Roma close in on Mora as Mendes brokers deal; Cacciamani and Udogie remain preferred left-back targets

Roma will open their 2026-27 season at the Olimpico against Fiorentina on Monday, 24 August at 20:45, with director D'Amico still working to finalise the squad ahead of the summer transfer window's closure on Tuesday, 1 September at 20:00. Rodrigo Mora, a left-sided winger described as a long-term target for Gasperini, is close to joining from Porto, and the club expects at least one further reinforcement before the deadline. However, Gasperini is likely to start the campaign with roughly 10 or 11 players from last season's squad. Molina is expected to earn a starting berth against Fiorentina, but the other recent arrivals face obstacles to immediate prominence. Koulierakis is unlikely to displace Mario Hermoso in the defensive hierarchy, and Castro faces a similar challenge against Donyell Malen despite the winger's low-profile preseason. Mora, expected in Italy in the coming days, will need time to integrate into Gasperini's system; Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé are likely to retain their attacking partnership. Lorenzo Pellegrini will miss the opener through injury, while Niccolò Pisilli hopes to return in the squad and Wesley is managing a minor ankle sprain sustained in Saturday's friendly against Borussia Dortmund.

Rodrigo Mora is on the verge of joining Roma after days of negotiations were unblocked, with agent Jorge Mendes instrumental in keeping talks open between the clubs. The deal will be completed on a permanent basis for €25 million, with Porto retaining 50% of any future resale value. Roma will have the option to acquire that resale percentage for a further €25 million within a year. Gasperini will finally receive the right-footed attacking winger he has requested, addressing a gap in the squad. Once the Mora transfer closes, sporting director D'Amico will shift focus to signing a left-sided full-back to operate across the entire flank. Cacciamani of Torino and Udogie of Tottenham are the leading candidates, though Luis Henrique of Inter is also under consideration. The Brazilian, despite being naturally right-footed, could offer Gasperini flexibility to deploy as a supporting forward option. D'Amico has prioritised the Mora deal because the financial structure is sustainable relative to other options evaluated. The final details are now being finalised before documents are exchanged and the operation is sealed.

Roma radio commentators dissected the Giallorossi's opening performance on 15 August, offering mixed assessments of the squad's readiness and frustration over the transfer window's output. Pruzzo told Radio Radio Mattino that Roma played well for 15 minutes but were exposed on set pieces, noting that "Dybala is in good form, but won't be able to play this type of match all the time. Soulé hasn't managed to show his qualities yet, and struggles alongside Dybala. El Aynaoui operates at too measured a pace—we'd need a player with different running ability, and I'd think about it from a market perspective. For now Malen is a distant relation of the player we know, but he and Castro are strong. I'm worried Molina gave his best at Atlético Madrid." Mattioli struck a harsher tone, saying "Roma hasn't displeased me, but some players need to improve physically. Roma 'talks, talks', but then at the final moment does nothing. If we look at the desired targets and who has arrived, the balance is zero. The investments have been made, but the names being discussed for two months haven't arrived. Roma must play in the Champions League." Orsi raised tactical concerns about left-sided incompatibility between Soulé and Dybala, and questioned why Roma, pursuing an attacking wide player since 1 July, had not yet secured one. He also flagged concerns over a potential late-window departure of a key player.