Racial abuse mars Roma's win at Verona as Malen replaced

Roma's training camp in the UK ended in defeat as they lost a friendly match against Brighton at the American Express Stadium. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the media after the loss, indicating that something was lacking in the team's performance. Lorenzo Pellegrini signed a contract extension through 2027 during this period. Separately, Torino president Urbano Cairo commented on Alessio Cacciamani and Roma's interest in the player, though no transfer details were specified.

Roma lost 3–0 to Brighton in a pre-season friendly at the American Express Stadium, their final test during their warm-weather camp in England. Goals from Rutter and Ayari in the first half, and a second from Ayari in the second, secured the home side's victory. Despite a decent opening 45 minutes, Roma's display deteriorated markedly after the interval. Gasperini fielded several academy players and made experimental changes, including replacing Çelik with Molina and Dovbyk with Castro. After the match, Gasperini addressed the media about the transfer market. He said: "If I do the count at the moment we are few. We have replaced Çelik with Molina. We have replaced Dovbyk with Castro, who I think will give us good satisfaction and for me it was a good operation. And then this boy (Koulierakis) arrived to complete the defence, and he seems interesting to me." The coach acknowledged further work remains: "If you count numerically it seems to me we still need something, but you know who to go for and how to close. There are good possibilities. D'Amico is searching and negotiating very young but also very important players. That is the indication." Lorenzo Pellegrini has signed a contract extension keeping him at Roma until June 2027. Roma announced the deal, describing Pellegrini—developed through the academy—as embodying the club's sporting vision and values. The squad returns to Trigoria before Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina on 24 August. Real Madrid's Endrick remains a target for the attacking midfield, with Gasperini viewing him as a priority to strengthen the forward line.

Roma suffered a 3–0 defeat at Brighton in a pre-season friendly at the American Express Stadium on 8 August, the final test of their training camp in England before returning to the Italian capital. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged a disappointing performance but said the squad lacked concentration rather than fitness. He noted that players returning from the World Cup — Evan N'Dicka, Neil El Aynaoui, and Donyell Malen — needed extra time to recover. "It's not really a fitness issue, but more the fact that we played disconnected as a team, certainly not with the right concentration," Gasperini said. "We have some players coming back from World Cup competitions like Ndicka, El Aynaoui and Malen who are a bit depleted. We need to be patient because when you return from these tournaments it takes a little longer to recover." On the transfer front, Gasperini confirmed that midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini will miss at least another month with injury, likely returning in September. He acknowledged that Roma currently have limited squad depth and are pursuing new signings. "If I do the count at this moment we are few," he said, noting that Alessandro Molina has arrived to replace Zeki Çelik and will be seen in action on Tuesday, and that João Bahrim Castro was brought in to replace Artem Dovbyk alongside defender Koulierakis. Gasperini added: "D'Amico is searching and negotiating very young but also very important players. That is the direction."

Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged Roma's transfer shortfall after a poor showing in a friendly against Brighton, conceding that the club lacks adequate depth. The head coach said: "If we do the count, numerically there is still a need for something, but you know how it is. D'Amico is negotiating very young and very important players. That is the indication." Gasperini stressed that squad decisions rest with the club's chief executive, saying: "We have a chief executive, you will have to ask him these questions and he will say what Roma can and cannot do. On numbers and market possibilities the ball passes to him." Gasperini cited returnees from international duty—Evan N'Dicka, Neil El Aynaoui, and Donyell Malen—as still recovering their sharpness. He praised Paulo Dybala's fitness and noted that recent arrivals from the start of preseason had performed well. The manager confirmed that an injured player "will be out for at least a month," with discussion to resume from September onward. Gasperini also highlighted recent squad changes: "We replaced Çelik with Molina, whom we will see on Tuesday. We replaced Dovbyk with Castro, who I believe will give us great satisfaction. And then Koulierakis arrived, who seems interesting to complete the defence."

Roma suffered a 3–0 defeat at Brighton in a pre-season friendly at the American Express Stadium on 8 August, the final test of their training camp in England before returning to the Italian capital. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged a disappointing performance but said the squad lacked concentration rather than fitness. He noted that players returning from the World Cup — Evan N'Dicka, Neil El Aynaoui, and Donyell Malen — needed extra time to recover. "It's not really a fitness issue, but more the fact that we played disconnected as a team, certainly not with the right concentration," Gasperini said. "We have some players coming back from World Cup competitions like Ndicka, El Aynaoui and Malen who are a bit depleted. We need to be patient because when you return from these tournaments it takes a little longer to recover." On the transfer front, Gasperini confirmed that midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini will miss at least another month with injury, likely returning in September. He acknowledged that Roma currently have limited squad depth and are pursuing new signings. "If I do the count at this moment we are few," he said, noting that Alessandro Molina has arrived to replace Zeki Çelik and will be seen in action on Tuesday, and that João Bahrim Castro was brought in to replace Artem Dovbyk alongside defender Koulierakis. Gasperini added: "D'Amico is searching and negotiating very young but also very important players. That is the direction."

