Roma eye Thuram from Juventus in response to Çelik exit

Atalanta supporters paid tribute to Marten De Roon during their match against Bologna at the Gewiss Stadium, displaying a banner reading 'Even if it hurts this much… thank you Marten' as the Dutch midfielder completed his transfer to Roma. The message, signed with affection by the Bergamo fans, captured the bittersweet mood of the Atalanta faithful—sadness at losing a key figure in their midfield but profound gratitude for his years of service, battles on the pitch, and leadership both on and off the field. De Roon, who had long been a cornerstone of Atalanta's midfield, has now begun a new chapter in his career at the Giallorossi. He will reunite with Gian Piero Gasperini, Roma's head coach, at Trigoria. Despite the painful separation for the Bergamo club, mutual respect and esteem between De Roon and Atalanta's supporters remained intact, as evidenced by the heartfelt message that appeared in the stadium. The display reflected the genuine emotional bond between the player and the club's fanbase, demonstrating how football transfers, while sometimes bringing unwanted surprises, can also reveal moments of sincere emotional attachment between players and supporters.

AS Roma have submitted a written offer worth approximately €35 million plus add-ons for Jamie Leweling, Stuttgart's right winger, as the club looks to complete a permanent transfer in the final days of the summer window. The German club's response is awaited.

Roma have tabled a fresh offer for Zenit Saint Petersburg winger Luiz Henrique in the closing stages of the transfer window, signalling the club's determination to land an attacking reinforcement for coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The new proposal is worth approximately €38 million in fixed fees plus €5 million in add-ons, for a total potential value near €43 million, according to ESPN Brasil. This represents a significant increase on Roma's previous bid, which Zenit rejected when it stood at around €38 million overall; Roma restructured the deal to boost the guaranteed component. The renewed push for Luiz Henrique comes after the transfer track appeared to have stalled in recent hours. Simultaneously, Roma continue to pursue Stuttgart winger Jamie Leweling as an alternative avenue. Sporting director Tony D'Amico is working both leads without yet establishing a clear hierarchy between the two targets. The timing carries additional weight: Roma recently cleared the way for forward Robinio Vaz to leave after initially blocking his departure pending the arrival of a replacement, a move the article frames as a potential signal of the club's confidence in closing at least one of the two deals in the coming days. Both pursuits underscore Roma's commitment to bolstering their attacking options. The elevated offer for Luiz Henrique demonstrates the club's willingness to invest substantially, while the Leweling option remains concrete. As of now, neither deal is finalized—Zenit have not accepted Roma's improved proposal—and the next phase will clarify which path is more likely to reach completion.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has identified a striker and a left-back as the remaining pieces needed to complete the squad ahead of tomorrow's away fixture at Lecce. Gasperini said: "To complete the team we need a piece that closes that section. A left-back and a forward have remained. Lulli has filled in somewhat, I have always believed in him, he is giving important responses but we cannot load such large responsibilities on him. Last season we had Angeliño, Tsimikas, Çelik, Wesley and also Rensch." Gasperini has most of his squad available for the trip to Via del Mare, with Lorenzo Pellegrini and Devyne Rensch expected to return to group training next week. Leonardo Balerdi was officially confirmed as a new arrival this morning, joining fellow recent additions Konstantinos Koulierakis, Rodrigo Mora, Santiago Castro and Nahuel Molina among the squad.

Former Roma and Lecce player Gigi Garzya has warned that Roma must be ready for an opponent who gives nothing away when the sides meet on Monday. Speaking ahead of the match, Garzya praised Lecce's performance in their opening away win at Venezia, saying the team of Di Francesco "remained in the game with the right mentality and lucidity that weighed heavily in the final half-hour". He highlighted Olaf Gorter as a player who impressed with both quality and personality, and noted the arrival of Ilić as evidence of Lecce's focus on adding strength in the transfer market. On Roma's prospects under Gian Piero Gasperini in his second season, Garzya acknowledged the squad has been reinforced, though he described Zeki Çelik's departure as a "heavy" loss—while backing Nahuel Molina to compensate with his quality and competitive drive. He was effusive about midfielder Rodrigo Mora, saying: "Technically he has numbers that make him an important prospect; one characteristic struck me more than others: he is the type of player you do not see frequently in the various leagues, because his thinking arrives first, and consequently he then makes the ball travel in an unpredictable way for opponents. When people say he is a bit light physically, they forget that the most important characteristic is playing the ball always with some instant of anticipation for whoever controls it." On the defence, Garzya explained that Konstantinos Koulierakis represents a deliberate and necessary choice rather than mere cover: "This year, with the Champions League, you need at least six established defenders in the department, calculating also that the game starts from the back, there are so many matches and Gasperini's football is very demanding in every role. The choice was targeted; the Roma coach never approves a signing just to make up numbers." Regarding Roma's ambitions, Garzya urged caution: "It is too early to say and ultimately the transfer market may not be finished yet; let's also see what the others do by the close; certainly you must do everything to maintain Champions League qualification, because Roma must play this competition regularly. Then we'll see if appetite comes with eating."

The relationship between head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and sporting director Ricky Massara deteriorated throughout the 2025–26 season, marked by clashing views on transfer strategy, public criticism and mounting friction that became irreparable. Massara, who felt treated as an amateur despite his substantial track record, endured difficult months in silence, though tension grew steadily. The conflict began last summer during negotiations for Sancho and Fabio Silva, then escalated in late August when Massara said "Sancho at the moment remains a suggestion because I don't think there are the conditions or the motivations," while Gasperini later replied: "Sancho never refused Roma." The situation exploded in early September during a heated discussion at Fulvio Bernardini, where Gasperini accused Massara of being too slow in negotiations, dismissing the restrictions imposed by Financial Fair Play and inherited difficulties. Disputes over specific targets fuelled the rift further: Gasperini's veto on Raspadori, his preference for Malen over Zirkzee, and disagreements over Robinio Vaz. The breakdown continued from a distance after Massara moved to Juventus, with the director's pursuit of Zeki Çelik irritating Roma while Gasperini attempted to insert himself into the Juventus deal for Kessié. The definitive rupture came in spring, when Gasperini rejected Kerim Alajbegovic and made his position clear: having secured the departure of Ranieri, he wanted Massara gone as well to remain at Roma.