Wesley returns to Trigoria: recovery updates

The World Cup Round of 16 stage begins today with Morocco playing Canada at 19:00, followed by France versus Paraguay at 23:00. Morocco, fresh from eliminating the Netherlands, will field El Aynaoui and Bouaddi in midfield, with a possible opportunity for Salah-Eddine on the left wing. France remain undefeated and face Paraguay seeking to advance to the quarter-finals. The winner of the Morocco-Canada match will meet France or Paraguay in the next round, potentially creating an all-Roma derby scenario. Meanwhile, AS Roma has three players still in World Cup contention: Koné, El Aynaoui, and Salah-Eddine. Koné will start for France in place of Aurélien Tchouameni, the Real Madrid midfielder who is sidelined by a thigh injury but is expected to recover for the quarter-finals if France progresses. Three other Roma players—Çelik, Ndicka, and Malen—have been eliminated from the tournament in recent days.

Paulo Dybala is close to signing a contract renewal with AS Roma, with an agreement reportedly within hours. The Argentine playmaker has impressed Roma in recent matches, convincing the club to extend his stay for another season. Final details surrounding a bonus from the previous season are being resolved. Dybala underwent surgery in March under Professor Pier Paolo Mariani, who addressed questions about the player's future durability. Mariani dismissed concerns that Dybala cannot sustain peak performance over a full campaign, attributing his past absences to muscular injuries and functional overload rather than structural weakness or fragility. He stated: "According to me there are a few prejudices linked to his ability to be competitive for the entire season. Knowing human physiology well, I believe Dybala is an absolute world-class player. In the past his problems were mainly linked to muscle injuries or functional overloads, not a problem concerning his durability or the supposed fragility of the player. With expertise linked especially to preparation and with personalized training he can be managed, because it is better to prevent than to cure. With these attentions he can have total durability and can play at high levels until he is 40 years old." Mariani confirmed Dybala made excellent progress in his recovery, working with great consistency during rehabilitation. The surgeon emphasized that differentiated programming and tailored training regimens can prevent recurring issues.

Fernando Gago, the Argentine former Roma midfielder, has returned to the bench following a severe acute myocardial infarction that struck him on 18 June. Gago resumed his role as head coach of Universidad de Chile in a Copa Chile match against Union La Calera, which ended in a 0–1 defeat. His return drew widespread attention, marking his first public appearance and statements since the medical emergency. Gago revealed the circumstances of his heart attack for the first time. He initially dismissed the symptoms, waking that Thursday with discomfort he thought was muscular or related to a cough. After a match, he went to hospital where initial tests appeared normal, but further examination identified an obstructed artery. The diagnosis came as a shock: "If I had understood right away that it was something so serious, I would have had myself checked earlier," he explained. Speaking with emotion about his recovery and return, Gago said: "These are life situations you are never really prepared for. I have not yet fully realised what happened, but the most important thing is being able to return to the pitch. I am young and I feel I have a second chance to continue living." His recovery marks a significant milestone after weeks of enforced absence from football.

Roma winger Wesley is currently on holiday in Greece, where he has been entertaining himself with a basketball challenge. The Brazilian posted a video showing himself scoring a basketball goal with a header and celebrating enthusiastically. Wesley is in the recovery phase following an injury that forced him to miss a major tournament. The Roma player's lighthearted social media content comes as he works his way back to full fitness after injury. His time away from competitive action demonstrates the importance of proper rehabilitation and recovery in professional football. Wesley remains part of Roma's squad plans as he prepares to return to action. Details of the exact nature and timeline of his return to training remain unclear. The winger's presence on social media suggests he is in good spirits during his recovery period.

AS Roma's Moroccan player El Aynaoui is celebrating his birthday while competing at a World Cup in the United States. The club marked the occasion with a social media message wishing him well. El Aynaoui has emerged as one of the standout performers for Morocco at the tournament, earning widespread recognition for his work rate, quality, and commitment on the pitch. Meanwhile, Roma's World Cup contingent has been significantly reduced. Several players including Celik, Malen, and Ndicka have already been eliminated from the competition. Only Koné and El Aynaoui remain representing Roma at the tournament. Koné has struggled to find regular playing time and has not performed at his best, contrasting sharply with El Aynaoui's impactful contributions, which have made him a focal point of Morocco's campaign. Roma also provided an injury update on Wesley, noting that his recovery continues with ball-based exercises as the club prepares for the resumption of activities. The message sent to El Aynaoui—"Happy birthday, Neil"—was described as simple but heartfelt, reflecting the club's recognition of his performances on the international stage.

Brazilian fullback Wesley continues his summer recovery work following the shoulder injury that ruled him out of the World Cup. The player is progressing through rehabilitation exercises that now include ball work, with his return to full team training on the horizon. Wesley's injury was a significant setback during the off-season, forcing him to miss the international tournament. His gradual return to activity, now incorporating technical drills with the ball, signals positive progress in his recovery. The player is working toward rejoining the squad for the upcoming pre-season training camp. The rehabilitation process is being managed under medical supervision. Wesley's return to action represents an important boost for Roma's defensive depth ahead of the new season, particularly on the flanks where his pace and attacking contributions are valued.