Roma lost 3–0 to Brighton at the American Express Stadium, finishing their British pre-season tour with defeats to Brighton and Cardiff City balanced by a win over Newport County. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged the poor display but stressed the squad's broader progress during the week's training camp. "Today was a very poor match, undoubtedly. We put in a bad performance. For the rest of the week we worked quite well, in a fresh and ideal environment for the facilities. But this was not a good match. We have some difficulties, which we think we can fix in the coming weeks," Gasperini said. Gasperini identified squad fatigue as a factor, noting that Evan N'Dicka, Neil El Aynaoui and Donyell Malen are "somewhat depleted" after their Copa América and Africa Cup of Nations commitments. He confirmed Lorenzo Pellegrini's return is now official, though he will be unavailable for roughly a month. On the transfer market, Gasperini stopped short of ruling out departures but deferred questions to the club's chief executive: "I don't know. We have a chief executive officer; you should ask him these questions about what Roma can or cannot do. On figures and market possibilities Roma goes through him." Gasperini assessed Roma's summer moves—Molina replacing Çelik, Castro replacing Dovbyk, and the arrival of Koulierakis to strengthen defence—as steps forward. However, he admitted: "Numerically it seems to me there is still a need for something." He added that assistant D'Amico is pursuing young but significant players, indicating that further moves are expected.

Roma radio commentators have dissected coach Gian Piero Gasperini's sudden withdrawal from media duties, with speculation linking his frustration to the club's transfer strategy and budget constraints. Matera reported that Gasperini did not attend a scheduled Sky interview after being in contact with the club hierarchy on Thursday, with Ryan Friedkin reportedly in France during the call. Matera noted that until Wednesday evening Gasperini had appeared calm, but something shifted Thursday night: "Gasperini was dedicated to signatures and photographs, something changed Thursday evening, because he did not present himself for the interview." Camelio suggested Gasperini had grown impatient with Roma's handling of summer deals, citing the lack of speed with Bergamo's executives over targets. He argued the club should have prioritized a wide player over centre-forward Artem Castro, pointing out that Dovbyk could have remained on the bench and noting Roma also has Robinio Vaz available. Camelio stated: "I would have gone all-in for the winger instead of taking Castro. Rowe is a player tailor-made for him." He added that Gasperini's silence this summer contrasts sharply with his talkative approach last season about the market, and suggested the club had reduced his salary budget, which irritated him. Marcacci argued that winger candidates may yet emerge from Serie A, naming Rowe and Leao as possibilities. Both commentators agreed that without an arriving winger, Roma would have a significant gap that validates Gasperini's concerns.

AS Roma unveiled its new away kit for the 2026–27 season on 6 August, two weeks after the launch of the home jersey. The away shirt returns to white—a cream tone—after last season's orange, featuring a horizontal giallorossi band across the chest with the ASR crest at its centre. The design echoes the third kit worn in the previous season. The club shared images of squad members modelling the new strip on social media. Defenders Mancini and N'Dicka, midfielders Cristante and Wesley, forwards Dybala and Malen, and goalkeeper Vaz all featured in the photoshoot. The unveiling comes as Gasperini's Roma continues its preparation for the campaign ahead, having already debuted the home kit in competitive fixtures.

Roma's transfer activity continues to take shape as negotiations over a move for Molina from Atlético Madrid advance, with agreement between the clubs already in place and details being finalised with the player, according to commentary on Roman radio. The move represents an upgrade on Zeki Çelik at left-back, following the collapse of earlier attempts to sign Read from Feyenoord. Felici questioned the market's inflation, citing the €25 million paid for Robinio Vaz as excessive, whilst observing that established players like Molina command more realistic valuations than emerging talent. Carina argued that Roma remain behind schedule in constructing their squad for the coming season. Gasperini is awaiting the arrival of at least four wide players to implement his preferred system, and with the pre-season phase underway to test the squad, the club still has structural gaps to address. Carina stated: "If the summer is being used to trial the squad ahead of the season then Roma is in arrears. In prospect of the league it still looks a bit short, because this is when you should be working with the squad that will define the season. There are still some holes." Pruzzo offered a critical assessment of defender Koulierakis following a friendly on 4 August, saying: "Koulierakis yesterday did not make a great impression on me. He seemed a bit approximate and made many sloppy passes. I didn't understand whether he is a defender who wants to hold his position or go to meet the attacker. I hope I'm wrong and that he is a player with the strength to play as a defensive utility man." Ryan Friedkin made a surprise appearance at the friendly.