Roma heads to Wales for summer training camp

Gian Piero Gasperini will hold a crucial transfer meeting with Roma sporting director D'Amico and owner Ryan Friedkin today before the team's departure for Wales. The summit will focus on finalising the club's market strategy for the remainder of the season as Gasperini, the club's new head coach, continues to push for reinforcements to mount a Champions League challenge. Left-wing remains Roma's priority, with RB Leipzig's Nusa staying at the top of the target list. Gasperini will have the opportunity to reiterate this directly to the board. The departures of Angeliño and Çelik have left gaps in the full-back department that require urgent attention. Read is being considered as a hot prospect to address those needs, with Roma having already tabled an offer to Feyenoord. The Dutch club's approval is now required for any deal to progress. Gasperini has already secured initial signings including Castro and Koulierakis, but the technical staff believes further investment is essential for a competitive campaign. All parties are emphasising the need to row in the same direction as Roma builds its new project under the new coaching regime.

Roma have arrived in Wales to begin a crucial week of pre-season preparation at Vale Resort in Hensol as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini prepares the squad for the new season. The club have settled into the green, well-equipped facility away from the spotlight, where the local Cardiff atmosphere has welcomed the team with warmth and curiosity. Supporters in Wales have shown enthusiasm for the Giallorossi, discussing the club's players and the legendary Francesco Totti, underscoring Roma's international appeal. Gasperini's side will face their first international test against Cardiff, who were recently promoted to the Championship. The new arrivals Santiago Castro and Konstantinos Koulierakis, who is expected to join imminently, feature prominently in the coach's plans and will use the Welsh training period to integrate quickly into the group. The extended daylight hours and fresh conditions in Wales provide an ideal environment for the squad to build cohesion and establish a solid foundation for the season's ambitions.

Santiago Castro completed his first training session with Roma on Tuesday at Trigoria before the squad departs for Wales. The Argentine, officially confirmed as the club's opening signing of the transfer window, was immediately integrated into group work by Gasperini, who used a game of tag to settle the newcomer in. The activity involved the entire squad and Castro adapted quickly, with teammates responding positively to his arrival. Hermoso marked Castro's debut with a characteristically robust challenge during a small-sided match, sending a clear message about Roma's work ethic and competitive standards. The physical reception underscored the club's culture: players joke and train together, but no quarter is given on the pitch. Roma's training camp moves to Wales later this week for the second phase of pre-season, where temperatures will be far more moderate than the 40-degree heat currently gripping the capital.

Roma face Cardiff City in a pre-season friendly on 1 August at 16:00 at Cardiff City Stadium, marking their first match of the Wales training camp following earlier warm-up fixtures against Primavera, Trastevere and Cannes. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will field a 3-4-2-1 formation: Svilar in goal; Mancini, Ndicka and Hermoso across the back; Rensch and Wesley as wing-backs; El Aynaoui and Cristante in midfield; Dybala and Soulé in attacking support; with Malen leading the line. Tickets for the friendly are available through Cardiff City's official website. The match will be shown live on streaming platform DAZN, with a repeat broadcast at 21:30 on Italian channel NOVE. Live text coverage with real-time updates will be available on ilromanista.eu.

Roma's squad returned to their Fulvio Bernardini training base yesterday afternoon after a friendly against Cannes that ended 3–3 in France, and have been granted a double session today ahead of the new season. Neil El Aynaoui is expected to rejoin the group at Trigoria after representing Morocco at the World Cup, where they were eliminated by France in the quarter-finals. His return will give head coach Gian Piero Gasperini additional midfield depth, with Niccolò Pisilli currently sidelined by injury and Manu Koné absent following France's World Cup campaign that ended in a third-place playoff loss to England. With the Serie A opener against Fiorentina less than a month away, Roma are building their competitive shape in earnest. Goalkeeper Mile Svilar told reporters: "We're working physically a lot, so the results cannot be seen today or in a few days. We need another month of work to really be in good shape and fortunately we have it ahead of us before the real matches arrive." Bryan Cristante and youth academy players have carried the midfield load during the first phase of pre-season. The squad travels to Wales tomorrow to Vale Resort at Hensol, where they will face Cardiff on 1 August, Newport on 4 August, and Brighton on 8 August. Roma return to Rome before the final warm-up fixture against Borussia Dortmund on 15 August.

