The curious case of Soulé: on the market but still central to Roma

Luigi Cherubini is on the verge of joining Serie B side Benevento on loan with a right of purchase that becomes an obligation upon the fulfilment of certain squad and individual conditions. The 2004-born winger will first sign a contract renewal with Roma through June 2029, extending his current deal that expires next June. The move has been in the works for a week but had not yet been finalised as of 14 August, held up by the delay in completing Cherubini's contract extension with the club. Cherubini, a former Sampdoria and Carrarese player, represents another piece of business on Roma's transfer agenda. Benevento manager Antonio Floro Flores addressed the situation at a press conference on 13 August ahead of the club's Coppa Italia round of 32 tie against Fiorentina. Flores said: "I know they have promised us Cherubini, the club has said 'if he leaves here he comes to you'. We welcome it, we are waiting for him with open arms." The transfer will add to the workload already on Roma's director of sport D'Amico's desk.

Roma are readying an improved bid for Torino left-back Alessio Cacciamani, a prospect born in 2007 whom head coach Gian Piero Gasperini rates highly. The club have asked sporting director D'Amico to continue talks after their initial offer of €12 million plus €3 million in bonuses was rejected. Roma are now poised to increase their bid to approach the €20 million valuation set by Torino for the player. Cacciamani spent the previous season on loan at Juve Stabia in Serie B and returned to Torino in June. Though Torino coach Abate holds him in high regard and the player had expressed a preference to remain and develop gradually at the club, president Cairo—who previously stated his intention not to sell—must now balance the financial pressures of generating profit. Gasperini has identified Cacciamani as a key piece for strengthening Roma's left flank and views him as an important asset for the club's future plans.

Roma's transfer hunt has shifted into high gear, with negotiations over Porto's Rodrigo Mora stalled for two days over disagreements on buy-back clause terms, according to director D'Amico. Should that deal fall through, Belgian winger Malick Fofana of Lyon has emerged as the leading alternative. Lyon value the 2005-born prospect at a minimum of €40 million, though fitness concerns around him persist. The timeline could favour Roma's pursuit. Between 18 and 26 August, Lyon face Fenerbahce in Champions League play-offs. Fofana is eager to play in Europe's top competition, and an elimination for Lyon could force the French club to sell. Fenerbahce themselves dealt Roma a blow earlier in the transfer window by signing Mason Greenwood ahead of the Italian club. How the upcoming two weeks unfold may prove decisive in shaping Roma's options and the final structure of any deal.

Artem Dovbyk has explained his difficult final season at Roma after joining Bologna on loan with a right of purchase, in a swap deal that saw Santiago Castro move in the opposite direction. The Ukrainian striker told Il Messaggero that he lost confidence under the pressure at the Stadio Olimpico. "Last season was difficult, with injury, but that came later," Dovbyk said. "After pre-season Roma told me to look for minutes elsewhere, but there wasn't time. I was very close to Milan, but there were three days left in the transfer window and it didn't happen. I stayed and tried to convince the manager I deserved more space, but I started the season playing little and they made clear I would be the backup striker. I was preparing for a long season as the main man, and it was hard to accept that wouldn't happen. I played less and less and wasn't enjoying it anymore. Then I got injured." Dovbyk reflected on the unique pressures of playing for Roma compared to his previous spell in Spain. "There are fantastic players there in my position, like Dybala, Soulé, El Shaarawy," he explained. "But playing there is different—there's so much pressure, mistakes aren't an option. Sometimes I'd get just one chance in a match, and if I didn't score it was over. Many managers came and went, and the club changed a lot too, and from the pitch it was hard to understand all that. Several of us couldn't give our best. Even someone like Dybala struggled." At Bologna, Dovbyk feels valued again: "I'm physically fine now and starting a new challenge. At Bologna I felt welcomed by a strong group, a family. I hope soon I'll show my best version here—now I feel I can enjoy football again."

Matías Soulé has emerged as an unexpectedly valuable squad member for Roma ahead of the club's friendly against Borussia Dortmund on 15 August at 17:30. Two months of uncertainty in the transfer market—with multiple enquiries but no formal offers—have left him as Roma's sole pure winger, securing his position as Gasperini eyes him for the Dortmund clash alongside Paulo Dybala. The German club itself conducted a June inquiry without following through on a move. Soulé's expected permanence comes as Roma now hosts a substantial Argentine contingent. Molina joined the group yesterday for his first training session, joining Dybala, Castro, and Soulé—a concentration of Argentine talent unseen since the year following the Scudetto, when Samuel, Batistuta, Cufré, Balbo and Cejas were at the club. The winger's willingness to stay has been constant; he wishes to play Champions League football but understands the club would consider any offer that arrived. His impressive performances across the capital and in pre-season fixtures have impressed the coach. Soulé's prospects are strengthened by injuries elsewhere: Lorenzo Pellegrini and Niccolò Pisilli remain sidelined, leaving the attacking midfield ranks thin. The former Juventus player, once in an outcast role, now offers Gasperini tactical flexibility heading into the competitive season.

Molina made his first training session appearance at Trigoria wearing the number 20 shirt, settling into Roma with a smile and immediately integrating with his new teammates, particularly his fellow Argentines Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé and Castro. The winger has already struck up an early rapport with Dybala off the pitch, a connection head coach Gian Piero Gasperini hopes will translate onto it. Gasperini put Molina straight to work, with the player showing promising early signs: precise crosses, clean distribution and a desire to regain his match rhythm. Molina could make his Roma debut on Saturday against Dortmund, though likely in a limited capacity off the bench as Gasperini assesses his condition ahead of the league campaign. The Argentinian winger is targeting the Serie A opener against Fiorentina on 23 August, keen to make an immediate impact in Giallorossi colours. His right foot has already impressed during the opening training session, and Roma will look to have him up to full speed quickly as the new season approaches.

