Rensch praises Gasperini's energy and mentality; hopeful on Read arrival

Roma have reignited their interest in Torino winger Cacciamani, a 2007-born player tracked closely at Trigoria. The club's first approach, an offer of €7 million, was rejected by Torino owner Cairo, who values the player at approximately €15 million and initially resisted any sale. However, the pursuit has heated up in recent days, with sporting director D'Amico preparing to make a fresh bid. The coming hours could prove decisive. Gasperini remains short of squad depth on both flanks — he is still seeking a left-sided winger, a right-back starter and a left-back option. So far this summer, D'Amico has completed only two signings: Castro and Koulierakis, which the club believes is insufficient to complete the roster. Cacciamani represents one of several targets being tracked, though Read is also among Roma's priorities. The continued lack of concrete progress has prompted the club to accelerate their efforts. With Gasperini awaiting reinforcements, D'Amico is stepping up activity in the transfer market. The prospect of further bids for Cacciamani reflects Roma's determination to strengthen their attacking and defensive options before the window closes.

Roma continued their pre-season retreat in Wales on 3 August with an intensive day of preparation under Gasperini ahead of their opening Serie A fixture against Fiorentina. Wesley did not train and will miss the friendly against Newport on 4 August, Roma's second warm-up match following their defeat to Cardiff. The squad faced a demanding schedule: breakfast at 9.00, training at 10.30 focusing on running, drills and pitch work, lunch at 13.00, a three-hour break granted by Gasperini, then a light snack at 16.15 before departure. The team bus left Vale Resort at 17.10 for the Rodney Parade, with kick-off set for 20.00 Italian time (19.00 local). The return journey was scheduled for 21.35, followed by dinner. Gasperini continues to push the squad hard during the Welsh camp, where cooler temperatures and better conditions than Rome allow for focused work. After the Cardiff loss, Roma are seeking a response and a confidence-building performance. Newport represents the next test as the Giallorossi build towards the competitive season.

Devyne Rensch has spoken of his emotional arrival at Roma, telling Romanews.eu from the club's Cardiff training camp: "It is a feeling difficult to explain. These are sensations you don't experience often but only in very special moments. When I signed for Roma it was a special moment for me and so the emotions came out. My mother was crying too and that is one of the reasons why that moment was so special." Midfielder Muhammed Bah suffered a serious setback during the same training spell, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee after 26 minutes of the friendly against Cardiff City. The 2007-born player will undergo surgery in Switzerland with Dr Georg Ahlbäumer, with recovery estimated at approximately nine months. Bah had suffered the same injury once before in 2024. Elsewhere, Roma are accelerating their pursuit of right-back Givairo Read from Feyenoord as their primary target for the flank. The club has tabled an offer of €25 million and an agreement in principle has been reached with the player; further contact with Feyenoord is expected in the coming days to advance the deal. Winger Wesley withdrew from training after just ten minutes but Roma's medical staff reported no serious alarm, describing it as a minor issue to manage in the coming days. His early exit had been pre-arranged with the coaching team. Paulo Dybala was singled out as one of the few Roma players performing well in the Cardiff friendly loss.

Devyne Rensch has spoken of his emotional arrival at Roma, telling Romanews.eu from the club's Cardiff training camp: "It is a feeling difficult to explain. These are sensations you don't experience often but only in very special moments. When I signed for Roma it was a special moment for me and so the emotions came out. My mother was crying too and that is one of the reasons why that moment was so special." Midfielder Muhammed Bah suffered a serious setback during the same training spell, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee after 26 minutes of the friendly against Cardiff City. The 2007-born player will undergo surgery in Switzerland with Dr Georg Ahlbäumer, with recovery estimated at approximately nine months. Bah had suffered the same injury once before in 2024. Elsewhere, Roma are accelerating their pursuit of right-back Givairo Read from Feyenoord as their primary target for the flank. The club has tabled an offer of €25 million and an agreement in principle has been reached with the player; further contact with Feyenoord is expected in the coming days to advance the deal. Winger Wesley withdrew from training after just ten minutes but Roma's medical staff reported no serious alarm, describing it as a minor issue to manage in the coming days. His early exit had been pre-arranged with the coaching team. Paulo Dybala was singled out as one of the few Roma players performing well in the Cardiff friendly loss.