Roma are pursuing Real Betis winger Ezzalzouli as they continue their search for attacking depth. The Moroccan international recorded ten goals and nine assists in 29 Liga appearances last season. Betis are demanding €45 million, while Roma have tabled an offer of €35 million—a gap that Gian Piero Gasperini's recruitment team believes is not insurmountable. Ezzalzouli, a national team colleague of Roma midfielder Neil El Aynaoui, has been on Gasperini's radar since last year. Developments could emerge in the coming days as Roma seek to bridge the valuation divide. The club cannot afford to stall in the transfer window following recent activity and remain active across multiple targets. Separately, Roma are also pursuing Nusa, the Norwegian winger and the club's primary left-wing target. RB Leipzig are holding firm at a €60 million asking price and have shown no willingness to lower their demand despite Leipzig's recent sale of Diomande for €100 million. Contact with Nusa's representatives has been positive, but an agreement with the Red Bull group club remains essential. Roma will continue their efforts until Sunday before shifting focus to alternative options.

Roma's squad returned to their Fulvio Bernardini training base yesterday afternoon after a friendly against Cannes that ended 3–3 in France, and have been granted a double session today ahead of the new season. Neil El Aynaoui is expected to rejoin the group at Trigoria after representing Morocco at the World Cup, where they were eliminated by France in the quarter-finals. His return will give head coach Gian Piero Gasperini additional midfield depth, with Niccolò Pisilli currently sidelined by injury and Manu Koné absent following France's World Cup campaign that ended in a third-place playoff loss to England. With the Serie A opener against Fiorentina less than a month away, Roma are building their competitive shape in earnest. Goalkeeper Mile Svilar told reporters: "We're working physically a lot, so the results cannot be seen today or in a few days. We need another month of work to really be in good shape and fortunately we have it ahead of us before the real matches arrive." Bryan Cristante and youth academy players have carried the midfield load during the first phase of pre-season. The squad travels to Wales tomorrow to Vale Resort at Hensol, where they will face Cardiff on 1 August, Newport on 4 August, and Brighton on 8 August. Roma return to Rome before the final warm-up fixture against Borussia Dortmund on 15 August.

Daniele De Rossi, now manager of Genoa, has reflected on his 2024 dismissal as Roma head coach after four matches. Speaking to Cronache di Spogliatoio, the former Roma captain and manager said his exit warranted greater dignity. De Rossi expressed frustration at the brevity of his tenure, stating: "I was furious when I was sacked, I was upset. I had my rivals and I felt beaten in a battle I did not fight, because after four matches there was no time to bring the team out. I made a press conference at SPAL and regretted it shortly after. It's not nice to show that you're bitter. My history at Roma was not perfect and linear, but it did not deserve an exit of this kind. I don't find it elegant to air dirty laundry: sometimes you have to defend yourself, but there are proper forums to do so. I should have done it earlier, when I was there." De Rossi acknowledged his analytical approach to his current role with Genoa, explaining his preference for developing young players. He said: "Reading one's own mistakes is the foundation. Once you've been dismissed you can only lick your wounds and analyse your failures. When I started the season at Roma, which lasted very little, I asked why we needed another midfielder when there was Pisilli. It's a bit easier to say it now, but watching the training sessions I had this feeling and I carry this mentality forward even now. I try to get the young players playing to understand how they can improve and above all to understand whether the president needs to buy something or perhaps we can rely on our own." De Rossi also discussed his choice of music when announcing his playing retirement, selecting the Oasis track "Sunday Morning Call". He explained: "Yes, I put a lot of thought into it, I didn't want it to be banal, I wanted it to say something. Sunday Morning Call is one of my favourite songs; football is no longer played on Sundays, but it's a hallmark of our generation."

Manu Koné's future at Roma remains uncertain as Manchester United intensifies contact with the midfielder's representatives, though no formal offer has arrived at the club yet. Chelsea and Arsenal are also keen on the 24-year-old, prompting Roma to begin scouting alternatives. Diarra of Sunderland has emerged as a potential successor should Koné depart. The departure of Koné would force Roma into the transfer market to bolster midfield depth. Without him, the squad would rely solely on Cristante, El Aynaoui, and Pisilli in that area. The club has set Koné's valuation at approximately 60 million euros and the Friedkin Group has no intention of accepting below their asking price. With Premier League interest intensifying, Roma's search for an alternative midfielder has begun in earnest. The club's recruitment strategy hinges on whether any interested club meets their valuation for the French midfielder.