Molina and Wesley set to lead Roma's wing assault under Gasperini

Marash Kumbulla has left AS Roma on loan to Spanish club Rayo Vallecano, with the agreement structured as a loan with a right of redemption. The Albanian centre-back departs after collecting 68 appearances in the giallorossi shirt, during which he scored 4 goals and was part of the squad that won the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2022. Kumbulla's exit continues a pattern of movement for the defender, who has now departed Roma on loan. The club issued an official statement confirming the arrangement and wished him well for the future.

Marash Kumbulla has left Roma on loan with a buy option to join Rayo Vallecano, marking his third spell in Spanish football after previous stints at Mallorca and Espanyol. The central defender will compete in La Liga, a division he knows well from his earlier experiences in the country. Kumbulla expressed his enthusiasm upon joining the Madrid club. "I am happy and excited to wear the Rayo shirt and begin this new adventure," he said. "It is a club with one of the most historic names in La Liga, a competition I now know very well thanks to my past experiences. The team demonstrated last year how, through hard work, important objectives can be achieved. I want to thank the president and coach for their confidence, and I cannot wait to start." The loan deal includes a clause allowing Rayo Vallecano to make the transfer permanent at a future date.

Marash Kumbulla has joined Rayo Vallecano on loan with a right of redemption, completing a move away from AS Roma. The defender, who spent last season on loan at Mallorca, returns to Spain after being deemed surplus to requirements under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Kumbulla did not feature in Roma's pre-season preparations in Wales and his path to the first team was further diminished following the arrival of Koulierakis. During his time at Roma, Kumbulla made 68 appearances in the giallorossi shirt, scoring 4 goals and playing a part in the club's UEFA Europa Conference League victory in 2022. The former Verona defender has now departed alongside Angeliño as Gasperini reshapes his defensive options. The Spain-based move reunites Kumbulla with a league he knows well from previous experience. Kumbulla said in a statement: "I am happy and enthusiastic to wear the Rayo shirt and begin this new adventure. It is a team that last year showed how, through hard work, important goals can be reached. Moreover, we are talking about one of the most historic clubs in La Liga, a league that I now know very well thanks to past experiences. I want to thank the president and coach for their confidence. I can't wait to get started."

Roma's transfer activity this summer drew mixed reaction from Rome radio pundits on 6 August, with focus on the arrival of Molina from Atlético Madrid. Ugo Trani noted that Molina performed best at Udinese under Cioffi in a left-back role, scoring 8 goals in one season and 7 in the league, adding that his errors came in a traditional fullback position where he will not play under Gasperini. Mario Mattioli said: "I like Molina, even when he was at Udine: he is a good player, at Roma he can do very well. It raises the level of the squad: he is not a world-beater, but he is reliable. For me it is an excellent signing." Piero Torri offered a broader assessment, saying: "The garnishes have arrived. Now the main course is missing, which is the high-sided winger. Then we can discuss the timing, the chronology of Roma's transfer market, but what Roma has done so far is right. The main course is missing, but it will arrive, because tomorrow Roma are short-handed." Roberto Pruzzo characterised Molina as a dependable player with experience and full physical fitness, noting that Atlético Madrid's Diego Simeone had decided to refresh the fullback positions after Çelik requested a departure. Nando Orsi predicted Molina would play as a left-back, suggesting Gasperini is building two wing-backs capable of improving on those he had at Atalanta, and described him as one of the best among Roma's recent fullbacks.

Roma have completed negotiations with Atlético Madrid to sign Nahuel Molina. The defender will undergo medicals and sign his contract in the coming days once he returns from vacation. Roma will pay €13M plus €4M in potential add-ons, with Molina earning approximately €3M annually. The club had inquired about him earlier in the summer when Atlético Madrid initially asked for €20M. The signing comes after Roma opted away from a lengthy pursuit of other targets. Feyenoord had rejected a €25M offer plus €4M bonuses and a 10 percent sell-on clause for Givairo Read. Roma had been searching for a young fullback for several weeks but ultimately decided to pursue the more experienced and readily available option. Molina spent two successful seasons at Udinese before joining Atlético Madrid, establishing himself as a regular for Argentina. He has recorded 25 goal contributions over his last four campaigns and ranks among Europe's most prolific defenders. Molina will offer a clear upgrade on the attacking flank compared to Zeki Çelik, helping to balance Roma's formation which had relied heavily on Wesley's offensive contribution. His defensive limitations can be managed by playing behind a solid centre-back.

Roma have reached agreement with Atlético Madrid to sign right-back Nahuel Molina for €13 million plus €4 million in bonuses. The Argentina international, who will reunite with Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé at the club, will sign a four-year contract worth €2.5 million per season. Molina becomes Roma's third summer signing under head coach Gasperini, following arrivals earlier in the window. The 26-year-old has registered 9 goals and 16 assists over the past four years in La Liga, a record among defenders. He currently remains on holiday following international duty and will fill the vacancy left by departing left-back Zeki Çelik. Roma's sporting director D'Amico secured the deal swiftly after the club withdrew from pursuing Feyenoord's Read, having previously offered €29 million for the Dutch winger. By pivoting to Molina, Roma have saved approximately €12 million. The club continues to prioritize adding a left winger and remain focused on Lipsia's Christos Rantos Nusa as their primary target, with head coach Gasperini meeting owner Ryan Friedkin in Wales to accelerate negotiations. Roma intend to offer just over €50 million for the Norwegian. Should Lipsia refuse, Olympique Lyonnais's Youssouf Fofana stands ready as an alternative at €40–45 million after recovering from ankle problems. Meanwhile, Roma are also pursuing fullback Cacciamani from Torino, who are demanding €15 million; Roma have bid €12 million and hope to close the deal soon.

