Roma secure Europa League qualification; Malen transfer obligation triggered

Roma's hopes of signing Brazilian forward Endrick have dimmed significantly after Real Madrid communicated to the player and his representatives their intention to retain him at the club. The contacts between Roma and Endrick's camp had been continuous in recent days, but Real Madrid's decision to keep the player in the Spanish capital appears to have closed that avenue. Real Madrid manager Mourinho has approved the decision, with the club's recent pre-season period convincing him that Endrick has shown enough quality to remain useful to the team. The development forces Roma's recruitment strategy to shift. The club had identified Endrick as one of two primary attacking targets, alongside Mora, who remains a more realistic prospect. The player's growth and performances during Madrid's training camp have persuaded the Portuguese coach that selling him is unnecessary. This outcome means Roma's technical director D'Amico may now need to pivot to alternative attacking targets as the transfer window continues.

Nahuel Molina has completed his move from Atlético Madrid to AS Roma on a deal worth 13 million euros plus 4 million in bonuses. The Argentine defender touched down at Rome's Ciampino airport, where around 100 supporters greeted him with chants and songs. Molina responded with smiles, selfies, autographs and a message of "Forza Roma". Medical examinations and contract signature are scheduled, with his first training session under Gasperini expected tomorrow. Roma have accelerated negotiations for Portuguese talent Rodrigo Mora, reaching a personal agreement on a five-year contract. Agent Jorge Mendes is pushing Roma as the priority in talks with Porto, and the two clubs are converging on Roma's revised offer of 25 million euros immediately plus a further 25 million in 2027. Roma hold the advantage over Galatasaray and are working with optimism to complete the deal in the coming hours. Negotiations also continue over Brazilian forward Endrick. Roma have been working behind the scenes for weeks to convince him that the capital offers the ideal platform to revive his career, though he remains keen to stay at Madrid to fight for his chances. Aston Villa present strong competition for his signature. Meanwhile, Roma are evaluating Inter's Luis Henrique as an option to strengthen the wing, with the Brazilian capable of operating as a secondary striker as well. Inter value Henrique at approximately 30 million euros, but several Premier League clubs are also interested.

Roma continue to pursue Endrick from Real Madrid as a key attacking target, with director D'Amico prioritising the young Portuguese talent after weeks of negotiations. Liverpool have evaluated Endrick but only on a permanent basis, a condition Real Madrid will not accept; the Spanish club insists on a loan arrangement to ensure the player receives regular playing time and development. Real Madrid have now assigned Endrick the number 9 shirt for the coming season—a shirt previously worn by legends Ronaldo Nazário and Cristiano Ronaldo—signalling the club's commitment to keeping him in the squad. Aston Villa remain Roma's main rival for the player's signature. Roma's interest in Endrick dates back more than a month, with continuous contact maintained with Real Madrid, though official approval remains outstanding. The loan formula proposed by the Spanish side aligns with Roma's preference, but Liverpool's rejection of any temporary deal has removed them from the race. According to Diario AS, Real Madrid have communicated to Endrick their intention to retain him, a position Mourinho endorses. With a deal for Mora reportedly close to completion in the coming hours, Roma plan to accelerate their push for Endrick once that transfer is finalised.

Roma players Wesley and Donyell Malen featured in a viral video while relaxing on the island of Ponza. The footage, shared across social media, captured the pair in a light-hearted encounter with a local ice-cream boat attraction known as 'Il Barchino dei Gelati', one of the island's best-known features. The clip showed the players smiling, waving and enjoying downtime together in a relaxed atmosphere that quickly gained thousands of views and comments. The video was widely reposted by Roma fan accounts and social media pages, with supporters delighted to see their players taking time to unwind before returning to competitive fixtures. The moment generated significant engagement across platforms as fans shared their enjoyment of the pair's casual holiday appearance together.

Roma players Wesley and Donyell Malen encountered Alfio Boschi, the celebrated ice cream boat vendor who has become famous on social media for meeting celebrities, during an outing on Ponza. The interaction produced a lighthearted exchange, with Boschi asking Malen: "How many goals have you scored?", before turning to Wesley with: "And what pressure do you put on your opponents? Don't you let them breathe!". Boschi's ice cream boat has become known for its encounters with high-profile figures from football and beyond, regularly shared across social platforms. The encounter between the two Roma players and the Ponza vendor is the latest in a series of celebrity meetings the boat has facilitated.

Wesley and Donyell Malen shared a lighthearted seaside encounter at Ponza, the footage of which has gone viral on social media. The Roma pair were the stars of an entertaining scene involving the famous "Barchino dei Gelati" (ice-cream boat), a well-known fixture in the area.

Bryan Zaragoza remains without a club after his disappointing spell at Roma, currently sidelined at Bayern Munich and outside Vincent Kompany's plans. The winger is seeking a return to Spain, where Espanyol director of football Monchi has identified him as a target. Alaves and several Arab clubs are also monitoring his availability, leaving his future uncertain. Zaragoza's time at Roma failed to impress Gasperini, who used him sparingly throughout the campaign. He spent three weeks sidelined by injury in the run-in, further limiting his impact in the giallorosso shirt. His struggles in Italy have prompted his exit from the Bavarian club's immediate plans.

Roma's attacking department has been decimated ahead of the 2026–27 season, with coach Gian Piero Gasperini now overseeing just five senior forwards for the role — down from ten options at the end of January. The remaining quartet consists of Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé, and Robinio Vaz, with young prospect Arena also available. The collapse mirrors Gasperini's repeated public calls for investment in attack. Speaking exactly a year ago on 4 August 2025 at the English national team's St. George Park facility in Burton Upon Trent, Gasperini outlined his philosophy: "It concerns all clubs that spend large sums on attackers. The offensive department is the most sought after and most expensive. Teams with strong attacking players are more competitive." That same summer, Roma pursued Fabio Silva and Jadon Sancho without success, settling on a loan move for Romain Bailey as a last-minute solution. By the end of 2025, Roma had assembled eight attacking options — Dybala, Artem Dovbyk, Evan Ferguson, Bailey, Soulé, Baldanzi, Stephan El Shaarawy, and Lorenzo Pellegrini — to fill three positions in Gasperini's preferred 3-4-2-1 formation. The winter transfer window swelled that number to ten through the departures of Bailey and Baldanzi and the arrivals of Malen, Vaz, Bryan Zaragoza, and Lorenzo Venturino. However, only Malen performed consistently. With just twenty days until the league campaign begins, Roma faces a critical shortage. The club is reportedly making another approach for Nusa and preparing a move for Fofana to bolster the depleted ranks.

Roma must accelerate their transfer business, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has identified the left flank as a priority area after disappointing performances from Bailey and Zaragoza. Antonio Nusa of Leipzig has been the club's primary target in recent weeks, but the German side's unwillingness to sell—stemming from their sale of Diomande to Real Madrid—has complicated negotiations. The Norwegian winger is pushing for a move, but Leipzig are demanding €60 million. Roma has set themselves a deadline; if Leipzig do not show openness in the coming hours, the club will pivot to alternative targets. Among the options being explored are Premier League players Savinho of Manchester City and Adingra of Sunderland, with Savinho potentially available on a loan deal with a buyout clause given the competitive situation at City and his desire for regular playing time. Godo of Strasbourg and Bahoya of Eintracht Frankfurt remain in reserve, as does the possibility of Rafa Leão, though the AC Milan winger would need to lower his wage demands. Reports also suggest Roma's director D'Amico may be working on a surprise move behind the scenes, similar to the groundwork done for signings such as Koulierakis and Read.