Mora's Blueprint: Pure Playmaker at Heart, but Porto Has Shown Him the Wing Too

AS Roma and Porto have moved significantly closer to completing the transfer of Rodrigo Mora, with the Friedkin Group adjusting their offer to meet Porto president Villas Boas's demands. After days of protracted negotiations and tension between the clubs, a deal structure has emerged: Roma will pay €25 million for a permanent transfer plus 50% of any future resale fee, with an option to cancel the resale clause in 2027 by paying an additional €20 million. Agent Jorge Mendes played a key role in rebuilding the relationship between the two parties after earlier friction. Mora's desire to join Roma has never wavered, and he will now be accommodated. The player will sign a contract running until 2031 with a salary structure starting at €1.8 million and rising slightly above €2 million. The deal represents a significant move by the Friedkin Group to break the deadlock, signalling their commitment to strengthening the squad ahead of the new season. With Mora's arrival imminent, Roma's transfer strategy will shift focus to the wings. Head coach Gasperini is seeking reinforcement on the flanks, particularly on the left side, despite young prospect Lulli impressing in pre-season friendlies. Three names are under consideration: Cacciamani, Udogie, and Luis Henrique. The Brazilian winger, who can operate on either flank, has signalled openness to a move to Rome, with a final decision expected in the coming days.

Roma have revived negotiations with Porto over the signing of playmaker Rodrigo Mora after the club's owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin intervened to reopen discussions. The move came after sustained pressure from Mora, his adviser Luis Miguel Henrique, agent Jorge Mendes, and the Friedkin ownership to break a week-long deadlock between the clubs. Roma have tabled a fresh proposal on terms of €25 million plus performance bonuses and 50% of any future resale value, with an option for the Giallorossi to cancel those sell-on clauses by paying an additional €25 million. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is a keen admirer of the 25-year-old. Porto and Roma are now working in the same direction, buoyed by Mora's clear desire to join the club and the commitment shown by Roma's ownership. Document exchanges were expected to take place imminently, clearing the path for Roma to pursue a separate target at left-back. The club have identified Inter's Luis Henrique, a Brazilian defender who has already agreed in principle to the move, as their primary option in that position, with Tottenham's Udogie standing as an alternative.

Roma have renewed their pursuit of Rodrigo Mora and significantly improved their offer after two days of negotiations, with the Portuguese club poised to receive €25 million upfront plus a 50% sell-on clause on any future transfer. Director D'Amico and head coach Gasperini are pressing to fill a vacancy at left-winger, a position Roma have lacked for more than a year. Mora remained on the bench for the full 90 minutes in Rio Ave's match yesterday evening and is now within touching distance of joining the club. The latest contacts between Roma and Rio Ave have been positive, according to Fabrizio Romano. Roma's transfer activity continues through the August recess, underlining the urgency placed on securing a wide player. The structure of the deal—€25 million immediate payment with half of any future sale retained by Rio Ave—reflects the clubs' progress towards an agreement after the recent stalemate.

Paulo Dybala produced a standout display to help Roma earn a 2–2 draw against Borussia Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park in a friendly on 15 August. The Giallorossi twice took the lead through Dybala's attacking play before the German side fought back to level the match. The result offers a morale boost ahead of Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina in the coming days, after a poor defeat to Brighton during the pre-season schedule. Gasperini's side finished their summer training camp on a positive note following the Dortmund fixture. Donyell Malen continued to show signs of being short of full match fitness, while there were opportunities for other squad members. The manager was sufficiently impressed by Lulli's contribution to consider giving him a more permanent place in the first-team setup moving forward. The draw demonstrated Roma's attacking threat despite defensive lapses that allowed Dortmund back into the contest. Manu Koné returned to action and Molina made his debut in what was an encouraging test of Gasperini's tactical ideas before the competitive season begins.

Roma drew 2–2 with Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park in their final pre-season fixture before the Serie A campaign begins. Paulo Dybala opened the scoring in the 4th minute, then set up Bryan Cristante for a second-half header five minutes later, but goals from Ryerson and Guirassy at the 12th and 28th minutes brought Dortmund level. Gasperini fielded a strong starting XI featuring the familiar defensive trio of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, with Mile Svilar in goal. Bryan Cristante and Neil El Aynaoui controlled midfield, while Matías Soulé and Dybala supported Donyell Malen up front. Lorenzo Pellegrini, Niccolò Pisilli and Wesley were absent, the latter sidelined by a mild ankle sprain. The match showcased Roma's physical improvement over the summer, though defensive vulnerabilities remain. Dybala played with notable sharpness, while Gasperini offered frequent tactical instruction to Soulé, urging him to widen play. Roma's pre-season campaign closes in Germany, with the squad returning to Trigoria on Wednesday morning to resume preparations for the opening league fixture against Fiorentina. The match against Fabio Grosso's side arrives in seven days at the Stadio Olimpico, marking Roma's first competitive test and their return to Champions League football under Gasperini, now in his second season in charge.

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.

Roma will resume training on Wednesday 19 August, with Wesley and Pisilli both undergoing assessment ahead of the opening Serie A fixture against Fiorentina on Monday 25 August. Wesley is nursing an ankle problem that will be evaluated at the resumption to determine whether he is fit for the season's first match. Pisilli will be checked on the same day, though there is confidence both players will be available for the trip to the Viola. For the Fiorentina opener, Roma are unlikely to welcome significant new arrivals into the starting XI. Molina is expected to start against Fiorentina, while Koné requires assessment. Soulé will operate on the left wing with Dybala on the right, though Pellegrini is not yet available for selection. Around 60,000 supporters are expected at the Olimpico for the match.

Paulo Dybala produced a standout display to help Roma earn a 2–2 draw against Borussia Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park in a friendly on 15 August. The Giallorossi twice took the lead through Dybala's attacking play before the German side fought back to level the match. The result offers a morale boost ahead of Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina in the coming days, after a poor defeat to Brighton during the pre-season schedule. Gasperini's side finished their summer training camp on a positive note following the Dortmund fixture. Donyell Malen continued to show signs of being short of full match fitness, while there were opportunities for other squad members. The manager was sufficiently impressed by Lulli's contribution to consider giving him a more permanent place in the first-team setup moving forward. The draw demonstrated Roma's attacking threat despite defensive lapses that allowed Dortmund back into the contest. Manu Koné returned to action and Molina made his debut in what was an encouraging test of Gasperini's tactical ideas before the competitive season begins.

Roma drew 2–2 with Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park in their final pre-season fixture before the Serie A campaign begins. Paulo Dybala opened the scoring in the 4th minute, then set up Bryan Cristante for a second-half header five minutes later, but goals from Ryerson and Guirassy at the 12th and 28th minutes brought Dortmund level. Gasperini fielded a strong starting XI featuring the familiar defensive trio of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, with Mile Svilar in goal. Bryan Cristante and Neil El Aynaoui controlled midfield, while Matías Soulé and Dybala supported Donyell Malen up front. Lorenzo Pellegrini, Niccolò Pisilli and Wesley were absent, the latter sidelined by a mild ankle sprain. The match showcased Roma's physical improvement over the summer, though defensive vulnerabilities remain. Dybala played with notable sharpness, while Gasperini offered frequent tactical instruction to Soulé, urging him to widen play. Roma's pre-season campaign closes in Germany, with the squad returning to Trigoria on Wednesday morning to resume preparations for the opening league fixture against Fiorentina. The match against Fabio Grosso's side arrives in seven days at the Stadio Olimpico, marking Roma's first competitive test and their return to Champions League football under Gasperini, now in his second season in charge.