Mancini relaxes on bike ahead of Roma pre-season as contract extension nears

Wesley has returned to Roma's training ground at the Fulvio Bernardini ahead of the squad's official recall on Monday, eager to accelerate his comeback from the injury that ruled him out of the World Cup. The winger shared a post on social media from the facility, emphasizing the club's rallying cry: "For the shirt, for the people, for Roma." Wesley was sidelined by injury just days before the World Cup tournament, but has wasted no time beginning his rehabilitation work under Gian Piero Gasperini's supervision. His early return to Trigoria signals his determination to regain fitness and return to the head coach's plans at the earliest opportunity. The number 43 is focused on completing his recovery programme and rejoining full squad activities.

Roma have stepped up their effort to sign Nicolò Tresoldi from Club Brugge, targeting the 21-year-old as a backup option to Donyell Malen. The italo-German forward, born in Cagliari but developed in Germany, is a long-standing target for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and the club's hierarchy. To outpace rival interest—notably from Atlético Madrid—Roma are preparing to push through a deal before formally completing Artem Dovbyk's departure, with sporting director Tony D'Amico working to soften Brugge's demands of approximately 30 million euros by proposing a loan with a purchase option. Tresoldi's personal preference could prove decisive: the forward has made clear his sole desire is to join Roma. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, he has already expressed this preference to Roma midfielder Niccolò Pisilli. Official contacts between the clubs are set to intensify from the coming week, aided by the fact that Tresoldi shares the same agents as Can Uzun, the Eintracht Frankfurt playmaker long tracked by Roma. Roma aim to deliver their first summer signing to Gasperini as quickly as possible, allowing him to integrate the young talent into his tactical framework from the start of pre-season.

Dario Bonetti has thrown his weight behind Manu Koné remaining at Roma, citing his standout performances at the World Cup as proof of his absolute value to Gian Piero Gasperini's midfield. Speaking exclusively to Romanews.eu, Bonetti said: "The World Cup is proving he is a midfielder of absolute value, fundamental in relaunching the action and in ball recovery, an aspect fundamental to Gasperini's football." Bonetti also praised the club's decision to retain Paulo Dybala with proper financial terms, believing the forward should have been kept: "I would have retained him too with the right economic conditions; from now on it will be important that he stays healthy and is managed by Gasperini's staff in a way to prevent injuries." Bonetti noted that while Roma lost time pursuing Mason Greenwood, the transfer market's inherent complications mean securing the right deals is difficult. He stressed the importance of maintaining the squad's strong foundation, which has already secured Champions League qualification. Regarding Gasperini's demeanour heading into pre-season, Bonetti attributed the coach's apparent calm not to the arrival of sporting director D'Amico but rather to Gasperini's established standing at the club after his first season: "Last year Gasperini had to settle in, had everything to prove and felt the pressure of an environment to conquer; a year later he has that environment in his hands, including the fans, and restarts from a strong squad."

Roma are pursuing two primary attacking targets to strengthen the forward line under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Diego Moreira and Alejandro Garnacho are the main focuses of the club's recruitment drive, with Tresoldi also on the radar as a secondary option. The Giallorossi are advancing negotiations on both fronts as attacking reinforcement becomes a priority. Simultaneously, Roma are preparing contract renewal announcements for Zeki Çelik, Paulo Dybala, and Gianluca Mancini in the coming days. Lorenzo Pellegrini's situation will require further time to resolve. On the outgoing side, Manchester United may move for Manu Koné, while Genoa continue to pursue interest in Artem Dovbyk.

Bryan Cristante, 31, has made 364 appearances for Roma over eight years and reflected on the emotional intensity of playing for the Giallorossi in an interview with Sportweek. Born in Friuli and raised in Milan, Cristante has fully embraced Roman culture and the demands of the capital. He highlighted three standout moments in his Roma career: the two Coppa finals—the Conference League victory against Feyenoord and the Europa League defeat to Sevilla on penalties—plus the final day of this season at Verona when the club secured Champions League football, a competition the entire organisation had missed for too long. Cristante emphasised the unique pressure of playing in Rome, where success and failure exist in sharp contrast. "At Roma you pass too quickly from exaltation to depression, one day you're a champion and the next you're hopeless," he noted. He credited the squad's resilience this season in resetting after each match and moving focus to the next fixture, preventing a single poor result from derailing the campaign. As captain alongside Lorenzo Pellegrini and Gianluca Mancini, Cristante takes pride in transmitting a sense of belonging to younger players at a club so deeply connected to its supporters. On his coaches, Cristante praised José Mourinho for bringing concrete winning mentality and charisma, under whom Roma won a cup and lost another on penalties. Gian Piero Gasperini, under whom Cristante previously played at Atalanta, he described as exceptionally strong. When asked what makes him indispensable to every manager, Cristante replied: "I'm a worker. I like going out on the pitch, working every day, and always being on top of things, doing what the coach asks of me. Since I was a boy I've always given everything."

Roma are preparing to announce three contract renewals in quick succession. Gianluca Mancini will extend his deal until 2029 on 3.5 million euros net per year. Zeki Çelik and Paulo Dybala are at the document exchange stage: the Turkish defender will earn 3 million euros net annually through 2029, while Dybala will sign a one-season contract with an option until 2028 worth 2.5 million euros plus bonuses. Director D'Amico has accelerated the renewal process across multiple fronts. Lorenzo Pellegrini, formally out of contract since the start of the month, faces a different timeline—there remains economic and contractual distance between the club and the captain, and he will not begin pre-season immediately as he recovers from a late-season setback. Bryan Cristante's new contract remains on hold. According to Simone Valdarchi in the Corriere della Sera, the Mancini, Çelik, and Dybala announcements are expected soon. Pellegrini's situation is more complex; talks are ongoing and a resolution will be found, but the number 7's delayed return to training reflects both the ongoing negotiations and his need for recovery time.