Roma to Resume Training on Wednesday: Wesley and Pisilli to Be Assessed

Rodrigo Mora, a 2007-born Portuguese talent, has built his reputation at Porto primarily as a central attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where he has played 52 of his 80 official matches for the club. Since his senior debut against Bodø/Glimt in September 2024—a 21-minute cameo off the bench—he has emerged as a versatile attacker capable of playing multiple roles. Gasperini and Roma are monitoring the playmaker as a potential solution for the left-sided attacking role, ideally positioned in support of Malen and alongside either Dybala or Soulé. While Mora's best work has come in the number 10 position, he has also accumulated experience on the wing, with 13 appearances as a winger—5 on the right and 8 on the left—during which he has scored 6 goals. He has additionally featured 5 times as a midfielder with 2 goals and 6 times as a second striker with 1 goal. Mora's profile extends beyond tactical flexibility. Made his competitive debut at 15 for Porto's B team, he is described as slight in build but technically gifted, capable of moments of rare footballing beauty regularly highlighted across social media. Though naturally suited to the playmaker's role, his work ethic and adaptability suggest he will not resist a different assignment if required. Gasperini has already signalled his preference. The coming weeks will clarify the Portuguese gem's next move.

AS Roma and Porto have moved significantly closer to completing the transfer of Rodrigo Mora, with the Friedkin Group adjusting their offer to meet Porto president Villas Boas's demands. After days of protracted negotiations and tension between the clubs, a deal structure has emerged: Roma will pay €25 million for a permanent transfer plus 50% of any future resale fee, with an option to cancel the resale clause in 2027 by paying an additional €20 million. Agent Jorge Mendes played a key role in rebuilding the relationship between the two parties after earlier friction. Mora's desire to join Roma has never wavered, and he will now be accommodated. The player will sign a contract running until 2031 with a salary structure starting at €1.8 million and rising slightly above €2 million. The deal represents a significant move by the Friedkin Group to break the deadlock, signalling their commitment to strengthening the squad ahead of the new season. With Mora's arrival imminent, Roma's transfer strategy will shift focus to the wings. Head coach Gasperini is seeking reinforcement on the flanks, particularly on the left side, despite young prospect Lulli impressing in pre-season friendlies. Three names are under consideration: Cacciamani, Udogie, and Luis Henrique. The Brazilian winger, who can operate on either flank, has signalled openness to a move to Rome, with a final decision expected in the coming days.

Paulo Dybala produced a standout display to help Roma earn a 2–2 draw against Borussia Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park in a friendly on 15 August. The Giallorossi twice took the lead through Dybala's attacking play before the German side fought back to level the match. The result offers a morale boost ahead of Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina in the coming days, after a poor defeat to Brighton during the pre-season schedule. Gasperini's side finished their summer training camp on a positive note following the Dortmund fixture. Donyell Malen continued to show signs of being short of full match fitness, while there were opportunities for other squad members. The manager was sufficiently impressed by Lulli's contribution to consider giving him a more permanent place in the first-team setup moving forward. The draw demonstrated Roma's attacking threat despite defensive lapses that allowed Dortmund back into the contest. Manu Koné returned to action and Molina made his debut in what was an encouraging test of Gasperini's tactical ideas before the competitive season begins.

Roma drew 2–2 with Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park in their final pre-season fixture before the Serie A campaign begins. Paulo Dybala opened the scoring in the 4th minute, then set up Bryan Cristante for a second-half header five minutes later, but goals from Ryerson and Guirassy at the 12th and 28th minutes brought Dortmund level. Gasperini fielded a strong starting XI featuring the familiar defensive trio of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, with Mile Svilar in goal. Bryan Cristante and Neil El Aynaoui controlled midfield, while Matías Soulé and Dybala supported Donyell Malen up front. Lorenzo Pellegrini, Niccolò Pisilli and Wesley were absent, the latter sidelined by a mild ankle sprain. The match showcased Roma's physical improvement over the summer, though defensive vulnerabilities remain. Dybala played with notable sharpness, while Gasperini offered frequent tactical instruction to Soulé, urging him to widen play. Roma's pre-season campaign closes in Germany, with the squad returning to Trigoria on Wednesday morning to resume preparations for the opening league fixture against Fiorentina. The match against Fabio Grosso's side arrives in seven days at the Stadio Olimpico, marking Roma's first competitive test and their return to Champions League football under Gasperini, now in his second season in charge.

