Roma face Newport County test as Koulierakis makes debut

Gianluca Mancini has declared his intention to spend his entire career at Roma following his contract renewal with the club. Speaking from the Welsh training camp, the defender said: "Roma for me is home. Then in football you never know, but I hope it can be like this: Roma for life." Mancini also discussed his recent performances in the Derby della Capitale, saying he did not anticipate scoring twice and only fully grasped the significance during a break: "Before it seemed to me that I had only done my duty, it was like scoring two goals against Milan, Juventus or Inter. Then I understood." Mancini underlined his emotional attachment to the club, referencing a tattoo he pledged to get in December if Roma qualified for the Champions League. "SPQR is a beautiful inscription and it sums up the bond I have with the city and with the club," he said. He also praised the role of those supporting him, noting: "I am not crazy, but you cannot command the heart. When I signed we hugged each other. And he was happy to see me happy." On the absence of Lorenzo Pellegrini from the squad, Mancini described the midfielder as a lifelong friend and an important figure in the dressing room: "But he is missed by everyone, we hope he can reach us soon. He is an important figure for the dressing room and as a player he can give us a great helping hand."

Donyell Malen has expressed his commitment to Roma and his ambition to win Serie A with the club, comparing it to their 2001 scudetto celebrations at Rome's Circo Massimo. Speaking to Il Messaggero during Roma's preseason training camp in Wales, the forward said: "With my family we're doing well, I'm scoring, my relationship with the squad is excellent, the fans are splendid. Right now there would be no reason to think about changing air. A few weeks ago I was watching footage of the 2001 title celebrations at Circo Massimo. Repeating an experience like that would be wonderful, a dream." Malen praised head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's clarity and tactical direction, noting his ability to put players in position to finish. He expressed openness to whatever partnership Gasperini decides, whether alongside Paulo Dybala or any other forward. "Dybala? A magician," he said of his teammate. On the reported departure of Cristante, Malen declined to elaborate: "I had spoken with Crys too. Unfortunately it went badly but I don't want to comment on my friend's choices. I only wish him the best." Malen also commented on potential squad additions, highlighting young Feyenoord talent as a player who "could be useful to us" and reiterating that Roma need quality forwards to compete at the highest level.

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.

Roma and Feyenoord remain locked in negotiations over the transfer of defender Givairo Read. Sporting director Tony D'Amico has raised Roma's bid to €25 million in fixed fees plus €3 million in bonuses, alongside a 10 per cent sell-on clause for future resales of the right-back. The Dutch club has rejected the proposal, leaving talks at an apparent standstill, though new contacts are expected in the coming days in a bid to reach a final agreement. Read himself has already signalled his intention to join Roma and has agreed a five-year contract worth €2.5 million per season. The signing would give coach Gian Piero Gasperini a fullback profile comparable to Wesley to complete Roma's flanks. Alternative targets, including Fresneda, remain secondary, while interest from Nottingham Forest is viewed as less of a threat, with the English club unlikely to drive up the price. Roma has indicated it will not increase its offer further at present, though the expectation is that a resolution could be reached within the coming days as both clubs seek to close the gap between their valuations.

Roma have increased their offer for Read to €25 million plus €3 million in bonuses and 10% of any future resale fee, but Feyenoord have rejected the proposal. The Dutch club's expectations remain unmet, and negotiations are currently at an impasse with Roma's sporting director unwilling to go further. However, further contact between the parties is expected in the coming days as both sides work towards an agreement. Read himself has made his position clear, accepting a move to Roma on a five-year contract worth €2.5 million per season. Roma are targeting a swift conclusion within the coming 48 hours. The club had also considered Fresneda as an alternative, but prefer a profile similar to Wesley to strengthen the flanks. Nottingham Forest remain in the background as a secondary option, though they appear reluctant to engage in an auction for the player.

Mohamed Bah suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Roma's friendly against Cardiff on 3 August and will undergo surgery with Dr Georg Ahlbaumer, with a recovery period estimated at approximately nine months. The 19-year-old Gambian midfielder's season is over before it has begun. Bah was struck by the same injury two years ago during the summer 2024 pre-season retreat under Daniele De Rossi, when he tore the ACL in his left knee at Saint Moritz and missed eleven months of action. Roma's pre-season training at Vale Resort in Hensol continues under Gian Piero Gasperini, who has maintained high-intensity work as the squad prepares for their second warm-up fixture. Wesley is unavailable for tonight's friendly at Rodney Parade in Newport, having sustained a minor ankle sprain in Saturday's match against Cardiff City, which Roma lost 4–1. The club is taking precautionary rest with the winger. Neil El Aynaoui is gradually returning to full training. Tonight's Newport County match kicks off at 19:00 local time (20:00 Italian time). Kostas Koulierakis, the latest arrival, trained with the squad for the first time on Sunday after joining the Welsh retreat on Saturday afternoon and will feature as Roma look to improve on Saturday's defensive display, when clear lapses in concentration contributed to a heavy defeat.