Roma face Newport County in their second pre-season friendly in Wales on 4 August at 20:00 at the Rodney Parade. The match follows an earlier fixture against Cardiff City during the summer preparation period under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Gasperini is expected to deploy a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Mile Svilar in goal; Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Koulierakis across the back; Devyne Rensch and Wesley as wing-backs; Neil El Aynaoui and Bryan Cristante in midfield; Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé in the attacking midfield line; and Donyell Malen leading the attack. Tickets are available through Newport County's official website. The friendly will be broadcast live on DAZN, with live text coverage available on ilromanista.eu.

Devyne Rensch has declared himself fit and ready for the new season after overcoming a foot injury, speaking exclusively from Roma's pre-season camp in Cardiff. The Dutch defender has become Roma's first-choice right-back following Zeki Çelik's departure to Juventus, and believes the rigorous demands of new head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will help him develop both as a player and as a person. "Gasperini brings a lot of energy, mentality, and tactical work," Rensch said. "He motivates you, pushes you to exceed your limits and beat your opponent. He's a very demanding coach who makes you work hard, but he's excellent both on and off the pitch in developing every aspect of the player and the person." Rensch also reflected on his emotional signing for Roma earlier this year, recalling the tears of joy he shed at Trigoria. He scored a crucial equaliser in Roma's Champions League-securing match against Parma—before Donyell Malen's penalty—and has praised the competitive spirit now building at the club ahead of simultaneous challenges in Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and the Champions League. When asked about a potential arrival of fellow Dutchman Givairo Read, Rensch expressed enthusiasm: "It would be nice to have another Dutch player with us. Malen and I could help him settle in and integrate quickly." Rensch acknowledged that while the Parma goal was special, the focus must now turn to the challenges ahead. "That's the past," he said. "We need to move forward and concentrate on what lies in front of us, because now we must work even harder to be competitive across all competitions."

Roma face Newport County in their second pre-season friendly in Wales on 4 August at 20:00 at the Rodney Parade. The match follows an earlier fixture against Cardiff City during the summer preparation period under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Gasperini is expected to deploy a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Mile Svilar in goal; Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Koulierakis across the back; Devyne Rensch and Wesley as wing-backs; Neil El Aynaoui and Bryan Cristante in midfield; Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé in the attacking midfield line; and Donyell Malen leading the attack. Tickets are available through Newport County's official website. The friendly will be broadcast live on DAZN, with live text coverage available on ilromanista.eu.

Donyell Malen has set his sights on a repeat of Roma's impressive 2025–26 campaign, speaking from the club's preseason base in Cardiff. The Dutch forward scored 15 goals in 20 appearances in his first six months at Roma and is determined to maintain that trajectory in the 2026–27 season. Malen reflected on last season's primary achievement: the Champions League qualification that ended a long drought for the club. "Always nice for a striker to score many goals and help the team win," he said. "In the end, the big success of last year wasn't my scoring record, but the Champions League place we secured. Roma hadn't played in it for so many years. It would be a dream to replicate what we achieved last year." When asked about winning the Serie A Golden Boot, Malen stressed that individual accolades are secondary to overall performance. "Dream of becoming top scorer? The important thing is to play at a high level. It's not just about goals, but creating plenty of chances and providing assists. I know my qualities in finishing, and if I improve week after week, who knows where I can get to," he said.

Donyell Malen has emphasised that Roma's return to the Champions League after seven years ranks above personal achievement, as the club targets back-to-back qualification. The Dutch forward arrived in January and scored 14 goals in Serie A, proving instrumental in securing Roma's European berth—a feat the club had not managed in over half a decade. Speaking to the Messaggero, Malen stressed the collective priority: "Always nice for a striker to score many goals and help the team win. At the end of the day, the great success of last year was not my tally, but the Champions League place we achieved. Roma hadn't played in it for many years. It would be a dream to replicate what we got last year." Malen has quickly become Roma's leading man since his midseason arrival, winning supporters and establishing himself as a focal point of the squad's attacking play. While individual accolades hold appeal, he has made clear that consistency and progression matter most going forward. "Is it my dream to be top scorer? The important thing is to play at high levels. It's not just about goals, but creating many chances and making assists. I know my qualities in finishing and if I improve week after week, who knows where I can get to," he said.