New faces debut in Serie A: from Abraham and Dovbyk to Soulé and Dybala

Paulo Dybala continues to be the focal point of Roma's identity despite being almost 33 years old and approaching his November birthday. The Argentine remains the club's technical compass at a time when players, coaches and executives have come and gone. Gasperini's role in keeping Dybala at Roma was pivotal; without the coach's intervention, the winger would likely have moved to MLS or Boca Juniors. Even as time passes since his headline arrival in 2022, Dybala is expected to draw the loudest roar from the 67,000 fans during Monday's lineup announcements before the Fiorentina match. The article raises a deeper question about Roma's tactical reliance on the Argentine. While his presence guarantees excitement, the concern is whether he has become the sole player capable of single-handedly changing a match. The underlying tension is simple: with Dybala, there is joy; without him, what happens? Matías Soulé attempted to fill that role last season before a groin injury sidelined him. Bryan Zaragoza, described as a player with crystalline talent, may attempt to assume this responsibility, though banking on him to establish himself in that role confidently represents optimism. The broader question facing Gasperini is whether Roma can function decisively in Dybala's absence or remain overly dependent on one player's brilliance.

Gian Piero Gasperini has resolved most selection questions ahead of Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday evening at the Olimpico, with the main decision point centring on the attacking midfield role behind Donyell Malen. Rodrigo Mora, described as a new acquisition, has made an immediate positive impression in early training at Trigoria. The Portuguese player arrives with an advantage in match fitness after Porto's season had started over a week earlier, and currently leads Matías Soulé for the chance to support Paulo Dybala from the start, though Soulé's market situation remains fluid. Better news comes from the flanks. Wesley has fully recovered from the ankle problem sustained before the Borussia Dortmund friendly and completed a full training session, clearing him to occupy the left wing regularly alongside Niccolò Pisilli. On the opposite flank, Nahuel Molina is poised for his Roma debut, eager to play after serving a seven-match ban with the Argentine national team.

Donyell Malen has set his sights on the Serie A capocannoniere award after a prolific run of 14 goals in 18 matches last season, averaging 0.85 goals per game and scoring the decisive goal at Verona that secured Champions League qualification. The Dutch forward is now targeting the crown held by reigning champion Lautaro Martinez. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is designing a tactical framework to sustain Malen's elite scoring rate from the opening fixture against Fiorentina. At that match, Malen will operate as the central striker with a three-man attacking support behind him led by Paulo Dybala, alongside either Rodrigo Mora or Matías Soulé, as the club awaits the full recovery of Lorenzo Pellegrini. Gasperini is also considering a 4-2-3-1 formation later in the season that would deploy Dybala, Mora and Castro simultaneously as attacking midfielders in support of Malen alone, creating what the coach sees as one of Serie A's most explosive attacking combinations.

Paulo Dybala continues to be the focal point of Roma's identity despite being almost 33 years old and approaching his November birthday. The Argentine remains the club's technical compass at a time when players, coaches and executives have come and gone. Gasperini's role in keeping Dybala at Roma was pivotal; without the coach's intervention, the winger would likely have moved to MLS or Boca Juniors. Even as time passes since his headline arrival in 2022, Dybala is expected to draw the loudest roar from the 67,000 fans during Monday's lineup announcements before the Fiorentina match. The article raises a deeper question about Roma's tactical reliance on the Argentine. While his presence guarantees excitement, the concern is whether he has become the sole player capable of single-handedly changing a match. The underlying tension is simple: with Dybala, there is joy; without him, what happens? Matías Soulé attempted to fill that role last season before a groin injury sidelined him. Bryan Zaragoza, described as a player with crystalline talent, may attempt to assume this responsibility, though banking on him to establish himself in that role confidently represents optimism. The broader question facing Gasperini is whether Roma can function decisively in Dybala's absence or remain overly dependent on one player's brilliance.

Gian Piero Gasperini has resolved most selection questions ahead of Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday evening at the Olimpico, with the main decision point centring on the attacking midfield role behind Donyell Malen. Rodrigo Mora, described as a new acquisition, has made an immediate positive impression in early training at Trigoria. The Portuguese player arrives with an advantage in match fitness after Porto's season had started over a week earlier, and currently leads Matías Soulé for the chance to support Paulo Dybala from the start, though Soulé's market situation remains fluid. Better news comes from the flanks. Wesley has fully recovered from the ankle problem sustained before the Borussia Dortmund friendly and completed a full training session, clearing him to occupy the left wing regularly alongside Niccolò Pisilli. On the opposite flank, Nahuel Molina is poised for his Roma debut, eager to play after serving a seven-match ban with the Argentine national team.

Donyell Malen has set his sights on the Serie A capocannoniere award after a prolific run of 14 goals in 18 matches last season, averaging 0.85 goals per game and scoring the decisive goal at Verona that secured Champions League qualification. The Dutch forward is now targeting the crown held by reigning champion Lautaro Martinez. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is designing a tactical framework to sustain Malen's elite scoring rate from the opening fixture against Fiorentina. At that match, Malen will operate as the central striker with a three-man attacking support behind him led by Paulo Dybala, alongside either Rodrigo Mora or Matías Soulé, as the club awaits the full recovery of Lorenzo Pellegrini. Gasperini is also considering a 4-2-3-1 formation later in the season that would deploy Dybala, Mora and Castro simultaneously as attacking midfielders in support of Malen alone, creating what the coach sees as one of Serie A's most explosive attacking combinations.

