Summerville opens door to Roma as club prepares West Ham offer

Juventus secured Zeki Çelik on Thursday night after Roma believed a deal was complete. The Turkish defender, whose contract had expired, was set to sign a new accord with Roma worth €3–3.2M per year, but changed course and accepted Juventus's offer instead. His agent had initially sought €4M, making him one of Roma's highest-paid players. Çelik departs after four seasons at the club, totalling 151 appearances with 2 goals and 10 assists. Roma's coaching staff had wanted continuity and viewed him as crucial to their plans, particularly after his return from World Cup duties. The surprise departure forces Roma to rethink their wing strategy and adjust plans to deploy Wesley on the right flank, with the club now needing to accelerate recruitment at the position. Juventus's recent appointment of Frederic Massara, Roma's former director, adds another layer to the departure. While Roma will need to adjust their formation, the club are not expected to be severely damaged by his exit. Çelik was considered useful and reliable, though Roma believe a more offensively gifted winger will suit their system better. For Juventus, operating under financial constraints, the free-agent signing represents a solid acquisition with Luciano Spalletti seeking experienced players.

Roma's departure of Zeki Çelik has forced the club to accelerate plans in the transfer market. Moreira remains the primary target to strengthen the wide positions, and Roma have agreed personal terms with the Belgian player: a contract worth €2.5 million per season. However, Strasbourg are holding firm on their valuation and have not budged despite intervention from agent Mendes, who has been working to persuade the French club to reduce their asking price. Strasbourg are demanding between €40 million and €50 million, while Roma are unwilling to exceed €30 million, leaving a significant gap between the two clubs. The impasse has prompted Roma's recruitment team to begin exploring alternative options. Molina has emerged as a right-back target under consideration, though he is expected to wait until the end of the World Cup before making a decision on his future. Roma will need to recruit at least one more full-back beyond Moreira to address the defensive depth required following Çelik's exit.

Zeki Çelik departed AS Roma for Juventus on 16 July on a free transfer, a move that caught both the fanbase and the club's leadership off guard. Roma had expected the Turkish right-back to remain in the capital to sign a contract extension. Juventus announced his arrival, sparking backlash across social media. Flavio Cobolli, a prominent Roma supporter, responded by sharing a photograph on Instagram of Devyne Rensch in tears at the moment he signed with Roma in January 2025. Cobolli captioned the post "Forza Roma" and paired it with the track "Roma (non si discute, si ama)" by Antonello Venditti, the post quickly went viral among the fanbase. The contrast between Çelik's unexpected exit and Rensch's emotional commitment to the club became a focal point of fan sentiment.