Soulé's fall from grace: from leader to expendable

Real Madrid teenager Franco Mastantuono is poised to join Serie A on a season-long loan after struggling for regular first-team football in his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Argentine, who joined Los Merengues from River Plate last summer for a reported fee of €45 million, made just 11 La Liga starts and accumulated 35 appearances across all competitions, netting three goals and providing an assist. Jose Mourinho is open to allowing the 18-year-old to leave Spain on loan to gain valuable experience. Three Serie A clubs have registered interest in Mastantuono: Milan, Roma, and Fiorentina. Milan, who competed to sign the youngster before his move to Madrid, could use him as a replacement following Rafael Leao's expected departure from San Siro. Roma and Fiorentina are also in the race for his signature. The Giallorossi's pursuit of Mastantuono is linked to the possibility that Matias Soulé could leave the Stadio Olimpico this summer. Fiorentina may offer the teenager an ideal environment for development, with regular first-team football likely to be more readily available.

Roma are leading the pursuit of Inter midfielder Davide Frattesi this summer after the 26-year-old was cast out by manager Cristian Chivu, according to reports. Gian Piero Gasperini's side have overtaken Juventus in the competition for the former Sassuolo player, who is keen to revive his career away from Milan. Frattesi managed only three Serie A starts for Inter in 2025–26 and has two years remaining on his contract with the Nerazzurri, who are determined to sell him. He came close to joining Nottingham Forest in January. Gasperini is actively hunting a replacement midfielder after Manu Koné emerged as a target for Manchester United. Though Roma are reluctant to lose their midfield linchpin, Koné's desire to continue his career at Old Trafford may force the Giallorossi into the market. Frattesi is Gasperini's identified solution to that potential void. Inter had previously resisted Atlético Madrid's approach for Frattesi last summer, but only postponed his departure rather than resolved his future. Juventus, however, remain in contention. Giovanni Carnevali could still make a late push to bring Frattesi to the Turin club, meaning the race for his signature is far from settled.

Castro is the focus of special attention ahead of his Roma debut, with a meeting arranged between the player and Gasperini's match analyst to prepare him for his first appearance in a giallorossi shirt. The discussion is part of Roma's careful integration of the new arrival into head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical system. By bringing Castro into dialogue with the club's analytical team before his competitive debut, the club is ensuring the player understands the defensive and offensive demands of Gasperini's pressing-based approach. Castro's introduction to the squad represents a key moment in Roma's ongoing transfer business this summer. The meeting underscores Gasperini's methodical approach to squad development and the importance placed on tactical preparation at the club.