Roma hold up Tresoldi signing to block rival interest

Roma head to Lecce for their second match of the season with Gasperini able to call on most of his squad. Leonardo Balerdi makes his competitive debut after his official confirmation this morning, while fellow new arrivals Koulierakis, Mora, Castro and Molina are all available. Lorenzo Pellegrini and Devyne Rensch remain sidelined but will return to training next week. De Roon, who arrived in the capital today, is not yet officially registered and therefore unavailable. Neil El Aynaoui is also absent from the squad list. Robinio Vaz has been left out as he prepares to join Hull City pending Roma's approval and the arrival of another striker. The full squad includes goalkeepers Svilar, De Marzi and Gollini; defenders Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi; midfielders Cristante, Koné, Pisilli and Mora; and forwards Castro, Malen, Soulé and Dybala.

Gian Piero Gasperini has confirmed that no official offers have been made for Matías Soulé, despite ongoing speculation surrounding the midfielder's future. The Roma head coach stated that Soulé remains available for selection and can play in tomorrow's fixture. Gasperini indicated that Roma's transfer priorities lie elsewhere, identifying a need for both a forward and a left-back as the window continues. The club is actively pursuing alternative targets to strengthen the squad in those positions. The statement comes as Roma conducts business across multiple fronts in the market. Gasperini said: "There have never been any offers for Soulé. He can play tomorrow." The clarity provided by the coach should settle questions about Soulé's availability for immediate selection.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has outlined Roma's remaining transfer priorities, stating the club needs both a left-sided attacker and a left-back. Gasperini praised Emanuele Lulli but cautioned against putting excessive pressure on the young defender as he develops. The squad already contains several attacking options including Matías Soulé, who Gasperini confirmed has received no formal offers from other clubs this summer.

Gian Piero Gasperini will return to Lecce on 31 August having twice visited the Via del Mare in circumstances that left deep frustration. On both occasions—after Roma victories at Lecce and later at the Olimpico—Gasperini skipped the post-match press conferences, his silence masking mounting tensions over the club's transfer activity and squad injuries. The January 2025 visit came during a transfer window when Roma desperately sought a striker; Evan Ferguson scored in a 2–0 win but suffered an ankle injury weeks later, while Artem Dovbyk also scored before injury forced him to undergo surgery. Gasperini's frustration centred on sporting director Massara, whom he felt was moving too slowly in the market, particularly in securing a left winger with a right foot—a need that persists to this day. The tensions that erupted at Lecce deepened significantly after Roma travelled to Turin. Claudio Ranieri was appointed to stabilize the situation, but the arrival of another authority figure widened the rift rather than healed it. Massara and then Ranieri departed; Gasperini ultimately secured the head coach position. The squad then delivered an exceptional run of form that culminated in third place and qualification for the Champions League. The manager's mood has improved substantially since those turbulent January weeks. According to reporting by Alessandro Angeloni in Il Messaggero, Gasperini overturned tables at the Via del Mare in his rage and blamed Massara for the slow pace of business. Donyell Malen's arrival in the winter window proved transformative, helping to spark the turnaround. Roma arrive in Lecce having rebuilt their trajectory and secured European football at the continent's highest level.

The Champions League league-phase draw on 27 August paired Roma with eight opponents across the competition's opening phase, featuring two former Roma managers now in charge of Europe's elite: José Mourinho at Real Madrid and Luis Enrique at Paris Saint-Germain. The draw shapes Roma's European path from 8 September to 27 January under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Roma's return to the Champions League comes after seven seasons away. Real Madrid and PSG, both seeded in the first pot, headline the fixture list. From the second pot, Roma drew Sporting Lisbon (home), Manchester United (away at Old Trafford), Fenerbahçe (away), and AEK Athens (away). Lille and Slovan Bratislava complete the eight, both at home. The tie against Lille offers a potential redemption: Roma missed three penalties in last season's Europa League fixture against the French club, including a double failure by Artem Dovbyk and another by Matías Soulé. Mourinho will return to the Stadio Olimpico with Real Madrid. The draw has constructed a fixture list combining Roma's ambitions in European football's premier competition with the nostalgic dimension of facing two managers who shaped the club's recent history—Mourinho's tenure yielding markedly different results from Luis Enrique's time in Rome.

Roma's return to the UEFA Champions League after seven seasons will be marked by two fixtures against former managers. The league-phase draw, made on 27 August 2026, paired Roma with José Mourinho's Real Madrid and Luis Enrique's Paris Saint-Germain—both first-tier opponents. Real Madrid will visit the Olimpico, bringing Mourinho back before Roma's supporters for the first time since his departure. The fixture calendar and exact dates will be announced on 29 August. Gasperini's side qualified for the competition by finishing third in Serie A last season. The draw has given them eight opponents across the league phase, which runs from 8 September to 27 January. Beyond the two former managers, Roma face a testing itinerary: they will host Sporting Lisbon and Lille, travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, and also play away fixtures at Fenerbahçe and AEK Athens. Slovan Bratislava completes the home fixtures. The clash against Lille offers Roma a chance for redemption after last season's Europa League campaign. They suffered three penalty misses in that competition against the French side: Artem Dovbyk failed twice, followed by an error from Matías Soulé. Roma's European journey will test whether Gasperini can navigate both the grandeur of the Champions League stage and the emotional weight of facing Mourinho and Luis Enrique.