Rensch's tears: Roma figures react to Çelik's Juventus switch

Gianluca Mancini is on the verge of signing a contract extension that will bind him to Roma until 2029, with only official confirmation outstanding. The defender has already signalled his intention to stay by posting a message on social media featuring himself, the Curva Sud, and nothing else—a deliberate statement of his bond with the club's supporters who have made him one of their symbols. Mancini is preparing for his eighth season in a Roma shirt, a campaign he views as special given the club's return to the Champions League. He intends to play a leading role in that European run, anchoring the defence alongside Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. The renewal underscores his desire to remain at the Stadio Olimpico despite interest from other suitors, cementing a relationship that has grown far beyond the pitch.

Gianluca Mancini has signalled his total commitment to Roma by announcing an imminent contract renewal extending his deal until June 2029. The vice-captain's statement came via Instagram in the aftermath of Zeki Çelik's shock departure to Juventus, aimed at reassuring the club and supporters during a turbulent period in the transfer market. Mancini's decision to publicly reaffirm his loyalty carries particular weight as a show of leadership from within the dressing room. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini had been pushing for the extension since the end of last season. The move shuts down weeks of speculation from Inter, who had made multiple enquiries about a potential transfer to Milan. Both Mancini and Roma's hierarchy resisted those overtures, choosing instead to build continuity around the defender. The renewal also arrives amid wider market concerns at the club, including reports linking Lorenzo Pellegrini with interest from other quarters. By securing Mancini for another three years on a consolidated contract, Roma has anchored one of its senior defensive pillars and sought to project stability to supporters rattled by Çelik's departure. The timing of Mancini's public commitment underscores his role as a senior figure willing to stake his future on the project.

Roma are pursuing Summerville as their primary winger target, though Chelsea's €50 million asking price and reluctance to negotiate a loan deal continue to complicate matters. Alejandro Garnacho, the Argentine winger who appeared to be in pole position days ago, has been placed on standby as Roma's plan B; Garnacho has already signalled his willingness to join. However, Chelsea remain unmoved on their valuation and show no appetite for alternative payment structures. With Summerville negotiations stalling, Roma and sporting director D'Amico have begun examining fallback options. Godts, the Belgian talent, has emerged as an increasingly attractive candidate, offering two significant advantages over Summerville: he is four years younger and does not command the Dutch winger's €6 million annual salary demand. Other names under consideration include Uzun of Frankfurt, El Mala of Cologne, and Martinelli, though these remain further down the priority list. Gasperini has made clear his desire for reinforcements arrives imminently. Roma's strategy centres on closing a deal for Summerville before Tuesday; only if negotiations stall or freeze further will the club pivot definitively to alternative targets. The head coach wants fresh faces as soon as possible.

Gianluca Mancini has signalled his total commitment to Roma by announcing an imminent contract renewal extending his deal until June 2029. The vice-captain's statement came via Instagram in the aftermath of Zeki Çelik's shock departure to Juventus, aimed at reassuring the club and supporters during a turbulent period in the transfer market. Mancini's decision to publicly reaffirm his loyalty carries particular weight as a show of leadership from within the dressing room. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini had been pushing for the extension since the end of last season. The move shuts down weeks of speculation from Inter, who had made multiple enquiries about a potential transfer to Milan. Both Mancini and Roma's hierarchy resisted those overtures, choosing instead to build continuity around the defender. The renewal also arrives amid wider market concerns at the club, including reports linking Lorenzo Pellegrini with interest from other quarters. By securing Mancini for another three years on a consolidated contract, Roma has anchored one of its senior defensive pillars and sought to project stability to supporters rattled by Çelik's departure. The timing of Mancini's public commitment underscores his role as a senior figure willing to stake his future on the project.

