AS Roma News in English

Jeremías Lazaro, a 2004-born midfielder at Argentine club Instituto Córdoba, revealed that Paulo Dybala contacted him via video call through a mutual connection to offer representation services. Lazaro declined the offer, as he had already signed with another agent, but praised Dybala for providing advice during a period when he was playing little. Lazaro said of their conversation: "With him I had a chat, we spoke on Instagram, I made a video call with him because, well, he wanted to be my representative. But I had already signed with my current agent. Obviously we remained on excellent terms, there's a desire to meet at some point, which will surely happen. But I'm really happy because he's a fantastic person. He gave me a lot of advice and, honestly, talking to him reassured me." Dybala founded a Milan-based consulting firm called La Favorita srl over two years ago, which manages athlete image rights, endorsements, and intellectual property across multiple platforms including artificial intelligence and blockchain-based assets like NFTs. The venture reflects Dybala's broader business interests beyond his playing career at Roma, similar to how Francesco Totti established his own management company. The arrangement shows Dybala is actively building a portfolio in sports representation and consulting, positioning himself for post-playing opportunities in football management and athlete advocacy.

AS Roma's pursuit of a new sporting director is approaching conclusion. Tony D'Amico is currently in Bergamo negotiating the termination of his contract with Atalanta, a necessary step before he can officially join Roma as director of sport. The two clubs have yet to reach full agreement, however, with D'Amico expected to forfeit certain monthly payments as part of the exit deal. Atalanta president Luca Percassi is reportedly unwilling to expedite the arrangement, which may delay D'Amico's arrival at Roma until 1 July, when he will gain full decision-making authority at the club. Meanwhile, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini continues to pursue English winger Mason Greenwood as a primary transfer target. Marseille has set Greenwood's asking price at €55 million. Should that move prove unfeasible, Roma has identified Peixoto (referred to as Paixão in transfer discussions) as a backup option. Complications have also emerged at Fenerbahçe, where uncertainty surrounds which of two candidates will secure the English player's signature.

Francesco Totti spoke from Istanbul during an EA7 World Legends event, reflecting on Roma's recent performance. The Roma legend expressed surprise that the club reached the Champions League, suggesting he had not anticipated their qualification. Totti also offered commentary on the Italian national team, though details of his specific remarks remain unclear. His comments highlight ongoing interest in Roma's competitive progress under current management, while Totti himself remains in discussions regarding a potential role with the club for its 2027 centenary celebrations.

Niccolò Pisilli, the AS Roma midfielder, will wear the number 21 shirt as Italy faces Greece in a friendly international match. The 20-year-old had a strong end to the season with Roma and featured in Italy's previous friendly against Luxembourg. He is among the most important players in the squad selected by manager Baldini for this international window. Pisilli's selection underscores Italy's focus on developing young talent following their exclusion from the World Cup for the third consecutive time after a defeat to Bosnia. The number assignments remain unchanged from the Luxembourg match three days earlier, with other players including Donnarumma (1), Ndour (10), and Koleosho (11) also confirmed. Palestra and Cherubini have departed the squad. The fixture against Greece comes as part of Italy's rebuilding phase under Baldini, with Pisilli positioned as a key figure in the midfielder's regeneration. The full squad numbering for the Greece match has been confirmed, with 24 players listed in total for this phase of international fixtures.

Valentino Angeloni, head of Fiorentina's youth academy, has publicly distanced himself from a potential move to AS Roma. Speaking at the Serie A Festival in Parma, Angeloni made clear his intention to remain in Florence and focus on his work with the club's leadership. Roma had been searching for a new youth sector director following the departure of Claudio Ranieri and the collapse of an agreement with Massimo Tarantino. Angeloni's rejection eliminates one of the primary candidates on Roma's shortlist, which also included Frara. Despite acknowledging Roma's prestige and his personal connection to the capital—he was born in Rome and played for Roma as a child—Angeloni emphasized his commitment to Fiorentina's project. He stated: "I'm staying in Florence, and that's my wish. The Roma rumours are flattering, of course—I was born in Rome and played as a child at Roma with Anzalone, it's an important club, but so is Fiorentina and I'm focused on what I've done, must do, and will do here. I'm working with Paratici and his entire department on Fiorentina's future. I'm very focused on what I'm doing, I like it very much, in a fantastic environment." The development marks another setback in Roma's efforts to rebuild their youth academy structure after recent managerial transitions.

Marseille has established a asking price for Mason Greenwood as the winger continues to attract transfer interest. Roma's interest in D'Amico remains in a holding pattern with no immediate developments expected. The two situations represent different stages of Roma's potential midfield and attacking reinforcements. Details of Marseille's valuation and the timeline for any potential move remain unclear at this stage.

