Midfield untouched: Roma's one settled department as summer recruitment continues

Radio commentators have criticised Roma's transfer approach this summer, arguing the club overpays whenever pursuing a player. Carina told Radio Radio: "Every time Roma approaches a player, everyone raises the price. You have money to spend but you struggle to spend it because they ask for more." He noted that Castro will cost Bologna around 40 million euros, Lucumí went to Juventus for 20 million, yet Roma spent 18 million on Koulierakis, an unknown quantity. Carina also raised concerns over Porto's latest demands for Mora: the club now wants 10 million euros for the loan (up from 7 million) and is demanding the obligation to buy be unconditional rather than tied to Roma's Champions League qualification and 60 per cent appearance threshold. Orsi observed that Gasperini expected a different market this summer, noting Roma has completed only a couple of its stated targets while missing on more important ones. Torri was more blunt, stating: "The Roma wants to buy for 50 million a bench player at Porto" and questioned why Porto would sell Mora if no other club was offering that fee. He suggested Roma could instead target Moreira and two free agents, or push for Arsenal's Martinelli at 45 million euros. Pruzzo highlighted that Roma now has two quality forwards but faces wider squad gaps, while acknowledging friendly results gave a negative impression. The transfer window remains open, with several targets unresolved.

Rodrigo Mora is close to joining Roma, with his former coach providing an in-depth assessment of his readiness for Italian football. The coach described Mora as a player with strong personality, ambition and winning mentality who is "more than ready" for the demands of Serie A. "Beyond his football talent, he is an exemplary professional," the coach said. Mora is characterized as a tactically intelligent player with refined technical ability and dynamic movement across all phases of play. "He has a special rapport with the ball, refined and intelligent from a tactical standpoint," the coach explained. "He doesn't fear responsibility—he wants the ball, wants to play and wants to make a difference." On his mental strength, the coach noted: "He is very mentally and emotionally strong. He is very competitive with a winning mentality. He doesn't fear the game and rarely suffers under pressure. Rather, the bigger the challenge, the more he grows." The coach offered tactical guidance for Gasperini, Roma's head coach: "Rodrigo is a player who likes to have the ball and knows how to use it. He can dialogue with teammates, create space for himself and the squad, and most importantly, loves to play near goal. He has the quality and composure to be decisive in the box." While Mora can play across offensive positions, including as a winger, the coach believes he performs best in a central role where he has greater ball involvement.

Roma are navigating a complex summer transfer window constrained by settlement agreement rules, working simultaneously on exits and targeted acquisitions to strengthen Gasperini's squad. The club may be forced to sell two or three key players—including Matías Soulé and particularly Manu Koné, who is being courted by Premier League clubs—to comply with financial parameters and avoid European competition sanctions. Should the French midfielder depart, Roma are exploring a loan move for Teun Koopmeiners, a profile Gasperini knows intimately and would integrate readily into his tactical system. Meanwhile, the sporting director is pressing hard on the Cacciamani front. Roma have progressively increased their offer for the 2007-born winger to over 12 million euros plus 3 million in bonuses, drawing closer to Torino's asking price. Club owner Urbano Cairo has signalled openness to a deal, recognizing the difficulty of retaining a talent strongly championed by Gasperini himself. The teenager represents the kind of targeted reinforcement Roma are prioritizing as they balance the dual demand of raising funds through strategic sales while delivering competitive depth to their head coach.

Roma have confirmed their midfield will remain stable for the 2026–27 season, with no new signings planned unless a significant departure occurs—which appears unlikely. Bryan Cristante, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli, and Neil El Aynaoui will form the core of the department, with Lorenzo Pellegrini available as a supporting option. Koné's future had been the subject of speculation, but he has returned to full training as his departure now appears difficult to execute, particularly given the challenge of finding a suitable replacement before the season opener against Fiorentina. The Frenchman will operate alongside Cristante in midfield. Pisilli, an academy graduate, will not be sold. Porto submitted a €25 million offer for the young midfielder, but Roma and manager Gian Piero Gasperini rejected the proposal, viewing him as an essential technical asset and important for UEFA squad list considerations. El Aynaoui is expected to build on recent positive performances and secure his place as a regular starter in the giallorossi shirt.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is building a Roma side defined by youth, technical fluency, and aggressive attacking play, with quality and skill prioritized over physical presence. The structure centres on Rodrigo Mora, a slight-framed playmaker and dribbler who will compete with Lorenzo Pellegrini for a starting role, while Donyell Malen leads the forward line alongside technically gifted players including Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé. Offensive thrust will also flow from attacking full-backs such as Wesley, supported by various transfer targets including potential arrivals at centre-back and in midfield. With the team so heavily weighted towards attack, the stability of Roma's shape depends almost entirely on Manu Koné, who will screen the defence and reclaim possession alongside Bryan Cristante. The French midfielder's long-term future remains uncertain, however, and any departure would leave a void difficult to fill in the short term. Gasperini's vision prioritizes technical excellence across the attacking third, with contributions from wider areas through offensively minded defenders and young, technical players who can operate in varied roles across the pitch.

