Roma's Champions League return is a deserved achievement, not luck

Gian Piero Gasperini has become the driving force behind Roma's transfer strategy and squad planning, with director D'Amico and ownership The Friedkin Group now following his tactical blueprint. At 68, Gasperini has adopted a markedly different public approach than his previous style—eschewing confrontation for behind-the-scenes pressure in operational meetings at Trigoria. Where José Mourinho relied on provocative gestures, Gasperini works directly and methodically to impose his vision. The clearest example is Gasperini's influence over contract renewals. Though The Friedkin Group initially resisted extending Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini, Gasperini's growing credibility—bolstered by Roma's Champions League qualification—allowed him to secure one-year renewals for both players. He achieved this through relentless advocacy in closed-door talks, pushing his case whenever the opportunity arose. The renewals came only after sustained pressure, with ownership finally conceding limited terms rather than outright refusals. Gasperini's next test, and the true measure of his market influence, centres on recruiting a left-sided winger capable of playing with his right foot. The success or failure of this signing will define how far his authority now extends at Roma.

Paulo Dybala continues to be the cornerstone of Roma's squad as the club enters the final stretch of the transfer window. Four years into his tenure at the Giallorossi, Dybala remains the highest technical level player in the squad. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is forced to rely on him heavily with 17 days until the season begins. However, the club recognises the risk of depending solely on Dybala to alter matches single-handedly and has identified the need for at least one more attacking arrival to complete the squad as planned. The primary target is Antonio Nusa, the Norwegian winger, though Arsenal are reportedly entering the race following their unsuccessful pursuit of Vinícius Júnior. That pursuit now appears unlikely to succeed. Roma's alternative is Malick Fofana, a 21-year-old Belgian from Lyon. Fofana has struggled with injury, playing only 15 minutes in his most recent outing against Sparta Prague three days ago following a serious ankle injury and subsequent surgery. His last full appearance came on 26 October of last year. Roma attempted to negotiate a loan deal with a conditional obligation to buy, but the offer was rejected.

Gian Piero Gasperini has established himself as the central figure at AS Roma, wielding influence comparable to José Mourinho but achieved through private persuasion rather than public provocation. At 68, he maintains his core methods while adopting a more measured media approach, operating behind closed doors to advance his vision. A year ago he favoured public confrontation; now he works quietly in internal meetings at Trigoria to win his battles. The Friedkin Group ownership initially resisted contract renewals for Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini, but Gasperini applied consistent pressure during operational meetings and leveraged his growing credibility with the owners—built on Roma's Champions League qualification—to secure extended deals. Though Ryan and Dan Friedkin held firm and agreed to one-year renewals for both players, Gasperini ultimately prevailed. His enhanced standing within the club reflects a shift in the power dynamic. The next test of his authority centres on Roma's pursuit of a left-sided attacking player with a right foot, an area Gasperini has identified as critical. How the market moves on this position will define the summer's overall assessment of Roma's transfer strategy and the strength of Gasperini's influence over recruitment decisions.

Roma are preparing to negotiate with Bologna over the signing of Jonathan Rowe, the 23-year-old English forward, as they look to strengthen their attacking options. The move would likely depend on Matías Soulé's departure from the Stadio Olimpico, with Roma exploring the possibility of adding another forward to their ranks. Bologna have set an asking price of €40 million for Rowe, whose contract runs until 2029. The club face competition from Chelsea for the player's signature, though Rowe may be tempted by Roma's guaranteed Champions League football next season compared to Bologna's absence from European qualification. Roma have already invested €35 million in Santiago Castro from Bologna earlier this summer and signed Donyell Malen permanently from Aston Villa following his loan spell in the second half of last season. Paulo Dybala has been tied down to a new contract, but the club could move on from Soulé to create space for a fresh attacking addition. Rowe arrived at Bologna from Marseille last summer and registered three goals and three assists across 28 Serie A appearances in his first campaign. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has also been keeping tabs on RB Leipzig's Antonio Nusa as an alternative, though Rowe represents a more economical option.

