Molina set for debut as Gasperini weighs attacking options ahead of Fiorentina opener

Alayah Pilgrim spoke to the club after Roma's Serie A Women's Cup fixture against Ternana, reflecting on a hard-fought victory. "It wasn't an easy match, on this field and against this team," she said. "We encountered a lot of difficulties, physically and in the duels, but we won with courage and hunger. We're happy." Pilgrim called the result a strong foundation for the season ahead. "It's a good start for us, but we need to work even harder in view of the Women's Cup and the season," she said. Roma's next match comes at home at Tre Fontane against Sassuolo. Pilgrim added: "The next match will be at home: we'll return to Tre Fontane, where we'll face Sassuolo. I can't wait for next week to come. Against Sassuolo we need to do good work."

Roma director Tony D'Amico is methodically working through the final stretch of the transfer window, weighing opportunities in the coming days after completing the lengthy negotiation to bring Rodrigo Mora to Trigoria. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has identified two priority targets: a central midfielder and a winger, though the club will pursue deals within its financial parameters, potentially using loan arrangements to keep costs down. The squad is competitive but lacks the numerical and qualitative depth required for a genuine step forward. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, an English winger born in 2004, has emerged as the latest attacking target. The London-born player, currently limited in rotation at Chelsea and previously signed by Borussia Dortmund for £50 million, fits Gasperini's tactical principles and would arrive on a low-cost, salary-efficient deal. The midfielder pursuit has already hit obstacles: negotiations with Udogie broke down over misaligned financial conditions and mutual desire, while Cacciamani from Torino remains a live option only if the Serie A club drops its €20 million valuation. The player from Jesi made his mark with Juventus Stabia in last season's second division. If the Cacciamani approach falters, D'Amico is working on alternative profiles available via loan with purchase option arrangements. On potential outgoings, Jan Ziółkowski remains on the market—no formal offer has reached Trigoria despite Saudi League interest in the Polish defender. Similarly, rumours of Manchester City's interest in Manu Koné have produced no concrete approach or bid on D'Amico's desk. Should significant offers arrive and prove convincing, Roma stands ready to recruit top-tier replacements. Two new signings plus contingent replacements remain on the table. The window is far from closed, with ambition maintained but financial discipline intact.

Roma are closing on a deal to sign Alessio Cacciamani from Torino, with the gap between the two clubs narrowing to around €2 million. Director D'Amico is working multiple fronts to complete Gian Piero Gasperini's squad ahead of the season's official start in two weeks. Cacciamani, born in 2007, is one of Italy's most promising young talents and already capped at Under-21 level. He made his Serie A debut in Torino's colours and starred in Serie B for Juve Stabia during the 2025-26 season. Roma's latest offer stands at €12 million, with Torino's asking price just €2 million higher—a gap the Giallorossi believe is bridgeable for both sides. He would serve as a backup left winger to the ever-present Wesley, with Molina and Rensch occupying the other flank. Cacciamani and two attacking midfielders would give Gasperini's Roma the profile needed for a Champions League campaign. In parallel, D'Amico is working on an exit that would generate profit on the books. Jan Ziółkowski is expected to receive an official offer from Saudi Arabia totalling around €20 million—a significant margin on the €6 million paid to Legia Warsaw for the Polish defender last summer. Matías Soulé is also a possible departure and could facilitate a move for Endrick, though no formal bids have arrived for him yet, including from AC Milan, which had shown interest in recent days without making a concrete advance. The club faces a deadline of two weeks before the season officially begins, creating logical urgency to complete its business across the transfer market.

Roma are closing on a deal to sign Alessio Cacciamani from Torino, with the gap between the two clubs narrowing to around €2 million. Director D'Amico is working multiple fronts to complete Gian Piero Gasperini's squad ahead of the season's official start in two weeks. Cacciamani, born in 2007, is one of Italy's most promising young talents and already capped at Under-21 level. He made his Serie A debut in Torino's colours and starred in Serie B for Juve Stabia during the 2025-26 season. Roma's latest offer stands at €12 million, with Torino's asking price just €2 million higher—a gap the Giallorossi believe is bridgeable for both sides. He would serve as a backup left winger to the ever-present Wesley, with Molina and Rensch occupying the other flank. Cacciamani and two attacking midfielders would give Gasperini's Roma the profile needed for a Champions League campaign. In parallel, D'Amico is working on an exit that would generate profit on the books. Jan Ziółkowski is expected to receive an official offer from Saudi Arabia totalling around €20 million—a significant margin on the €6 million paid to Legia Warsaw for the Polish defender last summer. Matías Soulé is also a possible departure and could facilitate a move for Endrick, though no formal bids have arrived for him yet, including from AC Milan, which had shown interest in recent days without making a concrete advance. The club faces a deadline of two weeks before the season officially begins, creating logical urgency to complete its business across the transfer market.

