Wesley suspended, N'Dicka injury doubt, Koné hopes for recovery ahead of Verona

Serie A clubs are intensifying their pre-season preparations ahead of the new campaign, with friendly matches serving as a crucial tool for fitness, tactical development, and assessing new personnel. The summer fixtures offer coaches the chance to understand their recent arrivals and implement their tactical blueprint before the league begins. Some clubs have already played their opening warm-up match, while others are still to start their pre-season schedule. Roma features among the notable pre-season meetings, with their clash against Borussia Dortmund among the standout fixtures on the summer calendar. These friendly encounters are a standard part of Serie A clubs' build-up, allowing managers to fine-tune team dynamics and establish new hierarchies within the squad before competitive football resumes.

Nahuel Molina is set to arrive in Rome on the afternoon of 10 August after Roma completed his transfer from Atlético Madrid for €13 million plus €4 million in add-ons. The Argentine full-back will undergo medical examinations and sign his contract upon arrival, before training under Gian Piero Gasperini for the first time on Tuesday. Molina's move concludes a deal negotiated over recent days. He becomes part of Roma's squad rebuild for the 2026–27 season under Gasperini, who took charge last year. The defender's arrival strengthens Roma's options at full-back as the club prepares for the campaign ahead. The transfer fee totals €17 million with incentives included. Molina will integrate into the squad after his first session with Gasperini on Tuesday.

Nahuel Molina is set to complete his move to Roma, with the Argentine defender due to arrive in the capital tomorrow evening. The deal with Atlético Madrid has been finalised, with Roma paying €17 million in total—€13 million upfront plus €4 million in add-ons. Molina will sign a four-year contract and become Roma's third summer signing. Documents were exchanged on Friday afternoon, concluding negotiations that had been ongoing for several days. The 26-year-old will immediately place himself at the disposal of head coach Gian Piero Gasperini as he prepares for the 2026–27 season. Molina's arrival strengthens Roma's defensive options ahead of the campaign, with the club having already completed two other signings during the transfer window.

Roma's defence, which finished as Serie A's second-best last season, has shown alarming fragility during their pre-season tour of Britain. The Giallorossi conceded eight goals across three friendlies—four against Cardiff, one against Newport, and three against Brighton—with the tally rising to 11 when including a 3–3 draw against Cannes. Against Brighton on 8 August, Gasperini made wholesale defensive changes after Roma had shipped three goals in 49 minutes, introducing Ghilardi and new arrival Koulierakis while withdrawing N'Dicka and Hermoso. The ivory-coast central defender had failed to close down Ayari's double, prompting Gasperini to turn to the bench and shout "Let's change." Hermoso, managing an ankle problem, allowed Rutter to nearly extend the lead moments after the 3–0. Earlier defensive lapses against Cardiff exposed deeper issues: Ahsford's opener came after N'Dicka slipped and a rebound off Rensch, while Salech's second followed a costly Svilar error on a dangerous Wesley backpass. El Aynaoui was substituted at half-time after a misplaced pass that set up Ayari's second goal, and Rensch drew criticism for poor decision-making. The unit that had anchored Roma's recent success now appears fragile heading into the season. Gasperini acknowledged the work ahead, saying "the team is struggling to switch back on," highlighting the scale of the challenge to restore defensive solidity before competitive fixtures begin.

Roma are preparing a fresh approach for Alessio Cacciamani after remarks from Torino's technical director Gianluca Petrachi reopened the possibility of a deal for the 2007-born midfielder. Although Torino president Urbano Cairo's recent comments had suggested the door was closing, Petrachi's public comments on Cacciamani signal potential movement. Speaking at the Memorial Sandro Criscitiello, Petrachi said: "He is a youth academy prospect, very interesting. He needs to prove himself in Serie A, but he has everything to grow and grow significantly. He is certainly being monitored. We would like to continue with players like him, but we also have to account for a market that sometimes presents absurd, mad prices that one cannot reasonably consider. Our intention is to hold on to him." The implicit opening has encouraged Roma to make another bid, seeing Cacciamani as the ideal fit to serve as Wesley's backup under Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical setup. Cacciamani impressed in Serie B on loan at Juve Stabia in the previous season, where he was developed by Ignazio Abate, now Torino's manager.

AS Roma's pursuit of Torino left-back Alessio Cacciamani remains viable after recent comments from the club's technical director suggested the transfer could still happen. The 2007-born defender, who spent last season on loan at Juve Stabia in Serie B, is wanted by Roma as a potential deputy to Wesley. Torino president Urbano Cairo's earlier remarks had appeared to rule out the player's departure, but Gianluca Petrachi, the club's current technical director and former Roma sporting director, reopened the possibility during an appearance at the fourth Memorial Sandro Criscitiello event in Avellino on 8 August. Petrachi acknowledged the value of Cacciamani, a product of Torino's academy, while also outlining the constraints facing his club in the market. "He is a very interesting academy player. He needs to prove himself in Serie A, but he has everything to grow and grow significantly. He is certainly being watched. We would like to continue with players like him, but we also have to reckon with a market that sometimes presents absurd, crazy prices that you cannot take into account. Our intention is to keep him," Petrachi said. Roma's next bid, if it comes, will need to address those financial realities to tempt Torino into a sale.

