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Juan Jesus praised the mentality of Roma's new-look squad as he sat down with Roma TV to preview his fourth season at the club.
The Brazilian defender has played a part in every pre-season game so far under Paulo Fonseca, and as he becomes one of the more experienced players in the squad, he vowed that he would like to remain with the club as long as possible. "Let's hope to do another 10 [years]," he said. "I came here to do great things, I still have much to give and learn." Only Alessandro Florenzi, Edin Dzeko and Diego Perotti (plus technically Lorenzo Pellegrini, who returned from Sassuolo one year after Juan's arrival) have been at Roma longer than Jesus now, meaning he will enter the new season as part of a very different group to the one he joined in 2016. The 28-year-old addressed the new faces in the squad, and was asked to pick out his most hard-working teammates. "It's a new group, we've changed a lot. Those who arrived did so with the right desire. The coach gives his best and we have started to notice certain things that will be fundamental. "The group is new and young, there are guys who want to learn. To work well we must be calm and happy. "There is a nice group, everyone works well. Cristante, Diawara, Perotti, Fazio, Mancini, I could say everyone. They all work hard." Jesus also commented on new head coach Paulo Fonseca, who will be the fourth manager of his time at Roma. And the defender has already noticed a difference in the way the Portuguese tactician asks his players to react after losing the ball. "He is calm and serious. The group is behind him and this is important. "Usually you run away, but the coach says to delay as long as possible. This helps us to have a higher press. If you are short, you can be reactive and get the ball first." Jesus needs 14 more appearances to reach 100 for Roma in all competitions - a landmark that only Florenzi, Dzeko, Perotti and Federico Fazio have surpassed in the current squad.
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Paulo Fonseca's first competitive game in charge of Roma will be at home to Genoa, while the Giallorossi will face fierce rivals Lazio as early as the second matchday, after the Serie A fixtures were drawn on Monday evening.
A trip to Bologna is sandwiched between home clashes with Sassuolo and Atalanta to complete Roma's first five games of the season, while the campaign will end with two visits to Turin, to face Torino and then reigning champions Juventus. Roma's schedule will run as follows (the Giallorossi Yorkshire calendar will soon be updated with the provisional dates). Matchday 1: Genoa (H) Matchday 2: Lazio (A) Matchday 3: Sassuolo (H) Matchday 4: Bologna (A) Matchday 5: Atalanta (H) Matchday 6: Lecce (A) Matchday 7: Cagliari (H) Matchday 8: Sampdoria (A) Matchday 9: AC Milan (H) Matchday 10: Udinese (A) Matchday 11: Napoli (H) Matchday 12: Parma (A) Matchday 13: Brescia (H) Matchday 14: Verona (A) Matchday 15: Inter (A) Matchday 16: SPAL (H) Matchday 17: Fiorentina (A) Matchday 18: Torino (H) Matchday 19: Juventus (H) (Return fixtures to be played in the same order)
Paris Saint Germain have confirmed they have sold teenage winger Ruben Providence to Roma, where he will play in the Primavera side.
The highly-rated 18-year-old moves to Roma for a fee of roughly €500,000, signing a three-year contract to keep him in Italy until 2022. Providence completed his medical at Villa Stuart today, and will now link up with Alberto De Rossi's Under-19 side. Benvenuto, Ruben.
Today's Mercato Monday video looks at developments in Roma's search for a new centre-back, with striker Gregoire Defrel's possible exit potentially influencing things.
Elio Capradossi has posted a heartfelt message via his Instagram account as he bids farewell to Roma after joining the youth setup nine years ago.
Italian-Ugandan defender Capradossi, a former captain of the Primavera side, made his first team debut in May 2018 against Cagliari, but only added one more appearance before being sent out on loan again. He featured in the first three games of this pre-season, but, despite the departures of Kostas Manolas and Ivan Marcano, there remains a lack of space in the lineup for the 23-year-old. On Instagram, he wrote: "Thank you Roma for letting me experience what every kid of this city dreams of! Thank you for these nine years together, for all the nice people I met and the close friendships [formed] along the way." Capradossi will return to Serie B side Spezia, where he spent last season on loan, on a permanent basis.
Roma Women have completed the signing of French striker Lindsey Thomas, who arrives from Dijon.
