Roma closes in on Castro as Argentina forward agrees terms

Roma have agreed a deal to sign Santiago Castro from Bologna after the Argentine forward gave his approval to the move two days ago following discussions with Gasperini. The transfer will be completed on a permanent basis for 30 million euros in fixed fees plus 5 million in performance bonuses, with Castro expected to arrive at Ciampino airport between this evening and tomorrow. Once he lands, the 2004-born attacker will join the squad for their departure to Wales, where the club's pre-season training camp continues its second phase. The move marks Roma's primary summer signing, contingent on final bureaucratic details being resolved. Gasperini, who worked with Castro at Atalanta, is keen to have the player at his disposal as soon as possible. Roma's director of sport D'Amico targeted completion of the formalities on 26 July to expedite Castro's integration into the squad. Discussions between the clubs had focused on bonus structures and sell-on percentage clauses to be added to Bologna's initial asking price of 35 million euros before the agreement was finalised. Castro will depart Italy alongside the rest of the Roma contingent heading to Wales for the continuation of summer preparations ahead of the new season.

Roma and Bologna are closing in on a loan deal for Artem Dovbyk, with the Ukrainian striker set to move to the Emilia-Romagna club after falling out of favour under Gasperini. The transfer hinges on Roma finalising its agreement with Bologna for Santiago Castro, an operation valued at approximately 35 million euros that Roma hoped to conclude on 26 July. Once Castro's deal is ratified, negotiations over Dovbyk's departure will enter a decisive phase; Bologna is proposing a loan arrangement through 2027, and all parties involved remain confident of reaching an agreement. Dovbyk has already spoken with Bologna manager Domenico Tedesco and is seriously considering the move, though has not yet given his final consent. The call between Tedesco and the Ukrainian striker went well, and efforts are ongoing to complete the operation. Dovbyk, a former La Liga top scorer, no longer fits Gasperini's plans; Castro's arrival would leave him with even less playing time. Fiorentina has also made enquiries about the striker and could accelerate their interest should the move to Bologna fall through. Bologna's challenge lies in managing Dovbyk's high salary, but the club is working to find a sustainable financial solution that all sides can accept.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has been proposed to Roma, but the deal remains unlikely to progress. The English attacker, who recently returned to Old Trafford following a loan spell at Barcelona, was evaluated by Roma's management. However, the club has encountered significant financial barriers that make a move improbable at present. The primary obstacle is cost: Rashford's €12 million annual salary far exceeds Roma's wage parameters, and the overall transfer fee is considered prohibitively expensive. Intermediaries have held preliminary talks, with D'Amico attempting to establish the scope of a potential deal, but no concrete progress has materialised. Manchester United has also yet to clarify its long-term plans for the winger, further complicating matters. Roma will continue pursuing alternative targets as this avenue appears unlikely to develop. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's priority remains signing a left-flank reinforcement, with Nusa identified as the preferred profile. The club is considerably closer to completing a separate acquisition: negotiations over Bologna forward Castro are advancing on terms of €30 million plus €5 million in performance bonuses, with an announcement expected imminently.

Roma departed for Nice shortly before 10:00 and will reach Cannes by coach for their third pre-season fixture at 17:30 (live on Dazn) against the club owned by the Friedkin Group. Head coach Gasperini will deploy a front three of Dybala, Soulé, and Malen, with midfield reinforcements required due to absences. Pisilli and Vaz are unavailable through injury, while Cherubini misses out with fever. Central midfield will pair the young Bah with Cristante, flanked by Wesley and Rensch, while Svilar starts in goal behind a defensive line of Mancini, N'Dicka, and Hermoso. Notably absent is Koné, though Neil El Aynaoui—currently on holiday in Cannes—will attend the match as a spectator before officially rejoining the squad on 30 July to depart for Wales, where the second phase of pre-season training will take place. A second-string lineup and Primavera players will feature in the second half. Roma will return to the capital after the match. Gasperini has granted the squad two days of rest, with no training scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

Roma continue their pre-season preparation with a friendly against Cannes today at 17:30 at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin. The match marks the club's first competitive test away from Trigoria following a reduced-time outing against Trastevere. Cannes, newly promoted to France's third tier, is also owned by the Friedkin family, making it an in-house fixture before Roma's departure for a Welsh training camp on 1 August, where they will face Cardiff in another friendly. Gasperini will be without Pisilli and Vaz, both unavailable due to muscular problems. The coaching staff will deploy the Malen–Dybala partnership in attack after the pair showed strong chemistry in the Trigoria friendly. Evan N'Dicka will feature in defence alongside Hermoso and Mancini to complete the back three. Midfield duties will see Cristante operate alongside young midfielder Bah, with El Aynaoui and Koné still on post-World Cup holiday. The fixture represents the final warm-up before Roma's squad departs for Wales.

Roma travel to face Cannes at Stade Pierre de Coubertin today at 17:30 in their first competitive pre-season friendly of the summer. The match comes after a reduced-time test against Trastevere at Trigoria and precedes Roma's departure for a training camp in Wales on 1 August, where they will face Cardiff in another friendly. Gasperini's side will be without Pisilli and Vaz, who are sidelined by muscle injuries. The head coach will deploy Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in attack, a partnership that impressed during the Trigoria friendly. Evan N'Dicka will feature in a three-man defence alongside Mario Hermoso and Gianluca Mancini. Bryan Cristante will anchor midfield alongside a young player filling in as El Aynaoui and Manu Koné remain on post-World Cup leave. The clash against Cannes, also owned by the Friedkin Group and recently promoted to France's third tier, offers a controlled environment for Roma to build match fitness. Ryan's availability remains uncertain following his return to the United States.

