serious setback during the same training spell, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee after 26 minutes of the friendly against Cardiff City. The 2007-born player will undergo surgery in Switzerland with Dr Georg Ahlbäumer, with recovery estimated at approximately nine months. Bah had suffered the same injury once before in 2024. Elsewhere, Roma are accelerating their pursuit of right-back Givairo Read from Feyenoord as their primary target for the flank. The club has tabled an offer of €25 million and an agreement in principle has been reached with the player; further contact with Feyenoord is expected in the coming days to advance the deal. Winger Wesley withdrew from training after just ten minutes but Roma's medical staff reported no serious alarm, describing it as a minor issue to manage in the coming days. His early exit had been pre-arranged with the coaching team. Paulo Dybala was singled out as one of the few Roma players performing well in the Cardiff friendly loss.

Roma's Argentine contingent of Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro were spotted together during the club's training camp in Wales, continuing a tradition established two years earlier when Leandro Paredes formed part of the group at Burton. The three players share close ties—Soulé and Castro work with the same fitness coach, Guido Viggiano, and spent part of their summer break together in Argentina. Their bond was evident during a friendly against Cardiff, when both Soulé and Castro protested to the referee over a challenge on Castro, with Lorenzo Pellegrini stepping in as captain to mediate. The incident had blown over by the following day, with the pair joking together while watching training from the gym. Soulé's position within that circle faces jeopardy, however. The winger has been available for transfer since early June, with Roma seeking a buyer despite rejections from interested Saudi Arabian clubs and only tentative approaches from German and English sides. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical deployment in the Cardiff match offered a telling sign: Soulé was stationed on the left wing rather than his previous season's right-wing role, with Dybala occupying the primary position on that flank. Should Soulé depart, it could unlock the path to signing Endrick, though academy prospect Mastantuono has failed to convince. Elsewhere, young defender Bah suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and faces approximately nine months on the sidelines. Wesley remains unavailable and will miss tomorrow's fixture against Newport. Niccolò Pisilli is sidelined pending another scan next week, with hopes of rejoining group training the following week. In mercato news, Roma awaits a response regarding Read, with an agreement with Feyenoord edging close—approximately 2 million euros remain under negotiation.