AS Roma is monitoring Nikola Vlasic as a potential reinforcement for the attacking midfield position. The 1997-born player is among the profiles being tracked by the club. Details regarding his contract status and specific characteristics remain unclear from the available information.

Francesco Totti has expressed delight at AS Roma's achievement in securing third place and Champions League qualification under Gian Piero Gasperini this season. Speaking from Istanbul at the World Legends Padel Tour, Totti said: "Quanto mi ha esaltato la parte finale della stagione? Tantissimo, non pensavo che la Roma potesse arrivare in zona Champions, anche perché fino alla fine dipendeva da Juve e Milan. La qualificazione l'hanno buttata loro, la Roma è stata brava a capire l'importanza di stare sempre dietro di loro, ed è riuscita a controbattere tutto ottenendo quello che nessuno si aspettava" (How much the final part of the season excited me? Enormously, I didn't think Roma could reach the Champions League zone, especially because until the end it depended on Juve and Milan. They threw away the qualification, Roma was clever to understand the importance of staying behind them, and managed to counter everything and obtain what no one expected). Totti also discussed his friend Gattuso, now Lazio's coach, offering warm words about his potential success at the capital club despite their rivalry. He said: "Verrò a Roma, lo incontrerò, ci andrò a cena, vedremo di che pasta è fatto, anche perché Roma è una piazza diversa da tutte le altre. Lui parlerà della Lazio? E io della Roma" (I'll come to Rome, I'll meet him, we'll go to dinner, we'll see what he's made of, especially because Rome is a different piazza from all the others. He'll talk about Lazio? And I'll talk about Roma).

Massimo Tarantino, head of Inter's youth academy, has confirmed that AS Roma made contact with him about a potential move in recent weeks. The Inter official acknowledged there was an opportunity to join Roma, though details of the discussions remain unclear. The approach suggests Roma may have been exploring options to strengthen its youth development structure. Tarantino's comments indicate ongoing recruitment activity within Roma's backroom staff, though no formal agreement or further developments have been reported at this stage.

Massimo Tarantino, currently head of Inter's youth academy, was set to return to AS Roma as head of the club's youth sector but the move collapsed following Claudio Ranieri's departure as manager. Tarantino had been poised to rejoin Roma with his contract reportedly near finalization when the changes in the club's leadership derailed the deal. The departure of Ranieri and another senior figure ended what had appeared to be an agreed arrangement. Roma is now searching for a new youth sector director following the breakdown. Valentino Angeloni from Fiorentina and Alessandro Frara are currently in contention for the role, with Angeloni reportedly the preferred candidate at this stage. Tony D'Amico is also set to join Roma's backroom staff in another capacity, pending official confirmation. When asked about the failed move at the Serie A Festival in Parma, Tarantino remarked: "What happened with Roma? These are things that happen in football, there was an opportunity that did not materialize. Now I continue my work with Inter, I'm happy to do it at such a club and I'm focused and concentrated exclusively on Inter."

Tony D'Amico, Roma's director of football, is in Bergamo to finalize the termination of his contract with Atalanta. The ongoing process reflects Roma's search for a permanent sporting director as the club continues its administrative restructuring under the Friedkin Group. D'Amico's appointment would mark a significant step in establishing the club's sporting leadership following recent changes in the coaching staff. Details remain unclear regarding the timeline for the resolution and his formal appointment to Roma.

Tony D'Amico is in Bergamo negotiating the termination of his contract with Atalanta, bringing his move to Roma as sporting director closer. The agreement between D'Amico and the Giallorossi has been delayed by outstanding financial matters with the Nerazzurri, who removed him from his position roughly a week ago and appointed Cristiano Giuntoli as his replacement. Once the resolution is finalized, D'Amico will officially join head coach Gian Piero Gasperini at Trigoria. D'Amico's immediate priorities at Roma include negotiating contract renewals for Çelik, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Paulo Dybala. The club must also address Financial Fair Play compliance and capital gains requirements by 30 June, though the deadline could potentially be extended to 30 June 2027 through agreement with UEFA, allowing Roma to defer certain accounting obligations. This flexibility could help the club avoid selling key squad members during the current transfer window and instead register incoming revenue from Champions League participation in the next financial year. Gasperini's preferred target for recruitment is Mason Greenwood, though additional signings are expected beyond that single acquisition. The incoming sporting director will oversee all these matters alongside the club's broader transfer strategy.