Roma's defence, which finished as Serie A's second-best last season, has shown alarming fragility during their pre-season tour of Britain. The Giallorossi conceded eight goals across three friendlies—four against Cardiff, one against Newport, and three against Brighton—with the tally rising to 11 when including a 3–3 draw against Cannes. Against Brighton on 8 August, Gasperini made wholesale defensive changes after Roma had shipped three goals in 49 minutes, introducing Ghilardi and new arrival Koulierakis while withdrawing N'Dicka and Hermoso. The ivory-coast central defender had failed to close down Ayari's double, prompting Gasperini to turn to the bench and shout "Let's change." Hermoso, managing an ankle problem, allowed Rutter to nearly extend the lead moments after the 3–0. Earlier defensive lapses against Cardiff exposed deeper issues: Ahsford's opener came after N'Dicka slipped and a rebound off Rensch, while Salech's second followed a costly Svilar error on a dangerous Wesley backpass. El Aynaoui was substituted at half-time after a misplaced pass that set up Ayari's second goal, and Rensch drew criticism for poor decision-making. The unit that had anchored Roma's recent success now appears fragile heading into the season. Gasperini acknowledged the work ahead, saying "the team is struggling to switch back on," highlighting the scale of the challenge to restore defensive solidity before competitive fixtures begin.

Roma's pre-season tour of England ended in a heavy 3–0 defeat to Brighton. Goals from Georginio and a double from Ayari condemned the Giallorossi to a sluggish, listless performance that prompted immediate concern from head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. "Terrible: a poor performance, lacking the right concentration. We're struggling to switch on, but we think we can fix it soon," Gasperini said after the match. The squad returns to Trigoria on Tuesday for group training, which will mark Nahuel Molina's first session with the team. Lorenzo Pellegrini's injury layoff extends beyond initial expectations, with Gasperini warning recovery will take at least a month and the matter will be reassessed in September. The coach also urged patience for players returning from international duty—Evan N'Dicka, Neil El Aynaoui, and Donyell Malen among them—as Roma prepare for Serie A's start in a fortnight. On the transfer front, Gasperini confirmed changes to the squad. "We replaced Çelik with Molina and Dovbyk with Castro, then Koulierakis arrived. But numerically we still need something. D'Amico is negotiating very young but important players," he said, referencing director Tony D'Amico's ongoing dealings in the market.

Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged Roma's transfer shortfall after a poor showing in a friendly against Brighton, conceding that the club lacks adequate depth. The head coach said: "If we do the count, numerically there is still a need for something, but you know how it is. D'Amico is negotiating very young and very important players. That is the indication." Gasperini stressed that squad decisions rest with the club's chief executive, saying: "We have a chief executive, you will have to ask him these questions and he will say what Roma can and cannot do. On numbers and market possibilities the ball passes to him." Gasperini cited returnees from international duty—Evan N'Dicka, Neil El Aynaoui, and Donyell Malen—as still recovering their sharpness. He praised Paulo Dybala's fitness and noted that recent arrivals from the start of preseason had performed well. The manager confirmed that an injured player "will be out for at least a month," with discussion to resume from September onward. Gasperini also highlighted recent squad changes: "We replaced Çelik with Molina, whom we will see on Tuesday. We replaced Dovbyk with Castro, who I believe will give us great satisfaction. And then Koulierakis arrived, who seems interesting to complete the defence."

Roma returned to Italy on the afternoon of 8 August following a 3–0 friendly defeat to Brighton during their ten-day training camp in Wales and England. The squad travelled by coach to London before boarding a direct flight to Fiumicino. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini granted his players two full days of rest before resuming work. Training resumes on Tuesday at the Fulvio Bernardini centre in Trigoria, where Lorenzo Pellegrini will rejoin the group. Gasperini also expects to have Nahuel Molina on the pitch the same day. The Argentine right-back is set to arrive in Rome in the coming days to undergo medical tests ahead of signing his contract with Roma.

Gian Piero Gasperini is evaluating the possibility of organising a second training camp away from Trigoria during the first international break of the season, which will last three weeks this year. The Roma head coach identified multiple areas to refine following the summer tour of Wales and England, where he was able to integrate only new arrival Konstantinos Koulierakis into his system while awaiting the arrival of Nahuel Molina in the capital. The squad resumes work at Trigoria on Tuesday to prepare for a friendly against Borussia Dortmund on 15 August, the final warm-up before the Serie A season opener against Fiorentina on Monday 24 August. The proposed September retreat holds particular strategic importance for Lorenzo Pellegrini, Roma's recently renewed captain. Pellegrini missed the summer training camp for the second consecutive year due to ongoing physical issues and is expected to return between late September and early October. A second pre-season block would allow him to build the necessary fitness to reach full condition. Gasperini's wider focus extends beyond squad integration, with the strategic use of the extended international break providing an opportunity to fine-tune preparations ahead of the campaign's crucial opening weeks.

Roma's head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is considering arranging a preparation camp outside the club's Trigoria training ground during September's international break. The idea emerged after Roma's recent tour of Wales and England, during which Gasperini welcomed only Koulierakis while awaiting Molina's arrival in the capital. From Tuesday, Roma will intensify preparations ahead of a friendly against Borussia Dortmund on 15 August and their league opener against Fiorentina on 24 August. Gasperini's focus extends beyond the transfer window to squad conditioning. This season marks the first time the Serie A campaign will feature a three-week pause in late September and early October. During that window, Lorenzo Pellegrini is expected to return to full availability after completing his recovery. The captain renewed his contract recently but requires additional time to reach peak fitness, with Gasperini stating after Brighton's pre-season match against Roma that 'it will take another month'. Pellegrini skipped the summer retreat for the second consecutive year, and a mid-season training camp could accelerate his return to full form.