Pruzzo: Roma need a top-quality player to raise the level

Lorenzo Pellegrini has signed a new contract with Roma, turning down offers from Juventus and Besiktas to remain with the club. The midfielder, born in 1996 and formally out of contract from 1 July, will be welcomed back by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini on his return from Roma's pre-season training camp in Wales and England, where a friendly against Brighton is scheduled for 8 August. Pellegrini has used recent weeks to recover from injury, a period that Sky Sport reports helped all parties involved reach the best decision. The club is expected to announce the renewal on 7 August. The deal is structured as a one-year agreement. The midfielder's decision to commit to Roma underlines his importance to Gasperini's plans for the 2026-27 season. Pellegrini, who wears the number 7, was free to negotiate with any club after his previous terms expired but chose to stay at the Giallorossi rather than pursue moves elsewhere.

Gian Piero Gasperini cancelled a scheduled Sky Sport interview on the evening of 6 August, the third occasion on which he has declined to speak to media during his time at Roma. The cancellation came after a market meeting at the club's training base at Hensol extended beyond the planned timeframe. CEO Galantic remained at the resort; Ryan Friedkin had left that morning but joined the call remotely alongside director of sport D'Amico, who has been travelling between Milan and Rome to oversee ongoing negotiations. Gasperini is growing impatient over the club's failure to secure a left-sided attacking player, a position the head coach views as critical before the season opens in 17 days. Roma continue to pursue Nusa from RB Leipzig, but the German club's asking price remains around €60 million and they show no willingness to negotiate. The club has also explored Fofana, though his fitness raises concerns. Attempts to discuss Martinelli and Leão have stalled: Martinelli's wage demand of €7 million in sterling is considered prohibitive, and Leão's situation is similarly complicated. The ownership has reaffirmed that its strict salary cap policy will not change. Molina is expected to arrive within days and will join Castro and Koulierakis on the list of new arrivals, but without the left winger the squad remains short of Gasperini's requirements. The meeting left Gasperini unsettled, and he chose silence rather than face media questions. He is unlikely to expect significant late signings and may address the press after Roma's friendly against Brighton, their final pre-season match in England before returning to the capital.

Roma will not sell midfielder Manu Koné for less than €60 million, the club has made clear as the French player returns from post-World Cup leave following Roma's training camp in Wales. Manchester United, the main interested party, has stepped back from pursuing the 2001-born midfielder in recent days. According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Manchester United manager Carrick has decided against the move, unconvinced by Koné's profile and instead preferring either a player with proven Premier League experience or one with significant international pedigree, such as Real Madrid's Tchouameni. Koné joined Roma on loan with an obligation to buy for €18 million from Borussia Mönchengladbach in August 2024 and has since become a key figure in the club's midfield. Roma's valuation reflects the midfielder's importance to Gian Piero Gasperini's squad as the 2026–27 season approaches. The club's refusal to entertain bids below €60 million signals their determination to keep him at the Stadio Olimpico unless a suitor meets their asking price.

Neil El Aynaoui has dismissed interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona to focus entirely on Roma and the new season ahead. Speaking on Radio Radio, the Morocco international reflected on his first year in Italian football as a foundation for growth. "It was the first time I was leaving France and facing a new championship. This experience has made me grow and today I feel I have much more experience," he said. El Aynaoui praised head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's demanding methods and clear vision. "He is a very demanding coach and knows exactly what he wants. We work hard and I think that, thanks to him, we are making great progress," he explained. The 22-year-old also reflected on his Serie A debut against Bologna, where the atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico left a strong impression: "The first match against Bologna was special. It was the first time I really saw the stadium full: the atmosphere impressed me." Looking ahead to Roma's Champions League campaign, El Aynaoui expressed his eagerness to compete at European football's highest level. "When I arrived, everyone told me the objective was to qualify for the Champions League. Today I am very happy to be able to play it. It is a dream for every footballer and I cannot wait to start," he said. Roma face Fiorentina in their next fixture.