Roma departed for Nice shortly before 10:00 and will reach Cannes by coach for their third pre-season fixture at 17:30 (live on Dazn) against the club owned by the Friedkin Group. Head coach Gasperini will deploy a front three of Dybala, Soulé, and Malen, with midfield reinforcements required due to absences. Pisilli and Vaz are unavailable through injury, while Cherubini misses out with fever. Central midfield will pair the young Bah with Cristante, flanked by Wesley and Rensch, while Svilar starts in goal behind a defensive line of Mancini, N'Dicka, and Hermoso. Notably absent is Koné, though Neil El Aynaoui—currently on holiday in Cannes—will attend the match as a spectator before officially rejoining the squad on 30 July to depart for Wales, where the second phase of pre-season training will take place. A second-string lineup and Primavera players will feature in the second half. Roma will return to the capital after the match. Gasperini has granted the squad two days of rest, with no training scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

Roma have made no new additions to their squad ahead of next season's Champions League group phase, with Donyell Malen's permanent signing from Aston Villa for €25 million not counting as a fresh arrival since the Dutch winger joined on loan in January. Only three other clubs already qualified for Europe's top competition—Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain, and Villarreal—have similarly avoided summer reinforcements so far. Napoli have invested over €60 million in permanent signings but acquired only players already in their 2025–26 squad, including the redemptions of Højlund, Alisson Santos, and Milinkovic-Savic. PSG, the reigning European champions, have only brought in 18-year-old goalkeeper Alessandro Longoni from AC Milan's youth academy on a free transfer, a prospect likely destined for the Under-19s rather than the first team. Villarreal, meanwhile, remain at zero spending. As rivals strengthen their ranks—Sporting investing over €100 million, Como confirming Nico Paz for €60 million and rescuing Morata while signing Liberali and Milla for €6 million each—Roma face mounting pressure to act. Arsenal have spent €80 million on Hincapié and Tzolis; Manchester City €135 million on Anderson alone; Manchester United €97 million on Andrey Santos and Tielemans.

Roma are on the verge of completing the signing of Santiago Castro from Bologna as their first acquisition of the summer transfer window. Negotiations have advanced significantly, with an agreement already reached with the player. Bologna's initial asking price was €40 million, but Roma have tabled an offer of €30 million plus €5 million in performance-related bonuses to close the deal. Castro, a former Vélez player, is pushing hard for the move and keen to wear the giallorossi shirt. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has already approved the signing—Castro was reportedly on his wish list during his time at Bergamo and the manager wanted him in the capital as far back as January before Donyell Malen's arrival. The transfer could be finalised imminently, in time for the squad's pre-season training camp in Wales beginning Friday. Separately, Artem Dovbyk is being targeted by Bologna, though no swap deal is under consideration. The Serie A side wish to take the Ukrainian on loan with Roma seeking to include a mandatory purchase clause dependent on certain conditions. Dovbyk has not yet agreed to the move and is expected to make a decision in the coming days. Roma are also fielding interest from Bologna in Robinio Vaz, though that matter remains frozen due to the French player's injury.

Roma and Bologna are closing in on a loan deal for Artem Dovbyk, with the Ukrainian striker set to move to the Emilia-Romagna club after falling out of favour under Gasperini. The transfer hinges on Roma finalising its agreement with Bologna for Santiago Castro, an operation valued at approximately 35 million euros that Roma hoped to conclude on 26 July. Once Castro's deal is ratified, negotiations over Dovbyk's departure will enter a decisive phase; Bologna is proposing a loan arrangement through 2027, and all parties involved remain confident of reaching an agreement. Dovbyk has already spoken with Bologna manager Domenico Tedesco and is seriously considering the move, though has not yet given his final consent. The call between Tedesco and the Ukrainian striker went well, and efforts are ongoing to complete the operation. Dovbyk, a former La Liga top scorer, no longer fits Gasperini's plans; Castro's arrival would leave him with even less playing time. Fiorentina has also made enquiries about the striker and could accelerate their interest should the move to Bologna fall through. Bologna's challenge lies in managing Dovbyk's high salary, but the club is working to find a sustainable financial solution that all sides can accept.

Santiago Castro's move to Roma, worth approximately €35 million, is pushing Artem Dovbyk further from Gian Piero Gasperini's plans at the capital club. Bologna are already scouting replacements for Castro and have identified Dovbyk as a target, potentially offering him a loan deal back to Serie A. Roma hope to conclude Castro's signing by the end of the day following final negotiations. Dovbyk, the former Liga top scorer, no longer features in Gasperini's project and would have even less opportunity following Castro's arrival. The Ukrainian forward has not yet approved a move to Emilia-Romagna, where he would need to relocate. Fiorentina have also registered interest with an initial enquiry and could accelerate their approach should Bryan Kean depart Florence. Bologna's list of potential replacements includes Espì from Levante alongside Dovbyk.

Santiago Castro is on the verge of joining Roma in a deal worth 30 million euros plus 5 million in bonuses, with the agreement between the club and player already in place. Final details with Bologna are being resolved, and the Argentine forward could arrive in the capital tomorrow. Gasperini requested Castro, having wanted him during his time at Atalanta. The move forms part of a broader transfer sequence: Artem Dovbyk is being offered to Bologna on loan, though the Ukrainian striker has not yet given his approval for the move to Emilia-Romagna. Meanwhile, Roma's recruitment continues on multiple fronts. Lorenzo Pellegrini is close to signing a new contract—a two-year deal with an option for a third year, according to reports. On the wing, Roma remain active on Nusa but have revived interest in Alajbegovic, competing with Chelsea for his signature. Manchester United is pressing hard for Manu Koné; the club received fresh contact with the French midfielder's agent yesterday, though Roma are awaiting the Red Devils' first formal offer. A move for Marcus Rashford has been ruled out due to prohibitive costs, and the English forward himself has not opened the door to an Italian move.