Svilar urges Roma to seize Champions League opportunity after derby win

Roma will launch a new bid for left-back Alessio Cacciamani in the coming days after Torino's initial resistance to his departure has begun to ease. The Giallorossi have been working on the deal for several days and have already seen a €13 million offer rejected, with Torino demanding at least €20 million. Sporting director D'Amico is preparing to increase Roma's bid to accelerate a move before the season begins, with head coach Gasperini keen to strengthen the squad in that position. Torino's technical director Gianluca Petrachi acknowledged the possibility of Cacciamani's departure, stating: "We would like to continue with lads like him, but we also have to reckon with a market that sometimes presents absurd prices, mad ones, that you simply cannot take into account." However, Petrachi added that the club remains committed to retaining the player, saying: "Our intention is to keep him." Despite Torino president Cairo's public position, Petrachi's comments suggest there is room for negotiation. Gasperini and D'Amico are hopeful the fresh offer will finally break Torino's resistance and bring Cacciamani to the Olimpico.

Roma are accelerating their pursuit of Porto midfielder Rodrigo Mora, a 2007-born playmaker and winger, with the intention to finalize the signing in the coming days. The club has reportedly edged out Galatasaray's interest and is pushing for Porto's approval between today and tomorrow. Mora, 19, is known as Porto's youngest debut-maker in the club's history. The push for an attacking reinforcement comes after difficulties that emerged during Roma's recent British tour, prompting head coach Gian Piero Gasperini to request additional offensive firepower. Porto have set their valuation at €50 million. Roma have submitted an initial proposal structured as a loan worth €5 million with a right of purchase set at €45 million, aiming to wrap up the deal as quickly as possible. The Roma hierarchy are determined to complete the operation in minimal time, with the window for negotiation expected to close imminently.

Roma are pushing to sign Porto attacking midfielder Rodrigo Mora, a 19-year-old born in 2007 and the youngest debutant in Porto's history. The club has offered a loan deal plus a €45 million right of purchase, against Porto's €50 million asking price, and hopes to secure approval from the Portuguese club between 9 and 10 August. Galatasaray had also been close to signing Mora but are delaying their move while awaiting a response to an offer made to Russian midfielder Batrakov, creating an opening for Roma to accelerate their pursuit. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has identified an attacking winger as a priority following Roma's pre-season tour of Wales and England. Multiple sources, including journalist Alfredo Pedullà, have confirmed Roma's interest in Mora, with some reports suggesting the club would not rule out alternative targets like Endrick. Roma have moved ahead of Galatasaray in the race for the Portuguese teenager and are keen to finalise the deal quickly, with the club reportedly in a race against time to complete negotiations.

Roma's defence, which finished as Serie A's second-best last season, has shown alarming fragility during their pre-season tour of Britain. The Giallorossi conceded eight goals across three friendlies—four against Cardiff, one against Newport, and three against Brighton—with the tally rising to 11 when including a 3–3 draw against Cannes. Against Brighton on 8 August, Gasperini made wholesale defensive changes after Roma had shipped three goals in 49 minutes, introducing Ghilardi and new arrival Koulierakis while withdrawing N'Dicka and Hermoso. The ivory-coast central defender had failed to close down Ayari's double, prompting Gasperini to turn to the bench and shout "Let's change." Hermoso, managing an ankle problem, allowed Rutter to nearly extend the lead moments after the 3–0. Earlier defensive lapses against Cardiff exposed deeper issues: Ahsford's opener came after N'Dicka slipped and a rebound off Rensch, while Salech's second followed a costly Svilar error on a dangerous Wesley backpass. El Aynaoui was substituted at half-time after a misplaced pass that set up Ayari's second goal, and Rensch drew criticism for poor decision-making. The unit that had anchored Roma's recent success now appears fragile heading into the season. Gasperini acknowledged the work ahead, saying "the team is struggling to switch back on," highlighting the scale of the challenge to restore defensive solidity before competitive fixtures begin.

Gian Piero Gasperini expressed sharp disappointment with Roma's display in a friendly against Brighton on 8 August, conceding three goals and struggling to build momentum ahead of the new season. The defeat extended Roma's poor run to eleven goals conceded in their last four outings. Gasperini said: "It was a very bad match, without doubt. We put in a poor performance. The feeling I have is that we are struggling to switch on." The coach's frustration extended beyond the pitch to the club's transfer activity. With the squad lacking numerical depth, Gasperini acknowledged Roma are unable to accelerate their transfer business at the pace he had hoped. He stated: "I thought we would be further ahead. We cannot do the market because we have too few players... Numerically it seems to me there is still a need for something. On who to target and how to close we will see. Possible departures? Ask the CEO." Defensive vulnerabilities have become a recurring concern, with Svilar and the entire back line appearing exposed when pressed at speed. Forward Donyell Malen showed signs of being out of condition and overweight. Gasperini's comments underline the urgency Roma face in both the transfer market and regaining the collective shape and understanding that underpinned their previous campaigns.

Roma's pre-season tour of England closed with a 3–0 defeat to Brighton at the Amex Stadium on 8 August. Georginio Rutter opened the scoring in the 29th minute after Wesley squandered a one-on-one chance against Verbruggen in the 28th, with Yasin Ayari doubling the lead before half-time and completing his brace early in the second half at the 49th minute. The result capped a disappointing week for Gasperini's side, following a heavy loss to Cardiff City, with only an improved performance against Newport offering respite. Wesley's missed opportunity proved decisive; from the resulting counter-attack, Rutter fired past Svilar, and the concession of the opening goal triggered a psychological collapse that Brighton exploited ruthlessly through their pace and directness. Gasperini's Roma controlled stretches of the match and came closest to opening the scoring when Wesley was played through one-on-one in the 28th minute but shot over from a favourable position. The side's lack of clinical finishing and defensive frailty were stark: Brighton's attacks repeatedly found space, particularly down the flanks, and Roma's back line appeared disorganised and slow to react. Svilar made several key saves to prevent a larger scoreline. The heavy rotation Gasperini introduced in the second half, giving opportunities to younger squad members, failed to ignite a response from a team that appeared depleted and lacking intensity. Evan Ferguson, still recovering from injury, was present at the stadium to greet his former teammates before kick-off. Roma's next fixture is a friendly against Borussia Dortmund on 15 August, a match Gasperini will view as essential for rebuilding confidence and addressing the defensive and mental issues laid bare at the Amex.