Roma boosted by Pellegrini and Dovbyk return ahead of Lazio derby

Paolo Marcacci has delivered his weekly ratings across the World Cup Final and recent football events. Spain's collective display earned a 9 out of 10 for its mesmerising, invisible-cage football—with Dani Olmo singled out for his 360-degree awareness and ability to orchestrate the team's attacking movements. Leo Messi received a 10 for his career legacy despite a quiet final shaped by Spain's dominance and Lionel Scaloni's tactical choices, which Marcacci rated 5, criticising the Argentina manager for assembling a formation that appeared designed to starve Messi of possession and changing too much in the decisive match. Leo Paredes, brought in to stabilise Argentina's midfield, instead lost discipline individually and earned a 4. Gianluca Mancini's contract renewal with Roma received a 7, described as reinforced concrete strengthening the club's defensive walls. Gasperini's press conference earned a 6 for its directness delivered through a calm, apparently reconciliatory tone—rejecting claims of passivity simply because he lacked visible agitation. Robbie Williams' halftime performance and the broader entertainment spectacle drew lower marks, with Infantino's excessively white shoes rated 3 and the Madonna–Ronaldo–Ronaldinho segment rated 0. Trump's photo-bombing with the trophy received a 1, with Marcacci quipping that Rodri reportedly ejected him with the line: "I'm not Melania."

Roma are on the brink of signing Jarrad Summerville from West Ham, with the transfer entering its final stages. The clubs are in advanced negotiations following Roma's latest offer of approximately €47 million plus bonuses, which has narrowed the gap to West Ham's €50 million asking price. Summerville will sign a five-year contract worth €4 million per season once the deal is finalised. The signing represents a major statement of intent from Roma's new recruitment structure. Summerville will become the club's most expensive acquisition in their history and fulfils a long-standing requirement from head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who has been seeking a right-footed attacking winger for the past year. The arrival addresses a specific tactical need in Roma's attack that has gone unmet since the start of Gasperini's tenure. Completion of the transfer could arrive as soon as the coming hours, with the deal described as nearly concluded. The signing marks the first major acquisition of Roma's new transfer operation.

Alejandro Garnacho has made Roma his preferred destination, but a transfer remains unsettled as Chelsea and the Giallorossi differ over the deal structure. The Argentine winger, currently at Chelsea and deemed surplus to requirements by Xabi Alonso, has communicated his openness to joining Roma through his agents. Aston Villa have also made contact with Chelsea regarding Garnacho as a potential replacement for Morgan Rogers, but the player has rejected their approach in favour of Roma. Roma submitted their opening proposal on 14 July on the basis of a loan deal with an obligation fee of €5 million plus a €35 million purchase option that could become mandatory under certain conditions. However, Chelsea are seeking a permanent transfer, while Roma are only willing to pursue a loan arrangement as they manage their financial resources carefully. This disagreement over the formula represents the main obstacle to a move progressing. Roma remain in contact with Garnacho's representatives and continue to explore the right structure to make the operation viable. The club views Garnacho as part of plans to strengthen the attacking department under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with the potential to bring in at least two wide forwards this summer.

Roma have submitted a third offer for West Ham winger Summerville worth €47 million plus bonuses after two previous proposals were rejected. The club is awaiting the English side's response. There is no release clause in Summerville's contract, but an agreement exists between West Ham and the player allowing his departure for €53 million. Meanwhile, Roma are close to securing Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract renewal. The club expects to complete the deal within the week after Pellegrini rejected approaches from Juventus and Besiktas. Pellegrini will sign a new contract running until June 2028 on wages of €2.5 million per year. Roma have also identified Paris Saint-Germain winger Ibrahim Mbaye as an offensive reinforcement. The 2008-born Senegal international, who scored three goals and provided two assists in 31 PSG appearances last season, could arrive on loan to gain playing time. Mbaye can operate across the attacking line—on either flank or centrally on the playmaking line. Roma will mark their 99th anniversary on Wednesday 22 July. The Curva Sud announced celebrations beginning at Piazza San Silvestro on the night of 21 July at 22:30, calling on supporters to "demonstrate once again that Roma is ours".

Lorenzo Pellegrini is set to sign a new contract with AS Roma within the coming days, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini awaiting the midfielder's signature. The outline terms have been agreed and only final administrative details remain before completion. The new deal will run until June 2028 and carry an annual salary of €2.5 million. It will also include an automatic renewal option to extend the agreement through to 2029, following the same stability framework Roma previously applied in Gianluca Mancini's renewal. The extension moves will definitively end speculation over Pellegrini's future and remove any possibility of his departure from the club.

AS Roma is close to finalizing a new contract with Lorenzo Pellegrini after the midfielder rejected approaches from Juventus and Besiktas. The club's hierarchy expressed strong confidence in sealing the extension within the coming week, ending speculation over his future at the club. The broad terms of the agreement have been settled, with only final administrative details remaining before signatures. Pellegrini will receive a new deal running until June 2028 on wages of €2.5 million per year. The contract will include an automatic renewal option to extend the agreement through to 2029, mirroring the approach Roma adopted for Gianluca Mancini's recent renewal.

