Roma radio roundtable: Nusa talks open, but Fofana from Lyon remains a preferred target

Roma continue to strengthen their squad following the official arrivals of Castro and Koulierakis. Head coach Gasperini has made a new left-flank reinforcement a priority, and negotiations over Read are ongoing. Once that deal is closed, the club will push decisively on the manager's request for a left-sided defender. Nusa remains Roma's primary target for the position, but another option has emerged in recent days. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Roma have identified Juventus winger Nico González as a potential candidate. The Argentine wants to leave Juventus after spending the previous season on loan at Atlético Madrid, who are prepared to take him back. However, no agreement has been reached between those two clubs yet. Roma are now ready to table their own offer to the Bianconeri as they explore alternatives in the market.

Roma are monitoring Nico Gonzalez as a potential left-wing target, though the Argentine remains unlikely to be available unless a move to Atletico Madrid falls through. Gonzalez, recently at the World Cup with Argentina, wants to leave Juventus, and Atletico Madrid is preparing to bring him back to Spain after his loan spell there last season. Should that agreement with Juventus collapse, Roma would be ready to make an offer to the Turin club. However, Antonio Nusa remains Roma's primary left-wing objective and is unlikely to move for less than €60 million. The Giallorossi are also monitoring Stuttgart's Leweling and Brentford's Schade as alternatives. Gonzalez's name, therefore, ranks as a secondary option among several targets being tracked by the club at Trigoria.

Jamie Leweling has become AS Roma's primary alternative on the left wing should RB Leipzig's asking price for Xavi Simons remain prohibitive at €60 million. The Stuttgart winger, a versatile two-footed player, is seen as a safer investment than some rivals, having produced consistently in the Bundesliga last season without the injury concerns that have surrounded other targets. Born in Nuremberg to a German mother and Ghanaian father, Leweling represents the kind of physical profile and pace Roma are seeking in their wide recruitment. Ghana's national federation pursued him extensively, but he elected to represent Germany, the country where he was raised and developed. The 21-year-old's other interests include music production—he composes rap tracks in his downtime—and the NBA, though his earlier promise to change his hairstyle in the event of a World Cup victory remains unfulfilled. Leweling's versatility and athletic profile make him an attractive prospect should Roma's primary targets prove too costly or unavailable. His Champions League ambitions align with Roma's own trajectory under Gian Piero Gasperini, though whether he will ultimately land at the Giallorossi remains uncertain.

Roma returned to training in Wales following a defeat to Cardiff, with Wesley forced off the pitch after just ten minutes. The Brazilian left-back's early departure was pre-arranged with the medical staff and caused no particular alarm; he is carrying only a minor issue to manage in the coming days, not a serious injury. Wesley has endured a difficult injury history over the past year. In March 2026 he suffered a serious muscle injury—a right biceps femoris lesion sustained with Brazil—which sidelined him for four weeks. He had previously stopped training in September 2025 with left knee inflammation that ruled him out of a Bolivia fixture. In June 2026, a left adductor injury sustained in a friendly against Egypt forced him to miss the World Cup. The laterals' fitness remains central to Roma's pre-season preparations as the squad continues its training camp in Wales.

Roma are preparing to make another approach to Feyenoord in the coming hours over left winger Givairo Read, with the player already having agreed personal terms on a contract to 2031. The Dutch club are demanding €30 million; Roma have offered €28 million, narrowing the gap considerably. The two clubs are working to reach an agreement soon, according to transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà. With a decision on Antonio Nusa expected within days—Leipzig continue to hold firm at around €60 million—Roma are simultaneously exploring alternatives. Nico Gonzalez, available from Juventus should Atlético Madrid not exercise a buyout option, has been added to the shortlist. Jamie Leweling of Stuttgart and Malick Fofana of Lyon are also under consideration, though Fofana's recent ankle injury has given Roma pause. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has emphasised the urgency of completing the squad reinforcements in time. At centre-back, Roma continue to monitor Alberto Cacciamani from Torino as a potential alternative to Wesley. Torino are asking around €15 million; Roma have tabled an opening offer close to €7.5 million. Torino are already gathering information on Fortini as a possible replacement for Cacciamani.

Roma resumed training in their Welsh retreat following a 4–1 friendly defeat to Cardiff, with head coach Gasperini overseeing double sessions as the squad prepares for the start of the season. Defender Wesley suffered a minor right ankle discomfort during the afternoon session and stopped after around ten minutes, though the medical staff expressed no serious concern. The squad also managed absences—Bah was unavailable—while Niccolò Pisilli continued separate recovery work from a calf injury. Central defender Koulierakis, freshly signed from Wolfsburg, lifted spirits by training with his new teammates immediately upon arrival. The new recruit displayed considerable enthusiasm for joining Roma, describing his move as immediate and showing genuine emotion about the prospect of working under Gasperini and experiencing the atmosphere and warmth of the Roma fans.

Roma suffered a heavy defeat to Cardiff City in their opening pre-season fixture, losing 4–1 at the Welsh Championship club on 2 August. The Giallorossi conceded three goals in the opening half-hour and went in at 0–3 at the break, with errors from established players including Svilar, N'Dicka, Hermoso, Wesley, Cristante and Dybala contributing to a chaotic first period. Paulo Dybala missed a penalty in spectacular fashion before atoning in the second half with a goal created by Matías Soulé, though Cardiff added a fourth after an apparent foul on debutant Castro went unpunished. The match served as the competitive debut for Castro, who operated as the striker in an all-Argentine attacking triad alongside Dybala and Soulé under coach Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical system. Roma fielded a reduced squad following two weeks of pre-season work, while Cardiff were significantly further along in their preparation ahead of their League Cup campaign starting within days. Officiating decisions favoured the hosts, with romanisti receiving a series of yellow cards distributed seemingly arbitrarily. Wesley and Rensch appeared vulnerable on the flanks, while the centre-backs and midfield operated out of sync. A notable injury concern emerged when Bah suffered a right knee distortion and had to be stretchered off. The second half saw gradual improvements, though Cardiff's quality ensured few clear chances materialised for the visitors. Young midfielder Lulli (born 2007) impressed in a brief appearance.

