Villarreal revive interest in Dovbyk as Roma push Greenwood talks forward

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has given Roma's squad two days of rest following a friendly draw against Cannes. Training resumes on Wednesday, with the team then departing for Wales on Thursday to begin the second phase of their pre-season camp. Neil El Aynaoui will rejoin the group after completing extra rest days following World Cup commitments. Salah-Eddine will not travel, having been deemed outside the coach's technical plans and is currently seeking a new club. Gasperini is hopeful that Santiago Castro will be available for the move to the capital, with Thursday expected to be a decisive day in finalising the signing once remaining details are resolved.

Roma drew 3–3 with Cannes in a friendly match after leading 3–0, with defender Wesley sent off in what the source describes as an absurd decision. The giallorossi surrendered their commanding advantage to finish level, a result overshadowed by the controversial dismissal. On the transfer front, Roma are edging closer to securing Castro's arrival while preparing to move on Artem Dovbyk. The dual activity signals a significant reshaping of the attacking department as the club progresses through the window.

AC Milan winger Rafael Leao has reportedly been offered to Roma, with talks described as still in the exploratory phase. The 27-year-old former Lille player is keen to leave San Siro after seven years, but Milan have maintained a substantial €50 million asking price. Leao has rejected interest from Turkish clubs Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, and despite alleged overtures from Manchester United, agent Jorge Mendes is exploring options at top European clubs. Roma face a significant obstacle in financing such a deal, given the club's cash constraints. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who guided Roma back to the Champions League for the first time since 2018, is reportedly keen to strengthen the squad ahead of an ambitious title push. Signing Leao, rated among Serie A's best performers despite a difficult last season, would represent a major coup and could elevate Roma from top-four contenders into genuine Scudetto challengers. However, Roma must first generate sufficient funds to meet Milan's valuation, and Leao's willingness to join the Giallorossi remains unclear.

Roma drew 3–3 with Cannes in a pre-season friendly at the Pierre de Coubertin stadium, Gian Piero Gasperini's third test match ahead of the squad's departure for a training camp in Wales. Paulo Dybala was the standout performer, opening the scoring with a free-kick before adding a second from a solo run on the right after the hour mark. Donyell Malen doubled Roma's advantage at 44 minutes, capitalizing on Dybala's pressure and an opponent's defensive error to give the Giallorossi a commanding 3–0 lead. The match was disrupted when Wesley received a red card for a second yellow in an unusual incident for a friendly, a dismissal that shifted the game's complexion. From the 69th minute onwards, Cannes mounted a comeback with a brace from Lopez and a penalty goal from Ogadd in the final second to equalize. Gasperini used the fixture to trial positional changes, frequently inverting Wesley and Devyne Rensch on the flanks alongside Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé in attacking roles. The opening period at Pierre de Coubertin saw slow rhythms and French defensive organisation, though Roma grew increasingly dominant. Young players featured prominently, with mixed performances; Artem Dovbyk and Daniele Ghilardi made less convincing impacts. Ryan Friedkin watched from the stands.

Roma surrendered a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 against Cannes, a third-tier French club owned by the Friedkin Group, in a pre-season friendly that exposed defensive fragility. Paulo Dybala opened the scoring with a moment of skill, then set up Donyell Malen for the second goal. Dybala added a third himself to complete a brace, but the match turned when Wesley was sent off late in the first half after receiving a second yellow card that drew question marks. Playing with a numerical advantage in the second half, Cannes staged a comeback through two goals by Lopez and a penalty converted by Oggad to secure the draw. The result marks Roma's final warm-up fixture before Gian Piero Gasperini's side departs for Wales on 30 July. Dybala's creative display (rated 7.5) underlined his importance to the team's attacking play, while Malen (6.5) scored despite a mixed outing. Wesley's performance (5) was hampered by his early dismissal, and Artem Dovbyk (5) made limited impact on the match despite operating throughout.

Roma drew 3–3 with Cannes in a friendly fixture in France, with the match played under the watch of Ryan Friedkin, whose Friedkin Group owns both clubs. The giallorossi took control early through Paulo Dybala, who opened the scoring from a free kick and then set up Donyell Malen. Dybala added a second-half goal to complete a brace, but the tie was overshadowed by Wesley's first-half red card—a dismissal the article describes as excessive given the context and nature of the offence. With Roma reduced to ten men and fielding a squad heavy with youth and reserve players, Gasperini's side struggled to maintain structure as the match unfolded. Cannes equalised through Lopes, who scored twice. In the closing stages, Ogadd sealed the draw from the penalty spot after Artem Dovbyk was penalised for a poor challenge. The friendly is unlikely to have provided Gasperini with the tactical answers he sought, given that the team's shape broke down significantly after the early dismissal.