Roma's eighth signing of the summer, 24-year-old Thomas will add competition among the attacking ranks, which have already been bolstered by the additions of Amalie Thelstrup and Andressa Alves this summer. A former French youth international, Thomas has also played for Bordeaux and Montepellier at club level. Benvenuta, Lindsey.
Lorenzo Pellegrini has explained why he is starting to feel like a senior player in the group, having returned for pre-season with Roma.
Pellegrini, tipped by many to become the club's next vice-captain, returned later than some of his teammates due to his involvement with the Italy U21 side over the summer, but now he is back at Trigoria, he has relished the opportunity to get back to work. He told Roma Radio that his first impressions of the sessions under new coach Paulo Fonseca have been positive. “Very good indeed – I’ve enjoyed it very much,” he explained. “The training sessions are very intense. “I knew many of the new arrivals already and I’m getting to know the others now. I think we’re a nice group, with good lads. As a youngster you’re able to take certain things on board, which makes it easier out on the pitch. “I see [Fonseca] as a very direct person and that’s something I like. He tries to make you feel at ease, in order to communicate what he wants from you. I like the way he thinks about football. “Now we have some time to really push on, because we’ve only been working with him for a few weeks and it’ll take time to implement the football that he’s demanding. Nonetheless, the feeling within the squad is positive.” Pellegrini has returned to a Roma that is now far more well-stocked in his midfield position, following the signings of Amadou Diawara and Jordan Veretout, plus the apparent resurgence of Javier Pastore. But rather than viewing this as a hindrance, the 23-year-old is looking forward to the competition for places and how it may affect his role. “It’s not something we’re talking about at the moment because this is only the beginning, also because some players are behind and are therefore training to get back to top condition. We know that, like last year, there are a lot of games to be played and it would appear that playing in midfield will be very demanding, given the way the coach wants to play. So, we’ll all make ourselves available. “I think the attacking phase of play comes more naturally to me but I’m working hard to improve my defensive skills. I’d say I’m a central midfielder, a role where nowadays you need to know how to do everything, from the holding role to playing in behind the forwards.” Despite only being 23, Pellegrini is growing into a key leader in the squad, particularly given that he is one of the few remaining Romans at the club. And he revealed that he is eager to take on a role of more responsibility, especially helping out younger players in the team. “I try to give them support, because I know it’s not easy. It wasn’t easy for me when I went to cut my teeth at Sassuolo, so I need to try and help everyone, such as [Alessio] Riccardi and [Mirko] Antonucci, who have come through at Roma like I did and are now part of the squad and could well become excellent players.” Pellegrini is also keen to lift the morale of the team after a disappointing season, by reinforcing to the new arrivals that they can play a part in helping things improve. “We ‘older’ players are trying to get that message across and so are the staff and the coach. We’re doing good work and preparing the ground to have a very good season. I hope we don’t do worse than last season – we have to improve. “It was a tough campaign last time out, not just for us players but also for the club. We now just need to focus on working hard, playing football and winning games. "I can’t deny that we listen to the goings-on around us but we do need to stay out of that as much as we can and focus on our work – the staff are helping us a great deal in that respect.” Jordan Veretout has revealed that a phone call from Paulo Fonseca was the key factor that convinced him to join Roma.
The midfielder had a number of offers to leave Fiorentina this summer, including from AC Milan, but he eventually signed for Roma in a deal that could cost the club nearly €20m. At his first press conference as a Giallorossi player, Veretout told reporters: “I chose Roma because this is a huge club and I was impressed by what Fonseca said to me. Roma are playing in the Europa League this season and I see this as a step forward in my career. “Roma are a huge club who want to be playing in the Champions League every season. For now it's the Europa League but our aim is to get back in the Champions League. We're going to have to work very hard if we're to achieve that.” Echoing a sentiment from fellow new arrival Amadou Diawara earlier this week, Veretout says he is ready to adapt to the demands of Fonseca's 4-2-3-1 system. “I've played everywhere in midfield and learnt a lot from playing in the holding role. It's made me a more mature player because you have to think a bit more carefully. I still have plenty of room for improvement, though. “In a three-man midfield I have more freedom to get forward. With two I have to be more careful about providing defensive cover.” When asked for more detail on what Fonseca said to him, Veretout painted a positive picture of the coach. “He told me he needed someone with my skill set. He convinced me instantly and I never looked back from there. “The boss likes to play attacking football. He wanted me as a deep-lying playmaker but in that position you need to know how to defend too.” Veretout was responsible for set pieces in Florence, but Roma already have Diego Perotti to take penalties and Aleksandar Kolarov on free kicks. Nonetheless, the Frenchman laughed that he could end up overtaking them in the pecking order, as long as he had the right work ethic. “We'll see about free kicks and penalties further down the line. In the meantime I'll keep practising them!” Like the new Giallorossi Yorkshire Facebook page! The biggest Roma transfer stories of the week so far, all in one place - including updates on Kamil Glik, Mariano Diaz and Elseid Hysaj.