Roma collapsed in their first friendly match in Wales, losing 4–1 to Cardiff. Ashford scored twice for the hosts, with goals also coming from Salech and Tanner. Paulo Dybala was Roma's sole bright spot, missing a penalty but pulling one back to make it 3–1, though the goal proved only a consolation. The defence struggled throughout, with Gianluca Mancini, Wesley and Devyne Rensch among the poorest performers, while debutant Castro misfired in attack. The squad trained this morning and appeared fatigued, carrying heavy workloads on their legs—a normal state at this stage of pre-season preparation. Young player Bah suffered a knee injury during the match, sustaining a right knee distortion; instrumental examinations will determine the full extent of the problem. Roma's next friendly comes on Tuesday against Newport at 19:00 local time (20:00 Italian time). The squad will train in the afternoon on Tuesday, with gym work scheduled for the morning.

Roma suffered a 4–1 defeat to Championship side Cardiff City at Cardiff City Stadium on the opening day of their pre-season training camp in Wales. The match exposed significant defensive vulnerabilities in the first half, with Wesley and Rensch at fault for several errors. Cardiff scored three goals in the opening period through two strikes by Ashford and one from Salech, while Paulo Dybala missed a penalty. Roma's night was further complicated by an injury to Bah. Gasperini's side showed improvement after the interval. Dybala converted an assist from Matías Soulé to pull one back, but Cardiff's Tanner restored the two-goal cushion shortly after. Jan Ziółkowski struck the woodwork late on but could not find the back of the net. The result highlighted areas requiring immediate work as Roma prepare for the 2026–27 season.

Roma radio commentators have weighed in on the club's transfer activity and recent performance. Roberto Pruzzo suggested that if Matías Soulé justifies his fee, he can elevate the team's attacking play. "If he raises his level, it makes things easier for everyone else," Pruzzo said on Radio Radio, while also criticizing the full-back display in Roma's latest match. He backed the club's pursuit of a wide player and saw potential in pairing Niccolò Pisilli and Donyell Malen in attack. Giancarlo Orsi and Paolo Mattioli also discussed the challenge facing Gasperini in finding wingers to suit his tactical system, a problem that hindered Roma last season. Both felt Castro and Malen could work together given their complementary attributes, though additional reinforcement on the flanks may be needed. Massimo Torri raised concerns about Roma's ability to shift players in the transfer market. He noted interest remains open on Nusa and flagged Lyon's Fofana as his preferred defensive option, though he acknowledged the cost is substantial. Torri was critical of Roma's negotiating position, remarking: "The Roma tries to sell Salah-Eddine for 8 million and the player refuses, then no offers arrive for Koné. The issue with plusvalencies is there." He questioned why Koné, despite a possible pubalgia affecting Soulé's market appeal, has attracted no concrete offers.

Santiago Castro is now officially a Roma player, and head coach Gasperini has acquired his new centre-forward option alongside Donyell Malen. The Argentine, nicknamed 'El Torito' for his resemblance to Lautaro Martínez and citing Batistuta, Tevez and Milito as idols, did not begin his career as a lead striker. At Vélez Sarsfield, Castro played right-back before Daniel Cielinski, a coach working with him at youth level, asked whether he would consider moving forward. Cielinski, now working between Atletio Perù's youth academy and Los Andes' women's team in Buenos Aires, recalled Castro in 2014 as a 10-year-old boy with exceptional energy and intensity. "When you ask a child 'where do you like to play?', most say 'striker', but Santiago gave a different answer: he simply wanted to play," Cielinski said. "He had the desire to start the action, to always be the one initiating play. That indicated he could become an attacker." Castro initially struggled in the role, failing to score in his first ten matches, but Cielinski persisted with the position. "After the tenth match I think he scored two goals. From there everything started: he stayed in that role and naturally loved it. He never stopped." Cielinski identified Castro's standout quality as power and bravery with both feet, noting he always sought the ball and moved continuously. "I see him in the penalty area, inside the box, in the space around the penalty arc," Cielinski said of his ideal position. He praised Castro's family, particularly his father's respectful non-interference in the coaching process throughout his son's development.

Gian Piero Gasperini has clarified Roma's attacking strategy, stating that Santiago Castro and Donyell Malen will alternate as the club's central striker throughout the season rather than feature together regularly. Both are pure strikers, and the manager will deploy only one at a time in Roma's established 4-2-3-1 formation, with two playmakers operating behind the lone forward. A rare pairing will be reserved for emergencies or closing stages of matches when chasing a result. This approach was already visible in a friendly against Cardiff City, where Castro started and Malen appeared from the bench. Roma's €35 million investment plus bonuses in Argentine forward Castro stems from the need to manage player workload across a demanding season featuring European competition. Last season, Malen featured heavily in the second half of the campaign and risked arriving fatigued. Castro's quality and prospect as a young talent provide Gasperini with greater depth without compromising standards. The two attackers possess complementary but distinct characteristics: Malen thrives on attacking space and exploiting pace, while Castro prefers dropping deep to link play and create connection with teammates. This stylistic difference makes regular partnership difficult, echoing a similar arrangement Gasperini employed at Atalanta with Zapata and Muriel.