Roma are continuing their pre-season preparations in the United Kingdom with a focus on getting Donyell Malen back to his best. The Dutch winger arrived at camp below match fitness after playing through the final five months of last season without rest, accumulating fatigue from both club and international commitments. He was reduced to 25 minutes in the Cardiff friendly and missed the Newport match due to fever. Head coach Gasperini has implemented a tailored recovery programme: Malen trained separately on Wednesday following a one-to-one consultation with the coach, completing ball work, shooting drills, and extensive running to close the fitness gap with his teammates ahead of the league opener on 24 August. El Aynaoui, also returning from international duty, is following a modified training schedule, while Evan N'Dicka, who did not feature in Copa America matches, requires no such adjustment. Loyal captain Lorenzo Pellegrini will rejoin the squad soon after missing pre-season through injury and rejecting offers from Juventus and Besiktas. He has agreed to accept a one-year contract at a reduced salary—dropping from €6 million to €2.5 million annually—in the hope of negotiating a two-year extension next summer. His initial demand for a three-year deal shifted to this more flexible arrangement, positioning Roma's rebuild around his leadership. On the transfer front, Molina is en route to the club, whilst the pursuit of Nusa remains on hold despite his public denial of requesting a move from Leipzig. Fofana of Lyon stands as an alternative. Right-back targets include Endrick of Real Madrid. Roma conclude their Welsh camp tomorrow before heading to Brighton for a friendly at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.

Roma secured a 4-1 victory over Newport County in their second pre-season friendly in Wales, bouncing back from a heavy defeat to Cardiff. New arrivals Castro and Koulierakis both found the net, along with Hermoso and Soulé, in a convincing performance at a League Two side. Hermoso opened the scoring with a run from deep while operating as a centre midfielder alongside El Aynaoui, and also earned the penalty that Castro converted from the spot for the 2-0 lead. Castro added a second goal later in the match, with Koulierakis also getting on the scoresheet. Gasperini deployed his favoured formation featuring a playmaker—Cristante in this instance—and two strikers, pairing Dybala with Castro. Although Roma asserted early control, they managed the game more efficiently once ahead, allowing both new signings and Soulé to capitalize on chances created.

Mile Svilar has expressed his ambition to play at some of Europe's biggest stadiums with Roma in the Champions League. Speaking on Radio Romanista, the goalkeeper revealed he has never visited the Bernabéu as a professional and has also never appeared at Dortmund's ground or Paris Saint-Germain's Parc des Princes. Svilar stressed the importance of Roma starting the 2026-27 season strongly in Serie A before the club's European campaign begins. He noted that fine margins often decide final positions, observing that in each of his last two seasons Roma missed Champions League qualification by just one or two points from Juventus and Milan. "We must aim to finish in the top eight and then play in the play-offs," he said. "Before we see who we'll play in the Champions League, we must first start the season well in Serie A." The goalkeeper expressed particular enthusiasm about the prospect of playing at the Bernabéu, saying: "For me at the Bernabéu, just for the experience of the stadium. But it would also be beautiful at the Olimpico!" He added that Roma will travel to Dortmund within ten days. Svilar believes matches against elite European opponents offer valuable learning opportunities and are enjoyable contests to play in.

Mile Svilar has opened up about his early training under his father Ratko, who worked with him on distribution and dealing with one-on-one situations from a young age. Speaking to Radio Romanista, the Roma goalkeeper explained how he developed his characteristic style of rushing out to close space, a trait instilled during childhood coaching sessions. Svilar credited his father's demanding approach for shaping his mentality. "When I took a ball in the face and wanted to cry, he said no," Svilar said. "With him it wasn't possible to cry. So I learned that way and thank goodness it was tough." The goalkeeper emphasised that fear was never a factor: "Maybe at the start, yes and no. But I have a father who did the same job, so he wouldn't allow it." This formative period under his father's tutelage instilled both technical skill and mental resilience that continue to define Svilar's approach in goal.

Mile Svilar has reflected on Roma's qualification for the Champions League last season and his own development as the club's first-choice goalkeeper. Speaking at the club's pre-season training camp in Cardiff, Svilar credited a collective squad effort for securing European football, noting that different players contributed at different moments throughout the campaign. "There was a shared contribution from the start of the season to the end," he said. "When one player wasn't performing at their best, another stepped up, and vice versa. The whole squad's contribution was phenomenal." Developing since his record-breaking Champions League appearance at age 18 years and 65 days in 2017, when he saved a penalty from Anthony Martial, Svilar described himself as a more mature goalkeeper today. He expressed Roma's ambitions in Europe this season, stating: "We must aim to progress from the group, obviously finishing in the top eight, then we want to play the play-offs. But first we have two or three league matches where we need to start well, start strong immediately." He identified his areas for improvement, particularly build-up play from the back, and acknowledged that goalkeepers develop greater completeness over time. Svilar also expressed interest in playing at grounds he has never visited, including the Bernabéu and Parc des Princes, though he suggested facing José Mourinho's Real Madrid at the Bernabéu would hold special appeal for the experience.