Roma will host Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday, 24 August at 20:45 for the opening day of the Serie A season. Gasperini's Roma will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Svilar in goal; Mancini, Ndicka, and Hermoso in defence; Molina, El Aynaoui, Cristante, and Wesley across midfield; Dybala and Soulé in attacking support; and Malen leading the line. Fiorentina will deploy a 4-3-3 system under Grosso, featuring De Gea in goal, with Joao Mario, Viery, Dragusin, and Valdepenas in defence, Ndour, Oulai, and Atta in midfield, and Mastantuono, Kean, and Gudmundsson in attack. Tickets for the match remain on sale through the Roma website. The fixture will be broadcast live on Dazn. Fans can also follow live text coverage on ilromanista.eu or listen to radio commentary on radioromanista.it.

Emanuele Lulli, the 18-year-old right-back, delivered a positive display for Roma in their final pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Stadium yesterday, starting and playing 76 minutes. Gasperini has regularly deployed the class of 2007 prospect in recent weeks, with Lulli appearing in progressive minutes across warm-up fixtures: 18 minutes against Cardiff, 20 against Newport, 12 against Brighton, and the full 76-minute outing against Dortmund. The teenager, who turns 19 tomorrow, demonstrated both defensive cover and attacking thrust—precisely what Gasperini demands from his fullbacks. Roma's recruitment focus remains on the offensive flank, though director D'Amico continues work on the fullback contingent. With Tsimikas, Çelik and Angeliño departed, the squad has lacked reinforcement on the wings; only Wesley and Devyne Rensch remain from last season, with Molina arriving yesterday on his Roma debut. Lulli's composed display offers genuine hope of a permanent pathway into first-team contention under Gasperini. Lulli recorded three defensive contributions, two interceptions and three recoveries in addition to one clearance across his 76 minutes, also winning one ground duel and one aerial duel. He registered 88% pass accuracy in the opposition half (7/8) and 82% in his own half (9/11), with 2 of 3 long passes reaching their target. His ball-carrying statistics stand out: 54.9 metres gained (compared to 23.3 for Rensch), including 37.4 metres towards the opposition goal (21.3 for Rensch). Roma continue pressing on Udogie, while moves for Cacciamani and Luis Henrique face complications.

Roma drew 2–2 with Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park in their final pre-season fixture before the Serie A campaign begins. Paulo Dybala opened the scoring in the 4th minute, then set up Bryan Cristante for a second-half header five minutes later, but goals from Ryerson and Guirassy at the 12th and 28th minutes brought Dortmund level. Gasperini fielded a strong starting XI featuring the familiar defensive trio of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, with Mile Svilar in goal. Bryan Cristante and Neil El Aynaoui controlled midfield, while Matías Soulé and Dybala supported Donyell Malen up front. Lorenzo Pellegrini, Niccolò Pisilli and Wesley were absent, the latter sidelined by a mild ankle sprain. The match showcased Roma's physical improvement over the summer, though defensive vulnerabilities remain. Dybala played with notable sharpness, while Gasperini offered frequent tactical instruction to Soulé, urging him to widen play. Roma's pre-season campaign closes in Germany, with the squad returning to Trigoria on Wednesday morning to resume preparations for the opening league fixture against Fiorentina. The match against Fabio Grosso's side arrives in seven days at the Stadio Olimpico, marking Roma's first competitive test and their return to Champions League football under Gasperini, now in his second season in charge.

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.