Robinio Vaz will remain at Roma through the closing of the transfer window, with the club rejecting any sale of the French striker acquired eight months ago from Olympique Marseille for €25 million. A proposed move to Bologna fell through during negotiations involving Castro and Dovbyk. Vaz has used recent friendlies to impress new head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and demonstrate his value to the squad. With the centre-forward role occupied by Malen and Castro, Vaz is being positioned as a creative attacking midfielder, a role that could leverage his distinctive qualities. Gasperini's tactical system offers intriguing prospects for the French talent, who possesses pace and physical strength unmatched by other options in that position—Dybala, Pellegrini, Mora and Soulé. Last season, his intervention proved decisive in a closely fought match against Lecce after an initial adaptation period in Italian football. Vaz suffered a first-degree medial collateral ligament injury to his right knee while training, an injury sustained in unusual circumstances: he explained to the club he was injured while skiing in summer. After overcoming the setback within just over a week, he has recovered fully and is ready to compete for Gasperini's confidence.

AS Roma close their pre-season programme against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on 15 August, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini using the fixture as a final dress rehearsal before the league campaign begins. The international-standard test comes just days before Roma's competitive debut and offers Gasperini a last chance to assess squad fitness, run through tactical ideas, and resolve outstanding questions ahead of the official start. Roma line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Mile Svilar in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, and Neil El Aynaoui, Bryan Cristante, Devyne Rensch, and Matías Soulé across midfield and wing positions. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen support Artem Dovbyk in attack. After weeks of preparation at Trigoria and at the summer training base, the clash against the Germans represents a significant opportunity to measure the team's progress and condition. Borussia Dortmund start in a 3-4-1-2 shape under manager Niko Kovac. Following this encounter, Roma's focus shifts entirely to the start of Serie A.

Roma take on Borussia Dortmund in a pre-season friendly at 17:30 today, but the clash is overshadowed by an injury crisis that has left Gian Piero Gasperini with just 23 players available — only 16 outfield players and three goalkeepers. Wesley suffered a right ankle sprain yesterday, joining Niccolò Pisilli (soleus injury) and Lorenzo Pellegrini (returning to group training in mid-September) on the sidelines. The Brazilian's injury mirrors problems sustained during the Welsh training camp. With 15 days remaining in the summer transfer window, Roma's squad position has deteriorated markedly. Eight players have departed — Dovbyk, Ferguson, Angeliño, Tsimikas, Celik, Zaragoza, Venturino and El Shaarawy — while only three signings have arrived: Molina, Castro and Koulierakis. Gasperini highlighted the shortage with a pointed response on competitiveness versus last season: "According to you?", underlining particular weaknesses on the flanks, in attack and midfield, where only three players are currently available. The Dortmund match will provide minutes for Molina while also testing Roma's defensive resilience; the rearguard conceded 11 goals across four pre-season matches against Cannes, Brighton, Cardiff and Newport without a clean sheet.

Genoa and Brighton have reached an agreement to loan Evan Ferguson to the Serie A club, with Brighton covering 30 per cent of his wages. The move requires only final approval from the Irish striker, who is expected to be available from early October following left ankle surgery he underwent in March. Ferguson, a former Roma player, joins Daniele De Rossi's Genoa squad as the club prepares for the 2026–27 season. The 21-year-old arrived at Roma on loan from Brighton last summer with a €40 million purchase option, but that deal did not result in a permanent transfer. His return to Serie A on loan represents a fresh opportunity after his recovery from surgery.

Evan Ferguson is on the verge of joining Genoa on loan from Brighton as manager Daniele De Rossi seeks to bolster his attacking options. The Irish forward endured a difficult spell at Roma last season, scoring 3 goals and providing 2 assists in Serie A. Genoa have been in negotiations with Brighton for several days to complete the loan move, with the transfer reportedly close to completion. Ferguson's departure from Roma comes after an underwhelming campaign that saw the 2004-born attacker make limited impact. The move would give him a fresh opportunity to prove himself in Serie A. Earlier in his time at Roma, Ferguson had impressed in early matches of the previous season against Bologna and Pisa, earning praise even from Gasperini during that period. His move to Genoa would follow the arrival of Baldanzi to De Rossi's squad.

Roma take on Borussia Dortmund in a pre-season friendly at 17:30 today, but the clash is overshadowed by an injury crisis that has left Gian Piero Gasperini with just 23 players available — only 16 outfield players and three goalkeepers. Wesley suffered a right ankle sprain yesterday, joining Niccolò Pisilli (soleus injury) and Lorenzo Pellegrini (returning to group training in mid-September) on the sidelines. The Brazilian's injury mirrors problems sustained during the Welsh training camp. With 15 days remaining in the summer transfer window, Roma's squad position has deteriorated markedly. Eight players have departed — Dovbyk, Ferguson, Angeliño, Tsimikas, Celik, Zaragoza, Venturino and El Shaarawy — while only three signings have arrived: Molina, Castro and Koulierakis. Gasperini highlighted the shortage with a pointed response on competitiveness versus last season: "According to you?", underlining particular weaknesses on the flanks, in attack and midfield, where only three players are currently available. The Dortmund match will provide minutes for Molina while also testing Roma's defensive resilience; the rearguard conceded 11 goals across four pre-season matches against Cannes, Brighton, Cardiff and Newport without a clean sheet.