Roma face derby without Koné as injury concern clouds Lazio clash

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.

AS Roma is making progress on a contract renewal for Celik, while Paulo Dybala is expected to sign a new deal soon. The club has also officially confirmed another friendly match as part of pre-season preparations. Details on the specific terms and timeline for these developments remain unclear, though the renewal talks appear to be moving forward positively.

Leandro Paredes, the former Roma midfielder, was interviewed by DAZN while competing for Argentina in a World Cup campaign. The interview touched on Paulo Dybala and speculation surrounding a possible move to Boca Juniors. Paredes expressed goodwill toward his former Roma teammate, indicating that regardless of whether Dybala joins Boca, he wishes him the best. Dybala remains a key figure in Roma's current squad. The comments reflect the broader context of player movements during international breaks, though specifics of any transfer discussion remain unclear.

AS Roma is preparing to submit an official offer for English winger Mason Greenwood to Olympique Marseille in the coming days, with the bid expected around Tuesday. The package is reported to be worth approximately €45 million including bonuses, with Roma aiming to move ahead of rival interest from Atlético Madrid. In parallel, Argentine striker Artem Dovbyk is being pursued by Genoa, where former Roma manager Daniele De Rossi now coaches. Roma has shown openness to a loan arrangement for Dovbyk, though his wage demands remain a significant hurdle to any deal materializing. Meanwhile, Roma is also scouting attacking depth. For the role of deputy to Donyell Malen, the club is considering Nicolò Tresoldi from Club Bruges and Andrea Pinamonti from Sassuolo, with Lazio also keen on Pinamonti. Separately, midfielder Leandro Paredes has spoken publicly about Paulo Dybala's future. Paredes said: "For me it would be a pleasure to have him with me at Boca, then he will make his own decisions and surely will have many things on his mind." Dybala's contract status and potential departure remain topics of speculation as the transfer window enters a critical phase.