Venturino Leaves Italy Camp Early; Roma Midfielder Unavailable for Greece and Luxembourg Friendlies

Roma have reached contract agreements with Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante on the renewal of their respective deals. The key sticking point was duration: Mancini secured a three-year extension after head coach Gian Piero Gasperini publicly ruled out Inter's interest, while Cristante, the club's current captain, initially sought three years but eventually agreed to two years as the club desired. Both are described as core figures within Gasperini's squad and key players in Roma's rise from sixth to third place. Zeki Çelik will soon add his signature to a fresh contract. The Turkish full-back, who arrived from Lille in 2022, received a scouting approach from Juventus at the end of the season but chose to remain in Rome. Gasperini's faith in the player and Roma's salary offer, boosted by the growth decree, convinced Çelik to commit. His deal will be formalised on 18 June when he returns from post-World Cup leave. Lorenzo Pellegrini, who is keen to stay in the capital, remains in negotiations. The agreement is drawing closer, but the club's number 7 is waiting for owner Ryan Friedkin to ratify the terms and complete the formalities.

Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract extension remains the most delicate issue on Roma's transfer agenda, with negotiations still deadlocked over salary and duration. The midfielder is currently out of contract, and his absence from the squad during the early days of pre-season training has not gone unnoticed by his teammates. Roma maintains constant contact with Pellegrini's representatives as they attempt to bridge the gap between the club's offer and the player's demands on both wages and contract length. Paulo Dybala's renewal was recently confirmed as the first major contract confirmation, while Zeki Çelik's extension is in its final formal stages. Despite clear mutual desire to reach an agreement, both sides still need to make concessions. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini considers Pellegrini a key part of his project and has asked owner Ryan Friedkin to accelerate negotiations to resolve the situation as soon as possible, restoring one of the squad's leaders to full status at the outset of the new season.

Diego Moreira has agreed to join Roma, but negotiations between the club and Strasbourg continue over final terms. Roma's sporting director D'Amico has tabled an offer of €30 million plus bonuses and a 10 per cent sell-on clause. Strasbourg are lowering their initial demands but seeking to increase their cut of any future sale to 20 per cent. The 2004-born midfielder has already given his blessing to the transfer, with personal terms agreed at €2 million per year. Ryan Friedkin's arrival in Rome yesterday morning has accelerated the club's transfer activity under head coach Gasperini. Further discussions between Roma and the French club are expected in the coming days to complete the deal. Chelsea, which shares the same ownership structure with Strasbourg, is also involved in parallel negotiations with Roma over Garnacho.

Nine players assembled during Gian Piero Gasperini's first season at Roma have combined for 100 appearances across Serie A and cup competitions but have failed to establish themselves as regular contributors. Pierluigi Gollini featured only once, against Panathinaikos in January's final Europa League group stage match. Angeliño made brief appearances against Celtic and Panathinaikos before a March return to the Olimpico against Lecce, where he saw limited action in the run-in. Robinio Vaz, signed for 20 million euros plus 5 million in bonuses in January alongside Donyell Malen, scored his sole Roma goal against Lecce but has proven too raw for immediate impact as deputy striker. Bryan Zaragoza arrived on loan from Bayern Munich in January and impressed on his second appearance, starting against Napoli and providing an assist for Malen's opening goal from the seventh minute, yet proved costly when he came on in Roma's Europa League elimination against Bologna in extra time. Lorenzo Venturino, an 18-year-old winger on loan from Genoa, saw limited use due to his age. Evan Ferguson, signed on loan with a purchase option from Brighton, closed the season with 40 combined appearances across both strikers; the 20-year-old's campaign ended in January after injury and limited backing from Gasperini. Artem Dovbyk meanwhile struggled to meet the technical demands of the role and reappeared late in the season with only two minutes in the final two matches.

AS Roma has fundamentally altered its approach to recruitment following the departure of former sporting director Massara and the appointment of Gian Piero Gasperini as head coach. Young prospects acquired for future development—including Robinio Vaz, Ziolkowski, Ghilardi, Venturino, and Ferguson—are now considered surplus to requirements. The club has signaled these players may depart, either permanently or on loan, as Gasperini prioritizes immediate-impact signings over long-term investments. Gasperini's vision emphasizes players ready to contribute immediately rather than prospects requiring development time. Ziolkowski, a Polish defender, has reportedly been rejected multiple times by the coach and could leave permanently, with Nottingham reportedly interested at a valuation of 20 million euros. Similarly, Vaz, a French forward, no longer fits the profile of a reliable backup to Donyell Malen. The club has also rejected Bosnian midfielder Alajebgovic (class 2007), whom Massara had long tracked, with Gasperini deeming him too inexperienced despite interest from Bayer Leverkusen at 35 million euros. Roma's new sporting director D'Amico is recalibrating the transfer strategy to align with Gasperini's demands for quality and readiness rather than raw potential. Targets like Mason Greenwood and Molina represent this shift—experienced international players capable of performing on Europe's biggest stages. With Roma now competing in the Champions League, the club believes there is no margin for experimental signings.

Tony D'Amico is poised to become Roma's new sporting director after resolving his contract with Atalanta, with an official announcement expected within the coming days. The bureaucratic hurdle that had delayed the move has now been cleared, clearing the path for D'Amico to arrive at Trigoria. Once confirmed, D'Amico will immediately turn to contract renewals for defender Gianluca Mancini and Paulo Dybala, both of whom are heading towards confirmation. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has already backed both stays, saying of Mancini: "He's not leaving", and of Dybala: "I'd like him to stay". Roma are also working to renew the loan of Lorenzo Venturino. Meanwhile, the club's summer schedule is taking shape: a friendly against Cannes, owned by the Friedkin family, is set for 26 July, following the previously announced fixture against Borussia Dortmund on 15 August. The squad will report for pre-season training on 13 July at Trigoria. For the 2026–27 centenary season, Roma will wear Adidas home kits in dark red featuring the historic interlocked "ASR" monogram, replacing the standard club crest. Winger Donyell Malen spoke to Men's Health about handling pressure: "I consider pressure a positive thing. If people expect a lot from you, it means they recognise your value."