Roma lands in Wales for second pre-season phase as fans welcome new signing

AS Roma arrived at the Vale Resort in Wales, their base for this phase of summer training, where they will prepare for their upcoming pre-season fixtures. The squad was greeted by numerous supporters who waited for the team coach to collect autographs and photographs with their favourite players. Santiago Castro, the club's new number 9, stopped to meet fans and was warmly received following his recent transfer to the capital, signing autographs and posing for pictures. Roma will take to the pitch tomorrow at 16:00 Italian time for their first Welsh training camp fixture, against Cardiff City. The match offers head coach Gian Piero Gasperini an important opportunity to continue building fitness and develop the work already begun at Trigoria.

Roma arrived in Wales for their pre-season training camp on Tuesday, though roughly an hour behind schedule after switching flights due to an operational issue. The squad will be based at Vale Resort in Hensol and face Cardiff City in their opening friendly at Cardiff City Stadium on Wednesday at 16:00 local time (15:00 UK time). No morning training session is scheduled before the match. Santiago Castro, who has completed initial work at Trigoria, is primed to feature after his recent arrival, with Donyell Malen set to start as the sole new signing present. Matteo Koulierakis has not yet arrived for his medical examination; he is expected in the capital on Wednesday before joining the squad in Wales. Niccolò Pisilli has been recalled to the group as he continues recovery from a left soleus muscle injury but will not play. Robinio Vaz has fully recovered from injury and is available, while Neil El Aynaoui has returned after extended leave following World Cup duties. Approximately 10,000 tickets have been sold for the fixture. Shuttle bus services will operate every 15 minutes on route 95 between Cardiff city centre and the stadium from Wood Street (stop JB), beginning two hours before kickoff and running until the crowd has dispersed. Gates open at 13:30—90 minutes before the 15:00 local start. Around 100 Roma supporters are expected to attend.

Konstantinos Koulierakis will undergo medical tests in Rome tomorrow after all regulatory approvals were secured, becoming Roma's second summer signing. The Greek defender joins from Wolfsburg on a deal worth 16.5 million euros plus 1.5 million in add-ons, with the German club retaining 20 per cent of any future resale. He has already signed his contract. Meanwhile, Roma have begun the second phase of their summer preparation in Cardiff, Wales, under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The squad will remain at their Hensol base—approximately 20 kilometres from Cardiff—until 8 August, training at the WRU National Centre of Excellence and facing three friendly matches against Cardiff City, Newport County, and Brighton. Niccolò Pisilli has recovered from a calf problem and was included in the touring party, along with Robinio Vaz, who recently returned to group training. Roma are also pursuing Givairo Read, the Dutch right-back from Feyenoord. Sporting director Tony D'Amico has submitted a 25 million euro offer to open negotiations, though Read remains a target for several Premier League clubs. Read said: "If the opportunity presents itself to join a club I like, I'll be ready. I feel good physically and mentally right now. My goal is to stay in shape and prove my value on the pitch."