Paredes: I tried to convince Dybala about Boca move

Zeki Çelik is poised to sign a new contract with Roma, with an agreement reached between player and club. The Turkish defender will commit on a three-year deal worth just under €3 million per season, with Roma able to benefit from the Decreto Crescita tax incentive. An official announcement is expected in the coming days, though Çelik will not be present at the squad's gathering on 13 July as he receives additional rest following his participation in the World Cup. He is scheduled to return around 20 July. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini requested the contract extension, keen to utilise Çelik's positional versatility. The 27-year-old can operate as a midfielder on the flank or as a right-side centre-back, offering tactical flexibility for Roma's system. The renewal represents continuity in the full-back role and reinforces the club's confidence in Çelik as a key squad member under Gasperini's management.

Negotiations between Roma and Genoa over Artem Dovbyk have stalled, with the striker unconvinced by the move and hoping to receive alternative offers. Dovbyk, who earns 3.5 million euros per season, is reluctant to commit to Genoa at this stage. Roma's valuation of the forward stands at around 25 million euros, a figure Genoa find difficult to accommodate given their financial constraints. The player's salary alone represents a significant burden for the Rossoblu, adding further complexity to the talks. Betis have also expressed interest in Dovbyk, though the Spanish club has not yet submitted an official bid. The former Girona man faces an uncertain future as his current club seeks a buyer. Roma will begin their pre-season retreat on Monday, with Dovbyk expected to train largely apart from the main group as the situation develops.

Fenerbahçe have intensified their push to sign Mason Greenwood, ramping up contact with both the English forward's representatives and Marseille in a bid to complete a deal and overtake Roma in the race for his signature. The Turkish club's aggressive move confirms reports circulating from Turkey and poses a genuine threat to Roma's interests, though the Giallorossi remain keen and attentive to developments. Roma's cautious approach is proving costly. The club's hierarchy has not yet tabled an official offer to Olympique Marseille, preferring to evaluate the full cost of the operation—transfer fee and wages combined—with extreme care. That deliberation now risks allowing Fenerbahçe to seize the advantage. Marseille's considerable financial demands complicate matters further; the French club continues to hold firm at a minimum asking price of €50 million and will not negotiate below it. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Marseille's rigidity is contractually justified: Manchester United are entitled to 40 per cent of any future sale proceeds, a clause that prevents the French side from offering discounts and forces Roma to make a swift decision to avoid Fenerbahçe closing the deal definitively.

Paulo Dybala has discussed his arrival at Roma and his experiences with the club in an interview on the Daavo Xeneize YouTube channel. The Argentine forward credited José Mourinho with bringing him to the Giallorossi, saying the manager called him frequently and wanted him to join. Dybala described his first moments at Roma as a surprise: he arrived thinking he would attend a welcome press conference but found between 10,000 and 15,000 people gathered to greet him. "From the moment I left the Argentine players' line-up, I knew I would shoot down the middle," he said of his World Cup final penalty. "I also knew the goalkeeper would throw himself. Obviously you're going to take a penalty in a World Cup final, so it's an enormous moment. But I wasn't thinking about the fact that I could miss or that the country would criticise me. At that moment I was only focused on what I had to do." Dybala praised Mourinho's impact at the club: "Mourinho is a genius. Beyond what he has done in football, with us he always spoke with respect, he protected us and he loved us. At Roma people fell in love with him for what he gave: a title after many years and a Europa League final that, in my opinion, we deserved." He also commented on the performance of his national teammate, saying: "He is doing well at the World Cup, I follow him carefully. He is a good guy, as well as a strong player at Roma. I am happy for him."

Leandro Paredes has offered insight into Paulo Dybala's decision to remain at Roma rather than join Boca Juniors. The former Roma midfielder, who was part of Argentina's World Cup squad, revealed he had spoken extensively with Dybala about the move in recent months. Paredes explained that a switch to Boca had been among the options written into Dybala's contract and was something the forward had considered. Ultimately, Dybala chose to stay at the Giallorossi. Paredes praised the decision, noting the stability Dybala has found in Rome. "His life is very tranquil there," Paredes said. "I wish him only the best, because he is an exceptional player." The comments underline Dybala's contentment with his situation at the club despite the temptation of a return to his native Argentina.

Mason Greenwood's move to Roma has hit a significant impasse over salary demands. Initially enthusiastic about joining the Giallorossi and having reached an understanding with the club, the English forward's stance hardened after Fenerbahçe tabled a rival offer reportedly worth approximately 7 million euros net per season plus commissions. Greenwood's father and agent have since pushed Roma to increase their wage proposal, but the club remains firm on a ceiling of 4.5 million euros net annually, creating a substantial gap that threatens to derail the transfer. Meanwhile, Roma's hierarchy has progressed swiftly on contract renewals. Extensions for Zeki Çelik and Paulo Dybala are reportedly close to completion, with only official announcement pending. Lorenzo Pellegrini's renewal remains slightly unresolved, with approximately half a million euros still to be settled, though this is described as a minor obstacle unlikely to prevent final agreement. On the academy front, Roma has confirmed the appointment of Massimo Margiotta as new head of the youth academy following his official departure from Verona.