AS Roma wrapped up its pre-season training camp in Wales with a sobering 3-0 defeat to Brighton, leaving coach Gian Piero Gasperini openly frustrated about the squad's incomplete roster just days before the competitive season begins in August 2026. The Italian club's transfer window, now entering its final crucial weeks, has yet to deliver the attacking midfielder Gasperini considers essential for his tactical system.
Why This Matters
• Squad gaps exposed: Roma managed zero shots on target against Brighton, highlighting offensive weaknesses that could hamper their Serie A campaign.
• Transfer pressure mounting: With roughly two weeks left in the summer window, the club needs to finalize deals for at least one attacking playmaker to meet Gasperini's requirements.
• Financial constraints: Target valuations between €40M-€60M are testing Roma's budget, forcing sporting director Tony D'Amico to negotiate creatively.
• Timeline crunch: Players returning from the 2026 World Cup remain in recovery mode, leaving Gasperini with a fractured squad as competitive fixtures approach.
• Season prospects at risk: For Roma supporters hoping for a return to Champions League football, these transfer delays could prove costly in a competitive Serie A where rivals have already strengthened their squads.
Wales Camp Ends on Sour Note
The Giallorossi concluded their United Kingdom training stint with a mixed record: one victory over Newport County sandwiched between losses to Cardiff City and Brighton. The final match at Amex Stadium proved particularly concerning, with Brighton dominating every aspect of play—controlling possession, winning the vast majority of challenges, and registering six shots on target compared to Roma's zero.
"It was undoubtedly a terrible match," Gasperini said post-game. "We delivered a poor performance. We have difficulties, but we think we can remedy them in the coming weeks."
The Italian tactician, who took charge in June 2025 on a contract through 2028, attributed some struggles to World Cup fatigue among key players like Ndicka, Donyell Malen, and El Aynaoui. Despite fielding an attacking trident of Malen, Paulo Dybala, and Matias Soulé, Roma mustered 10 total attempts without troubling Brighton goalkeeper once—a statistic that underscores the team's creative drought.
Brighton's goals came from Georginio Rutter (29th minute) and a brace from Yasin Ayari (40th, 49th), with the English side's dominance evident throughout the 90 minutes. The tactical mismatch was evident: Brighton created four big chances while Roma's build-up play repeatedly broke down under pressure.
The Transfer Market Dilemma
Gasperini's post-match comments went beyond analyzing tactics, pivoting sharply to the squad's numerical inadequacy. "We can't do business in the market because we have too few players," he stated bluntly, contrasting Roma's situation with clubs that struggle to offload excess talent. "Some teams can't make signings because they're full of players. We have the opposite problem."
The coach criticized the transfer calendar itself, noting that while the window officially opens July 1, most deals concentrate in the final 15 days of August—precisely when teams have already been training for a month. "These are wrong dates for everyone," he said, "because squads are already in preparation."
Roma has already secured Konstantinos Koulierakis (defender), Santiago Castro (striker), and Nahuel Molina (right-back), while converting Donyell Malen's loan into a permanent transfer. Molina, arriving from Atlético Madrid, will join training at the Trigoria complex when the squad reconvenes after a brief rest period. Midfielder Manu Koné, who competed at the World Cup, will also return then.
Yet Gasperini insists the squad remains incomplete. "Numerically, it seems we still need something, but this is known," he said. "D'Amico is searching for and negotiating very young but also very important players—that's the directive."
What This Means for Residents
For Roma supporters and those invested in the capital's football scene, the coming fortnight will determine whether the club can realistically compete for European qualification this season. Serie A kicks off shortly, with Roma scheduled for a final pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund on August 15 before competitive action begins.
The trequartista vacancy—a creative playmaker operating between midfield and attack—represents Gasperini's priority. This role demands a right-footed player comfortable on the left flank who can create numerical advantages and press intensively, fitting the coach's demanding tactical philosophy.
Antonio Nusa of RB Leipzig emerged as the preferred target, but his €60M valuation has proven prohibitive for Roma's financial planning. The 21-year-old Norwegian's price tag exceeds what the club budgeted, prompting D'Amico to explore alternatives.
Malick Fofana, Lyon's Belgian winger born in 2005, now leads the alternative list. Roma scouts have watched him twice recently, including Lyon's Champions League preliminary match against Slavia Prague. The French club values Fofana between €40M-€45M—steep but potentially negotiable, especially if Lyon exits the Champions League qualifiers.
However, concerns linger about Fofana's physical condition. The attacker missed approximately five months last season recovering from a severe ankle injury, forcing him to skip the 2026 World Cup. Roma reportedly received medical reassurances, but the club attempted structuring a loan-with-conditional-obligation to mitigate risk—an offer Lyon rejected, insisting on a permanent transfer. Competition from RB Leipzig and Atalanta further complicates negotiations.
Other names in Roma's consideration include additional young talent under evaluation. Mason Greenwood, previously linked, joined Fenerbahçe in July and is no longer available.
Pellegrini Provides Stability
While Roma pursues attacking midfielders, the club secured one piece of continuity: captain Lorenzo Pellegrini signed a contract extension through June 2027 with an option for a second year. "The story continues," the club announced. "Lorenzo's decision to accept the club's proposal demonstrates deep alignment with the sporting vision and values of the Giallorossi project."
Pellegrini, returning from post-World Cup vacation and recovering from physical issues, adds experience to the attacking midfield—though Gasperini clearly wants additional firepower in that zone.
Countdown to Competitive Football
Roma returns to Rome for several rest days before resuming work at Trigoria ahead of the Dortmund friendly. Gasperini received assurances from ownership about completing the squad, but the coach's public comments suggest patience wearing thin. "There are certainly good possibilities," he said, tempering optimism with the reality that negotiations remain fluid.
For a club with Champions League ambitions, the next 15 days will test whether Roma's transfer strategy can align with its sporting objectives. Gasperini's tactical system requires specific profiles, and compromising on quality or fit could undermine the entire season. The coach made clear he expects reinforcements, not excuses: "We need to see words turn into facts."
Whether D'Amico can negotiate for Fofana, identify alternative solutions, or unlock creative agreements will largely determine Roma's competitiveness in what promises to be a demanding 2026-27 campaign. With the season opener approaching and rivals already assembling complete squads, the pressure on Roma's transfer team has never been more acute.
