Roma push for Read amid Endrick and Nusa pursuit

Real Madrid have outlined their conditions for Franco Mastantuono's departure, with the Argentine forward out of favour at the club. The Spanish giants will allow him to leave on a straight loan or permanent transfer with a buy-back clause — a structure similar to the Nico Paz deal — to retain control of the player. Roma have emerged as suitors but are reluctant to accept Madrid's formula. The Giallorossi would prefer to take Mastantuono on loan with at least a purchase option, a requirement that has left them less engaged than Serie A rivals Fiorentina in the race for his signature. Real Madrid continue to prioritise Endrick as their primary target, though his arrival depends on Matías Soulé's departure from the club.

Torino have rejected Roma's opening offer of €10 million plus bonuses for 19-year-old left-back Cacciamani. The Turin club values the player at no less than €15 million, according to reports. Roma are expected to return with a fresh approach in the coming weeks as the transfer window remains open and the market has considerable time to run. Cacciamani, who demonstrated his abilities on loan at Juve Stabia last season after progressing through Torino's academy, is regarded as a talented prospect with pure technique, creativity, and physical attributes. The prospect of Roma renewing their interest is live given his quality, though Torino president Cairo has firmly established his valuation floor. The situation mirrors previous transfer frustrations for Torino fans, who recall the departure of Bellanova in late August 2024. Torino have also been exploring potential signings, including scouting ground for Fortini as they reshape their squad.

Roma remain focused on signing Matteo Nusa despite the substantial costs involved, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini viewing the Norwegian winger as his preferred option. The club has quietly monitored Nusa's situation while effectively abandoning the pursuit of Betis winger Ezzalzouli due to prohibitive wages and transfer fee valuations. Ezzalzouli's agent dismissed any Roma link in recent statements, saying: "There is nothing true about this." Attention has now turned to alternative targets, including Milan's Rafael Leão. Although no formal approaches have been made for the Portuguese winger, he matches the profile Gasperini seeks for the left-wing role. Turkish clubs are prepared to offer substantial financial packages to Leão, and Roma would only revisit his situation after the end of August if he remains at Milan. The club continues to monitor developments involving Real Madrid prospect Franco Mastantuono, with Fiorentina currently in pole position should the Argentine accept a move to Italy. Roma are also observing Brazilian forward Endrick, currently on the periphery of José Mourinho's squad.

Roma are accelerating their summer transfer activity, finalizing the signing of defender Konstantinos Koulierakis from Wolfsburg for approximately 15 million euros while working on several other recruitment fronts. The club's leadership, guided by Tony D'Amico, is putting the finishing touches on bonuses in the Koulierakis deal and simultaneously pursuing options across the flanks. On the right, Roma are monitoring Fresneda of Sporting Lisbon and Givairo Read of Feyenoord—valued at around 25 million euros—as alternatives to first choice Devyne Rensch under manager Gian Piero Gasperini. The left side will be reinforced by 2007-born Cacciamani from Torino as a backup to Wesley. In outgoings, Salah-Eddine moves to Olympiacos for 8 million euros total, while Angeliño is set for a loan to Deportivo La Coruña with a 2 million euro buy option. The priority attacking target remains an outside-left, with Antonio Nusa retaining interest despite RB Leipzig's high asking price, while Endrick remains under consideration on a loan-with-option-to-buy basis pending Madrid's approval. Ezzalzouli's path appears more difficult. Roma are also awaiting final clearance from the Friedkin Group to secure Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract renewal.

Lorenzo Pellegrini has undergone a minor surgical procedure in Finland to clean inflammation from the scar tissue of his May 2025 operation on the right thigh rectus femoris tendon. The Roma captain will miss training today and tomorrow, when the squad travels to Wales for the second phase of their summer retreat. Pellegrini travelled to Finland to consult with Prof. Lempainen, one of the club president's trusted specialists. Pellegrini's contract with Roma expired on 30 June, marking 29 days without an official giallorosso agreement in place. However, a new deal between player and club has been substantially agreed. The contract will run until 2028 on a two-year basis, worth a net €2.5 million annually plus performance bonuses, with an option in Roma's favour to extend the agreement by one further season through 2029.

Lorenzo Pellegrini has agreed a new Roma contract, but a surgical procedure is preventing him from finalising the deal and training with the squad. The captain flew to Finland after the end of the Serie A season for a minor cleaning operation on an inflamed scar on the right thigh's rectus femoris tendon, performed by Professor Lempainen. The procedure was scheduled in agreement with the club to resolve issues that hampered the closing stages of his campaign following his return in May, and explains why Pellegrini cannot yet train with the group or join the squad for the departure to Wales. Despite the apparent delay, negotiations conducted initially by Massara and advanced by Tony D'Amico have been settled on all details. Pellegrini has accepted a significant reduction in wages, giving up roughly 3.5 million euros net annually to sign a two-year deal worth 2.5 million euros plus bonuses through 2028, with a unilateral option in Roma's favour to extend to 2029. While the captain works continuously with physiotherapists, even during holiday periods, to accelerate recovery, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and teammates including Bryan Cristante are pushing to have him back at the centre of the project soon.

Roma faced Cardiff, the newly promoted Championship side, in a pre-season fixture at the Helton training centre on Friday, with kickoff at 15:00 local time (16:00 CET, live on DAZN). The match offered the first real glimpse of how head coach Gian Piero Gasperini intends to deploy Castro, the Colombian forward nicknamed 'Torito' who joins Roma after two seasons at Bologna. The key question surrounding Castro's Roma career centres on his role in Gasperini's system: whether he will operate as backup to Donyell Malen or feature alongside the Dutch winger in a two-striker formation. Early indications suggest both players may feature for one half each in Friday's outing. The prospect of Castro and Malen playing together, potentially with Paulo Dybala operating as a trequartista, carries significant tactical intrigue, particularly against defensive systems built around a back four. In Gasperini's previous spell at Roma, he favoured widening Malen when opting for alternatives, though his broader managerial history demonstrates tactical flexibility up front. At Atalanta, he deployed varied attacking combinations: Muriel and Zapata with Gomez as trequartista; Petagna and Gomez ahead of Kurtic; and later Koopmeiners operating behind Hojlund and Lookman—showing a manager unafraid to experiment with multiple forward configurations.

Roma will take on Cardiff City, a Welsh Football League Championship side, in their next fixture as they build momentum ahead of their Serie A campaign. Following their comeback win against Cannes, the Giallorossi are keen to maintain their form and keep supporters engaged. Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala are expected to feature and provide attacking threat for the club. The friendly represents an opportunity for Roma to continue preparations for the top-flight season in the best possible shape. The club will aim to avoid disappointment and carry positive results into their league opener. Fans can watch the match on either free-to-air television or via DAZN, with full team news and kickoff details available for planning.

Roma have announced the squad selected by Gian Piero Gasperini for the second phase of pre-season, with the team departing for Wales in the afternoon. The travelling group includes defenders Rensch, Ndicka, Hermoso, Mancini, Ziolkowski, Wesley, Mannini, Nardin, Reale, Lulli and Ghilardi; midfielders Cristante, El Aynaoui, Pisilli, Panico and Bah; and forwards Castro, Malen, Soulé, Dybala, Cherubini and Vaz. The Wales camp marks a significant checkpoint in Roma's preparation for the new season under Gasperini's management. The head coach has selected a mixed squad that blends established first-team players with younger prospects, reflecting the club's approach to squad development during the off-season training schedule. The three-week pre-season programme continues to build fitness and tactical cohesion ahead of Serie A's return.