Roma are one day away from their opening Serie A fixture against Fiorentina at the Olimpico. Alejandro Molina will make his debut on the right flank, with Devyne Rensch heading to the bench, while Wesley returns on the left after recovering from a minor right ankle sprain. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini faces a key decision in midfield and attack: the main uncertainty concerns the number 10 role in his 3-4-1-2 formation, where three players are competing for one starting place. Matías Soulé, Rodrigo Mora, and Bryan Cristante are all in contention. In recent weeks, Soulé has impressed in pre-season training. The Argentine arrived carrying some extra weight but has worked hard from day one despite transfer speculation. Gasperini praised his efforts: "During this preparation he has been very good, he has been exceptional. He has got himself back in shape and I must say that now he is in excellent condition." Mora also arrived recently on Monday evening with great enthusiasm. If Cristante operates deeper in midfield, the choice narrows to Soulé versus Mora. The midfielder's positioning would move Neil El Aynaoui or Niccolò Pisilli alongside Manu Koné in central midfield, depending on their fitness. El Aynaoui remains out of condition following the World Cup, while Pisilli has only recently returned to full group training. The final decision will be made at today's training session.

Roma's transfer activity is entering its most intense phase with 11 days remaining in the summer window. The club is prioritising the signing of a left-back and left winger, with the attacking department potentially reinforced only by a loan deal, possibly with a purchase option. The American ownership's strategy is taking shape through over €100 million invested to strengthen Gasperini's squad while lowering both wage bill and average age. The green line of investment—acquisitions targeting both immediate impact and long-term development—is evident across the squad. Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini have agreed wage cuts on their renewals. Among the notable signings are two strikers and a Greek defender, contributing to an squad now containing 11 players under 25: Ziolkowski (21), Koulierakis (22), Ghilardi (23), Rensch (23), Pisilli (21), Koné and El Aynaoui (25), Mora and Vaz (19), Castro (21) and Soulé (22). These are players ready to perform now and into the future under a manager like Gasperini, who has consistently developed and promoted emerging talent. Potential arrivals of Fofana and Luis Henrique—or even just one of them—would further increase the number of young players in the squad. The possibility of selling academy product Ziolkowski and Matías Soulé remains under consideration as part of the squad restructuring.

Roma are closing on a deal to sign Alessio Cacciamani from Torino, with the gap between the two clubs narrowing to around €2 million. Director D'Amico is working multiple fronts to complete Gian Piero Gasperini's squad ahead of the season's official start in two weeks. Cacciamani, born in 2007, is one of Italy's most promising young talents and already capped at Under-21 level. He made his Serie A debut in Torino's colours and starred in Serie B for Juve Stabia during the 2025-26 season. Roma's latest offer stands at €12 million, with Torino's asking price just €2 million higher—a gap the Giallorossi believe is bridgeable for both sides. He would serve as a backup left winger to the ever-present Wesley, with Molina and Rensch occupying the other flank. Cacciamani and two attacking midfielders would give Gasperini's Roma the profile needed for a Champions League campaign. In parallel, D'Amico is working on an exit that would generate profit on the books. Jan Ziółkowski is expected to receive an official offer from Saudi Arabia totalling around €20 million—a significant margin on the €6 million paid to Legia Warsaw for the Polish defender last summer. Matías Soulé is also a possible departure and could facilitate a move for Endrick, though no formal bids have arrived for him yet, including from AC Milan, which had shown interest in recent days without making a concrete advance. The club faces a deadline of two weeks before the season officially begins, creating logical urgency to complete its business across the transfer market.

AS Roma are close to completing the signing of Jayden Oosterwolde from Fenerbahce, the Dutch defender who will fill one of two remaining gaps in Gian Piero Gasperini's squad. The 2024-born left-back will serve as Wesley's backup and can also play as a centre-back if needed. The deal is structured as an expensive loan of €1.5 million plus a conditional obligation to buy worth around €15 million, with a further €2 million in add-ons that are unlikely to be triggered. Oosterwolde will sign a five-year contract worth €1.5 million net per season. Oosterwolde previously played in Italy between 2022 and 2023 at Parma and has already agreed terms with Roma. The club have reviewed his medical records ahead of closing the move. The defender is currently recovering from a muscle problem but is expected to return to full fitness within two weeks, allowing him to train with the squad in the near future.