Roma face Borussia Dortmund at 17:30 on 15 August in what was intended as a crucial warm-up before the Serie A opener against Fiorentina, but injuries and an incomplete squad threaten to make it another uninformative friendly. Niccolò Pisilli remains sidelined recovering from a soleus muscle injury, Lorenzo Pellegrini is not included in the squad and will not return until mid-September, and Wesley was ruled out yesterday with a right ankle sprain—the same injury that troubled him in Wales. Manu Koné and Molina only joined the group on Tuesday, leaving Roma operating well below full capacity. With 15 days remaining in the transfer window, Roma squandered an early-season advantage over rivals such as Juventus, AC Milan, and Napoli, who faced restrictions on spending until making sales. The squad composition remains problematic: Gasperini named 23 players for the Dortmund match, including three goalkeepers, leaving only 16 outfield players from the first team—eight of them defenders. The club has received repeated rejections in pursuit of a striker Gasperini has wanted for the past year and a half, and uncertainty surrounds another ongoing transfer saga involving Mora. As reported by Stefano Carina in Il Messaggero, Roma's strategic approach to the window has shifted unexpectedly, raising questions about how the final weeks will unfold.

Rodrigo Mora, a 2007-born Portuguese talent, has built his reputation at Porto primarily as a central attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where he has played 52 of his 80 official matches for the club. Since his senior debut against Bodø/Glimt in September 2024—a 21-minute cameo off the bench—he has emerged as a versatile attacker capable of playing multiple roles. Gasperini and Roma are monitoring the playmaker as a potential solution for the left-sided attacking role, ideally positioned in support of Malen and alongside either Dybala or Soulé. While Mora's best work has come in the number 10 position, he has also accumulated experience on the wing, with 13 appearances as a winger—5 on the right and 8 on the left—during which he has scored 6 goals. He has additionally featured 5 times as a midfielder with 2 goals and 6 times as a second striker with 1 goal. Mora's profile extends beyond tactical flexibility. Made his competitive debut at 15 for Porto's B team, he is described as slight in build but technically gifted, capable of moments of rare footballing beauty regularly highlighted across social media. Though naturally suited to the playmaker's role, his work ethic and adaptability suggest he will not resist a different assignment if required. Gasperini has already signalled his preference. The coming weeks will clarify the Portuguese gem's next move.

Paulo Dybala produced a standout display to help Roma earn a 2–2 draw against Borussia Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park in a friendly on 15 August. The Giallorossi twice took the lead through Dybala's attacking play before the German side fought back to level the match. The result offers a morale boost ahead of Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina in the coming days, after a poor defeat to Brighton during the pre-season schedule. Gasperini's side finished their summer training camp on a positive note following the Dortmund fixture. Donyell Malen continued to show signs of being short of full match fitness, while there were opportunities for other squad members. The manager was sufficiently impressed by Lulli's contribution to consider giving him a more permanent place in the first-team setup moving forward. The draw demonstrated Roma's attacking threat despite defensive lapses that allowed Dortmund back into the contest. Manu Koné returned to action and Molina made his debut in what was an encouraging test of Gasperini's tactical ideas before the competitive season begins.

Roma drew 2–2 with Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park in their final pre-season fixture before the Serie A campaign begins. Paulo Dybala opened the scoring in the 4th minute, then set up Bryan Cristante for a second-half header five minutes later, but goals from Ryerson and Guirassy at the 12th and 28th minutes brought Dortmund level. Gasperini fielded a strong starting XI featuring the familiar defensive trio of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, with Mile Svilar in goal. Bryan Cristante and Neil El Aynaoui controlled midfield, while Matías Soulé and Dybala supported Donyell Malen up front. Lorenzo Pellegrini, Niccolò Pisilli and Wesley were absent, the latter sidelined by a mild ankle sprain. The match showcased Roma's physical improvement over the summer, though defensive vulnerabilities remain. Dybala played with notable sharpness, while Gasperini offered frequent tactical instruction to Soulé, urging him to widen play. Roma's pre-season campaign closes in Germany, with the squad returning to Trigoria on Wednesday morning to resume preparations for the opening league fixture against Fiorentina. The match against Fabio Grosso's side arrives in seven days at the Stadio Olimpico, marking Roma's first competitive test and their return to Champions League football under Gasperini, now in his second season in charge.