Roma trapped in unachievable targets, says Pes; Carina questions Gasperini's market delay claims

Lorenzo Pellegrini is still waiting for his contract extension to be finalised. The Roma captain dined at the Roman trattoria I Ciarli with teammate Gianluca Mancini on Monday evening, while continuing to train with a personal fitness coach in the capital. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is keen to secure the renewal, as is Bryan Cristante, who remarked: "We can't wait to see him back with us in the group." The final sign-off from the Friedkin Group remains outstanding. Pellegrini has already agreed to a salary reduction, but disagreement persists over the contract length. The player favours a three-year deal, while the club is pushing for a two-year agreement. Both sides are expected to continue negotiations over the coming days.

The Friedkin Group faces mounting frustration not only from Roma supporters over the club's sluggish transfer window, but also from Everton fans. Roma have yet to spend any money in the summer market, while Everton have only acquired three players: George and Rohl through permanent deals, and Hackney, signed for €19 million. The gap between the two clubs' activity has prompted English supporters to publicly challenge the ownership, with Roma's priority remaining a left-sided winger and Everton desperately needing a right-back. Everton supporters have been particularly vocal on social media, directly addressing the ownership's transfer strategy. One fan wrote: "Move, we cannot have another season without full-backs." Others drew comparisons between Roma's approach and Everton's, questioning the disparity in spending power. One critic stated: "The Friedkin Group should explain why Roma can spend €46 million for a player who has been relegated while Everton has not started any negotiation for a left-sided player, let alone a new striker." The Roma reference reflects the reported €46 million offer for Summerville, a player recently relegated with Leeds United. For both Roma and Everton, the summer transfer window has not yet delivered the reinforcements either fanbase believes necessary, leaving Dan and Ryan Friedkin facing criticism on two fronts.

Vice-president Ryan Friedkin arrived at Roma's Trigoria training ground on 14 July to inject momentum into the summer transfer window, having successfully brokered deals during his January visit — most notably the arrival of Donyell Malen, who played a central role in Roma's push to the Champions League. This summer's mission has proved less fruitful. Two primary targets, Greenwood and Summerville, have already fallen through, with the American ownership expressing doubts about spending €50 million on the latter. Roma have also suffered the blow of Çelik signing with Juventus despite an oral agreement being in place. Gasperini had been awaiting Friedkin's arrival on 13 July, the first day of pre-season. With the window stalling, Friedkin has already returned to the United States within the past 48 hours, and no return date has yet been set. He may attend Cannes–Roma, a pre-season friendly between the two Friedkin-owned clubs, on Sunday, though that remains uncertain. The new transfer target is now Nusa, and Ryan will monitor negotiations from afar.

Roma cruised to a 6-0 victory over Trastevere in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Trigoria, with Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala among the scorers. The match was played over two 35-minute halves, with first-half goals coming from Malen (3rd minute, set up by Devyne Rensch), Dybala (12th, from Bryan Cristante), Bryan Cristante (assist from Malen), and Rensch (30th, teeing up Cherubini). In the second half, with Gasperini fielding a largely youth-based XI, Angeliño and Arena added the final two goals in the closing minutes. The friendly marked Malen and Evan N'Dicka's return to full training following their World Cup campaigns with the Netherlands, both key players in Roma's recent Champions League qualification push. Matías Soulé was rested for load management, while Niccolò Pisilli missed out with a grade-one soleus muscle injury and will be assessed for recovery. Mario Hermoso impressed as the standout defender in the first half, while Malen showed signs of shaking off rustiness despite limited pre-season minutes alongside Dybala. Sports director Tony D'Amico attended from the dugout alongside Massimo Margiotta, the new youth academy director. The second half saw extensive minutes for academy players, continuing Roma's recent pattern from a 6-0 win over the senior Primavera side on the previous Sunday.

