Roma Target Napoli Director Giovanni Manna for Front-Office Overhaul

Roma's transfer priorities have shifted following the completion of Rodrigo Mora's signing. The club is now concentrating efforts on the left-back position and has deprioritised other targets, according to reports from Fabrizio Romano and Matteo Moretto. Interest in Malick Fofana has cooled considerably. Roma had an agreement in place with the Belgian winger but has not given Lyon the go-ahead to negotiate further. A proposed deal worth €35 million plus add-ons was deemed excessive by the club. After restructuring the terms to bring Mora to the capital, the Fofana operation has been sidelined. Similarly, pressure on Alessio Cacciamani has been relaxed as Roma refocus their efforts elsewhere. Luis Henrique has become the priority target, with Roma now pressing hard on that front. The challenge now is to find agreement on the financial terms between player and club.

Manchester City have added Roma midfielder Manu Koné to their list of midfield targets, according to reports confirmed on 20 August by journalist Ben Jacobs. City, following Rodri's departure, are seeking two midfielders and have already advanced contact with Bouaddi and prepared a fresh offer for Chelsea's Enzo Fernández. Koné is among the profiles under consideration, with updates expected in the coming days. Koné's future remains uncertain despite recent reassurances over his Roma future. The French midfielder had been flagged as a likely departure this summer, but only Atlético Madrid's offer—deemed unsatisfactory—materialised on Roma's desk early in the transfer window. Manchester United had also shown interest previously. Roma are keen to avoid losing one of their key midfield players and will likely resist any bid. No official approach from City has been confirmed beyond the scouting interest. Developments are expected soon as City accelerate their search to fill the void left in their engine room.

Roma have less than two weeks left in the transfer window and must balance incoming reinforcements with outgoings. While it remains difficult to move Koné on, both Soulé and Ziółkowski are on the market. Ziółkowski arrived in the capital a year ago but has not convinced head coach Gasperini and may now generate useful revenue for the club's balance sheet. Roma's sporting director awaits offers, but the club is already preparing a defensive contingency plan. Koulierakis has arrived and will serve as Mario Hermoso's backup in theory, but should Ziółkowski leave, the club intends to plug the gap by signing an experienced centre-back on loan rather than permanently. In recent days, Oosterwolde of Fenerbahce was offered to Roma. The approach reflects the club's preference to maintain financial flexibility while addressing defensive depth before the window closes.

Rodrigo Mora impressed in his first training session and now has four days to convince Gasperini he deserves the starting role in Roma's match against Fiorentina on Monday. The Portuguese forward will compete with Matías Soulé for the trequartista position in a 3-4-1-2 formation that Roma trialled on 19 August. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are set to start as the two strikers, with Mora eyeing an opportunity to stake his claim in the role that suits him best. Soulé's availability for the match remains uncertain as AC Milan continues to press for his signature, alongside English club Sunderland. The competition for places elsewhere in the team appears settled: Molina is ready to make his debut, Wesley will start at left-back, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné will operate in midfield, and the defensive line in front of Mile Svilar will comprise Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso. Gasperini's early feedback on Mora has been positive, giving the forward genuine scope to earn a starting berth.

Roma are in the final stages of their summer transfer business ahead of Monday's Serie A opener against Fiorentina, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini overseeing moves for defensive and attacking reinforcements. The club's attacking setup will centre on Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, supported by Rodrigo Mora, who recently arrived at the club. Gasperini has requested a more physical midfielder, with Malick Fofana of Lyon emerging as the top target. An agreement in principle worth approximately €35 million plus bonuses has been reached, though Lyon wish to retain Fofana until 26 August for their Champions League preliminary round against Fenerbahce. The final decision now rests with the Friedkin Group. Parallel to the Fofana pursuit, Roma are exploring left-back options, with Alessio Cacciamani of Torino identified as the hottest lead. Torino's recent closure of defender Fortini in the same position may prompt owner Cairo to soften his initial demands. Alternative targets Udogie and Luis Henrique are considered more complicated, with formulae and costs regarded as prohibitively high. Roma's incoming activity is contingent on outgoings: the club must resolve the situations of Salah-Eddine, Ziolkowski, and Robinio Vaz, while Matías Soulé, valued at approximately €40 million and attracting Milan's interest, remains under monitoring. Gasperini has Niccolò Pisilli available for selection and is assessing Wesley's fitness ahead of Monday's match. The likely starting XI is expected to mirror last season's shape, with Molina on the flank and the Dybala–Soulé pairing behind Malen, while Mora is poised for a substitute appearance.

Roma's pursuit of a left-wing midfielder has hit obstacles as the transfer window enters its final 11 days. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has received midfielder Mora and awaits moves to complete the squad, with a backup to Wesley at left-midfield the numerical priority. However, other positions may also be addressed before the deadline. Luis Henrique, the Brazilian leaving Inter, has become an increasingly unlikely target. Inter demands a conditional obligation to buy rather than a loan with purchase option, and values him at no less than €27 million—a fee Roma are unwilling to spend on a position already covered. The situation differs with Tottenham's Udogie, where the English club appears open to a simple loan with the right to buy late in the window; the Italian defender wants to return to Serie A and is keen on joining Gasperini's squad. Torino's Cacciamani remains an option, though a €5 million gap separates the clubs' valuations. Elsewhere, Roma harbour interest in Fofana, the Belgian attacker. His availability depends on Lyon's Champions League playoff return leg against Fenerbahce; the first leg ended 1–1, with Fofana playing the full 90 minutes.

