Mattioli: Roma's ownership is slowing down transfer progress

Luigi Cherubini is on the verge of joining Serie B side Benevento on loan with a right of purchase that becomes an obligation upon the fulfilment of certain squad and individual conditions. The 2004-born winger will first sign a contract renewal with Roma through June 2029, extending his current deal that expires next June. The move has been in the works for a week but had not yet been finalised as of 14 August, held up by the delay in completing Cherubini's contract extension with the club. Cherubini, a former Sampdoria and Carrarese player, represents another piece of business on Roma's transfer agenda. Benevento manager Antonio Floro Flores addressed the situation at a press conference on 13 August ahead of the club's Coppa Italia round of 32 tie against Fiorentina. Flores said: "I know they have promised us Cherubini, the club has said 'if he leaves here he comes to you'. We welcome it, we are waiting for him with open arms." The transfer will add to the workload already on Roma's director of sport D'Amico's desk.

Roma are readying an improved bid for Torino left-back Alessio Cacciamani, a prospect born in 2007 whom head coach Gian Piero Gasperini rates highly. The club have asked sporting director D'Amico to continue talks after their initial offer of €12 million plus €3 million in bonuses was rejected. Roma are now poised to increase their bid to approach the €20 million valuation set by Torino for the player. Cacciamani spent the previous season on loan at Juve Stabia in Serie B and returned to Torino in June. Though Torino coach Abate holds him in high regard and the player had expressed a preference to remain and develop gradually at the club, president Cairo—who previously stated his intention not to sell—must now balance the financial pressures of generating profit. Gasperini has identified Cacciamani as a key piece for strengthening Roma's left flank and views him as an important asset for the club's future plans.

Roma's transfer hunt has shifted into high gear, with negotiations over Porto's Rodrigo Mora stalled for two days over disagreements on buy-back clause terms, according to director D'Amico. Should that deal fall through, Belgian winger Malick Fofana of Lyon has emerged as the leading alternative. Lyon value the 2005-born prospect at a minimum of €40 million, though fitness concerns around him persist. The timeline could favour Roma's pursuit. Between 18 and 26 August, Lyon face Fenerbahce in Champions League play-offs. Fofana is eager to play in Europe's top competition, and an elimination for Lyon could force the French club to sell. Fenerbahce themselves dealt Roma a blow earlier in the transfer window by signing Mason Greenwood ahead of the Italian club. How the upcoming two weeks unfold may prove decisive in shaping Roma's options and the final structure of any deal.

Roma will face Borussia Dortmund in their final pre-season friendly on 15 August at 17:30 at Signal Iduna Park. Gian Piero Gasperini's side complete their build-up after a British tour with this test match in Germany. Gasperini is expected to field a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Mile Svilar in goal and a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. Neil El Aynaoui and Bryan Cristante anchor the midfield, with Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé supporting Donyell Malen in attack. Borussia Dortmund will deploy an identical shape, managed by Kovac. Tickets are available through the Borussia Dortmund club website. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN, with live text updates available on ilromanista.eu.

Roma's defence, which finished as Serie A's second-best last season, has shown alarming fragility during their pre-season tour of Britain. The Giallorossi conceded eight goals across three friendlies—four against Cardiff, one against Newport, and three against Brighton—with the tally rising to 11 when including a 3–3 draw against Cannes. Against Brighton on 8 August, Gasperini made wholesale defensive changes after Roma had shipped three goals in 49 minutes, introducing Ghilardi and new arrival Koulierakis while withdrawing N'Dicka and Hermoso. The ivory-coast central defender had failed to close down Ayari's double, prompting Gasperini to turn to the bench and shout "Let's change." Hermoso, managing an ankle problem, allowed Rutter to nearly extend the lead moments after the 3–0. Earlier defensive lapses against Cardiff exposed deeper issues: Ahsford's opener came after N'Dicka slipped and a rebound off Rensch, while Salech's second followed a costly Svilar error on a dangerous Wesley backpass. El Aynaoui was substituted at half-time after a misplaced pass that set up Ayari's second goal, and Rensch drew criticism for poor decision-making. The unit that had anchored Roma's recent success now appears fragile heading into the season. Gasperini acknowledged the work ahead, saying "the team is struggling to switch back on," highlighting the scale of the challenge to restore defensive solidity before competitive fixtures begin.

Gian Piero Gasperini expressed sharp disappointment with Roma's display in a friendly against Brighton on 8 August, conceding three goals and struggling to build momentum ahead of the new season. The defeat extended Roma's poor run to eleven goals conceded in their last four outings. Gasperini said: "It was a very bad match, without doubt. We put in a poor performance. The feeling I have is that we are struggling to switch on." The coach's frustration extended beyond the pitch to the club's transfer activity. With the squad lacking numerical depth, Gasperini acknowledged Roma are unable to accelerate their transfer business at the pace he had hoped. He stated: "I thought we would be further ahead. We cannot do the market because we have too few players... Numerically it seems to me there is still a need for something. On who to target and how to close we will see. Possible departures? Ask the CEO." Defensive vulnerabilities have become a recurring concern, with Svilar and the entire back line appearing exposed when pressed at speed. Forward Donyell Malen showed signs of being out of condition and overweight. Gasperini's comments underline the urgency Roma face in both the transfer market and regaining the collective shape and understanding that underpinned their previous campaigns.