Petrachi considers Glik reunion With Roma seemingly losing out in the race for Spurs' Toby Alderweireld, a new centre-back is needed to partner Gianluca Mancini. On Monday, Daniele Rugani was suggested, but his excessive price tag may complicate things. Hence, journalist Alfredo Pedulla claims that sporting director Gianluca Petrachi is weighing up a move for Kamil Glik instead. Petrachi signed Glik in his Torino days, and he has since seen the defender become vice-captain at Monaco. Now 31, Glik is one year Alderweireld's senior, so would likely be a more economical option. Two options for Nzonzi exit One player moving the other way could be Steven Nzonzi, who is set to leave Roma after a disappointing debut year. According to Il Messaggero, the Frenchman is close to signing for Monaco. However, a few days ago, Gazzetta Dello Sport suggested that he may be used as part of a bid for AC Milan winger Suso. Cagliari await Defrel decision Gregoire Defrel is set to leave Roma this summer after spending last year out on loan, and according to Il Tempo's Filippo Biafora, the club have accepted an offer from Cagliari. However, the striker is waiting to decide on whether to join the Sardinian club, since he is believed to have several other offers. Peres sale could finally be made A player who was actually brought to Europe by Petrachi at Torino, but then failed to live up to expectations at Roma, the club have been actively trying to get rid of Bruno Peres for some time. A loan spell back in Brazil with Sao Paulo hasn't exactly gone to plan, and according to Globoesporte, he could return to Italy with Genoa if his spell in South America is terminated. Zidane hints at Mariano move As Roma continue their search for a new striker, one name that has cropped up is Mariano Diaz - familiar to fans after scoring against Roma in the Champions League last season. Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has now revealed that Mariano has no place in his plans, having not played in either of their first two games of their US pre-season tour. Corriere Dello Sport say that Roma advisor Franco Baldini could make contact with Florentino Perez over the player, since he has a good relationship with the Madrid president. Roma to raid Monchi's Sevilla Gianluca Petrachi already seems to have earned more respect from the fans than his predecessor Monchi, but the two could soon come into contact. According to Corriere Dello Sport, an alternative Roma are considering up front is Sevilla's Wissam Ben Yedder. A deal would be difficult given the strained relationship between Roma and Monchi, but the 29-year-old forward is showing no will to renew his contract, which has two years remaining. Right-back target expected to leave This week's Mercato Monday video relayed the news that Roma were considering Elseid Hysaj for the right-back role given the reinvention of Alessandro Florenzi as a left winger, and the Albanian's agent,, Mario Giuffredi, has given an update on his future. He told Radio Marte that he doesn't expect Hysaj to stay at Napoli because of the number of full-backs they currently have. With competitors for his signature Atletico Madrid recently signing Kieran Trippier from Spurs, Roma may have a clearer path to the 25-year-old. Possible Politano return to Roma With Antonio Conte starting a somewhat brutal revolution at Inter, there is no place in his tactical setup for Matteo Politano. The winger has been linked with a return to boyhood club Roma, where he came through the youth ranks without making a senior appearance. Calciomercato claim that he could be offered back to his hometown team as part of Inter's next bid for Edin Dzeko - but Gazzetta Dello Sport believe that a swap deal is of no interest to Roma.
Roma Women have completed their second signing of the day by bringing in Tecla Pettenuzzo.
The 19-year-old defender arrives after Camelia Ceaser was signedfrom Milan earlier in the morning. Pettenuzzo, an Italy Under-19 international teammate of Giada Greggi and Angelica Soffia, played in every match for Sassuolo last season, and has played in the Champions League for Brescia in the past. Benvenuta, Tecla.
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