Roma completes Gasperini–D'Amico axis with appointment of new sporting director

Gian Piero Gasperini will address the media on Thursday at 14:00 at Roma's Fulvio Bernardini training ground, marking his first public comments since the club entered its second week of 2026–27 preparation. The press conference comes as Roma finalises several squad matters. Paulo Dybala's contract renewal has been officially confirmed, while Zeki Çelik departed to join Juventus. The announcement of Gasperini's media engagement provides clarity for supporters amid the ongoing transfer activity and squad reshaping under the new head coach. Gasperini, who took charge in 2025, has been overseeing Roma's opening training sessions at the club's training facility. The Thursday conference will be held in the centre's press room.

Gian Piero Gasperini will hold his first press conference as Roma head coach on Saturday 18 July at 14:00 at the Fulvio Bernardini training ground. The briefing comes at the start of the club's pre-season, ahead of a friendly against the Primavera squad on Sunday afternoon, and will offer Gasperini the chance to outline his early impressions from the training camp and the club's ambitions for the new season. Roma qualified for the Champions League at the end of the 2025–26 campaign and have entrusted a fresh technical cycle to Gasperini. The press conference will be streamed live across Roma's official social media channels and via live text coverage on Romanews.eu.

Gian Piero Gasperini will address the media in a press conference at 14:00 tomorrow ahead of Roma's first friendly match against the Primavera squad on Sunday afternoon. The head coach's appearance will mark his second public speaking engagement since the start of the training camp, following an interview with Rai Radio Uno on Monday, his first day in charge. Roma's summer transfer activity has yet to gain momentum, and Gasperini has expressed hope of welcoming at least one new signing in the coming days. The pre-match media engagement offers the coach an opportunity to discuss his plans for the squad and outline expectations as the club prepares for the new season.

Gian Piero Gasperini will address the media on Thursday at 14:00 at Roma's Fulvio Bernardini training ground, marking his first public comments since the club entered its second week of 2026–27 preparation. The press conference comes as Roma finalises several squad matters. Paulo Dybala's contract renewal has been officially confirmed, while Zeki Çelik departed to join Juventus. The announcement of Gasperini's media engagement provides clarity for supporters amid the ongoing transfer activity and squad reshaping under the new head coach. Gasperini, who took charge in 2025, has been overseeing Roma's opening training sessions at the club's training facility. The Thursday conference will be held in the centre's press room.

Matías Soulé's future at Roma is unresolved as the winger trains at Trigoria ahead of Sunday's first friendly, with no concrete offers yet on the table. Sunderland, Fulham, and Bournemouth have all made enquiries, while Borussia Dortmund has conducted only exploratory discussions, but none have matched Roma's €40 million asking price, which clubs regard as excessive. Soulé declared on his return to the capital: "I don't know if I'll stay." His agent returned from England without a concrete proposal. Roma's financial need to sell has not persuaded any club to meet the valuation. Only Saudi Arabian teams could satisfy the Friedkin Group's demands, but Soulé has reaffirmed to his entourage that he has no desire to play in Saudi Arabia—a position he has maintained since late June. The club is actively searching for a winger, with Summerville a target, though he plays on the opposite flank. On the right wing, Dybala and Matías Soulé are Roma's current options, meaning any new arrival would further limit Soulé's playing time.

Roma are pursuing multiple attacking targets as they prepare for the new season, with Nusa and Summerville among the club's primary objectives. Garnacho is also on the radar, though lower in the club's priority list. On the pitch, two Roma players were celebrating international success: Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé marked Argentina's victory at Trigoria, where they train with the giallorossi. The club continues to balance preparation work for the upcoming campaign alongside the transfer business needed to strengthen the squad. Roma's transfer strategy reflects ambitions to bolster their attacking options ahead of the new season, with the recruitment team actively evaluating available targets across Europe.

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 analysts have weighed in on Zeki Çelik's unexpected move to Juventus, with several pointing to the club's slow handling of contract negotiations as the root cause. Çelik, who had promised to stay under Gasperini, departed after Roma failed to secure his renewal in time, allowing Juventus to sign him on an undisclosed agreement. The transfer has created friction between the coach and the front office; Gasperini reportedly told his staff: "I asked for three renewals, including Celik's" and expressed dismay at the unexpected loss. Analysts criticised the club's operational delays. One commentator noted that "the Roma had a slow and incapable sporting director, and instead the player was stolen from under their nose." The delay in finalizing negotiations left Çelik exposed to outside interest, despite his progress as a starter. Gasperini wanted the renewal secured and views the situation as a significant setback. However, some observers acknowledged that verbal agreements hold no weight once another club enters the picture, and that Juventus's interest had been known for weeks. The wage package Çelik will earn at Juventus reportedly would have caused financial strain at Roma. Former Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo reflected on the shift in modern football: "There's no longer that attachment to the shirt there used to be. He's always been a professional." Analyst Orsi characterised the loss as "a defeat for Gasperini," noting concerns that Lorenzo Pellegrini could follow Çelik to Juventus.

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 continue their work both on the pitch and in the transfer market, with Diego Moreira moving further away from a move to the club due to Strasbourg's high financial demands. Zeki Çelik has departed Roma on a free transfer, and the midfielder Cobolli has responded to his exit on social media by posting a photograph of Rensch, with his next destination reportedly Juventus. Gianluca Mancini has sent messages of love to the club and supporters as internal morale holds steady. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will conduct a press conference tomorrow, offering the latest update on the squad and transfer activity. The situations surrounding Summerville and Nusa remain broadly unchanged as negotiations continue.

Roma are exploring multiple options to strengthen their right-back position following Zeki Çelik's transfer to Juventus, with Fenerbahce's Mert Muldur among the candidates under consideration. The 27-year-old Turkish defender, born in Vienna in 1997, is a versatile option capable of playing right-back, left-back, or centre-back. Muldur holds an EU passport and spent four seasons in Serie A with Sassuolo between 2019 and 2023 before moving to Turkey. The Roma recruitment strategy for the right flank includes a potential hierarchy shift involving Devyne Rensch, as well as new signings such as Savona, Molina, and Dodò. Muldur's contract with Fenerbahce expires on 30 June 2027, a factor that could facilitate his departure from the Istanbul club and potentially reduce the financial barrier to any move. Muldur's familiarity with Italian football, combined with his contract situation and EU citizenship, makes him an attractive prospect as Roma look to overhaul their defensive recruitment following Çelik's switch to Serie A rivals.

Gian Piero Gasperini has demanded an acceleration in Roma's transfer activity and expects a deal to be finalised in the coming days. Roma are reportedly prepared to improve their offer and table a contract worth approximately €4 million per season to convince their target. Nahuel Molina of Atlético Madrid is among the names on Roma's radar. The Argentine is viewed as a reliable profile—Gasperini previously pursued him, and Molina has Serie A experience from his time at Udinese. However, Molina is currently focused on Argentina's World Cup final against Spain on Sunday and is not engaging in transfer discussions until after the match. Dodo, available from Fiorentina and also tracked by Napoli, represents an alternative option. Zeki Çelik's departure to Juventus on a free transfer has unsettled Roma's hierarchy and Gasperini, who loses a dependable defender capable of playing both as a centre-back and wing-back. In response, Roma are considering how to retaliate against Juventus. With Manu Koné potentially departing, Khéphren Thuram of Juventus—born 2001—has emerged as a possible replacement, though it remains only an initial consideration at this stage.