Roma closes in on Dybala renewal as Argentine playmaker accepts major wage cut

Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract renewal with Roma remains deadlocked, with the club offering a two-year deal while the 30-year-old captain seeks a three-year agreement after accepting a significant wage reduction. Having been sidelined last summer before being recalled by Gian Piero Gasperini, Pellegrini has been a free agent for 20 days and has turned down interest from Juventus, Napoli, and Inter—all of whom have made approaches—because he wants only Roma. Gasperini warned in a press conference on Saturday that delays are unhelpful and called for the contract to be resolved quickly, hoping to have the number 7 back in the squad soon. The delay has prompted a banner from the Roma ultras group to appear at Trigoria reading: "Fare un errore può succedere, ripeterlo vuol dire approssimazione. Teniamoci stretto Lorenzo" [Making a mistake can happen, repeating it means carelessness. Let's hold tight to Lorenzo]. Unlike Pellegrini's stalled talks, midfielder Bryan Cristante has signed a new contract through 2028, posting on social media: "Roma and the Roma, for me and my family, are home. A happy place... the city of my children... I prefer to speak little and demonstrate my attachment through sweat, but this bond until 2028 means something special to me: eternal love. I have always given everything for Roma and will continue to do so. I am honoured to continue my journey in giallorosso, a world that is and will always be home."

Crysencio Summerville is poised to join Roma from West Ham, and the timing carries symbolic weight — the Dutch winger was born on 30 October 2001, the exact day Daniele De Rossi made his debut for the Giallorossi in a Champions League match against Anderlecht. Summerville also shares his birthday with Diego Armando Maradona. The 24-year-old left-winger, who cost West Ham €30 million, has been sidelined by a thigh injury that kept him out for the second half of last season, during which West Ham were relegated. He scored 21 goals in a single Championship season at Leeds, winning the division's Player of the Year award in 2023–24, and contributed seven goals across the Premier League and FA Cup during his first campaign with the Hammers. Summerville's arrival addresses a pressing need in Gasperin's squad. A right-footed left winger, he excels at dribbling past defenders and cutting infield to shoot near post or curl shots towards the far corner. He scored twice and provided two assists during the Netherlands' World Cup campaign in America, and contested the 2023 Under-21 Euros with fellow Roma signing Devyne Rensch, earning three caps together. Notably, Summerville faced Donyell Malen — now also at Roma — only once in the Premier League when Aston Villa beat West Ham 3–2 on 14 December 2025, a month before Malen's move to the capital. Having progressed through Feyenoord's academy, Summerville won the 2018 Under-17 Euros in England, scoring in the penalty-shootout final victory over Italy.

Roma are in decisive negotiations on two fronts as the transfer window accelerates. The club has found an agreement in principle with Crysencio Summerville, the Dutch winger, to bolster Gasperini's attacking options, but faces stiff resistance from West Ham over the fee. Roma have tabled an offer of 42 million euros plus bonuses, while West Ham are demanding close to 50 million euros, citing their need to offset relegation costs. The Friedkin Group's final approval is awaited. Simultaneously, the renewal of Lorenzo Pellegrini remains unresolved despite backing from the Curva Sud. Pellegrini has agreed to a substantial salary reduction to stay at the club, which Gasperini has explicitly requested. However, a contractual impasse persists over the length of the deal: the midfielder is pushing for a three-year term, while Roma have offered only two years. The Greenwood option has been shelved due to prohibitive costs. Both negotiations are expected to reach resolution in the coming days as the Friedkin Group considers the final spend and Roma seek to retain their midfield leader while reinforcing the forward line.

Roma defeated the Primavera side 6–0 in an internal friendly at Trigoria under the watchful eye of director Tony D'Amico, with Paulo Dybala orchestrating the performance. The match was played in four slots under Gasperini's new-look system. Roma struggled initially in the opening 20 minutes, with Artem Dovbyk spurning a clear chance in front of goal. Once Gasperini reshuffled the lineup around the quarter-hour mark, Dybala took control. Matías Soulé opened the scoring by heading in a Dybala cross, before Soulé himself added a second from a Dybala assist at the 44-minute mark. In the second half, Dybala converted a penalty won by Cherubini and added a fifth with a left-footed half-volley from Soulé's assist, demonstrating the twin's telepathic understanding. Bryan Cristante also scored from a distance, with Dovbyk adding the sixth late on. Angeliño featured for just one half, while Wesley played on the right flank in place of the injured Çelik. Hermoso led the defensive line with authority and precision. Gasperini granted the squad a day's rest following the exercise, with training resuming tomorrow at 18:00.

AS Roma are closing in on Crysencio Summerville, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini expecting a resolution in the coming days. The club has raised their bid to €50 million to persuade West Ham to sell the Dutch international and fend off competition from Aston Villa. Gasperini will have final say once Roma and Summerville's agents reach an agreement on personal terms. Despite publicly casting doubt on the transfer during Saturday's press conference—a tactical move to maintain negotiating leverage—Gasperini is eager to bring the winger to Rome. The breakthrough hinges on agreeing contract details with Summerville's representatives, the final hurdle before the deal can be completed. Roma's willingness to climb to the €50 million mark signals their determination to secure one of their priority targets this window. The next 24 to 48 hours are viewed as critical to the outcome. Summerville, who would join a squad already including attackers such as Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk, and Stephan El Shaarawy, represents a significant investment in Gasperini's vision for the team.

Roma cruised to a 6-0 victory over their Primavera side in a pre-season friendly, with Paulo Dybala delivering an influential display that included two goals and two assists. Artem Dovbyk opened the scoring with a header from close range, before Matías Soulé doubled the lead from a Dybala assist. Dybala then converted a penalty he had won himself to extend Roma's advantage, with Bryan Cristante adding a fourth. Dybala completed the demolition with a technical finish, and Dovbyk sealed the result with his second goal. The friendly offered manager Gian Piero Gasperini useful observations ahead of the new season. Beyond Dybala's influential contribution following his contract renewal, Mario Hermoso and Wesley impressed with their physical condition. However, Angeliño emerged as a concern, appearing visibly short of match fitness and his place in the technical project increasingly uncertain.