Roma conclude Wales training camp with double session before Brighton trip

Gian Piero Gasperini cancelled a scheduled interview with Sky Sport on 7 August, declining to discuss Roma's transfer activity and the club's pre-season training camp in Wales. Instead, the coach held a meeting with Roma's ownership at their Hensol resort base, focusing on the status of ongoing negotiations. The gathering included CEO John Galantic and centred on contract renewals, inbound moves, and player departures. Two deals were discussed: Lorenzo Pellegrini has formally agreed to renew his contract for one season, but paperwork remains unsigned. The Molina transfer is reportedly agreed in all its aspects but awaits a final procedural step. Gasperini's decision to skip the media appearance reflects the urgency of Roma's summer business with less than three weeks until Fiorentina visit the Olimpico for Serie A's opening day on 24 August. The club needs to accelerate its market activity, and the coach appears determined to prioritise action over words. Roma departed Wales for England on 7 August afternoon. Fans will next hear from Gasperini after Brighton's match against Roma, though the reference to waiting for Godot suggests uncertainty around whether clarity will then arrive.

Roma's pre-season training camp in Wales is drawing to a close, with Gian Piero Gasperini's squad preparing for a final warm-up fixture before returning to Italy. The penultimate day at Vale Resort in Hensol saw the players divided between a morning gym session focused on muscle strength and an afternoon programme of small-sided matches and intensive athletic work. Donyell Malen, sidelined by illness in recent days, is completing his recovery and pushing to feature in the next friendly. Today marks the end of the British training camp. Roma will hold a final morning session before lunch, then depart for Cardiff Airport at an unspecified time, flying by charter to London at 17.40. From Gatwick, the squad will travel by coach to Brighton to prepare for the tour's final test: a match against Brighton on Saturday afternoon at 16.00 (Italian time). The fixture offers a stern examination of Premier League opposition before Roma return to Italy. The training period has been intensive and valuable, consolidating the tactical identity built in the previous season. After the Brighton encounter, the squad will head home, concluding the overseas phase of their pre-season preparations.

Lorenzo Pellegrini has made a significant gesture towards AS Roma by signalling his willingness to renew his contract, accepting terms for a single year—potentially with an option for a second year subject to certain conditions. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has been instrumental in keeping lines of communication open with the midfielder, consistently expressing his desire to continue working with Pellegrini in his second season at the club. The two remain in regular contact. Roma's board has long delayed formal action on a renewal offer, but is now prepared to present an official proposal to the player. As of the evening of 6 August, no official offer had yet been formally submitted. Pellegrini's willingness to accept a reduced contract term reflects his commitment to remaining in the Giallorossi colours, despite the protracted nature of negotiations over the summer. Gasperini's backing has been crucial to narrowing the gap between the club and its captain, signalling that Pellegrini remains central to the coach's plans.

Roma's pre-season training camp in Wales is drawing to a close, with Gian Piero Gasperini's squad preparing for a final warm-up fixture before returning to Italy. The penultimate day at Vale Resort in Hensol saw the players divided between a morning gym session focused on muscle strength and an afternoon programme of small-sided matches and intensive athletic work. Donyell Malen, sidelined by illness in recent days, is completing his recovery and pushing to feature in the next friendly. Today marks the end of the British training camp. Roma will hold a final morning session before lunch, then depart for Cardiff Airport at an unspecified time, flying by charter to London at 17.40. From Gatwick, the squad will travel by coach to Brighton to prepare for the tour's final test: a match against Brighton on Saturday afternoon at 16.00 (Italian time). The fixture offers a stern examination of Premier League opposition before Roma return to Italy. The training period has been intensive and valuable, consolidating the tactical identity built in the previous season. After the Brighton encounter, the squad will head home, concluding the overseas phase of their pre-season preparations.

Donyell Malen trained with Roma's squad on 6 August after recovering from a fever that had forced him to miss a friendly against Newport. The forward is expected to be available for Roma's fixture at Brighton on 10 August, which kicks off at 16:00 Italian time. Roma will fly to Brighton on the afternoon of 7 August to continue their pre-season preparations. The Giallorossi are in the final days of their training camp at Cardiff, with their Serie A campaign set to begin in 18 days against Fiorentina. Following the Brighton test match, Roma will return to Trigoria for the last two weeks of training before the season kicks off.

