Roma have confirmed Marash Kumbulla’s move to Rayo Vallecano on loan, while captain Lorenzo Pellegrini has agreed a contract extension until 2027 and Bryan Cristante has played down reports of a training-camp argument with Paulo Dybala.
Kumbulla’s departure was reported by Tuttomercatoweb and is now official, with the defender joining Rayo Vallecano on a deal that includes an option to buy. The move takes him back to LaLiga, where he has previously spent time with Espanyol and Mallorca.
The Albania international leaves Roma after making 68 appearances for the club across four seasons. He was also part of the squad that helped Roma win the 2022 Conference League.
The more significant development for manager Gian Piero Gasperini is the progress made on Pellegrini’s future. The Roma captain has agreed to remain with the club until 2027 after recovering from injury. The contract has been signed, with only the formal announcement still to come, which is expected in the coming hours.
Pellegrini’s return has been welcomed by his team-mates, with Cristante confirming that the squad had remained in regular contact with the midfielder throughout pre-season. The Italy international also said the group was looking forward to having Roma’s number 10 back at Trigoria.
Roma’s preparations have now taken them to Brighton, where they will face the Seagulls after spending eight days in Cardiff. The squad’s stay in Wales included a friendly against Cardiff City, during which Cristante was involved in a brief confrontation with Dybala.
Cristante moved quickly to minimise the significance of the incident and rejected suggestions that it pointed to a serious disagreement within the group.
“It lasted a second and it was over,” he said.
The midfielder also addressed the wider atmosphere around the squad, emphasising the players’ enthusiasm at the prospect of returning to the Champions League under Gasperini.
The upcoming campaign will therefore begin with Roma managing several changes both on and off the pitch. Kumbulla has left on loan, Pellegrini is set to continue as captain after his injury recovery, and Cristante has sought to ensure that the exchange with Dybala does not overshadow the team’s preparations.
For now, Pellegrini’s new deal remains subject to the club’s official confirmation, while Kumbulla’s switch to Rayo Vallecano has already been completed. Roma’s next fixture in Brighton will provide another opportunity for Gasperini’s side to prepare for the season and build on the squad’s stated excitement about competing in the Champions League again.