On the eve of Roma's season opener against Fiorentina, the transfer market continues to dominate the agenda at the club. Jayden Oosterwolde is set to arrive from Fenerbahçe, but head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has made clear his frustration with the handling of incoming transfers, calling on the board for a final push to complete the squad. Gasperini began the summer window with ambitions to recruit experienced, established players capable of competing in the Champions League. However, constraints imposed by wage limits and UEFA Financial Fair Play forced a shift toward younger, more sustainable profiles. "If we had signed Summerville, we wouldn't have been able to do anything else," Gasperini explained at his press conference, commenting also on the arrival of Rodrigo Mora: "It's an important investment with long-term prospects for the club, but it cannot be compared to Vaz." To consider the squad truly competitive and able to sustain a triple fixture schedule, Gasperini is still waiting for two additions. Beyond Oosterwolde, who will serve as Wesley's deputy, the coach is seeking a wide forward capable of providing pace and incisiveness. The club's line remains cautious: any move in the attacking department will materialise only if an opportunity of genuine quality presents itself.

Matías Soulé has reclaimed his place in Roma's starting XI for Sunday's match against Fiorentina after an impressive pre-season, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini confirmed. The Argentine winger had faced a difficult summer marked by transfer speculation and fitness concerns that drew criticism from Gasperini during the early days of training. Now in top form following an exceptional preparation, Soulé will partner Paulo Dybala in an all-Argentine attacking three, with Donyell Malen completing the trident on the right. Soulé has edged out Rodrigo Mora for the starting berth, the same trio that finished last season in Roma's Champions League match against Hellas Verona. Elsewhere, Gasperini has confirmed the debut of Molina on the right wing, with fellow Argentine Castro expected to come off the bench given that Malen has not yet reached full fitness. Wesley returns to full availability at left-back after recovery, while Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné are set to start midfield duties together. In defence, Mario Hermoso is favoured over Koulierakis. Gasperini has also promoted academy player Emanuele Lulli to the first-team squad following an impressive showing during the summer retreat. The coach said of Lulli: "He has demonstrated that he possesses the right characteristics to be part of Roma's squad. He will follow his development path."

Roma will begin the 2026–27 season at the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow against Fiorentina with nearly 65,000 supporters expected, but the focus will be on Gasperini's trusted core of players rather than wholesale change. The coach has consistently praised a nucleus of squad members, and Paulo Dybala, Bryan Cristante and Gianluca Mancini form the backbone of his plans. Dybala has impressed throughout pre-season, scoring seven goals during the summer training camp—two each against Cannes and Roma Primavera, plus strikes against Trastevere, Cardiff and Borussia Dortmund—while creating numerous assists. Gasperini said of the Argentine: "I am confident he will play more than in previous years, because I see Paulo determined and particularly strong. He has completed a preparation that perhaps he had not managed for some time, without injuries. Of course you always cross your fingers—last season he was very unlucky, getting injured kicking a penalty in Milan and a free kick with Torino. But physically he seems much more toned. Perhaps he no longer has the speed and shooting power of when he was young, but he has improved other qualities. At 32 he is in the prime of his technical and physical maturity, I think he will end up having a great season." The benefit will extend to Donyell Malen, who has sparkled whenever receiving Dybala's passes. Having Dybala at full strength does not merely add creativity and unpredictability—it generates roughly 20 per cent more danger across the entire attack, starting with the Dutch winger.

Roma prepare for their Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday evening at the Olimpico, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini running through final selection details. The squad is virtually at full strength, with Lorenzo Pellegrini the sole absentee as he continues his rehabilitation programme. Gasperini has been resolving key tactical questions in recent training sessions as Roma adopt their familiar 3-4-1-2 formation. The main selection uncertainty centres on midfield and the attacking three. In defence, the back three will comprise Gianluca Mancini on the centre-right, Evan N'Dicka in the middle, and Mario Hermoso on the left. Molina will operate on the right flank and Wesley on the left, both tasked with providing attacking thrust and quick defensive cover. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are locked in as the attacking partnership. Gasperini is considering fielding young Rodrigo Mora in the number 10 role from the start, a move that would sacrifice some defensive balance but offer greater attacking quality. In central midfield, Niccolò Pisilli holds a clear advantage over Neil El Aynaoui in the battle to partner Manu Koné and provide dynamism and forward runs. This positioning could see Bryan Cristante start on the bench despite featuring heavily in pre-season friendlies. Roma will hold a final training session this afternoon at Trigoria before the squad remains overnight at the Fulvio Bernardini sports centre ahead of Monday's debut against Fiorentina.