Mora close to joining Roma as Molina lands in Rome

Manu Koné is back at Trigoria after a month at the centre of transfer speculation. United, Chelsea, Atlético Madrid and Saudi Arabia all made enquiries, but only Atlético Madrid made a concrete offer—€43 million—which Roma rejected. The midfielder returns following the World Cup and a brief spell away, including a visit to his former club, and will train with Gasperini today as he works to regain match fitness. Koné's absence has left a void in Roma's midfield during pre-season. Defeats to Cardiff and Brighton exposed a lack of balance and quality in the centre of the park, with Gasperini visibly waiting for the French midfielder's return to provide the rhythm and intensity his side has lacked. After spending the summer in limbo, Koné's stay in Rome is now secure. He has consistently stated his contentment in the capital and his desire to continue his story in giallorosso, never pushing for a move away despite the interest. Following personalised training to catch up with his teammates, Koné will reclaim the midfield role that is rightfully his. Fiorentina lies ahead, and with Koné's return, Gasperini has recovered the engine that will drive Roma's campaign forward.

Roma are pressing to close a deal for Alessio Cacciamani, the 2007-born Torino left-back who impressed in Serie B last season. The club has tabled an offer of around €12 million, cutting the gap with Torino's asking price to just €2 million. Cacciamani would provide depth on the left flank behind Wesley as Roma prepare for the new season under Gasperini. To generate funds and offset spending, Roma are simultaneously working on player sales. Jan Ziolkowski is expected to receive an official offer from Saudi Arabia worth approximately €20 million—a substantial profit on his €6 million summer purchase. That deal could unlock further investment in the squad. Matías Soulé remains a possible departure to finance additional signings, though no official offers have been received so far; Milan had shown some interest in recent days but nothing concrete has materialised. Tony D'Amico continues to manage multiple fronts across the transfer market, with the aim of delivering Gasperini a complete and competitive squad ahead of the season's start.

Real Madrid have decided to keep Endrick and rule out any sale or loan move this summer. The Brazilian forward has impressed José Mourinho and will have an opportunity to prove himself at the Bernabéu. However, his long-term future remains uncertain. According to The Athletic, if Endrick fails to find regular playing time in the coming months, Madrid could revisit a loan arrangement — a model they already employed last season when he spent time at Lyon. Roma had maintained regular contact over a potential deal but have been rebuffed by Madrid's stance. The Giallorossi may attempt another approach in January, though the club's resolve appears firm. Endrick himself has not yet committed to staying; he retains the option to request a transfer if he feels sidelined. The Brazilian's participation and minutes will be the decisive factor in whether he remains in the Spanish capital or seeks an exit when the winter transfer window opens.

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.

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.

Beppe Bergomi has recommended Davide Frattesi to Roma, suggesting the midfielder could flourish under head coach Gasperini. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Bergomi said: "I would see him fitting well. Someone like him, with that style of play, could score several goals." Roma's recruitment team continues to work intensively to complete the squad. The priority is to add another striker and a winger—possibly two—in the coming weeks. No midfield moves are planned unless there are unexpected departures. Mora is close to joining the club. Bergomi also praised Gasperini, describing him as "a certainty" and part of the generation that changed football. He noted: "He is unique in managing players, on the pitch and off it. The only weakness is that his teams have big peaks and then slumps. He'll need to be smart managing the double commitment, but he has Malen's goals on his side."

Roma players Wesley and Donyell Malen featured in a viral video while relaxing on the island of Ponza. The footage, shared across social media, captured the pair in a light-hearted encounter with a local ice-cream boat attraction known as 'Il Barchino dei Gelati', one of the island's best-known features. The clip showed the players smiling, waving and enjoying downtime together in a relaxed atmosphere that quickly gained thousands of views and comments. The video was widely reposted by Roma fan accounts and social media pages, with supporters delighted to see their players taking time to unwind before returning to competitive fixtures. The moment generated significant engagement across platforms as fans shared their enjoyment of the pair's casual holiday appearance together.