Roma director Frederic Massara has poured cold water on the prospect of Jadon Sancho arriving at the Stadio Olimpico this summer. The Giallorossi have been in contact with the winger for several days, yet the player’s reluctance appears to have brought discussions to a standstill.
Massara, speaking to DAZN just minutes before Roma kicked off their Serie A season at home to Bologna, made it clear that the negotiations were unlikely to progress. “Sancho is a top-level talent, and his name has been linked with many Italian sides,” he said in an interview with SportMediaset. “But right now, it’s more an idea than a real deal. The conditions are not there, and most importantly, the motivation to continue is lacking.”
With the Olimpico sold out for the season opener, the absence of a breakthrough with Sancho leaves Roma fans waiting to see if the club can make a late addition in the transfer market.
Pellegrini exit on the horizon
In contrast to Sancho’s situation, Roma are preparing for a significant departure. Lorenzo Pellegrini, once the face of the team and its captain, is expected to leave either in the current transfer window or in January.
West Ham have been credited with an interest in the Italian international, who has decided not to renew his contract beyond 2026. Massara confirmed that both the club and Pellegrini’s representatives agreed on this course of action when he first took charge of his role.
“I met with his agent as soon as I arrived,” Massara explained. “We reached a joint conclusion not to extend the deal. To avoid losing him for nothing, and considering his own wishes, we are working to find a solution. There are still eight days left in the market; if nothing develops now, then we will deal with it in January.”
The decision also means Pellegrini is no longer captain for the 2025–26 campaign, marking a clear end of an era for the midfielder in the Italian capital.
A new chapter under Gasperini
The match against Bologna marked Roma’s first competitive fixture of the season and their first under new coach Gian Piero Gasperini, appointed during the summer. The experienced tactician takes charge of a squad undergoing transition, with questions surrounding both incomings and outgoings.
Their opponents, Bologna, entered the contest under Vincenzo Italiano, who stayed at the helm after guiding the club to Coppa Italia glory last season. The atmosphere at the Olimpico reflected both excitement and uncertainty, with supporters eager to see how Gasperini’s Roma will shape up in the coming months.