Roma's editorial team has compiled an ideal eleven of players who have shone in the Derby della Capitale, honouring the club's 99-year history and the unique intensity of matches against Lazio. The selection spans from the earliest encounters to the modern era, recognising that some figures merit inclusion across multiple categories. The article traces derby excellence from the club's founding. Volk scored in the first match on 8 December 1929 and went on to net seven consecutive derby goals—a record unmatched to this day. Bernardini delivered a 5–0 victory at Campo Testaccio in 1933 with Fulvio adding a brace and Ernesto Tomasi scoring three. The narrative progresses through Amadei's eight goals against Lazio during Roma's first Serie A title, Faotto's own goal that contributed to victory, and defenders like Cafu, who famously nutmegged Nedved three times in succession. More recent heroes include Da Costa with eleven derby goals, Totti matching that tally, and Delvecchio, whose nine goals epitomise Lazio's nightmare. Pellegrini has scored four derby masterpieces, all beneath the Curva Nord and each coinciding with Roma victory; Mancini added three goals and one celebrated flag-waving moment.

Matías Soulé has emerged as an unexpectedly valuable squad member for Roma ahead of the club's friendly against Borussia Dortmund on 15 August at 17:30. Two months of uncertainty in the transfer market—with multiple enquiries but no formal offers—have left him as Roma's sole pure winger, securing his position as Gasperini eyes him for the Dortmund clash alongside Paulo Dybala. The German club itself conducted a June inquiry without following through on a move. Soulé's expected permanence comes as Roma now hosts a substantial Argentine contingent. Molina joined the group yesterday for his first training session, joining Dybala, Castro, and Soulé—a concentration of Argentine talent unseen since the year following the Scudetto, when Samuel, Batistuta, Cufré, Balbo and Cejas were at the club. The winger's willingness to stay has been constant; he wishes to play Champions League football but understands the club would consider any offer that arrived. His impressive performances across the capital and in pre-season fixtures have impressed the coach. Soulé's prospects are strengthened by injuries elsewhere: Lorenzo Pellegrini and Niccolò Pisilli remain sidelined, leaving the attacking midfield ranks thin. The former Juventus player, once in an outcast role, now offers Gasperini tactical flexibility heading into the competitive season.

Nahuel Molina trained with Roma for the first time on 13 August, a day after his official arrival was confirmed. The Argentine right-back took part in the squad's preparation at Trigoria ahead of a friendly against Borussia Dortmund scheduled for 15 July at 17:30. CEO John Galantic attended the session from the sideline to monitor the new arrival's integration. Molina's debut in giallorossi colours marks another addition to Gasperini's squad as Roma continue their pre-season build-up for the 2026-27 campaign. The club will be without Lorenzo Pellegrini and Niccolò Pisilli for the time being, both remaining unavailable during this training phase. Molina's arrival strengthens Roma's options in defence as the season approaches. The friendly against Dortmund will offer an early chance to assess the new defender's form and understanding with his teammates ahead of competitive fixtures.

Matías Soulé has emerged as an unexpectedly valuable squad member for Roma ahead of the club's friendly against Borussia Dortmund on 15 August at 17:30. Two months of uncertainty in the transfer market—with multiple enquiries but no formal offers—have left him as Roma's sole pure winger, securing his position as Gasperini eyes him for the Dortmund clash alongside Paulo Dybala. The German club itself conducted a June inquiry without following through on a move. Soulé's expected permanence comes as Roma now hosts a substantial Argentine contingent. Molina joined the group yesterday for his first training session, joining Dybala, Castro, and Soulé—a concentration of Argentine talent unseen since the year following the Scudetto, when Samuel, Batistuta, Cufré, Balbo and Cejas were at the club. The winger's willingness to stay has been constant; he wishes to play Champions League football but understands the club would consider any offer that arrived. His impressive performances across the capital and in pre-season fixtures have impressed the coach. Soulé's prospects are strengthened by injuries elsewhere: Lorenzo Pellegrini and Niccolò Pisilli remain sidelined, leaving the attacking midfield ranks thin. The former Juventus player, once in an outcast role, now offers Gasperini tactical flexibility heading into the competitive season.

Nahuel Molina trained with Roma for the first time on 13 August, a day after his official arrival was confirmed. The Argentine right-back took part in the squad's preparation at Trigoria ahead of a friendly against Borussia Dortmund scheduled for 15 July at 17:30. CEO John Galantic attended the session from the sideline to monitor the new arrival's integration. Molina's debut in giallorossi colours marks another addition to Gasperini's squad as Roma continue their pre-season build-up for the 2026-27 campaign. The club will be without Lorenzo Pellegrini and Niccolò Pisilli for the time being, both remaining unavailable during this training phase. Molina's arrival strengthens Roma's options in defence as the season approaches. The friendly against Dortmund will offer an early chance to assess the new defender's form and understanding with his teammates ahead of competitive fixtures.

Molina trained with Roma for the first time on 13 August, now at full disposal of head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The squad trained at Trigoria this morning before departing tomorrow for Dortmund, where a friendly against Borussia is scheduled for Saturday at 17:30. Manu Koné will feature in the match; Niccolò Pisilli and Lorenzo Pellegrini remain absent. Both midfielders are expected to return to full training in the coming days and are targeting availability for Roma's opening Serie A fixture against Fiorentina. Roma held an evening meeting with UEFA focused on refereeing matters. Roberto Rosetti, the European confederation's chief refereeing officer, fielded questions from players and club staff regarding new regulations coming into effect next season. The session gave Roma's squad the chance to seek clarification on specific rules and officiating protocols ahead of the 2026–27 campaign.