Roma is on the verge of signing Crysencio Summerville from West Ham, with negotiations entering their closing phase. The club has submitted a fresh offer of 47 million euros plus bonuses and demanded a definitive response from West Ham by end of day, following weeks of talks. Summerville has already agreed personal terms on a contract worth 4.2 million euros plus bonuses, and sources report the remaining gap between Roma's bid and West Ham's asking price is not considered prohibitive. Aston Villa and Al Hilal have been cited as potential rival bidders, prompting Roma to accelerate its push. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini views Summerville as the ideal fit to complete his attacking trident alongside Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala. The Dutch winger, who plays on the left with his right foot, offers creativity and double-digit goal output suited to Gasperini's system. Summerville would become Roma's most expensive signing in history, surpassing the transfer fees paid for Patrik Schick, Tammy Abraham, and Artem Dovbyk. A private agreement between Summerville and West Ham stipulates that in the event of the Hammers' relegation from the Premier League, the player could depart for 45 million pounds. The deal is reported to be worth 47 million euros fixed plus 4–5 million in bonuses, bringing the total close to the 45 million pounds outlined in the gentlemen's agreement. Gasperini has been seeking this profile for fourteen months and aims to secure two wingers overall, with potential loan solutions explored later in the transfer window.

Roma are closing in on the signing of Summerville, with only West Ham's final approval required to complete the deal. The winger will sign a five-year contract worth approximately €4 million per season once the English club gives the green light. Director D'Amico is also targeting attacking reinforcements on the left, with Paris Saint-Germain open to a loan move for Mbaye, alongside interest in Benfica's Schjelderup. The Roma transfer operation extends across the squad. Manu Koné remains a target for Manchester United, with the midfielder reportedly open to a Premier League move, though Roma await the club's opening offer. In defence, Angeliño's status is uncertain while Salah-Eddine is being sold. Roma are monitoring Verona's Belghali and Nottingham's Savona for the right flank. Fiorentina are pursuing Artem Dovbyk, but Roma will not entertain a loan departure for the Ukrainian striker, who remains in the exit window. D'Amico continues reshaping the squad as Roma await Summerville's paperwork. The €50 million bid represents the decisive push, with full agreement already in place between Roma and the player. A deal announcement is expected imminently.

Roma have tabled an offer of approximately €47 million plus bonuses for Summerville, according to journalist Matteo Moretto, as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini finally moves to secure the left-winger he has wanted since last season. The protracted transfer saga may soon reach a conclusion, with director D'Amico working to fulfil the manager's priorities. Summerville's recent Instagram activity has fuelled speculation, with the player posting photos from his holiday training sessions and the caption "Forever grateful". If the deal is completed at the quoted figure, Summerville would become Roma's most expensive signing in the club's history. Roma's current record stands at €41.1 million, the combined fixed and variable fee paid to Girona for Artem Dovbyk, with Tammy Abraham's 2021 transfer from Chelsea standing at €41 million. Meanwhile, Roma face competition from Inter for midfielder Belghali, though no details of that rival interest were outlined.

Spain and Argentina face off in the World Cup final, with the Spanish seeking their second world title after 2010 and Argentina pursuing a fourth star and back-to-back victories. Ahead of Roma's training session against the Primavera this morning, the club's players declared their allegiances. The majority of the Roma squad will support Argentina and Messi. Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé lead the Argentine contingent, joined by Bryan Cristante, Daniele Ghilardi, Niccolò Pisilli, Mile Svilar, Artem Dovbyk, Devyne Rensch, and Gianluca Mancini. Mancini also sent a message to his former Roma teammate Leandro Paredes: "Vamos Leandro". On Spain's side, Jan Ziółkowski, Hermoso, and Angeliño will be backing the Spanish, with one additional Roma player from the Spanish camp also expressing support for las furias rojas.

Argentina and Spain will contest the 2026 World Cup final on 19 July at 21:00, with the European champions facing the champions of South America in a match laden with historical significance. The fixture pits Lionel Scaloni's Argentina against Luis de la Fuente's Spain, and will see a generational duel between Lionel Messi and Barcelona's Lamine Yamal. AS Roma surveyed its squad on their preference for the final through a social media video. The vote was decisive: Argentina emerged as the favourite 8-2. Among Roma's players, Bryan Cristante, Matías Soulé, Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk and Mile Svilar all backed Argentina, reflecting the giallorossi's leaning toward the South American side ahead of the showpiece.

AS Roma asked its squad members to reveal which team they will support in tonight's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, kicking off at 21:00 in New York. The club's social media campaign featured responses from Bryan Cristante, Jan Ziółkowski, Matías Soulé, Paulo Dybala, Niccolò Pisilli, Mile Svilar, and Gianluca Mancini among others. Mancini, the club's number 23, backed his former teammate Leandro Paredes with the message: "Vamos Leandro!" The Argentina contingent within Roma's squad showed their colours during the exercise, with both Dybala and Soulé participating in the video responses. The engagement reflects the global reach of Roma's playing staff, with strong connections to both European and South American football. The campaign concluded with Argentina ultimately prevailing among the respondents, though the article emphasises that the pitch will ultimately decide the true winner of the match.