Roma's injury crisis eases as Dybala and Wesley return; Koné expected back soon

Fiorentina will arrive at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday 24 August for the opening day of the 2026-27 Serie A season, three days away. Midfielder Arthur Atta and midfielder Rolando Mandragora remain sidelined, continuing individual work away from the squad after the previous day's session. Both players have yet to rejoin full training, a situation that has begun to cause concern. Alex Jimenez and Joao Mario have already returned to group training on Wednesday. Their availability for Roma's trip is now in doubt. Today's training session will be decisive in determining whether Atta and Mandragora can be fit and available for the fixture on 24 August.

Niccolò Pisilli has cleared medical checks at Trigoria and is on course for selection in Roma's opening Serie A fixture against Fiorentina. The academy product has resumed regular group training after recovering from a calf muscle injury that sidelined him since late July, and is pushing Manu Koné for a starting berth alongside Bryan Cristante in midfield, though Koné currently holds the edge in Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical plans. Pisilli, born in 2004, was unavailable for much of the pre-season campaign but is now building momentum four days before the season opener. Koné, meanwhile, missed most of pre-season preparation owing to post-World Cup rest, yet remains slightly favoured for the midfield role. Wesley, the left-sided Brazilian defender, sustained a minor ankle sprain in recent days that forced him to sit out an August 15th friendly against Borussia Dortmund. The club has implemented precautionary measures with partial training for Wesley, but he is expected to start on the left flank for Roma's debut at Stadio Olimpico.

Roma prepare for their Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday evening at the Stadio Olimpico with Paulo Dybala leading the charge. The Argentine forward posted images of last season's final home fixture—the derby, where Gianluca Mancini scored twice—as motivation for the new campaign. Rodrigo Mora, the Portuguese attacking midfielder, completed his second training session at Trigoria on 20 August under Gasperini's watch, adding renewed creativity and unpredictability to the attacking unit. Niccolò Pisilli returned to full training after a calf injury sustained in late July, while Wesley managed only a partial session following a slight ankle sprain suffered ahead of the Borussia Dortmund friendly. Mora's arrival bolsters an attacking setup that Gasperini had sought to strengthen last season before Donyell Malen's arrival reshaped the forward line. The Portuguese midfielder described his key strength: "I believe my main point of strength is the ability to free myself from opponents in complicated situations." Squad availability shapes team selection for the Fiorentina match, with Mora potentially deployed as a pure attacking midfielder alongside Dybala and Malen against Grosso's side or introduced during the match. Lorenzo Pellegrini requires more time to return to availability. Gasperini will hold his first press conference of the 2026–27 season on 22 August at 13:30. Roma's initial fixtures include Lecce, Atalanta, Torino and Inter before the September break. The UEFA Champions League league-phase draw will be revealed on 27 August at 18:00.

Wesley has returned to full training and will occupy the left flank in Monday's season opener against Fiorentina at the Olimpico, with an ankle problem now resolved. The Brazilian, who missed a friendly against Borussia Dortmund, scored against the Viola at the same venue last season and is ready to feature. Molina will make his debut on the opposite flank. In midfield, Gasperini will deploy the Cristante–Koné pairing, while the main uncertainty centres on the attacking midfield role behind Dybala and Malen, where Mora and Soulé are competing. The defence will be anchored by Svilar in goal, with Mancini, N'Dicka, and Hermoso forming the back three. Pisilli is also available, though Pellegrini will need more time to recover. Roma are primed for their 2026–27 campaign.

Sebino Nela, the legendary Roma defender and 1982–83 Scudetto winner, has assessed Gian Piero Gasperini's squad ahead of the transfer deadline, which falls in less than two weeks. Nela believes Roma has improved but still requires reinforcements in two areas: a wide midfielder and a winger striker. "The Roma has still need of a wide midfielder and of a winger striker," Nela told Il Tempo. "The season is long, there are three competitions and it is important to have a deep squad. In the football of five substitutions, having a bench of level can make the difference." On the summer arrivals, Nela praised Castro and Molina but urged patience with Koulierakis, who is adapting to Italian football. He remains cautious about Rodrigo Mora as an attacking option, questioning whether his profile matches what the team needs despite Gasperini's backing. However, Nela acknowledged that if Mora flourishes under the coach's guidance, "a day, maybe, he will become a new Dybala, especially if he follows the coach's indications." He suggested a strong one-on-one player capable of scoring goals would complete an attack already bolstered by Soulé, Dybala, Mora, and Pellegrini.

Roma's transfer activity is entering its most intense phase with 11 days remaining in the summer window. The club is prioritising the signing of a left-back and left winger, with the attacking department potentially reinforced only by a loan deal, possibly with a purchase option. The American ownership's strategy is taking shape through over €100 million invested to strengthen Gasperini's squad while lowering both wage bill and average age. The green line of investment—acquisitions targeting both immediate impact and long-term development—is evident across the squad. Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini have agreed wage cuts on their renewals. Among the notable signings are two strikers and a Greek defender, contributing to an squad now containing 11 players under 25: Ziolkowski (21), Koulierakis (22), Ghilardi (23), Rensch (23), Pisilli (21), Koné and El Aynaoui (25), Mora and Vaz (19), Castro (21) and Soulé (22). These are players ready to perform now and into the future under a manager like Gasperini, who has consistently developed and promoted emerging talent. Potential arrivals of Fofana and Luis Henrique—or even just one of them—would further increase the number of young players in the squad. The possibility of selling academy product Ziolkowski and Matías Soulé remains under consideration as part of the squad restructuring.

