Molina impresses in Dortmund outing as Atlético Madrid fans rue his form

Nahuel Molina made a strong impression in his first appearance for Roma, featuring for over half an hour in a 2–2 friendly against Borussia Dortmund. The Argentine full-back, who joined from Atlético Madrid for 13 million euros plus 4 million in add-ons, demonstrated his attacking thrust, intensity, ball control, and defensive aggression. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini identified him as the right player to elevate Roma's play on the flanks and bring additional international experience ahead of the club's return to the Champions League. Molina's solid performance at Dortmund surprised some Atlético supporters, many of whom had welcomed his departure after inconsistent form in recent seasons. The display prompted reactions on social media, with some observers drawing comparisons to legendary full-back Cafu and questioning why Molina had not performed at this level for Atlético. One fan wrote: "He left Atlético and became Cafu." Another asked: "Now he plays well?" A third joked: "It's clear that Madrid's water did him no good." The comments reflected a mix of irony and mild regret among the Spanish club's fanbase.

Roma's pursuit of Portuguese talent Rodrigo Mora has stalled, with Porto holding firm on their position while Roma maintains its stance. The player wants to move to Italy, but Porto manager Farioli continues to leave him out of the squad and has taken shots at his agent—clear signals that have so far failed to break the deadlock. The situation now risks becoming more complicated. AC Milan have joined the race for the class of 2007 prospect and are exploring the possibility of inserting Mora into a deal involving Gimenez. It remains an idea under consideration between the two clubs, with no agreement yet. Roma retains pole position in the race. Sporting director D'Amico, who had pledged an end to drawn-out transfer sagas following the Greenwood and Summerville arrivals, is waiting for developments. The club is ultimately awaiting definitive approval from Villas-Boas, with Mora himself also in a holding pattern. Milan's intervention adds a new layer to negotiations, though Roma's advantage in talks persists for now.

Roma will host Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday, 24 August at 20:45 for the opening day of the Serie A season. Gasperini's Roma will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Svilar in goal; Mancini, Ndicka, and Hermoso in defence; Molina, El Aynaoui, Cristante, and Wesley across midfield; Dybala and Soulé in attacking support; and Malen leading the line. Fiorentina will deploy a 4-3-3 system under Grosso, featuring De Gea in goal, with Joao Mario, Viery, Dragusin, and Valdepenas in defence, Ndour, Oulai, and Atta in midfield, and Mastantuono, Kean, and Gudmundsson in attack. Tickets for the match remain on sale through the Roma website. The fixture will be broadcast live on Dazn. Fans can also follow live text coverage on ilromanista.eu or listen to radio commentary on radioromanista.it.