Roma return to Champions League after seven years as Gasperini completes masterpiece

AS Roma earned over 1 million dollars from FIFA's Club Benefits Programme during the 2026 World Cup, ranking sixth among Serie A sides in total club payments. The FIFA scheme, run jointly with the European Football Clubs association, distributed 355 million dollars (300 million euros) to compensate clubs for releasing players to international duty. Each club received a minimum of approximately 5,000 dollars per day (4,300 euros) for every player loaned to their national federation. Roma fielded five players across the tournament held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico: Evan N'Dicka, Zeki Çelik, Neil El Aynaoui, Manu Koné, and Donyell Malen. These five accumulated 211 days of competition, generating 1.055 million dollars for the club. Milan topped Serie A's earnings with over 2.3 million dollars from ten players, followed by Atalanta (1.6 million from eight players) and Inter (1.55 million from seven). Juventus collected 1.2 million and Bologna 1 million. Among individual Roma players, Koné was the most valuable, earning 280,000 dollars for the club—second only to Lautaro Martinez of Inter and Nico Paz of Como, who each generated 285,000 dollars.

Inter, Milan, Juventus and Roma launched their summer training camps on Monday, 13 July as Serie A's leading sides begin preparations ahead of the new season. Many players remain committed to international duty at major tournaments, though several have returned to their clubs ready to start preseason. The four giants are among the first to commence their respective ritiri, or structured training retreats, with friendlies scheduled to build match fitness and tactical cohesion. Roma joins the elite quartet in kicking off summer work, with Gian Piero Gasperini's squad assembling for the intensive preparation phase. The timing reflects the staggered return of internationals, as some personnel are only recently emerging from extended competition calendars. These camps serve as the foundation for competitive readiness before the Serie A campaign resumes. Preseason schedules typically span several weeks and include a mix of internal drills, controlled matches and friendly fixtures against lower-division or regional opponents. The early start by these five major clubs underscores the demands of modern elite football, where conditioning and collective understanding must be rebuilt efficiently during the summer window.

Mario Balotelli has named AS Roma among the contenders for next season's Serie A title, alongside Napoli and Inter. Speaking to Sportmediaset, the former Milan striker said: "Napoli and Inter are the favourites, but I want to add a surprise: Roma will also fight for the Scudetto." Balotelli, now based in Saudi Arabia, predicted that Gian Piero Gasperini's side will be in the mix for the championship despite not being among the usual elite. Roma have not yet completed any significant transfer business ahead of their squad gathering tomorrow. The pursuit of Greenwood has fallen away, while the club continues to work on signing a backup to Malen, with Tresoldi identified as a target, and also Garnacho. The Giallorossi are preparing to restart their season following a challenging campaign. Balotelli's endorsement represents external confidence in Roma's prospects, though the club's transfer activity will be crucial to whether they can genuinely mount a title challenge.

Roma are pushing hard to sign Janis Summerville, with the player's agents having contacted Tony D'Amico to try to close the deal. Summerville has agreed to reduce his wage demands, and Roma's offer of 4 million euros plus bonuses is expected to satisfy him. The club continues to explore other attacking options, with Tresoldi positioned as a deputy to Malen rather than as a primary striker target, though transfer fee figures remain fluid internally. Lorenzo Pellegrini's future hinges on head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's assessment, according to radio analysis. Gasperini wanted to retain all three senior midfielders, but Pellegrini risks following the same trajectory as Zeki Çelik if the club waits until contract expiry to negotiate a renewal. The midfielder is a professional committed to Roma, yet he has the right to explore other opportunities as his contract runs down. A recent photograph posted by Pellegrini suggested he was at the airport exploring options elsewhere. Radio commentators questioned the logic of investing 30 million euros in a deputy to Malen, noting that at 21 years old, Tresoldi remains unproven. With the transfer window open and Pellegrini able to negotiate with other clubs from 19 July onwards, the dynamics around his future remain fluid and could materialise in unexpected directions.

Roma are working simultaneously on two alternative attacking targets for the left flank and could make a final decision imminently. Gasperini and the sporting director D'Amico are actively pursuing both Nusa and Summerville, with the Norwegian reportedly the profile that better fits the coach's overall vision and long-term ideas. For Nusa, discussions with both his club and representatives have progressed and a decisive move to resolve final details could arrive today. For West Ham's Summerville, the financial gap has narrowed on both player and club sides. Roma will not exceed the salary ceiling it has set for wages—nothing that surpasses what the squad that brought Roma back to European ambition earns—with a possible agreement on 4 or 4.5 million euros annually and approximately 45 million to the London club to reach the level of the player's release clause, which can be activated by midnight today. Talks continue but Roma have not yet entered a decisive phase, though time is pressing given Summerville's admirers in the Premier League. Summerville has a friend at Roma in Donyell Malen. Meanwhile, Chelsea talks over Garnacho have been put on hold; Roma want a loan deal while the Blues prefer a permanent transfer or early monetisation guarantee. Separately, Koné and Soulé remain possible sale candidates to balance the financial fair play requirements, though no formal offers have yet arrived at the training ground.

AS Roma are pursuing Nicolò Tresoldi as an attacking reinforcement to partner Donyell Malen, with the Bruges forward having already signalled his willingness to join the Giallorossi. The Italian-German striker, born in 2004, has given Roma an important green light regarding a transfer to the capital, marking a significant step forward in the club's transfer strategy. However, the next move rests with Bruges, who hold Tresoldi's registration. While the player's availability is encouraging, it is not sufficient to complete the deal. Bruges must still communicate their valuation of the player and clarify their intentions regarding Tresoldi's future. Early in the week, the situation surrounding the forward should become clearer as the Belgian club sets out its position on both the fee and willingness to sell.

