Mora close to completion, but Gasperini wants more: Luis Henrique option gains ground

Lionel Messi has included Porto talent Rodrigo Mora in his curated list of ten emerging talents, offering a significant endorsement as Roma prepare a move for the young player. The selection was announced in October 2025 as part of Messi's collaboration with Adidas, titled "Messi +10 - Season 2". The campaign featured the Argentine legend shuffling playing cards and laying them on a table, with narration explaining the selection process: "The perfect hand... everything begins with the deck. Nothing is left to chance. Every card is taken into account and a true master knows how to select them. A complete hand of aces, the perfect 10. This is how you choose the future of the game." Rodrigo Mora's card appeared among the ten selections. Mora could arrive at Roma in the coming days to join Gian Piero Gasperini's squad, though not all supporters have yet been convinced of his qualities. The "Messi +10" initiative celebrates a new generation of players who see the game differently, driven by the same creative spark that defined Messi's two-decade career at Barcelona. The list includes peers such as Nico Paz and Mika Godts—all sponsored by Adidas. Notably, Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, also an Adidas athlete, was omitted, suggesting Messi views him as an established talent rather than an emerging prospect.

Roma is closing in on signing Rodrigo Mora from Porto in what would be the club's fourth summer acquisition. Head coach Gasperini has long sought a player to fill the wide role, and the club is confident Mora, a 2007-born talent naturally a number 10, can be repositioned on the flank. Sporting director D'Amico has tabled €45 million, structured in a creative format designed to limit the immediate financial impact on the club's balance sheet. In-principle agreement has been reached and Jorge Mendes is overseeing the fine details. Mora will sign a five-year contract with an escalating wage structure, earning approximately €2 million net per season on average. The move comes as Gasperini continues to reshape his squad following his appointment last season. Roma remains active in the market, pursuing Cacciamani from Torino as a secondary winger option; the young fullback has experience as a wing-back from his youth career. Luis Henrique, surplus to requirements at Inter, has been offered but has not yet attracted serious interest. Tottenham has declined a loan-with-purchase-option arrangement for Udogie. If Soulé departs, Roma will reportedly attempt to sign Endrick, though Real Madrid is said to be determined to keep the Brazilian.

Roma are pursuing multiple options to strengthen their wide positions, with left-back a particular priority. Molina has arrived on the right, but sporting director D'Amico is working on several fronts simultaneously. For the left flank, the club is chasing Udinese's Udogie, with Tottenham's opening asking price of €30 million considered too high. Simultaneously, D'Amico is negotiating with Torino over Cacciamani, a 2007-born prospect; Roma are willing to offer up to €15 million in fixed fee plus bonuses and hope to convince president Cairo. The two targets need not be mutually exclusive. Inter's Luis Henrique is also on Roma's list. The Giallorossi would prefer to take the Brazilian on an expensive loan with a purchase option. The player has been presented by Roc Nation, the powerful agency that has held intensive discussions with Roma in recent weeks over multiple fronts, including midfielder Fofana and forward Endrick. The ex-Palmeiras striker remains an objective despite an uphill path to a deal; hope at Trigoria has not yet faded entirely.

Roma continues to struggle in finding an attacking left winger, prompting head coach Gian Piero Gasperini to evaluate a significant tactical overhaul for the 2026–27 season. High costs and a lack of suitable profiles have left the position unfilled despite sustained efforts, pushing the club to consider a strategic change in formation. The proposal would move away from two attacking midfielders supporting a single striker toward a system with one attacking midfielder behind two forwards. This tactical shift would align with Roma's recent recruitment priorities, including reported interest in players such as Rodrigo Mora and Endrick. With attacking options like Donyell Malen, a forward identified as Castro, and Robinio Vaz already in the squad, alongside creative midfielders of the calibre of Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini, Roma would have the versatility to reshape its attacking setup to suit the strengths of its available players and adapt the system to their characteristics.

AS Roma has constructed this fantasy XI to celebrate the club's 99-year history of attracting world-class talent. The feature categorises legendary signings by era, beginning with postwar arrivals: Alcide Ghiggia, who joined in 1953 after scoring in Brazil's 1950 World Cup final loss, and Juan Schiaffino, the other Maracanazo hero, who helped Roma lift their first European Cup in 1961 alongside fellow Uruguayan Manfredini. The 1980s elevated Roma's prestige dramatically, starting with Falcao and Vierchowod during the second Serie A title, followed by Cerezo, Boniek, Voeller, and Aldair, who pioneered Roma's succession of elite defenders including Samuel and Chivu. Cafu, who won the World Cup twice as a Roma player and once as captain of Brazil, anchored the right flank; his era also featured Candela, Montella, and Gabriel Batistuta. Later recruits—Maicon, Pjanić, Salah, and Edin Dzeko, who reached the top three all-time goalscorer rankings—maintained the club's magnetism for established stars. Paulo Dybala, still actively representing the club, exemplifies the ongoing mutual affection between world-class talent and Roma's brand.

Rodrigo Mora has agreed to join Roma. Director of football Tony D'Amico has tabled a five-year contract worth two million euros per season, including bonuses, for the Porto playmaker. The agreement with agent Jorge Mendes was reached yesterday after rapid negotiations. Porto's formal approval is awaited in the coming hours. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has pressed D'Amico to complete the deal quickly, expecting two new arrivals by 15 August. Gasperini received reassurances at an emergency meeting with ownership at Vale Resort in Hensol, Wales. Roma plan to close the signing of the new forward first, then turn attention to reinforcing other positions: a right winger to deputise for Paulo Dybala, and a left winger to rotate with Wesley.