Roma open Gasperini's second season with Dybala renewal done, transfer push promised, and Champions League ambitions set

Return to Trigoria

Exactly a year after his first gathering, Gian Piero Gasperini opened Roma's second pre-season under his leadership on 13 July at the Fulvio Bernardini training centre. Around 100 supporters gathered at Piazzale Dino Viola to welcome the squad as they arrived for medical checks at the Campus Bio Medico and the first afternoon session. Daniele Ghilardi was the first through the gates, telling fans he was "ready for the Champions League" while posing for selfies. The most acclaimed arrivals were Gianluca Mancini, Wesley, and Gasperini himself. Paulo Dybala slipped in just before noon to finalise his contract renewal, with agent Carlos Novel appearing two hours earlier.

For me it's an honour, this story continues as we all wanted.

Seventeen players were named in the call-up list (including four goalkeepers), while six others (Pagano, Cherubini, Kumbulla, Mannini, Reale, and a second Pagano) are awaiting transfers. No Primavera youngsters were incorporated into the first team, a decision Gasperini will revisit later. Lorenzo Pellegrini was absent, recovering from a pre-derby injury relapse, with his renewal talks stalled over a three-year contract request.

The schedule and the Wesley boost

Gates closed before lunch and the squad remained inside Trigoria for at least two days. The first session took place late in the afternoon under the eyes of sporting director D'Amico. The pace was high from the start, disappointing anyone expecting a light workout. Wesley trained with the group, fully recovered from the muscle injury sustained before the World Cup. Double sessions began the next day: an 8:00 morning session, gym work at 10:30, a light lunch featuring turkey, salmon, and potatoes, and a second field session at 18:00. The pattern repeats for two days before a closed-door test against the Primavera on Thursday, replicated on Sunday. A friendly against Trastevere is set for 23 July, a match in France against Cannes on 26 July, and departure for Wales on 30 July.

The market: "accelerations from now on"

No new signings were present on day one; the only fresh faces were off the pitch: Massimo Margiotta (head of the youth sector) and Alessandro Frara (club manager). Gasperini used a Radio Rai interview to apply pressure. He described June as a paralysis caused by the World Cup and insisted the real market starts now.

From this week the real market begins for everyone with the start of preparation, even if some will arrive in dribs and drabs because of World Cup commitments.

The coach wants Zeballos of Boca Juniors for the wide attacking role and hopes to keep Matias Soulé, previously considered a Financial Fair Play sacrifice. On Manu Koné, Gasperini did not rule out a sale: financial fair play conditions "vary from team to team", and Roma needs to balance heavy past budgets. He said he had hoped Champions League qualification alone would suffice but admitted "clarity will come in the next weeks." The imminent arrival of the Friedkin family in Rome was flagged as decisive for unlocking inbound operations.

The market is made of speed and immediate answers. As happened in January, their presence will be decisive. We all hope to do good business and give answers to the enthusiasm of a city that has already sold a huge number of season tickets.

Gasperini frames the season

Speaking to Radio Anch'io Sport, Gasperini laid out a hierarchy for the Serie A race. He named Inter as favourites, with five or six other clubs aiming high, including Juventus and Milan, who missed the Champions League and will want to improve. Roma's task is to establish itself consistently in the top tier.

If we manage to stay up there for several years, then we can aim for the Scudetto.

He attributed the momentum to the third-place finish sealed at Verona in late May and stressed that staying in the Champions League is the financial prerequisite for squad reinforcement. On Francesco Totti's possible return to the club, Gasperini deflected: "That's between him and the ownership; the centenary is being organised, the club will say what is done."

A wider Serie A snapshot

Across the league, early-summer business has been slow. Only Milan (Ruben Amorim as coach, Goncalo Ramos and Gila signed) and Como (Nico Paz confirmed, Liberali and Kaiki arriving, Couto expected) have completed significant moves. Inter, under new coach Chivu, began work with only three additions (Provedel, Stankovic, Massolin) and needs defensive renewal plus a Dumfries replacement. Napoli's sole acquisition is manager Allegri alongside a recovered Lukaku, while departures must precede arrivals. Juventus remains at a standstill, with Leao and Gimenez on the market but offers lacking.