Roma suffers heavy defeat in opening Wales friendly

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 head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has demanded four new signings to strengthen the squad after a 4–1 loss to Cardiff in their season opener. Gasperini said the club must complete its roster as soon as possible, emphasizing that teams need two players for each position, otherwise "you pay for it in the Champions League". He also highlighted defensive lapses, saying Roma were "too distracted" in that department during the match. The defeat marked a difficult start to the 2026–27 campaign. Gasperini's plea underscores the urgency of the club's transfer activity, with the coach making it clear that the current squad depth is insufficient for a competitive European campaign. Paulo Dybala scored in the loss, but the margin of defeat illustrated Roma's vulnerability. With reinforcements identified as a top priority, the focus now shifts to the club's ability to move quickly in the market to address those gaps before further fixtures arrive.

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 head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has demanded four new signings to strengthen the squad after a 4–1 loss to Cardiff in their season opener. Gasperini said the club must complete its roster as soon as possible, emphasizing that teams need two players for each position, otherwise "you pay for it in the Champions League". He also highlighted defensive lapses, saying Roma were "too distracted" in that department during the match. The defeat marked a difficult start to the 2026–27 campaign. Gasperini's plea underscores the urgency of the club's transfer activity, with the coach making it clear that the current squad depth is insufficient for a competitive European campaign. Paulo Dybala scored in the loss, but the margin of defeat illustrated Roma's vulnerability. With reinforcements identified as a top priority, the focus now shifts to the club's ability to move quickly in the market to address those gaps before further fixtures arrive.

Roma suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Cardiff in a pre-season fixture on 1 August. The Welsh club took control early, with Ashford scoring in the 3rd minute after a defensive lapse, and Salech doubling the lead at the 30th-minute mark. Dybala had the chance to pull one back from the penalty spot but was saved. Ashford added a third before half-time, and although Dybala reduced the deficit in the 58th minute, Tanner sealed Cardiff's victory with a fourth goal in the 62nd minute amid Roma protests over a foul on Castro in the build-up. Gasperini made multiple changes in the second half as Roma attempted to mount a comeback. The heavy defeat comes during the club's pre-season preparations, with significant emphasis placed on the physical demands of summer training rather than the competitive result. The manager used the fixture to observe and evaluate his squad ahead of the next challenge. Roma's next test comes on Tuesday evening away to Newport. The match saw Dybala start in attack with Castro also named, while changes included the introduction of Ghilardi, Ziolkowski, and others as the match progressed.

Konstantinos Koulierakis landed at Ciampino airport at 13:10 on 1 August as Roma's second summer signing. The Greek defender arrived with his entourage and partner to a reception of around 25 supporters, who greeted him with chants and applause. He made an immediate impression by holding a fan's daughter, marking his first moment as a Roma player. The deal was completed on 31 July. Roma will pay Wolfsburg €16.5 million plus €1.5 million in bonuses, with the German club retaining a 20 per cent share of any future sale. Koulierakis has signed a contract until 2031 worth approximately €2 million per season. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will use him to complete his defensive line alongside Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, Mario Hermoso, Daniele Ghilardi and Jan Ziółkowski. Koulierakis will undergo medical examinations in Rome before departing immediately for Wales, where Gasperini and the rest of the squad are continuing their pre-season training camp.

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.