Roma Lose 4-1 in Cardiff as New Signing Castro Debuts and Bah Is Injured
Poor pre-season form and a developing knee problem for Muhammed Bah raise pressure on the club to complete key signings before Roma’s Champions League campaign begins.
Overview
- Roma were beaten 4-1 by Cardiff City on Saturday, August 1, 2026, in a friendly in which new signing Santiago Castro made his immediate debut and Paulo Dybala missed a penalty before scoring later in the game.
- Midfielder Muhammed Bah was stretchered off clutching his right knee after a challenge, a developing injury concern because he had only recently returned from an anterior cruciate ligament layoff.
- Manager Gian Piero Gasperini publicly demanded reinforcements, saying he has asked the club for one defender, one winger and two strikers to ensure two players per role for a Champions League campaign.
- Roma have completed three permanent moves in the window so far: Santiago Castro arrived from Bologna for about €35m plus add-ons, and Donyell Malen and Daniele Ghilardi had their loan deals made permanent.
- Pre-season friendlies have exposed defensive lapses and fitness issues for Roma and the club still has scheduled warm-up matches before the Serie A opener on August 24, 2026, making timely transfer activity important for squad depth.