Roma will face Brighton in a pre-season friendly at the American Express Stadium on 8 August 2026 at 16:00 Italian time. The match comes after Roma's training camp in Wales and friendlies against Cardiff and Newport County. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is expected to field a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, midfielders Devyne Rensch, Neil El Aynaoui, Bryan Cristante, and Wesley, with Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé in attacking roles behind striker Donyell Malen. Tickets for the fixture are available through Brighton's official website. The friendly will be broadcast live on DAZN, with live text coverage available on ilromanista.eu and radio commentary from Radio Romanista providing real-time updates from the stadium.

Lorenzo Pellegrini has agreed a contract extension with Roma, with an annual renewal expected to be signed in the coming days. The midfielder rejected overtures from Juventus and Galatasaray in recent weeks, choosing to remain a giallorosso. Roma unveiled its away kit for the 2026–27 season this morning, featuring a warm white base crossed by a yellow and red band across the chest. The historic club crest, last widely used in 1946–47, is positioned at the centre of the band, with the adidas Trefoil logo in red above it. The reverse of the collar bears the inscription "Roma chiamò" ("Rome called"), a tribute to the Campo Testaccio anthem and the club's bond with supporters. ROM continues to reshape its left flank following Angeliño's departure. The club is pursuing Alessio Cacciamani from Torino as a left-winger to develop behind Wesley. Torino have raised their asking price to approximately €20 million across fixed fee and bonuses; Roma has offered €12–13 million and awaits movement from the Italian club. Separately, Antonio Nusa has forcefully dismissed market speculation linking him elsewhere, reaffirming his commitment to RB Leipzig: "I never asked to leave Leipzig. There are always rumours, they can write what they want. I was on holiday, now I'm here at Leipzig."

AS Roma unveiled its new away kit for the 2026–27 season on 6 August, two weeks after the launch of the home jersey. The away shirt returns to white—a cream tone—after last season's orange, featuring a horizontal giallorossi band across the chest with the ASR crest at its centre. The design echoes the third kit worn in the previous season. The club shared images of squad members modelling the new strip on social media. Defenders Mancini and N'Dicka, midfielders Cristante and Wesley, forwards Dybala and Malen, and goalkeeper Vaz all featured in the photoshoot. The unveiling comes as Gasperini's Roma continues its preparation for the campaign ahead, having already debuted the home kit in competitive fixtures.

Roma will face Brighton in a pre-season friendly at the American Express Stadium on 8 August 2026 at 16:00 Italian time. The match comes after Roma's training camp in Wales and friendlies against Cardiff and Newport County. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is expected to field a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, midfielders Devyne Rensch, Neil El Aynaoui, Bryan Cristante, and Wesley, with Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé in attacking roles behind striker Donyell Malen. Tickets for the fixture are available through Brighton's official website. The friendly will be broadcast live on DAZN, with live text coverage available on ilromanista.eu and radio commentary from Radio Romanista providing real-time updates from the stadium.

Mario Hermoso put Roma ahead in the 38th minute during their second pre-season friendly in Wales against Newport County at Rodney Parade. Bryan Cristante recovered possession to launch the move, then found Hermoso with the help of a deflection off Castro, with the Spanish defender finishing from close range to settle the opening period at 1–0. Gasperini's side began slowly but grew into the match. Mile Svilar made a vital save in the 14th minute to deny Doidge after the Newport forward was left unmarked, while Paulo Dybala and Castro posed occasional threats in attack. Newport threatened early through Biggins, whose long-range effort struck the crossbar in the 4th minute, but Roma's defence gradually tightened. The friendly served as a fitness-building exercise during the Wales training camp. Donyell Malen was absent through fever. Gasperini made a tactical adjustment in the 36th minute, switching Wesley to the right flank and Devyne Rensch to the left. Jenkins received a booking for Newport in the 40th minute. The match was officiated by Martin, with Tweson-Morris and Hooper as assistants.

Roma bounced back from defeat to Cardiff with a 4–1 victory over Newport County on 4 August, a League Two side, in their second pre-season friendly. Mario Hermoso opened the scoring with a well-timed insertion in the 37th minute, then won a penalty in the second half which Castro converted from the spot in the 53rd minute for his first goal in giallorosso. Nikolaos Koulierakis added a third with a header from a corner in the 59th minute on his competitive debut, before Matías Soulé's precise left-footed finish made it 4–0 in the 81st minute, assisted by Hermoso again. Cameron's goal in the 85th minute provided Newport's only reply. Gasperini fielded a 3–4–1–2 formation with Hermoso deployed unexpectedly in midfield, an experiment the manager described through his subsequent tactical adjustments as worthwhile. Neil El Aynaoui returned to the lineup after recent absence, operating on the left flank alongside Wesley, Bryan Cristante, and Rensch. The match demonstrated squad depth and cohesion: after Dybala was fouled, the entire group rallied around him in support. Young players Lulli and Reale received minutes late on as substitutes. The fixture served as a tactical study during the Welsh leg of Roma's pre-season camp. Roma next face Brighton on Saturday, 10 August, in the most significant test of this opening phase of preparation.