Mancini the Giallorosso warrior: contract extension to 2029 as defender becomes symbol of Roma's bond with fans

Roma have returned home after concluding their British pre-season training camp and are pursuing two attacking targets: Rodrigo Mora from Porto and Endrick from Real Madrid. The club is attempting to secure a permanent transfer for the Portuguese forward born in 2007, while exploring the possibility of a loan deal for the Brazilian. Both signings represent potential reinforcements to Roma's forward line as the 2026–27 season approaches. Mora, a 2007 birth-year prospect from Porto, is being actively pursued on a permanent basis, while negotiations for Endrick centre on a temporary arrangement that would see the Real Madrid player join on loan. Francesco Petrachi has also been discussing Cacciamani, though specific details of those talks were not outlined in the latest update.

Roma have submitted their opening bid for Porto's Rodrigo Mora, a 2007-born attacking midfielder and winger regarded as one of Europe's most promising young talents. The offer consists of a €5 million loan fee with a €45 million purchase option triggered by easily achievable conditions. Gasperini has identified attacking reinforcement as a priority, and Roma are pushing to secure Mora's release from Porto between today and tomorrow, having apparently overtaken Galatasaray in the race for his signature. Meanwhile, the departure of Matías Soulé from Roma has moved closer to reality. The arrival of a new winger—with Endrick and Rodrigo Mora leading the shortlist—could push the Argentine down Gasperini's hierarchy. Soulé is not considered a guaranteed stay at the club. AC Milan have maintained long-standing interest and held fresh contact with his representatives yesterday to clarify their intention to negotiate a deal. Roma are demanding at least €35 million to let him leave. Torino's chief of staff, Gianluca Petrachi—formerly Roma's director of sport—reopened discussion around midfielder Alessio Cacciamani after initially appearing to close the door on a sale. On Cacciamani's future, Petrachi told Sportitalia: "He is a youth academy player, very interesting. He has to confirm himself in Serie A, but he has everything to grow and grow a lot. He is certainly being monitored. We would like to continue with players like him, but we must also deal with a market that sometimes presents absurd, mad prices that one cannot take into account. Our intention is to keep him."

Radosław Żelezny, Roma's Polish goalkeeper, will join Serie C side Perugia on loan with a purchase option as the club continues to move out youth talent. The 2006-born shot-stopper, formerly of Juventus, arrived at Roma a year ago on a contract running until 2029 with an additional optional year. Roma have secured a counter-purchase clause protecting their interests in the deal. Żelezny is expected to link up with Perugia and manager Aimo Diana from tomorrow. The departure underlines Roma's summer strategy of loaning out academy prospects and fringe players to gain competitive football elsewhere. Żelezny's initial contract terms—through 2029 with an extension option—reflected Roma's intention to develop him at Trigoria, but limited first-team opportunities have prompted the temporary move. The arrangement allows both clubs flexibility: Perugia can assess the goalkeeper at senior level while Roma maintain a financial safeguard through their counter-option. Żelezny becomes another young player exiting on loan this window as Roma reshape their squad for the 2026–27 campaign.

Roma suffered a second defeat in three pre-season outings, losing 3–0 to Brighton in what Gasperini described as a concerning display two weeks before the season begins. Wesley emerged as the standout performer, while Neil El Aynaoui stepped back from his midweek form, and the defence was repeatedly breached. Gianluca Mancini (5) lost his man on Brighton's third goal and appeared less commanding than usual, while Mario Hermoso (5) was partly culpable for the opening goal and departed with a foot problem. Evan N'Dicka (5.5) offered insufficient security at the back, and Devyne Rensch (4.5) endured a forgettable afternoon at right-back following several indecisions; Koulierakis (6) and Daniele Ghilardi (6) came on at half-time and improved the display, though the match was already decided. Wesley (6) impressed with his physicality and athleticism, particularly a close effort at the 28-minute mark, while Paulo Dybala (5.5) created Roma's most dangerous opportunity despite a subdued showing. Neil El Aynaoui (4.5) was erratic in midfield, losing the ball in an exchange with Rensch that led to Brighton's second goal. Bryan Cristante (5.5), the captain, struggled to control the midfield as his experience might demand. Matías Soulé (5.5) lacked incisiveness despite constant movement. Donyell Malen (5) remained short of match fitness and rarely troubled the goalkeeper. Gasperini rated the performance 5, noting that Roma has conceded eleven goals across the last 360 minutes of pre-season play. Though he acknowledged no points are at stake in August, he expressed disappointment for the 750 Roma supporters in attendance. The transfer market remains underdeveloped, he added, but the squad must perform better ahead of competitive fixtures.

Roma faced Brighton at the Amex Stadium in the final warm-up match of their British tour. Gasperini named Donyell Malen in the starting eleven, while leaving new arrivals Castro and Koulierakis on the bench to manage their workload ahead of the 2026–27 season opener. The Roma boss fielded a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, and a four-strong midfield of Devyne Rensch, Bryan Cristante, Neil El Aynaoui, and Wesley. Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala occupied the advanced midfield roles, with Malen leading the attack. The fixture served as a final examination of the squad's preparation during the pre-season tour, with Gasperini using the match to assess combinations and match sharpness before competitive action resumes.

Roma concluded their British pre-season schedule with a 3-0 defeat at Brighton's American Express Stadium. Goals from Rutter in the 29th minute and a brace from Ayari in the 40th and 49th minutes sealed the result. Roma trailed at half-time after Rutter and Ayari's strikes, and Ayari's second goal early in the second half effectively decided the contest. The defeat followed Roma's earlier loss to Cardiff and victory over Newport County in the warm-up campaign. Head coach Gasperini fielded a 3-4-2-1 formation with Dybala and Soulé deployed behind striker Malen. The lineup included Svilar in goal, a back three of Mancini, N'Dicka, and Hermoso, with Rensch and Wesley as wing-backs, El Aynaoui and Cristante in midfield. In a tactical experiment late in the match, Gasperini replaced Dybala with Castro in the 66th minute, allowing the Argentine and Dutch winger Malen to share almost twenty minutes together, though they created little of note. Roma made multiple substitutions throughout the fixture, with changes across defence, midfield, and attack at intervals. Brighton fielded a 4-3-3, with manager Hurzeler making significant alterations at the hour mark, bringing on Osman, Kostoulas, and Yohanna. The match was refereed by Bobby Madley.