Roma radio pundits Roberto Pruzzo and Riccardo Orsi have weighed in on the club's recent departures, with contrasting takes on the state of the squad and coaching responsibility. Pruzzo told Radio Radio that Çelik has always conducted himself professionally, noting that modern football has changed the dynamic between players and their clubs. "The football of today is like this. There is no longer that attachment of the past," Pruzzo said, crediting the defender with maintaining his standards throughout his time at Roma. Orsi, also speaking on Radio Radio, framed Çelik's departure differently, suggesting head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and technical director D'Amico bore responsibility for failing to retain the Turkish defender. "Çelik is also a defeat for Gasperini. Roma was not able to keep him. You can see he was not that interested," Orsi said. "Gasp and D'Amico did not have the strength to make the contract for the Turk." Orsi also raised the possibility that captain Lorenzo Pellegrini could follow a similar path, suggesting that a move to Juventus would represent a successful coup for the Serie A champions.

Juventus has made an official contract offer to Lorenzo Pellegrini as the Roma midfielder weighs his future, with the Turin club demanding a response by evening. The approach comes days after Juventus completed a transfer for Zeki Çelik, a move that has infuriated coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who had personally worked to convince the Turkish defender to renew his Roma contract. Çelik was expected in Rome for medical checks before the unexpected transfer to Juventus. The situation has created fresh anxiety at Trigoria. Juventus director Ricky Massara has leveraged his personal relationship with Pellegrini from their time together at Roma to push the midfielder towards a switch. Pellegrini is understood to be examining the proposal with serious consideration, though he continues to give preference to remaining at Roma under Gasperini, pending the club's willingness to close the financial gap and retain him. The midfielder now faces a critical decision between the competing offers on the table.

Roma's squad continued intensive pre-season training at the Fulvio Bernardini facility under Gasperini as preparations for the new season gather pace. Working through the heat in Rome, the players are ramping up their conditioning ahead of the campaign. Matías Soulé shared a photograph from the dressing room on social media after completing the third training session, posting alongside Paulo Dybala, Mario Hermoso, Devyne Rensch, Pierluigi Gollini and Vasquez. Soulé captioned the image: "Third session completed with the gang." The post highlighted the squad's commitment to the gruelling preparation work underway at Trigoria.

Roma's 2026–27 season got underway at the Trigoria training ground as players arrived for pre-season, drawing around 100 supporters to Piazzale Dino Viola on a hot summer day with temperatures reaching 34 degrees in the afternoon. The first arrivals included Ghilardi, Angeliño, and Soulé, with supporters greeting the squad enthusiastically throughout the morning. Coach Gasperini arrived without signing autographs or posing for photos but opened his car window to acknowledge the fans. Pisilli drew particular acclaim from the gathering, while Wesley, described as one of the squad's brightest stars, spent time engaging with the crowd despite the heavy gathering around his vehicle. Other squad members including Gollini, Mancini, Dovbyk, Svilar, Hermoso, Vaz, Rensch, Ziółkowski, and Cristante all passed through during the session. Some players, including Dybala, Kumbulla, Mannini, Reale, and Pagano, arrived discreetly. One supporter praised Dybala's commitment, saying: "He gave proof of a great gesture of love towards the city and fans, accepting the salary reduction." The atmosphere captured the renewed optimism surrounding the club as preparation for the new campaign began.

Roma started serious preparation for the 2026–27 season on Monday with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini naming a 17-man squad for initial training at Trigoria. Paulo Dybala featured in the group and marked his contract renewal with a short interview on Roma's official channels. Wesley returned to training immediately following the injury that forced him to miss the World Cup, training alongside teammates in the new kit that showcases the restored classic crest. Gasperini was accompanied by sporting director Tony D'Amico. The initial squad includes four goalkeepers—Svilar, Gollini, De Marzi, and Vasquez—and seven defenders: Angeliño, Ghilardi, Hermoso, Mancini, Rensch, Wesley, and Ziolkowski. Çelik will join on 18 August after completing his holiday following his contract renewal, while N'Dicka is due to arrive on 22 August. Only Pisilli and Cristante are currently available in midfield, with El Aynaoui expected on 30 August and Koné's arrival date to be confirmed pending the end of the World Cup. The attacking line features Dybala, Dovbyk, Soulé, and Vaz, with Dybala the only forward certain to remain at the club long-term. The squad is staying overnight at Fulvio Bernardini training centre and will undergo a double session today—training at 08:00 and 18:00. Roma have also opened ticket sales for their first official pre-season match at Cannes on 26 July at Pierre de Coubertin stadium, with visiting supporters' tickets priced at €15 each through AS Cannes' official website.