The Roma ball boy who delivered Mourinho's tactical note to stop Fiorentina

Roma midfielders Manu Koné and Neil El Aynaoui have both been named in the starting lineups for France versus Morocco in the World Cup quarter-final, kicking off at 22:00. The two Giallorossi players will face each other as their nations clash in a match that determines who advances to face either Spain or Belgium, scheduled to play tomorrow at 21:00. Koné and El Aynaoui represent a rare instance of Roma players appearing on opposite sides in a knockout fixture at the tournament. Both earned starting berths from their respective managers, underlining their importance to their national teams at this stage of the competition. A third Roma player, Salah-Eddine, is also involved in the World Cup, though as a squad member rather than starting. The quarter-final takes place in America, with coverage available on M6 and beIN SPORTS 1.

Manu Koné and Neil El Aynaoui will face each other for the first time in their careers when Morocco play France in a World Cup quarter-final today. Both Roma players are named in the starting line-up, with a place in the semi-finals at stake. The fixture represents a high-tension encounter between two Giallorossi in contrasting phases of their development. El Aynaoui has been one of Morocco's standout performers in the tournament so far and will look to continue that form, while Koné has recently reclaimed his place in the starting XI and aims to maintain his impressive performances. The match carries particular significance for Roma, with the club's present and future meeting on the world stage as both players compete for a spot in the semi-finals. The world will be watching closely, and so too will Roma.

Manu Koné and Neil El Aynaoui, both Roma midfielders, will oppose each other when France meet Morocco in a World Cup quarter-final at Foxborough tonight at 22:00 Italian time. The match will be broadcast on Rai 1 and RaiPlay, as well as DAZN. This marks the first time two Roma players have met in a World Cup quarter-final since 3 July 1998, when Luigi Di Biagio and Vincent Candela faced off in France–Italy at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. That match ended 0–0 after extra time and was decided by penalties, with Di Biagio striking the crossbar on Italy's final penalty. Koné has become one of France's key midfielders under Didier Deschamps, impressing in the round of 16 against Paraguay with 66 successful passes from 71 attempts, two shots, one hitting the post, four balls recovered and four defensive actions. He lines up in France's midfield alongside Rabiot. El Aynaoui has started every Morocco match and is one of the team's most dependable midfield operators; against Canada in the last 16 he completed 47 of 55 passes, made eight defensive contributions and recovered four balls. At least one Roma player will progress to the semi-finals. Both are in peak form and integral to their national teams' campaigns, ensuring the Giallorossi a significant presence in one of the tournament's biggest remaining fixtures.

AS Roma is close to completing contract renewals for its core squad following the club's return to the Champions League after seven years. Three players — Paulo Dybala, Zeki Çelik, and Lorenzo Pellegrini — are currently out of contract, with agreements already reached with Dybala and Çelik in recent days; both deals are now in the drafting stage. Pellegrini remains the main outstanding issue, with negotiations ongoing and a potential decisive meeting expected as soon as today. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini told Sky Sport: "The players are happy, the club will handle the announcements." The squad must be finalised before Monday, when the team gathers at Trigoria. Pellegrini is seeking a three-year contract to resist approaches from abroad, while Roma is holding out for a two-year deal. Despite the gap, both sides are expected to reach an agreement, possibly with added options as a compromise. The defensive pair Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante are also due for renewal; Mancini is likely to sign a new three-year contract to ward off interest from Inter, while Cristante could accept two years. Stephan El Shaarawy was recently released from the club following Verona's final match of the season.

Stephan El Shaarawy's decade at Roma ended with a goal against Verona in the final fixture of the season, a moment already etched into club folklore. The winger started the campaign as captain under new coach Gian Piero Gasperini on 23 August 2025 in the opener against Bologna, rewarded for having the most appearances of any Roma player. The captaincy lasted only three matches before Bryan Cristante and Lorenzo Pellegrini superseded him, while a long Achilles tendon inflammation kept him sidelined for 9 matches. He made just 9 starts all season. El Shaarawy appeared 27 times overall in a campaign that marked his lowest appearance count since arriving at Roma (excluding two spells that began in January). He provided 3 assists and scored only once in league play before that final moment at the Bentegodi—a Europa League goal against Midtjylland in November proved his only other strike. The 34-year-old had squandered a clear late chance against Lazio at the Olimpico in his penultimate appearance. His journey from a once-heralded young talent whose image appeared on trading cards and video games to a squad player willing to sacrifice wages during his Shanghai Shenhua spell to return to Roma was defined by selflessness, including a standout European performance as a defender against AC Milan two years earlier. The goal at Verona provided the perfect send-off for a married man departing after a beautiful era.

Stephan El Shaarawy is poised to join Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab after leaving Roma. The forward, who became a free agent on 30 June, has accepted the club's proposal, though contract details remain under negotiation. Al Shabab has offered a two-year deal, while El Shaarawy is seeking a three-year agreement. The annual salary is reportedly slightly under €9 million. El Shaarawy departed Roma at the end of his contract and has now prioritized the Saudi opportunity over other options. De Rossi had personally approached the attacker about joining Genoa, but no agreement was reached in those discussions. The financial package from Al Shabab proved significantly more attractive to the Italian forward.