N'Dicka injury update: Ivory Coast coach provides recovery timeline

Wesley is close to returning to full training at Roma's Trigoria facility, bringing positive news for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini ahead of the summer preparation period. The midfielder's recovery is progressing well through its staged phases. Details of his specific injury timeline and expected availability remain unclear from the available information.

The World Cup Round of 16 stage begins today with Morocco playing Canada at 19:00, followed by France versus Paraguay at 23:00. Morocco, fresh from eliminating the Netherlands, will field El Aynaoui and Bouaddi in midfield, with a possible opportunity for Salah-Eddine on the left wing. France remain undefeated and face Paraguay seeking to advance to the quarter-finals. The winner of the Morocco-Canada match will meet France or Paraguay in the next round, potentially creating an all-Roma derby scenario. Meanwhile, AS Roma has three players still in World Cup contention: Koné, El Aynaoui, and Salah-Eddine. Koné will start for France in place of Aurélien Tchouameni, the Real Madrid midfielder who is sidelined by a thigh injury but is expected to recover for the quarter-finals if France progresses. Three other Roma players—Çelik, Ndicka, and Malen—have been eliminated from the tournament in recent days.

Paulo Dybala is close to signing a contract renewal with AS Roma, with an agreement reportedly within hours. The Argentine playmaker has impressed Roma in recent matches, convincing the club to extend his stay for another season. Final details surrounding a bonus from the previous season are being resolved. Dybala underwent surgery in March under Professor Pier Paolo Mariani, who addressed questions about the player's future durability. Mariani dismissed concerns that Dybala cannot sustain peak performance over a full campaign, attributing his past absences to muscular injuries and functional overload rather than structural weakness or fragility. He stated: "According to me there are a few prejudices linked to his ability to be competitive for the entire season. Knowing human physiology well, I believe Dybala is an absolute world-class player. In the past his problems were mainly linked to muscle injuries or functional overloads, not a problem concerning his durability or the supposed fragility of the player. With expertise linked especially to preparation and with personalized training he can be managed, because it is better to prevent than to cure. With these attentions he can have total durability and can play at high levels until he is 40 years old." Mariani confirmed Dybala made excellent progress in his recovery, working with great consistency during rehabilitation. The surgeon emphasized that differentiated programming and tailored training regimens can prevent recurring issues.

Roma successfully resisted attempts by rival clubs to acquire key players on June 30th. Juventus approached the club for Mile Svilar, while Inter and Porto both made offers for Niccolò Pisilli. Additionally, Matías Soulé rejected a move to Saudi Arabia, with his agent expressing frustration over how the negotiations were handled. Despite pressure from multiple directions, Roma declined all approaches and maintained their squad. UEFA has granted Roma a one-month extension on the deadline for including player sales in their financial records due to World Cup scheduling, though this grace period does not apply to new acquisitions. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has made clear his desire to retain Wesley, Evan N'Dicka, and Manu Koné as cornerstones of his squad, and the club hierarchy has prioritized keeping the manager satisfied. Roma intends to argue to UEFA that they can manage financial losses through peripheral transactions if necessary. Failure to meet Financial Fair Play requirements could expose Roma to fines exceeding €10 million and squad restrictions in 2027–28, though harsher penalties are considered unlikely. The club's strategy appears focused on retaining its top-tier players while strengthening the squad around the margins in the coming weeks.

Inter have emerged as interested suitors for Roma defender N'Dicka, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini reportedly reluctant to lose the player. However, Roma's financial situation ahead of the June 30 transfer deadline has created pressure to consider departures. The club's hierarchy, including D'Amico, is actively working through the final hours before the cutoff date. Gasperini's preference to retain N'Dicka contrasts with Roma's need to generate funds, setting up a potential conflict between sporting and financial priorities at the club.

The Netherlands and Ivory Coast progressed in World Cup action, with Donyell Malen and Evan Ndicka involved in their respective national team matches. Malen featured for the Dutch, while Ndicka appeared for Ivory Coast and is reportedly moving closer to full fitness. Both players are on Roma's roster and their international performances carry implications for the club's squad availability in the coming weeks. Details of the specific match outcomes and Ndicka's injury status remain unclear from the available information.