Roma completed their pre-season camp in England on 8 August with a final friendly against Brighton, kicking off at 16:00 Italian time. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini used the match to test his tactical setup and resolve remaining selection questions for the attacking line, with competition between Malen, Castro, Dybala and Soulé, while also assessing midfield options including Cristante and El Aynaoui. Lorenzo Pellegrini underwent medical examinations at Campus Biomedico on the morning of 8 August to formalise a one-year contract extension worth 2.5 million euros plus bonuses. The renewal represents significant stability for Roma's midfield and precedes his return to full training with the squad from the following week. Pellegrini, an academy product and long-serving captain, has been central to the club's plans under Gasperini's leadership as preparations continue for the 2026–27 season.

Roma face Brighton this afternoon at 15:00 local time (16:00 Italian time, live on DAZN) in their most demanding fixture of their British pre-season tour. The match will be Roma's first outing in the new white kit, unveiled in recent days and well received by supporters. Gasperini will use the Brighton encounter to assess his squad's development ahead of the new season. Roma's core squad remains largely unchanged from last season, with the additions of Castro and Koulierakis competing for minutes alongside Hermoso and Malen in the early pecking order. Donyell Malen returns to action after illness and will be hunting his first goal of the summer. The side has yet to keep a clean sheet in pre-season friendlies, though Gasperini is without key midfield personnel for this stretch. Roma continue to pursue Molina and a left-footed left-back—reported as the "Mister X"—to bolster their options. Gasperini's cautious starts in summer pre-season are well documented, and this match will provide a clearer picture of defensive solidity, an area that has troubled Roma across their recent warm-up games.

Rome's municipal administration has finalised a traffic and parking plan for the 2026-27 season at Stadio Olimpico, developed in collaboration with the Questura. The strategy addresses congestion during match days, accounting for ongoing metro construction at Farnesina and Auditorium stations in the surrounding area. Parking bans will take effect on several key roads: via dei Gladiatori, piazza Lauro De Bosis, piazzale della Farnesina, viale dello Stadio Olimpico, and lungotevere Felli and Cadorna. Designated parking areas remain available at piazzale Clodio and Villaggio Olimpico, which will be reserved for ticketed supporters on match days. The plan can be adjusted for individual fixtures as required. The stadium is served by extensive public transport links. Bus line 2 connects piazzale Flaminio to piazza Mancini, while additional routes—including lines 31, 69, 70, 226, 200, 301, and 910—serve all districts of the city and provide direct access to piazzale Clodio and piazza Mancini.

Roma will face Brighton in a pre-season friendly at the American Express Stadium on 8 August 2026 at 16:00 Italian time. The match comes after Roma's training camp in Wales and friendlies against Cardiff and Newport County. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is expected to field a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, midfielders Devyne Rensch, Neil El Aynaoui, Bryan Cristante, and Wesley, with Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé in attacking roles behind striker Donyell Malen. Tickets for the fixture are available through Brighton's official website. The friendly will be broadcast live on DAZN, with live text coverage available on ilromanista.eu and radio commentary from Radio Romanista providing real-time updates from the stadium.

Roma captain Bryan Cristante spoke to Sky Sport from the club's pre-season camp in Wales, ahead of a friendly at Brighton tomorrow that concludes the week's matches overseas. Cristante expressed pride at Roma's return to the Champions League after a prolonged absence. "We've been wanting to play in the Champions, we'd been close a few times, we're proud to play it," he said. "It's important to have the society's presence, which gives an extra gear even in the market; we talk about it daily." Cristante highlighted his desire to face Real Madrid in Europe and revealed that Lorenzo Pellegrini, expected to rejoin the squad soon, remains a key part of the project. "I'd like to play at the Bernabéu in the Champions, it would be nice to play in the new stadium and see Mourinho again," he added. The midfielder also confirmed he and Paulo Dybala had resolved a disagreement that arose during Roma's pre-season match in Cardiff. "We cleared it up straight away, it was a small disagreement that happened on the pitch and ended there," Cristante explained. On domestic ambitions, Cristante acknowledged the Serie A title as Roma's dream objective but cautioned about the campaign's difficulty. "The Scudetto is the dream but it's still early, the league is difficult and very competitive. We want to have a good Champions, we hope to be in the fight in January to try to play for the championship." Cristante also reflected positively on his experiences under Italy manager Mancini, saying the goal is to "be reborn and return to where we belong."