Roma's squad reported to Trigoria by 12 noon on Monday to begin their first week of training under Gian Piero Gasperini, who enters his second season in charge following the club's return to the Champions League. The first session, preceded by routine medical checks, was scheduled for the afternoon after lunch. The squad welcomed back no new faces, with departures including El Shaarawy, Ferguson, Zaragoza and Tsimikas, and the club opted not to publish the squad list publicly. The decision to withhold squad details reflects uncertainty over Paulo Dybala's contract situation. Roma's hierarchy worked to complete all formalities of Dybala's contract renewal by Monday morning, with the financial terms already agreed for several days. Çelik will be the first player to return following his involvement in international competition, though his own renewal announcement has not yet been confirmed. The full or near-full squad is expected only when the team convenes for a training camp in Wales. Gasperini is awaiting reinforcements from the club's sporting director D'Amico, who has drawn up a target list prioritising Moreira, while Garnacho and Tresoldi remain under consideration for the attack and centre-back positions respectively.

Gian Piero Gasperini begins Roma's summer preparation at Trigoria, exactly fifty days after his appointment was celebrated at Verona. The coach will oversee a squad that has undergone subtle but significant changes since the end of the previous season. Stephan El Shaarawy has departed, while several players remain away on World Cup duty. Critically, Zeki Çelik and Lorenzo Pellegrini have yet to sign contract renewals, though both are expected to remain at the club—Çelik is still on holiday following Turkey's World Cup campaign, while Pellegrini must rebuild his fitness. Paulo Dybala is confirmed in the squad barring unforeseen developments. The transfer market remains frozen for now, but sporting director D'Amico will shift focus to incoming moves once renewals are secured. Gasperini's priority list is established. Mason Greenwood, the primary target, has slipped away, but the new sporting director is pursuing alternative options considered equally significant. Alejandro Garnacho and a player identified as Moreira are under active consideration. For Garnacho, Roma have requested a loan with an option to buy from Chelsea, though London has not yet opened discussions. Strasbourg are demanding 40 million for the Belgian, a considerably more demanding asking price that complicates any potential deal.

Roma began their pre-season on Tuesday, exactly fifty days after their victory in Verona, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini arriving at Trigoria. Only fourteen outfield players reported initially, with several absentees due to extended World Cup breaks or departures. Stephan El Shaarawy, Kostas Tsimikas, Evan Ferguson, Bryan Zaragoza, Zeki Çelik, Evan N'Dicka, Donyell Malen, Salah-Eddine, and Neil El Aynaoui were unavailable, while Manu Koné remained absent. Players were required to arrive at the training ground by noon for medical checks before their first session in the afternoon. Paulo Dybala is set to sign a one-year contract extension to begin his fifth season at Roma, with the announcement expected on Tuesday. Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract situation remains unresolved, with further discussions scheduled in the coming days. Wesley has recovered fully from an adductor muscle injury sustained before the World Cup. Daniele De Rossi's successor Gasperini arrived Monday morning and will oversee an intensive two-week training block at Trigoria before the squad relocates to Wales for the second phase of pre-season, departing 30 July and returning 18 August following a fixture against Brighton. Several players with uncertain futures, including Artem Dovbyk and Robinio Vaz, will use the coming weeks to impress Gasperini. Donyell Malen is expected to rejoin the squad around 22 July. Sporting director Tony D'Amico, representing the Friedkin Group ownership, attended to welcome the squad.

AS Roma asked its squad members to reveal which team they will support in tonight's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, kicking off at 21:00 in New York. The club's social media campaign featured responses from Bryan Cristante, Jan Ziółkowski, Matías Soulé, Paulo Dybala, Niccolò Pisilli, Mile Svilar, and Gianluca Mancini among others. Mancini, the club's number 23, backed his former teammate Leandro Paredes with the message: "Vamos Leandro!" The Argentina contingent within Roma's squad showed their colours during the exercise, with both Dybala and Soulé participating in the video responses. The engagement reflects the global reach of Roma's playing staff, with strong connections to both European and South American football. The campaign concluded with Argentina ultimately prevailing among the respondents, though the article emphasises that the pitch will ultimately decide the true winner of the match.

Roma concluded their first pre-season friendly with a commanding 6–0 victory over the Primavera side. Matías Soulé, Bryan Cristante, Artem Dovbyk and Paulo Dybala were among the scorers, with Dovbyk and Dybala each netting twice. The result provided a positive opening statement as Roma prepare for the campaign ahead. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini granted his squad a rest day following the dominant display. Training resumes on Tuesday at 18:00 when the team will step up their physical and tactical work. The progressive increase in intensity is designed to build match fitness ahead of further pre-season fixtures and the official start of the season. Gasperini and his coaching staff are satisfied with the early indicators but emphasise that preparation is in its infancy.

Roma played their opening pre-season friendly at Trigoria under Gasperini, welcoming back Paulo Dybala and Wesley following recent absences. Dybala was formally a free agent until days ago, while Wesley returned from injury that caused him to miss the World Cup. Robinio Vaz remained unavailable through injury, and Zeki Çelik travelled to Turin, leaving Gasperini with a limited squad for the session. The main concern came when Mario Hermoso, the Spanish defender, left the pitch with ice applied to his right leg just below the knee late in the friendly. The issue appeared to stem from a knock, though Roma will monitor his condition closely over the coming hours. With few outfield players fit and available, Gasperini will be hoping the injury proves minor.