Svilar: Roma must compete in Champions League every year

Neil El Aynaoui has dismissed interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona to focus entirely on Roma and the new season ahead. Speaking on Radio Radio, the Morocco international reflected on his first year in Italian football as a foundation for growth. "It was the first time I was leaving France and facing a new championship. This experience has made me grow and today I feel I have much more experience," he said. El Aynaoui praised head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's demanding methods and clear vision. "He is a very demanding coach and knows exactly what he wants. We work hard and I think that, thanks to him, we are making great progress," he explained. The 22-year-old also reflected on his Serie A debut against Bologna, where the atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico left a strong impression: "The first match against Bologna was special. It was the first time I really saw the stadium full: the atmosphere impressed me." Looking ahead to Roma's Champions League campaign, El Aynaoui expressed his eagerness to compete at European football's highest level. "When I arrived, everyone told me the objective was to qualify for the Champions League. Today I am very happy to be able to play it. It is a dream for every footballer and I cannot wait to start," he said. Roma face Fiorentina in their next fixture.

Mile Svilar has expressed his commitment to Roma and backed the club to compete in the Champions League, speaking exclusively to Radio Romanista during pre-season training in Wales. The goalkeeper reflected on his development over recent seasons, describing himself as "a more mature Svilar, with more experience in life, in football, who has played many more Serie A matches" compared to his younger self. Svilar emphasised the importance of starting the 2026-27 Serie A campaign strongly, citing how marginal points cost Roma a Champions League place in recent years. "Every match counts enormously," he said. "In my last two seasons, we missed out on the Champions League by a point or two from Juventus and Milan." The 26-year-old expressed enthusiasm about potential Champions League opponents, including matches against Real Madrid's Bernabéu and Paris Saint-Germain's Parc des Princes, neither of which he has played at professionally. He also praised head coach Gasperini: "Fired up. Serene, smiling, but fired up in training. That's what's needed." When asked about his future, Svilar was clear: "In life and a professional career you're not always the only one deciding, but I'm happy here, my family is happy here. So for now I want to stay here and that's it." He highlighted a crucial save against Soulé from Frosinone in 2024 as significant for his Roma career, noting it was "the first match where I knew that if I played well I would stay in goal."

Santiago Castro, Roma's summer signing from Bologna for approximately 35 million euros, has declared his ambition to help the club compete for the Serie A title. Speaking from Roma's pre-season training camp in Cardiff, the Argentine forward said: "Certo, ho visto il valore di questo gruppo e possiamo giocarcela con tutti. Perché abbiamo giocatori forti in tutti i reparti e Gasperini è uno dei migliori allenatori d'Italia. Siamo al livello per competere per lo scudetto e per la Coppa Italia. E vogliamo fare bene in Champions. Se sei alla Roma devi ambire a vincere tutto." He added that other Italian clubs had approached him before his move, but that Roma was his only choice. Castro joins a squad already featuring Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé, with whom he shares close ties. He said of Soulé: "Con Soulé ci conosciamo da undici anni, giocavamo insieme nel Velez e adesso è incredibile ritrovarsi qui insieme, da uomini e non più da bambini che rincorrevano un pallone sognando l'Europa." The 2004-born forward will compete with Donyell Malen for attacking minutes. On that rivalry, Castro stated: "Assolutamente no, io e Donny saremo in competizione per giocare tanto, ma soprattutto per il bene della squadra. Questa sana rivalità mi farà crescere tanto. Malen è un attaccante fortissimo, ci alterneremo, potremo anche giocare insieme."

Mile Svilar has opened up about his early training under his father Ratko, who worked with him on distribution and dealing with one-on-one situations from a young age. Speaking to Radio Romanista, the Roma goalkeeper explained how he developed his characteristic style of rushing out to close space, a trait instilled during childhood coaching sessions. Svilar credited his father's demanding approach for shaping his mentality. "When I took a ball in the face and wanted to cry, he said no," Svilar said. "With him it wasn't possible to cry. So I learned that way and thank goodness it was tough." The goalkeeper emphasised that fear was never a factor: "Maybe at the start, yes and no. But I have a father who did the same job, so he wouldn't allow it." This formative period under his father's tutelage instilled both technical skill and mental resilience that continue to define Svilar's approach in goal.

Mile Svilar has expressed his commitment to Roma and backed the club to compete in the Champions League, speaking exclusively to Radio Romanista during pre-season training in Wales. The goalkeeper reflected on his development over recent seasons, describing himself as "a more mature Svilar, with more experience in life, in football, who has played many more Serie A matches" compared to his younger self. Svilar emphasised the importance of starting the 2026-27 Serie A campaign strongly, citing how marginal points cost Roma a Champions League place in recent years. "Every match counts enormously," he said. "In my last two seasons, we missed out on the Champions League by a point or two from Juventus and Milan." The 26-year-old expressed enthusiasm about potential Champions League opponents, including matches against Real Madrid's Bernabéu and Paris Saint-Germain's Parc des Princes, neither of which he has played at professionally. He also praised head coach Gasperini: "Fired up. Serene, smiling, but fired up in training. That's what's needed." When asked about his future, Svilar was clear: "In life and a professional career you're not always the only one deciding, but I'm happy here, my family is happy here. So for now I want to stay here and that's it." He highlighted a crucial save against Soulé from Frosinone in 2024 as significant for his Roma career, noting it was "the first match where I knew that if I played well I would stay in goal."

Mile Svilar has reaffirmed his commitment to AS Roma whilst acknowledging the unpredictability of professional football. In an exclusive interview with Radio Romanista, the goalkeeper discussed his long-term plans at the club, emphasising that his family is settled and content in Rome. Svilar stopped short of guaranteeing his future beyond the immediate term, recognising that circumstances can change in football. "In the life and career of a professional, you are not always the only one making decisions, but I am happy here, my family is happy here. So for now I want to stay here and that's it," he said. The 27-year-old acknowledged the broader forces at play in football: "What will happen in two, three, or five years? I don't know, you don't know, the president doesn't know, the coach doesn't know. Football is made up of dynamics that go beyond the player." Despite this philosophical perspective on the game's uncertainties, Svilar made clear his immediate desire to remain at the Giallorossi. "But if you ask me: yes, I want to stay here," he concluded. Svilar joined Roma in July 2022 from Benfica and has established himself as a key figure in Gian Piero Gasperini's squad.