Roma Target Top-Four Victory Against Relegated Hellas Verona

AS Roma have officially confirmed a pre-season friendly against Newport County on 4 August at Rodney Parade stadium in Wales, with kickoff at 19:00 local time (20:00 Italy time). The match is managed by former Leicester manager Fuchs and represents Roma's second test in the United Kingdom during their summer schedule. Information for visiting supporters' tickets will be communicated in the coming days. The Newport County fixture slots into Roma's busy pre-season calendar as they prepare for the Serie A season opener against Fiorentina. The friendly comes after an earlier match against Cardiff on 1 August, followed by another game at Brighton on 8 August. After these English fixtures, Roma will face Borussia Dortmund on 15 August in their final warm-up before domestic competition resumes. These matches form part of the club's preparations under their summer training camp, with player fitness and tactical development a priority ahead of the new season.

Roma midfielder Manu Koné started for France in their Round of 16 World Cup match against Paraguay, replacing the injured Aurélien Tchouameni. Despite the absence of Real Madrid's midfielder, French media and supporters have praised Koné's solid display. France won 1–0 thanks to a Kylian Mbappé penalty, advancing to the quarter-finals while demonstrating resilience against a compact defensive opponent. Koné earned widespread acclaim for his performance across both defensive and attacking phases. Journalist Olivier Bossard of L'Équipe stated: "I am not concerned about Tchouameni's absence. I think Koné will be very good and hold firm. We are not losing quality—in fact, we may even improve with him, because we gain attacking options without losing anything in defence." The Roma midfielder recorded 88 touches, tied for the match high, and attempted three long-range shots while making continuous defensive interventions. RMC Sport named him man of the match, though some outlets such as Le Figaro highlighted technical errors in the first half. Deschamps' assistant Guy Stéphan described Koné as "a different type of player, one with quality and a different profile," emphasizing his ball recovery abilities and distribution. Koné was cautioned late in the match but demonstrated the work rate and versatility that satisfied French staff and supporters alike.

France advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals with a narrow 1–0 victory over Paraguay, secured by a penalty converted by Kylian Mbappé. The South American side proved a tough and physical opponent, but France maintained composure and achieved their objective. Midfielder Manu Koné was among those praised for his performance in a demanding match. Koné, who currently plays for AS Roma, delivered a composed display in midfield against Paraguay's aggressive approach. He spoke about the nature of the contest after the match, noting the physicality on display and the tactical awareness required to navigate it without being drawn into unnecessary confrontation. The midfielder highlighted France's preparation and intelligence in handling the situation. In his post-match comments to beIN Sports, Koné reflected: "It was a very hard match, but we are happy. Today we adapted. They were a rather... physical team! We choose our words carefully (smiles). We managed to stand up to our opponents in the challenges, we won 1–0, we were effective. There were some excessive interventions, but we didn't fall into their trap. The coach had warned us during the week. We were intelligent, we just wanted to win." France's disciplined approach proved decisive in securing progression to the next stage.

Wesley is close to returning to full training at Roma's Trigoria facility, bringing positive news for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini ahead of the summer preparation period. The midfielder's recovery is progressing well through its staged phases. Details of his specific injury timeline and expected availability remain unclear from the available information.

Roma winger Wesley is currently on holiday in Greece, where he has been entertaining himself with a basketball challenge. The Brazilian posted a video showing himself scoring a basketball goal with a header and celebrating enthusiastically. Wesley is in the recovery phase following an injury that forced him to miss a major tournament. The Roma player's lighthearted social media content comes as he works his way back to full fitness after injury. His time away from competitive action demonstrates the importance of proper rehabilitation and recovery in professional football. Wesley remains part of Roma's squad plans as he prepares to return to action. Details of the exact nature and timeline of his return to training remain unclear. The winger's presence on social media suggests he is in good spirits during his recovery period.

AS Roma's Moroccan player El Aynaoui is celebrating his birthday while competing at a World Cup in the United States. The club marked the occasion with a social media message wishing him well. El Aynaoui has emerged as one of the standout performers for Morocco at the tournament, earning widespread recognition for his work rate, quality, and commitment on the pitch. Meanwhile, Roma's World Cup contingent has been significantly reduced. Several players including Celik, Malen, and Ndicka have already been eliminated from the competition. Only Koné and El Aynaoui remain representing Roma at the tournament. Koné has struggled to find regular playing time and has not performed at his best, contrasting sharply with El Aynaoui's impactful contributions, which have made him a focal point of Morocco's campaign. Roma also provided an injury update on Wesley, noting that his recovery continues with ball-based exercises as the club prepares for the resumption of activities. The message sent to El Aynaoui—"Happy birthday, Neil"—was described as simple but heartfelt, reflecting the club's recognition of his performances on the international stage.

Roma is reshaping its fullback options this summer. Angeliño, a 1997-born left-back, is reportedly a target for Deportivo La Coruña, the Spanish club where he developed and recently returned to Liga. However, Angeliño's priority is to prove his value to Gasperini at Roma after missing most of last season through a serious, prolonged injury that affected his fitness and availability. With Wesley established on the left and Tsimikas returning to Liverpool, Angeliño's future remains uncertain as he seeks to regain his place in the squad. On the right flank, Roma's interest in Dodò has reportedly strengthened. The Brazilian fullback, 27, plays for Fiorentina under a contract running until 2027 but desires Champions League football. Napoli has also pursued him, though the club may step back from the competition soon. Rensch's status at Roma is described as uncertain, while Celik moves closer to a contract extension. Roma's fullback reshuffling reflects the need for greater depth and injury resilience across both flanks after a disrupted campaign.

Italy won a international friendly against Greece, with Pio Esposito scoring the decisive goal. Niccolò Pisilli, the AS Roma midfielder, played the full 90 minutes for Italy. Silvio Baldini, named interim national team coach, secured his second consecutive victory in charge. Greece's Tsimikas entered the match during the second half. Pisilli's full-match appearance provides Roma with confirmation of his fitness and form at international level, following his development as a key youth prospect in the club's midfield setup.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has made clear his expectations for Roma's upcoming season following the club's return to European football. Gasperini wants to avoid repeating previous mistakes in the transfer market by bringing in players suited to his tactical system. The coach is demanding at least 16 fit outfield players to compete across Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and the Champions League, recognising that European football demands significant physical and mental resources. Several players have already departed or are expected to leave during the transfer window, including Ferguson, Tsimikas, El Shaarawy, Venturino, and Zaragoza, with Baldanzi and Ziolkowski also on their way out. To maintain squad depth and protect key performers from injury during a gruelling season, Gasperini has identified specific targets: a number 10 or attacking midfielder, a deputy to Gianluca Mancini, a striker, and both right and left-sided defenders. Names under consideration include Vlasic and Greenwood, though negotiations remain in early stages. The arrival of D'Amico as sporting director is pending official confirmation, after which the club is expected to accelerate its recruitment strategy. Gasperini's priority is ensuring the squad composition aligns with his playing philosophy, having identified this as the key lesson from the previous season's recruitment process.