Roma Dominates But Can Only Draw Against Milan

AS Roma have officially confirmed a pre-season friendly against Newport County on 4 August at Rodney Parade stadium in Wales, with kickoff at 19:00 local time (20:00 Italy time). The match is managed by former Leicester manager Fuchs and represents Roma's second test in the United Kingdom during their summer schedule. Information for visiting supporters' tickets will be communicated in the coming days. The Newport County fixture slots into Roma's busy pre-season calendar as they prepare for the Serie A season opener against Fiorentina. The friendly comes after an earlier match against Cardiff on 1 August, followed by another game at Brighton on 8 August. After these English fixtures, Roma will face Borussia Dortmund on 15 August in their final warm-up before domestic competition resumes. These matches form part of the club's preparations under their summer training camp, with player fitness and tactical development a priority ahead of the new season.

Roma midfielder Manu Koné started for France in their Round of 16 World Cup match against Paraguay, replacing the injured Aurélien Tchouameni. Despite the absence of Real Madrid's midfielder, French media and supporters have praised Koné's solid display. France won 1–0 thanks to a Kylian Mbappé penalty, advancing to the quarter-finals while demonstrating resilience against a compact defensive opponent. Koné earned widespread acclaim for his performance across both defensive and attacking phases. Journalist Olivier Bossard of L'Équipe stated: "I am not concerned about Tchouameni's absence. I think Koné will be very good and hold firm. We are not losing quality—in fact, we may even improve with him, because we gain attacking options without losing anything in defence." The Roma midfielder recorded 88 touches, tied for the match high, and attempted three long-range shots while making continuous defensive interventions. RMC Sport named him man of the match, though some outlets such as Le Figaro highlighted technical errors in the first half. Deschamps' assistant Guy Stéphan described Koné as "a different type of player, one with quality and a different profile," emphasizing his ball recovery abilities and distribution. Koné was cautioned late in the match but demonstrated the work rate and versatility that satisfied French staff and supporters alike.

France advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals with a narrow 1–0 victory over Paraguay, secured by a penalty converted by Kylian Mbappé. The South American side proved a tough and physical opponent, but France maintained composure and achieved their objective. Midfielder Manu Koné was among those praised for his performance in a demanding match. Koné, who currently plays for AS Roma, delivered a composed display in midfield against Paraguay's aggressive approach. He spoke about the nature of the contest after the match, noting the physicality on display and the tactical awareness required to navigate it without being drawn into unnecessary confrontation. The midfielder highlighted France's preparation and intelligence in handling the situation. In his post-match comments to beIN Sports, Koné reflected: "It was a very hard match, but we are happy. Today we adapted. They were a rather... physical team! We choose our words carefully (smiles). We managed to stand up to our opponents in the challenges, we won 1–0, we were effective. There were some excessive interventions, but we didn't fall into their trap. The coach had warned us during the week. We were intelligent, we just wanted to win." France's disciplined approach proved decisive in securing progression to the next stage.

Roma's senior squad members have made a collective decision to back the club's sporting project, with Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini among those signalling their commitment to remain. The move follows the Friedkin Group's backing of the team's direction. The core group of established players are betting heavily on the technical plan moving forward, representing a show of unity from within the squad at a crucial moment for the club.

AS Roma are pushing forward with contract renewal negotiations during a busy period at the club. Lorenzo Pellegrini's renewal is seeing accelerated progress, while Zeki Celik's deal is reportedly nearing completion, with only the official announcement pending. The club is balancing new signings with efforts to extend deals for key squad members. Details on the exact terms and timeline for both renewals remain unclear.

Head coach Gasperini is urging the Friedkin Group to accelerate Roma's transfer activity ahead of the squad's return on 13 July. With only 13 players currently available and the club's pre-season camp fast approaching, the coach wants new signings in place as soon as possible. Gasperini has identified Mason Greenwood and Moreira as his top priorities to strengthen the squad immediately. Greenwood remains the primary target to elevate Roma's competitive level, though competition is intense. Fenerbahce continues to pursue the English winger, though Champions League qualification remains uncertain for the Istanbul club. Atlético Madrid has also shown interest but must first resolve the Julian Álvarez situation with manager Simeone. Al Hilal has made an offer, but Greenwood prefers to remain in Europe. For Moreira, Roma maintains contact with Strasbourg, where the midfielder's valuation sits around €40 million and negotiations are ongoing. Chelsea's potential involvement could complicate that deal. Additionally, Roma has scouted alternatives including Garnacho, though Real Sociedad manager Xabi Alonso intends to evaluate him further. The club is also monitoring Kumbedi for the wing position, while striker Dovbyk will not move to Genoa. Roma's senior players Pellegrini, Dybala, and Çelik must finalize contract renewals before the July 20 return of international players.