A stellar performance by Dybala wasn’t enough to secure a win, but Roma earned a solid draw in Dortmund
Roma wrapped up their preseason with a 2-2 draw against Borussia Dortmund. All the goals came in the first half, with the Giallorossi taking a two-goal lead after just ten minutes thanks to goals from Dybala and Cristante. The Germans’ response, however, was immediate: Ryerson cut the lead in the 12th minute, while Guirassy scored the equalizer in the 29th minute.
In the second half, Gasperini took advantage of the friendly to make several substitutions and give playing time to new signing Molina, making his Giallorossi debut. The score, however, remained unchanged. With summer training now behind them, Roma can focus on their first official match: their league opener is scheduled for Monday, August 24, against a revamped and ambitious Fiorentina.
Overall, it was a less-than-thrilling preseason for the Giallorossi, who had already shown a few too many weaknesses in their previous outings. The away games in Great Britain against Cardiff and Brighton had raised more than a few concerns, with a total of seven goals conceded. Today’s draw at Signal Iduna Park against the Black and Yellows—who were coming off a convincing victory over Arsenal—is therefore an acceptable result all things considered, especially given the quality of the opponent.
On the transfer front, however, Gasperini’s mind is already set on the coming days. The coach made no secret of his impatience: “It’s clear that, from here on out, I’m expecting something. Several players have left, and this team definitely needs to be rounded out—anyone can see that. Having at least two players per position is essential for teams competing in European competitions. Those who don’t do so end up paying a heavy price.” These unequivocal words highlight a squad that remains incomplete just a few days before the start of Serie A.
The major target still up in the air is Rodrigo Mora. Roma has presented Porto with an offer structured as a loan with a fee of 8 million euros and an option to buy for 40 million, but the Portuguese club continues to demand terms that would make the permanent signing of the 2007-born talent virtually automatic—a formula the Giallorossi have no intention of accepting. Further complicating the negotiations is a transfer saga that is anything but minor: Porto is reportedly working in parallel on the acquisition of Santiago Gimenez from Milan, and only with the funds raised from Mora’s sale could they make a concrete offer to the Rossoneri. Jorge Mendes is working to find a compromise between the parties, but without a concrete offer from Porto, the Roma management is ready to shift its focus to the alternative represented by Malick Fofana.
