AS Roma ended their preseason friendly against Cannes in a 3-3 draw, a match that showcased both the attacking sharpness of Paulo Dybala and the defensive vulnerabilities that continue to haunt Gasperini's squad as transfer frustrations mount. The Argentina forward, fresh off a contract extension that binds him to the club through June 2027, delivered a brace in France—his fourth and fifth goals across three summer friendlies—while the Giallorossi squandered a commanding 3-0 lead to settle for a stalemate.
Why This Matters for Roma's Serie A Challenge
For supporters and residents across Italy, Roma's performance signals what's at stake this season. The Giallorossi earned Champions League qualification last term, a prize that has eluded them for years and revived hopes among the fanbase. Yet preseason results reveal structural gaps that could undermine their bid to compete with Serie A's elite—Napoli, Inter, and AC Milan—and maintain European football at the Stadio Olimpico.
• Dybala's renewal secures continuity at reduced terms, keeping Roma's most dangerous attacking weapon despite earlier uncertainties about his future.
• Transfer stagnation threatens ambitions: Only two signings finalized with crucial targets Santiago Castro and Antonio Nusa still unsigned, just days before crucial preseason matches. Completing these signings is essential to maintaining the momentum that secured Champions League football.
• Defensive discipline problems resurface: Wesley's first-half red card and a late collapse exposed fragility that Roma cannot afford in Serie A's unforgiving environment, where consistency separates contenders from pretenders.
Friedkin's Presence Signals Market Pressure
Ryan Friedkin, vice president of AS Roma and owner of Cannes, attended the friendly at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin, providing a rare opportunity for direct dialogue with Gasperini. The meeting came at a critical juncture: the manager has publicly pressed the ownership to accelerate incoming transfers after failed pursuits of Mason Greenwood and Crysencio Summerville, both of whom signed elsewhere earlier this summer.
Gasperini, who took charge in June 2025 and guided Roma to a third-place Serie A finish and Champions League qualification, has requested six reinforcements. With preseason now in its third week and only two additions secured, the pursuit of Bologna striker Santiago Castro is imminent, with the 22-year-old Argentine striker set to finalize terms on a contract through 2031. Castro will provide the secondary scoring threat Gasperini desperately needs to compete across Serie A and Europe; only one Roma player reached double digits in goals last season.
The pursuit of Antonio Nusa, the 21-year-old Norwegian winger at RB Leipzig, remains complicated by steep valuation and competition from rival Serie A clubs, Premier League sides, and Real Madrid. While Roma has authorized formal negotiations and offered competitive wages, the negotiations continue, and sporting director Florent D'Amico is also monitoring Oscar Bobb at Fulham as an alternative option.
Dybala's Form Masks Structural Gaps
Against Cannes, Gasperini fielded a lineup resembling his likely starting XI: Amadou Bah operated in midfield as a tactical experiment, while Matías Soulé and Malen flanked Dybala in attack. The trio initially struggled to impose rhythm in sweltering conditions, but Dybala broke the deadlock in the 35th minute with a trademark free kick that curled beyond the Cannes goalkeeper.
The 30-year-old forward pressed aggressively to create Malen's second goal before halftime. His second strike came early in the second period, a composed finish that seemed to secure a comfortable victory and prompted Gasperini to substitute him to applause from traveling supporters.
But Wesley's dismissal just before the interval changed the match. With numerical disadvantage and fresh legs coming off the bench, Roma's defensive structure faltered. Cannes capitalized on the advantage with two quick goals, narrowing the deficit to 3-2, before Oggad converted a stoppage-time penalty to complete the comeback. For a Roma side chasing Serie A's title rivals, the defensive breakdown is a concern heading into upcoming matches against Cardiff (August 1), Newport (August 4), Brighton (August 8), and Borussia Dortmund (August 15).
What This Means for the Season Ahead
Roma's preseason has exposed a familiar tension: individual brilliance masking collective fragility. Dybala's performances suggest he is already in competitive shape, a positive sign for a squad that will juggle domestic and European commitments.
Yet Gasperini's priorities are clear. The manager has emphasized that Roma's existing core—including Lorenzo Pellegrini, Gianluca Mancini, and Bryan Cristante—provides a foundation requiring strategic reinforcement, not overhaul. He has also warned against inflated wages for newcomers, arguing it would undermine morale among players who earned Champions League qualification.
The arrival of Castro should address the scoring burden, but the Nusa saga remains critical. Without a dynamic winger capable of stretching defenses, Roma risks repeating the tactical limitations that constrained big-match performances last term. Meanwhile, departing players will free wage space but further thin squad depth at a crucial moment.
Gasperini's Three-Year Vision
Under contract through June 2028, Gasperini has stated he needs three seasons to deliver a trophy. His tactical blueprint—aggressive pressing, flexible defensive shapes, and rapid combination play—requires personnel suited to high-intensity football. The friendly against Cannes offered a low-stakes audition for fringe players but also highlighted the work ahead.
The club's next phase includes a July 31 to August 8 camp in Wales, where the squad will face three British opponents in succession. Those matches, followed by the Dortmund clash on August 15, will serve as final preparatory tests before Serie A begins. For Roma and its supporters, the window to strengthen the roster is narrowing—and completing the Castro and Nusa transfers has become essential to maintaining the momentum that brought Champions League football back to the Olimpico.
