Pietro Mezzaroma, Roma co-owner in 1993, dies at 91

Roma's pursuit of Givairo Read has collapsed after Feyenoord unexpectedly raised their demands during final-stage talks. Roma had offered approximately €28–29 million in total, including bonuses, moving closer to Feyenoord's initial €30 million valuation and exceeding rival offers from Nottingham Forest. After requesting a night to consider the proposal, Feyenoord shifted position dramatically, demanding €30 million plus bonuses to reach nearly €35 million—a move that reportedly frustrated Roma's hierarchy. The sudden escalation prompted Roma to immediately abandon the Read option and pivot to pursuing Molina instead. The breakdown underscores the volatility of late-stage transfer negotiations and the tactical positioning often deployed by selling clubs to maximize fees. Roma's swift decision to walk away suggests the club's preference for alternative targets over capitulating to what they viewed as unreasonable late demands.

Pietro Mezzaroma, a prominent Roman property developer and member of one of the city's most influential building families in the second half of the 20th century, has died at the age of 91. Mezzaroma oversaw the development of major residential areas including Cinecittà, San Basilio, Talenti and EUR. His connection to AS Roma stems from May 1993, when he and Sensi acquired the club from Ciarrapico. The partnership was short-lived: within six months, Mezzaroma sold his stake to Franco Sensi, who became the sole owner and president. Sensi would go on to lead the club through a transformative period in its history.

Roma recovered from their Cardiff defeat with a commanding 4–1 victory over Newport County in a pre-season friendly. Gian Piero Gasperini's side impressed throughout, with Mario Hermoso opening the scoring in the first half and new arrivals Santiago Castro and Koulierakis both netting their first goals in giallorosso colours. Matías Soulé added the fourth to complete the rout. CEO John Galantic and Ryan Friedkin attended the match at the stadium. Hermoso featured prominently, winning a penalty, scoring, and providing an assist. He praised the team's adaptation and mentality under Gasperini, emphasising the positive impact of the new signings and the squad's unity. On the transfer front, Roma's recruitment drive continues across multiple fronts. Salah‑Eddine rejected a move to Olympiacos despite an agreement between the clubs. The focus shifts to left-back targets, with ongoing dialogue with Torino over Alessio Cacciamani—Roma are considering raising their offer. A €17 million proposal has been submitted to Atlético Madrid for Nahuel Molina, with talks described as open but difficult. Separately, negotiations with Feyenoord over Read remain active; Roma have agreement with the player but not yet with the Dutch club, who await potential rival bids from Nottingham Forest.