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.

Mohamed Bah suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Roma's friendly against Cardiff on 3 August and will undergo surgery with Dr Georg Ahlbaumer, with a recovery period estimated at approximately nine months. The 19-year-old Gambian midfielder's season is over before it has begun. Bah was struck by the same injury two years ago during the summer 2024 pre-season retreat under Daniele De Rossi, when he tore the ACL in his left knee at Saint Moritz and missed eleven months of action. Roma's pre-season training at Vale Resort in Hensol continues under Gian Piero Gasperini, who has maintained high-intensity work as the squad prepares for their second warm-up fixture. Wesley is unavailable for tonight's friendly at Rodney Parade in Newport, having sustained a minor ankle sprain in Saturday's match against Cardiff City, which Roma lost 4–1. The club is taking precautionary rest with the winger. Neil El Aynaoui is gradually returning to full training. Tonight's Newport County match kicks off at 19:00 local time (20:00 Italian time). Kostas Koulierakis, the latest arrival, trained with the squad for the first time on Sunday after joining the Welsh retreat on Saturday afternoon and will feature as Roma look to improve on Saturday's defensive display, when clear lapses in concentration contributed to a heavy defeat.

Roma's midfield contingency plans have unravelled during the early stages of pre-season. Niccolò Pisilli suffered a calf injury after only ten days of training at Trigoria and is unlikely to feature in the remaining friendly matches in Wales, while Bryan Cristante also picked up an injury in the opening test against Cardiff. With Manu Koné on extended leave following France's World Cup campaign until 18 July, and Neil El Aynaoui only recently returning after Morocco's quarter-final exit at the same tournament, Roma's midfielder options are severely depleted ahead of the new season. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini had entered the summer transfer window with a complete and balanced midfield — two senior players per role, plus academy prospects for rotation during pre-season — but injuries have forced a rethink. El Aynaoui's tournament performances have impressed; his Morocco squad reached the quarter-finals and he featured prominently, continuing the form that earned him inclusion in Africa Cup of Nations glory. During his first season in a Roma shirt, the continental competition had limited his early impact, but once his ambition period ended, the number 8 demonstrated strong technical ability, positioning, and defensive work that convinced Gasperini. With only Cristante and El Aynaoui available in midfield before Roma return to Italy, the Moroccan now has a golden opportunity to establish himself in the hierarchy as the 2026–27 campaign approaches.

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.

Roma's midfield contingency plans have unravelled during the early stages of pre-season. Niccolò Pisilli suffered a calf injury after only ten days of training at Trigoria and is unlikely to feature in the remaining friendly matches in Wales, while Bryan Cristante also picked up an injury in the opening test against Cardiff. With Manu Koné on extended leave following France's World Cup campaign until 18 July, and Neil El Aynaoui only recently returning after Morocco's quarter-final exit at the same tournament, Roma's midfielder options are severely depleted ahead of the new season. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini had entered the summer transfer window with a complete and balanced midfield — two senior players per role, plus academy prospects for rotation during pre-season — but injuries have forced a rethink. El Aynaoui's tournament performances have impressed; his Morocco squad reached the quarter-finals and he featured prominently, continuing the form that earned him inclusion in Africa Cup of Nations glory. During his first season in a Roma shirt, the continental competition had limited his early impact, but once his ambition period ended, the number 8 demonstrated strong technical ability, positioning, and defensive work that convinced Gasperini. With only Cristante and El Aynaoui available in midfield before Roma return to Italy, the Moroccan now has a golden opportunity to establish himself in the hierarchy as the 2026–27 campaign approaches.

Roma's Argentine contingent of Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro were spotted together during the club's training camp in Wales, continuing a tradition established two years earlier when Leandro Paredes formed part of the group at Burton. The three players share close ties—Soulé and Castro work with the same fitness coach, Guido Viggiano, and spent part of their summer break together in Argentina. Their bond was evident during a friendly against Cardiff, when both Soulé and Castro protested to the referee over a challenge on Castro, with Lorenzo Pellegrini stepping in as captain to mediate. The incident had blown over by the following day, with the pair joking together while watching training from the gym. Soulé's position within that circle faces jeopardy, however. The winger has been available for transfer since early June, with Roma seeking a buyer despite rejections from interested Saudi Arabian clubs and only tentative approaches from German and English sides. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical deployment in the Cardiff match offered a telling sign: Soulé was stationed on the left wing rather than his previous season's right-wing role, with Dybala occupying the primary position on that flank. Should Soulé depart, it could unlock the path to signing Endrick, though academy prospect Mastantuono has failed to convince. Elsewhere, young defender Bah suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and faces approximately nine months on the sidelines. Wesley remains unavailable and will miss tomorrow's fixture against Newport. Niccolò Pisilli is sidelined pending another scan next week, with hopes of rejoining group training the following week. In mercato news, Roma awaits a response regarding Read, with an agreement with Feyenoord edging close—approximately 2 million euros remain under negotiation.