Roma ended their pre-season training camp in Wales with a 3–0 defeat to Brighton. Rutter and Ayari, who scored twice, were decisive for the home side. The loss concluded what proved a disappointing retreat before the Giallorossi return to Rome and prepare for their final warm-up fixture against Borussia Dortmund ahead of the 2026–27 season launch. In the second half against Brighton, Castro and Koulierakis were brought on to gain match time. Back at Trigoria, Roma await the return of Pellegrini and Koné, the latter having rejoined the squad after his summer break. Individual performances saw Bryan Cristante earn a rating of 6 for his display, while Mario Hermoso (4) and Wesley (4.5) both endured difficult afternoons in defence.

Roma have confirmed their midfield will remain stable for the 2026–27 season, with no new signings planned unless a significant departure occurs—which appears unlikely. Bryan Cristante, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli, and Neil El Aynaoui will form the core of the department, with Lorenzo Pellegrini available as a supporting option. Koné's future had been the subject of speculation, but he has returned to full training as his departure now appears difficult to execute, particularly given the challenge of finding a suitable replacement before the season opener against Fiorentina. The Frenchman will operate alongside Cristante in midfield. Pisilli, an academy graduate, will not be sold. Porto submitted a €25 million offer for the young midfielder, but Roma and manager Gian Piero Gasperini rejected the proposal, viewing him as an essential technical asset and important for UEFA squad list considerations. El Aynaoui is expected to build on recent positive performances and secure his place as a regular starter in the giallorossi shirt.

Roma are pushing hard in the market ahead of their Serie A debut in under two weeks, with director D'Amico working on multiple targets across attack and the flanks. The club has reached a five-year agreement with Rodrigo Mora, a talented Porto prospect born in 2007, and is negotiating with Jorge Mendes on a deal worth €25 million plus 50 per cent of future resale proceeds. The Endrick option has collapsed after Real Madrid secured him; Roma remain active on alternative tracks including Cacciamani from Torino and Luis Henrique from Inter, while Destiny Udogie of Tottenham has emerged as a new option, though Spurs have not yet opened the door to a loan with a purchase option. Training resumed at Trigoria with Nahuel Molina arriving from Atlético Madrid integrated into the squad, and Manu Koné returning after his post-World Cup break. Niccolò Pisilli has rejoined group training. In departures, Angeliño moved to Deportivo La Coruña on a loan deal with a right to buy, vacating the number 3 shirt, which Koulierakis has now claimed. In youth development, Francesco Ballarin, a midfielder born in 2009, has been signed from Venezia to join Roma's youth sector.

Roma have moved decisively in the transfer market, with nineteen-year-old Porto forward Rodrigo Mora close to joining the club and Argentine right-back Nahuel Molina officially arriving in the capital. Molina landed at Ciampino airport after Roma agreed a deal with Atlético Madrid worth 13 million euros plus 4 million in bonuses. He will replace Zeki Çelik on the right flank. The Mora deal is in its final stages, with Roma having worked extensively to fend off competition from Galatasaray. Porto president André Villas-Boas has agreed terms involving 25 million euros upfront—with 50 per cent of any future resale profit returning to Porto—plus a further 25 million euros in 2027. Mora will sign a five-year contract, a profile that immediately impressed head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The move accelerates after the Endrick pursuit collapsed, with the Brazilian now bound for Real Madrid. With midfielder Manu Koné returning to full availability and expected returns of Niccolò Pisilli and Lorenzo Pellegrini on the horizon, Gasperini is building squad depth. Roma are also monitoring possible departures of Matías Soulé and Neil El Aynaoui to maintain financial balance, but the focus is on assembling a competitive, technically strong group ready for Serie A and European football.

Roma have confirmed their midfield will remain stable for the 2026–27 season, with no new signings planned unless a significant departure occurs—which appears unlikely. Bryan Cristante, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli, and Neil El Aynaoui will form the core of the department, with Lorenzo Pellegrini available as a supporting option. Koné's future had been the subject of speculation, but he has returned to full training as his departure now appears difficult to execute, particularly given the challenge of finding a suitable replacement before the season opener against Fiorentina. The Frenchman will operate alongside Cristante in midfield. Pisilli, an academy graduate, will not be sold. Porto submitted a €25 million offer for the young midfielder, but Roma and manager Gian Piero Gasperini rejected the proposal, viewing him as an essential technical asset and important for UEFA squad list considerations. El Aynaoui is expected to build on recent positive performances and secure his place as a regular starter in the giallorossi shirt.

Roma have moved decisively in the transfer market, with nineteen-year-old Porto forward Rodrigo Mora close to joining the club and Argentine right-back Nahuel Molina officially arriving in the capital. Molina landed at Ciampino airport after Roma agreed a deal with Atlético Madrid worth 13 million euros plus 4 million in bonuses. He will replace Zeki Çelik on the right flank. The Mora deal is in its final stages, with Roma having worked extensively to fend off competition from Galatasaray. Porto president André Villas-Boas has agreed terms involving 25 million euros upfront—with 50 per cent of any future resale profit returning to Porto—plus a further 25 million euros in 2027. Mora will sign a five-year contract, a profile that immediately impressed head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The move accelerates after the Endrick pursuit collapsed, with the Brazilian now bound for Real Madrid. With midfielder Manu Koné returning to full availability and expected returns of Niccolò Pisilli and Lorenzo Pellegrini on the horizon, Gasperini is building squad depth. Roma are also monitoring possible departures of Matías Soulé and Neil El Aynaoui to maintain financial balance, but the focus is on assembling a competitive, technically strong group ready for Serie A and European football.

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.