Rodrigo Mora's arrival at Roma is a calculated strategic addition that aligns with Gasperini's established attacking philosophy rather than a departure from it, according to tactical analysis. The Portuguese playmaker, who has generated discussion outside the club's training ground since June, complements rather than overturns the head coach's original plan. Gasperini has consistently sought two different profiles on the left wing in a 3-4-2-1 formation: a more technical player like Mora, and a dynamic runner such as Fofana, who remains a candidate to complete the attack overhaul. Gasperini deployed the 3-4-2-1 throughout the 2025–26 season, using Lorenzo Pellegrini as an attacking midfielder and playmaker rather than a winger. When he needed different characteristics, he rotated players including Venturino, Zaragoza, Baldanzi, Pisilli and El Shaarawy. The trequartista role is integral to his system regardless of Mora's signing, confirming that Roma's attacking architecture has not shifted. Roma's first three league fixtures—against Fiorentina, Lecce and Atalanta—all deploy a back four, matches in which Mora's profile will prove immediately useful behind the striker pairing. Gasperini used the 3-4-1-2 formation in four of five recent pre-season friendlies, fielding Soulé as trequartista three times and Cristante once. Roma's opening match comes Monday evening against Fiorentina at the Olimpico.

Paulo Dybala has consolidated his status as Roma's cornerstone player despite an injury-depleted forward line under Gian Piero Gasperini. The club initially weighed the possibility of parting with the Argentine at the end of his contract, mindful of his €8 million net annual salary in the 2025–26 season and the 21 matches he missed due to physical problems. However, a contract extension through 2027, confirmed on 13 July, resolved all doubts. Dybala accepted a 70% salary reduction to remain in giallorosso colours, demonstrating his deep attachment to the club. With Stephan El Shaarawy departing on a free transfer, Lorenzo Venturino and Bryan Zaragoza returning to their parent clubs, and Lorenzo Pellegrini sidelined by injury, Dybala and Matías Soulé carry almost the entire responsibility for the attacking midfield role. His experience proves invaluable ahead of Roma's European campaign: Dybala's 53 Champions League appearances make him the squad's most seasoned European player, ahead of Nahuel Molina (37 appearances), Donyell Malen and Mario Hermoso (31 each). Against Borussia Dortmund in a friendly on 15 August at 17:30, Dybala is set once again to lead the team on the pitch, confirming his status as both a technical and commercial pillar of the club.

Roma take on Borussia Dortmund in a pre-season friendly at 17:30 today, but the clash is overshadowed by an injury crisis that has left Gian Piero Gasperini with just 23 players available — only 16 outfield players and three goalkeepers. Wesley suffered a right ankle sprain yesterday, joining Niccolò Pisilli (soleus injury) and Lorenzo Pellegrini (returning to group training in mid-September) on the sidelines. The Brazilian's injury mirrors problems sustained during the Welsh training camp. With 15 days remaining in the summer transfer window, Roma's squad position has deteriorated markedly. Eight players have departed — Dovbyk, Ferguson, Angeliño, Tsimikas, Celik, Zaragoza, Venturino and El Shaarawy — while only three signings have arrived: Molina, Castro and Koulierakis. Gasperini highlighted the shortage with a pointed response on competitiveness versus last season: "According to you?", underlining particular weaknesses on the flanks, in attack and midfield, where only three players are currently available. The Dortmund match will provide minutes for Molina while also testing Roma's defensive resilience; the rearguard conceded 11 goals across four pre-season matches against Cannes, Brighton, Cardiff and Newport without a clean sheet.

Rodrigo Mora impressed in his first training session and now has four days to convince Gasperini he deserves the starting role in Roma's match against Fiorentina on Monday. The Portuguese forward will compete with Matías Soulé for the trequartista position in a 3-4-1-2 formation that Roma trialled on 19 August. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are set to start as the two strikers, with Mora eyeing an opportunity to stake his claim in the role that suits him best. Soulé's availability for the match remains uncertain as AC Milan continues to press for his signature, alongside English club Sunderland. The competition for places elsewhere in the team appears settled: Molina is ready to make his debut, Wesley will start at left-back, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné will operate in midfield, and the defensive line in front of Mile Svilar will comprise Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso. Gasperini's early feedback on Mora has been positive, giving the forward genuine scope to earn a starting berth.

Matteo Marcenaro will referee Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday 24 August at 20.45 at Stadio Olimpico. The Genoa-based official will take charge of the Giallorossi for the eighth time. In his seven previous Roma matches, Marcenaro has overseen four victories, two draws and one defeat—a largely favourable record for the club. The one loss has proven contentious. Roma lost 3–2 at Verona in 2024 under Juric after Marcenaro allowed a goal that followed a push on N'Dicka. De Rossi also criticised Marcenaro for not awarding a clear penalty to Zalewski during a 0–0 draw at Lecce. Such incidents have shadowed an otherwise positive relationship between the referee and the club over the years.

Marcenaro will take charge of Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday at the Olimpico, kicking off at 20:45. The referee has an encouraging record with the Giallorossi, showing four victories, two draws, and one defeat across their previous meetings. His last encounter with Roma came in a 1–1 draw against Atalanta, while his sole loss came in a controversial 2024 match against Verona, where a disputed goal from the Hellas side involved a foul by Magnani on N'Dicka. The opening weekend fixture marks the start of Roma's Serie A campaign under Gasperini's leadership. Marcenaro's overall positive history against the club suggests a fair hand, though the Verona precedent underscores how contentious refereeing decisions have figured in Roma's recent encounters. The appointment reflects confidence in the official's experience and consistency at this level. Lo Cicero and Rossi will serve as assistant referees, with Fabbri in the fourth official role. Abisso and Giua have been assigned as VAR and AVAR respectively.