Roma defeated Trastevere 6-0 in a training match at Trigoria, but the Giallorossi suffered a significant setback when midfielder Niccolò Pisilli sustained a first-degree muscle-fascia injury to his soleus. The injury will sideline the academy product during a critical period of the season. The club remains active in the transfer market ahead of the January window. Roma have intensified their pursuit of Antonio Nusa as an attacking winger for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, following the decision by Crysencio Summerville to reconsider his move to the Stadio Olimpico. Club officials are also exploring options for a back-up to Donyell Malen, with Castro and Tresoldi among the names under consideration. Midfielder Bryan Cristante addressed the squad's status, stating that Roma are awaiting the return of Lorenzo Pellegrini, signalling the importance of having the captain fit and available for upcoming fixtures. The 6-0 victory over Trastevere provided a positive note on the training ground, though the loss of Pisilli to injury represents a concern for squad depth in midfield.

Roma's pursuit of Celtic midfielder Engels faces fresh competition, with Tottenham now joining the transfer chase. The Scottish club values the player at €25 million, a fee Tottenham under De Zerbi is reportedly prepared to match. Engels is also attracting interest from Serie A rivals Lazio, Milan, and Napoli. Roma's midfield recruitment is not an immediate priority for Gasperini. The coach has Koné, Pisilli, Cristante, and El Ayanoui available in that sector, and the club is unlikely to move for a fresh arrival without selling Koné first. The coming hours are expected to be decisive regarding a separate forward target, Summerville, with the club also monitoring defensive reinforcements across the pitch. The €25 million valuation sets the benchmark for any suitor, though Roma's reluctance to act in midfield until funds are freed suggests they may step back from the Engels race or only pursue it if circumstances change.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is still waiting for his contract extension to be finalised. The Roma captain dined at the Roman trattoria I Ciarli with teammate Gianluca Mancini on Monday evening, while continuing to train with a personal fitness coach in the capital. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is keen to secure the renewal, as is Bryan Cristante, who remarked: "We can't wait to see him back with us in the group." The final sign-off from the Friedkin Group remains outstanding. Pellegrini has already agreed to a salary reduction, but disagreement persists over the contract length. The player favours a three-year deal, while the club is pushing for a two-year agreement. Both sides are expected to continue negotiations over the coming days.

Lorenzo Pellegrini and Gianluca Mancini were spotted having dinner together at Trattoria Romana I Ciarli in Rome, a gesture underlining the midfielder's strong bond with the club as negotiations over his new contract proceed. Pellegrini, currently without a club, remains a priority target for Roma, with both parties signalling their commitment to reaching an agreement. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has publicly backed the move, a fan banner was displayed outside Trigoria, Pellegrini sent birthday wishes on the club's 99th anniversary, and Bryan Cristante declared after a friendly with Trastevere: "We are waiting for him with open arms." The sequence of gestures reflects the depth of Pellegrini's relationship with Roma despite his current uncontracted status. The dinner meeting with Mancini, a key defender in the squad, suggests the midfielder is maintaining close ties with teammates ahead of a formal return to training. These coordinated signals from the coaching staff, supporters' groups, and playing squad all point towards an imminent renewal of contract terms, with the expectation that Pellegrini will rejoin the training ground in due course.

Lorenzo Pellegrini remains in talks with Roma over a contract renewal, having already agreed to take a pay cut. The key sticking point is contract length: Pellegrini is pushing for a three-year deal while Roma are currently holding firm on a two-year offer. The gap remains to be bridged, but both parties appear committed to staying together. Pellegrini is awaiting a definitive signal from the club, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and his squad are waiting for the midfielder's return to full training. Gasperini views Pellegrini as an important resource for the new Roma project, and the dressing room has made its position clear. After an friendly against Trastevere, Bryan Cristante spoke openly about his teammate, emphasising that the group is ready to welcome him back with open arms. The bond between Pellegrini and the squad remains strong. In a further sign of his continued integration with the group, Pellegrini dined with Gianluca Mancini at Roman trattoria I Ciarli on a recent evening.