Roma are continuing their pre-season preparations in the United Kingdom with a focus on getting Donyell Malen back to his best. The Dutch winger arrived at camp below match fitness after playing through the final five months of last season without rest, accumulating fatigue from both club and international commitments. He was reduced to 25 minutes in the Cardiff friendly and missed the Newport match due to fever. Head coach Gasperini has implemented a tailored recovery programme: Malen trained separately on Wednesday following a one-to-one consultation with the coach, completing ball work, shooting drills, and extensive running to close the fitness gap with his teammates ahead of the league opener on 24 August. El Aynaoui, also returning from international duty, is following a modified training schedule, while Evan N'Dicka, who did not feature in Copa America matches, requires no such adjustment. Loyal captain Lorenzo Pellegrini will rejoin the squad soon after missing pre-season through injury and rejecting offers from Juventus and Besiktas. He has agreed to accept a one-year contract at a reduced salary—dropping from €6 million to €2.5 million annually—in the hope of negotiating a two-year extension next summer. His initial demand for a three-year deal shifted to this more flexible arrangement, positioning Roma's rebuild around his leadership. On the transfer front, Molina is en route to the club, whilst the pursuit of Nusa remains on hold despite his public denial of requesting a move from Leipzig. Fofana of Lyon stands as an alternative. Right-back targets include Endrick of Real Madrid. Roma conclude their Welsh camp tomorrow before heading to Brighton for a friendly at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.

Alessio Cacciamani, a 19-year-old from Jesi, has made a smooth transition from Torino's youth academy to professional football after an impressive loan spell this season at Juve Stabia in Serie B under manager Abate. Originally a left-winger who scored 12 goals in Under 18 competition in the 2023–24 season, Cacciamani was repositioned as a left-wing-back by Abate to exploit his offensive progression, stamina and physical resilience. The conversion required tactical refinement to develop a defensive phase befitting the role, though his primary strengths remain offensive. The 2007-born midfielder has represented Italy at youth level, earning 10 appearances in Under 19 and one in Under 21. His pathway has intersected with Roma's academy prospects: he faced Niccolò Pisilli and Cherubini at youth level, with both playing alongside him in Italy's 4–0 Under 21 victory over Macedonia in March 2026. Most notably, Cacciamani and Pisilli were both included in Baldini's senior Italy squad for the friendly against Greece on 7 June 2026, marking a convergence of two young talents on the international stage despite their youth and separate club circumstances.

Roma trained in Wales on the fourth day of their pre-season camp on 4 August, with the squad set to face Newport later that evening at 19:00 local time (20:00 Italian time). Wesley has recovered from a right ankle problem and completed the full session with the group, putting him in contention for tonight's friendly. Head coach Gasperini will decide whether to risk the Brazilian forward in the match. Niccolò Pisilli remained absent from training. Neil El Aynaoui also returned to group training after resolving a minor left knee issue and is ready to feature. CEO Galantic attended the session at the camp. Wesley's availability provides a significant boost to Roma's attacking options for the friendly, having been sidelined by the ankle injury in preceding days.

Neil El Aynaoui is pushing hard to establish himself as a key figure in Gasperini's Roma midfield. After a mixed previous season that saw him instrumental in the club's late Champions League push, the midfielder returned from Morocco's World Cup campaign with a minor left knee problem but has integrated fully into group training. To accelerate his fitness, he completes additional solo running sessions around the club's training base, working under close supervision from Gasperini's staff. In a behind-closed-doors match two days ago, El Aynaoui scored twice—once with a header from a Cherubini cross and once from distance—as he competes for regular minutes. El Aynaoui arrived from Lens with a goalscoring reputation, having netted 8 goals in 24 matches. Since joining Roma he has managed only two goals—one in Serie A and one in the Europa League—a return that falls short of expectation. Aston Villa has enquired about him, but his future remains with the Giallorossi. Gasperini faces midfield injury problems: Bah has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture, Pisilli is still unavailable, and Koné is expected back only on 10 August. Manchester United continue to pursue Koné without having made a concrete move, but El Aynaoui is determined to climb the hierarchy and carve out a leading role in Roma's midfield.