Wesley has returned to full training and will occupy the left flank in Monday's season opener against Fiorentina at the Olimpico, with an ankle problem now resolved. The Brazilian, who missed a friendly against Borussia Dortmund, scored against the Viola at the same venue last season and is ready to feature. Molina will make his debut on the opposite flank. In midfield, Gasperini will deploy the Cristante–Koné pairing, while the main uncertainty centres on the attacking midfield role behind Dybala and Malen, where Mora and Soulé are competing. The defence will be anchored by Svilar in goal, with Mancini, N'Dicka, and Hermoso forming the back three. Pisilli is also available, though Pellegrini will need more time to recover. Roma are primed for their 2026–27 campaign.

Roma has recalibrated its transfer approach for the closing days of the summer window, with sporting director Tony D'Amico temporarily halting negotiations for Lyon's Malick Fofana—valued at over €40 million—to focus on securing a left-winger to provide cover for Wesley. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and the club have made Luis Henrique of Inter their primary objective, drawn to his versatility as both a midfield winger and attacking winger. Inter continue to demand €30 million for a permanent deal or a loan with an obligation to buy, whether conditional or not, as Roma seek a financially sustainable structure to complete the move in the final hours of the market. Roma's transfer strategy is constrained by UEFA's strict Financial Fair Play parameters, which the club must respect to avoid sanctions or restrictions on squad lists in European competition. A second attacking reinforcement—with Rafael Leão, Christopher Nkunku and Endrick also on the wish list—will only materialise if Roma secure a major sale worth at least €35 million. At present, no adequate offers have arrived for Matías Soulé or Manu Koné, limiting the club's ability to fund further signings.

Roma have shelved their pursuit of Lyon winger Malick Fofana and refocused their efforts on Inter's Luis Henrique as a left-sided backup to Wesley. Director D'Amico froze the Fofana negotiation for financial reasons, prioritising the Henrique deal despite Inter's firm stance: the Nerazzurri are demanding €30 million for a permanent transfer and will not accept a loan with an option to buy, insisting on an obligation instead, even if conditional. Gasperini is pressing D'Amico to complete the signing, viewing Henrique as ideal for Roma's style of play and capable of playing across the attacking line. The sense is that the deal could unblock in the closing days of the transfer window. Fofana's collapse was hastened by the arrival of Mora and Roma's inability to meet Lyon's minimum asking price of €40 million. Gasperini's wishlist for an additional attacking option includes Rafael Leão and Christopher Nkunku of Milan, Real Madrid's Endrick, and Fofana himself, but all remain out of reach under current financial constraints. Trigoria's watchword is caution. A double signing is not ruled out, but it will only materialise if a sale generates at least €35 million in revenue—a condition that will unlock funds for the winger Roma still want to recruit this summer.

Robinio Vaz will remain at Roma through the closing of the transfer window, with the club rejecting any sale of the French striker acquired eight months ago from Olympique Marseille for €25 million. A proposed move to Bologna fell through during negotiations involving Castro and Dovbyk. Vaz has used recent friendlies to impress new head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and demonstrate his value to the squad. With the centre-forward role occupied by Malen and Castro, Vaz is being positioned as a creative attacking midfielder, a role that could leverage his distinctive qualities. Gasperini's tactical system offers intriguing prospects for the French talent, who possesses pace and physical strength unmatched by other options in that position—Dybala, Pellegrini, Mora and Soulé. Last season, his intervention proved decisive in a closely fought match against Lecce after an initial adaptation period in Italian football. Vaz suffered a first-degree medial collateral ligament injury to his right knee while training, an injury sustained in unusual circumstances: he explained to the club he was injured while skiing in summer. After overcoming the setback within just over a week, he has recovered fully and is ready to compete for Gasperini's confidence.

AS Roma close their pre-season programme against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on 15 August, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini using the fixture as a final dress rehearsal before the league campaign begins. The international-standard test comes just days before Roma's competitive debut and offers Gasperini a last chance to assess squad fitness, run through tactical ideas, and resolve outstanding questions ahead of the official start. Roma line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Mile Svilar in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, and Neil El Aynaoui, Bryan Cristante, Devyne Rensch, and Matías Soulé across midfield and wing positions. Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen support Artem Dovbyk in attack. After weeks of preparation at Trigoria and at the summer training base, the clash against the Germans represents a significant opportunity to measure the team's progress and condition. Borussia Dortmund start in a 3-4-1-2 shape under manager Niko Kovac. Following this encounter, Roma's focus shifts entirely to the start of Serie A.

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.