Roma pursue left-back Cacciamani from Torino amid ongoing negotiations

Lucas Gourna-Douath has joined newly promoted Hull City in the Premier League for £2.9 million guaranteed plus add-ons and 10 per cent of any future sale. The 23-year-old French midfielder departed Roma after the club declined to exercise a €19.5 million purchase option at the end of the 2025–26 season, having signed on loan with a right to buy from Salzburg on 3 February 2025. Gourna-Douath found limited playing time during his spell in the colours and was sent out on loan to Ligue 1 side Le Havre in January. The transfer marks the end of a brief Roma chapter for the 2003-born midfielder, who arrived with potential but was unable to establish himself in Serie A. His departure had already been decided when the club chose not to convert the loan into a permanent deal at the close of last season. Gourna-Douath expressed enthusiasm for his new challenge, saying: "I had the opportunity to play in the Champions League, in Serie A and in Ligue 1. I learned a lot and I am really happy to be able to use this experience in the Premier League. The Premier League is the dream of all footballers. Now I have this opportunity, so I cannot wait to take to the pitch."

Torino defeated Carrarese 1–0 in a Coppa Italia match on 15 August, with a goal from Simeone early in the game, advancing to the round of 16 where they will face Monza. Left-back Alessio Cacciamani played the full 90 minutes and impressed particularly in the second half. Roma has made an offer for the player in recent weeks, but Torino director Gianluca Petrachi signalled the club's determination to retain him unless a significantly improved bid arrives. Petrachi told Mediaset ahead of the match: "Certainly he is a player who has performed well and is being watched by more than one club, so it pleases us because he is also a player who came through our academy, so it is a source of pride. And we hope to manage to keep him." On whether a fixed price exists or if Cacciamani represents Torino's future, Petrachi added: "I think if there had been a price he would already have left. The fact that we have offered resistance is proof that a proposal needs to arrive that is truly very, very important, otherwise we would want to keep him. That at least is our ambition." Petrachi acknowledged Torino's financial constraints, noting the club faces losses around 20 million euros this season and must complete some sales. He stressed the market remains "very, very complicated" and that several surplus players have not found suitable moves. Despite these pressures, Petrachi expressed confidence the club can build a squad reflecting the coach's vision over the remaining 15 days of the transfer window.

Roma are maintaining pressure to sign Rodrigo Mora from Porto, with general manager D'Amico also exploring alternative targets. The club is simultaneously pressing Tottenham for left-back Destiny Udogie, though a deal with the English club remains difficult. Matteo Moretto reported that Roma and Jorge Mendes are in continued contact over Mora; talks from yesterday will continue today as Roma awaits final approval from Porto president Villas-Boas. Mora, a 2007-born midfielder, remained on Porto's bench for the full 90 minutes in their win against Rio Ave. His agent had recently expressed frustration about the player's situation, prompting Porto manager Francesco Farioli to respond firmly: "Così non aiuta nessuno, la priorità è il Porto" (This helps no one; Porto is the priority). Alfredo Pedullà reported that Roma's interest in Udogie should be monitored closely as of today, with the operation from Tottenham assessed as difficult but possible. Barcelona may be stepping back from Christopher Nkunku, the Milan forward also linked with Roma, because the club considers his salary too high.

Roma played their final pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on 15 August, with kickoff at 17:30. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini left Molina on the bench and deployed Lulli at left-back in Wesley's absence. Donyell Malen led the attack in a 3-4-2-1 formation that also featured Mile Svilar in goal, a back line of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, midfielders Devyne Rensch, Neil El Aynaoui, Bryan Cristante and Lulli, with Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé in support. The match offered Gasperini a chance to assess the squad's development ahead of the new season. Dortmund lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation under coach Kovac, with Gregor Kobel in goal and Serhou Guirassy leading their attack. Roma had several players available on the bench, including De Marzi, Pierluigi Gollini, Koulierakis, Castro, Manu Koné, Molina, Jan Ziółkowski, Mannini, Reale, Robinio Vaz, Morucci and Daniele Ghilardi.

Roma take on Borussia Dortmund in a pre-season friendly at 17:30 today, but the clash is overshadowed by an injury crisis that has left Gian Piero Gasperini with just 23 players available — only 16 outfield players and three goalkeepers. Wesley suffered a right ankle sprain yesterday, joining Niccolò Pisilli (soleus injury) and Lorenzo Pellegrini (returning to group training in mid-September) on the sidelines. The Brazilian's injury mirrors problems sustained during the Welsh training camp. With 15 days remaining in the summer transfer window, Roma's squad position has deteriorated markedly. Eight players have departed — Dovbyk, Ferguson, Angeliño, Tsimikas, Celik, Zaragoza, Venturino and El Shaarawy — while only three signings have arrived: Molina, Castro and Koulierakis. Gasperini highlighted the shortage with a pointed response on competitiveness versus last season: "According to you?", underlining particular weaknesses on the flanks, in attack and midfield, where only three players are currently available. The Dortmund match will provide minutes for Molina while also testing Roma's defensive resilience; the rearguard conceded 11 goals across four pre-season matches against Cannes, Brighton, Cardiff and Newport without a clean sheet.

Roma face Borussia Dortmund at 17:30 on 15 August in what was intended as a crucial warm-up before the Serie A opener against Fiorentina, but injuries and an incomplete squad threaten to make it another uninformative friendly. Niccolò Pisilli remains sidelined recovering from a soleus muscle injury, Lorenzo Pellegrini is not included in the squad and will not return until mid-September, and Wesley was ruled out yesterday with a right ankle sprain—the same injury that troubled him in Wales. Manu Koné and Molina only joined the group on Tuesday, leaving Roma operating well below full capacity. With 15 days remaining in the transfer window, Roma squandered an early-season advantage over rivals such as Juventus, AC Milan, and Napoli, who faced restrictions on spending until making sales. The squad composition remains problematic: Gasperini named 23 players for the Dortmund match, including three goalkeepers, leaving only 16 outfield players from the first team—eight of them defenders. The club has received repeated rejections in pursuit of a striker Gasperini has wanted for the past year and a half, and uncertainty surrounds another ongoing transfer saga involving Mora. As reported by Stefano Carina in Il Messaggero, Roma's strategic approach to the window has shifted unexpectedly, raising questions about how the final weeks will unfold.