Soulé remains available: Roma will sell for the right offer

Roma have confirmed their first signing of the summer transfer window. Santiago Castro has joined from Bologna as a Roma player and will wear the number 9 shirt, vacated by Artem Dovbyk. The Ukrainian striker completes the reverse move to Bologna, where he will attempt a fresh start under Tedesco. The swap represents Roma's opening business of the transfer market, with the club's sporting director D'Amico continuing recruitment work. Castro takes up a key offensive role in Gian Piero Gasperini's squad, while Dovbyk seeks to rediscover his form in Serie A after his time in the Italian capital.

Santiago Castro has joined Roma from Bologna on a permanent transfer for €35 million, with the Argentine striker expressing his eagerness to contribute under Gian Piero Gasperini. Castro told Roma's official channels: "It was a short negotiation, I wanted to come from the first moment. I spoke with the sporting director, they told me what they expect from me, I felt the confidence and I know what I can do to help the squad. Since I heard from them I chose straight away to come here." On Gasperini, he added: "I like him. He does very well in Italy for years, I'm here to give a hand, I can do what he wants." Roma have swiftly moved to strengthen their defence with the signing of Konstantinos Koulierakis, a 2003-born centre-back from Wolfsburg, on a permanent deal worth approximately €15 million. The left-footed Greek defender will undergo medical tests and sign his contract in the coming days, competing with Hermoso for the left-centre role in Gasperini's three-man defence. Meanwhile, Angeliño departs on loan to Deportivo La Coruña with a €2 million buyout clause, returning to the Spanish club where he developed through the youth system. Roma have tabled an official €25 million offer to Feyenoord for right-back Givairo Read, with sporting director Tony D'Amico opening direct negotiations to find a resolution. Nottingham Forest remain interested but have had two bids rejected. The coming days are expected to be decisive in the pursuit of a replacement for Çelik on the right flank.

Santiago Castro is officially a Roma player, becoming Gasperini's first January signing and inheriting the number 9 shirt worn previously by fellow Argentines Balbo and Batistuta. The Argentine striker pledged his commitment at his presentation, stating he is ready to give everything for the club. Koulierakis will arrive in Rome between today and tomorrow for medical tests and contract signature before the squad departs for their training base in Hensol, Wales. Roma remain in pursuit of a new winger, with sporting director D'Amico having submitted a €25 million offer to Feyenoord for Read. The Dutch club's player has already agreed personal terms, leaving Feyenoord to decide on the bid.

Roma radio commentators have offered conflicting assessments of the club's transfer strategy heading into the final month of the window. Ilario Di Giovambattista rated Nusa's arrival at Roma as 85% likely, describing him as a strong signing and suggesting that adding him alongside Malen, Dybala and Castro would form an attractive attacking unit. He noted that head coach Gasperini deploys six players across the front line during matches. Other voices struck a more cautious tone. Roberto Pruzzo estimated only a 10% chance that Nusa joins Roma. The transfer priority debate also centred on full-back depth: Piero Torri argued that Roma must sign two wing-backs after Zeki Çelik's departure, stating the club currently has only Wesley and Devyne Rensch in those positions. "You have to compulsorily take two players, and one must be a starter," Torri said, adding that a month remains before the market closes. Vocalelli expressed confidence in the Friedkin Group's spending plans, noting they have consistently invested funds and will address remaining squad needs. Nando Orsi referenced Gasperini's preference for depth at every position, questioning whether the new CEO understands that Gasperini commands final say on recruitment.

Roma face Cardiff City in a pre-season friendly on 1 August at 16:00 at Cardiff City Stadium, marking their first match of the Wales training camp following earlier warm-up fixtures against Primavera, Trastevere and Cannes. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will field a 3-4-2-1 formation: Svilar in goal; Mancini, Ndicka and Hermoso across the back; Rensch and Wesley as wing-backs; El Aynaoui and Cristante in midfield; Dybala and Soulé in attacking support; with Malen leading the line. Tickets for the friendly are available through Cardiff City's official website. The match will be shown live on streaming platform DAZN, with a repeat broadcast at 21:30 on Italian channel NOVE. Live text coverage with real-time updates will be available on ilromanista.eu.

Santiago Castro is officially AS Roma's new number 9. The Argentine striker arrived in the capital on Monday at midnight and was greeted by around 250 celebrating supporters before his announcement hours later. Castro completes an Argentine contingent at the club that now includes Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé. Soulé, the former Frosinone player, welcomed his compatriot on social media by sharing one of Castro's first images in the yellow and red shirt. "Benvenuto fratello!" (Welcome brother!) wrote Soulé. Castro replied to the earlier Bologna forward with "Andiamo hermano!" (Let's go brother!) and a She-wolf emoji, signalling the bond forming within Roma's South American group at Trigoria.