Alberto Aquilani, the former Roma midfielder, is reportedly close to an agreement to become Sassuolo's head coach. According to reports, Aquilani met with Sassuolo's management again recently, with a deal appearing imminent. The 47-year-old, who played for Roma from 2002 to 2009 and later spent time at Sassuolo in 2017, would make the leap to management after managing Catanzaro. Sassuolo views him as the ideal fit to work alongside Fabio Grosso. If the transfer materializes, Aquilani would become the fifth former Roma player or manager Roma will face next season. The others are Eusebio Di Francesco (Lecce, matchday 2), Cristian Chivu (Inter, 20 September), Daniele De Rossi (Genoa, 18 October), and Luciano Spalletti (Juventus, 20 December). Aquilani would face his former club on 8 November at the Stadio Olimpico in what would be his first return as an opposing manager. The fixture list presents an unusual situation for Roma, with the club set to encounter a notable series of familiar faces throughout the 2025–26 campaign. Each match carries potential narrative weight given the connections between these coaches and the Giallorossi.

Federico Chiesa, in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, discussed his time at Liverpool alongside Mohamed Salah and revealed details about the Egyptian's personal connections to Italy. Chiesa stated: "Salah has an immense heart and is still tied to Italy: he always talks about Florence and Rome." Chiesa added that despite Salah's legendary status and emotional farewell to Liverpool, he remained thoughtful toward his teammates and gave Chiesa a signed shirt with a personal message. Salah's affection for Roma has long been documented. The winger has never hidden his passion for Francesco Totti, one of his childhood idols, and has spoken warmly of former coach Luciano Spalletti, describing him as "the best coach I've ever had." His departure from Liverpool on a free transfer sparked brief speculation about a potential Roma return, though the financial costs of such a move are considered prohibitively high. Chiesa, frequently linked with Roma in transfer rumours, also addressed his own future, expressing openness to returning to Italian football. He said: "I'm open to everything, what matters is playing. I don't have the presumption to say I must be a starter. I'm ready to fight for my place, anywhere." Como currently leads the race for his signature, with Chiesa praising coach Fabio Fabregas as a "top coach" and highlighting Como's attractive style of play.

Cesc Fabregas has renewed his criticism of Italian football's tactical approach, arguing that many Serie A clubs focus on defending to beat opponents rather than attacking. Speaking to The Athletic, the Spanish manager highlighted the contrast between Serie A and the Premier League: "When you watch Premier League teams, you see a structure. You see what they're trying to do. You see the style they want to impose. Here, many times, it's impossible. It's impossible to understand what's happening. That's why you have to pay a lot of attention to details." Fabregas has become a recurring flashpoint with veteran Serie A coaches over the past two years. In March, a disagreement with Gian Piero Gasperini stemmed from a failure to shake hands after their match. Gasperini responded by stating: "I don't respect their behaviour on the pitch and on the bench." Previously, Massimiliano Allegri confronted Fabregas in the corridors of San Siro, telling him: "More respect is needed. You're a child, you started coaching yesterday." Fabregas explained his tactical philosophy, noting that Italian defences are physically imposing and often deliberately set up to frustrate opponents. He argued that winning in Italy requires precise attention to detail and the ability to exploit weaknesses in defensive structures. His list of managerial conflicts also includes Alessandro Nesta and Igor Tudor.

Roma continue to pursue Mason Greenwood as head coach Gasperini identifies the English forward as his primary summer transfer target. Fenerbahçe's presidential candidate Hakan Safi has announced a four-year agreement with Greenwood, but the move to Turkey remains incomplete pending several steps, including financial agreement between Fenerbahçe and Marseille and Safi's official election. This uncertainty leaves the door open for Roma to pursue the deal. Gasperini is determined not to lose Greenwood and has signalled the attacker as essential to improving Roma's attacking options and competing immediately. Marseille is reportedly asking €50 million plus €5 million in performance bonuses for the player. Despite Fenerbahçe's apparent progress in negotiations with Greenwood's representatives, Roma show no signs of withdrawing from the competition and remain actively engaged in the pursuit. The situation remains fluid and requires close monitoring. Roma's resolve, led by Gasperini, reflects the club's ambition to strengthen its forward line significantly during this transfer window, even as the Turkish club appears to be advancing its own negotiations.

Amantino Mancini, a former Roma winger, has praised Wesley's first season at the club during an interview on Radio Romanista. Mancini highlighted Wesley's intensity, work rate, and offensive capabilities as a left-sided player, noting that the Brazilian has settled well into Roman football. Mancini said: "Wesley me is always liked, I like his characteristics, how he moves on the pitch. I said when Roma was acquiring him that it would be very useful, because he is of great intensity, never stops. He has the characteristics of all Brazilian full-backs who are very offensive. Maybe he leaves something to be desired defensively because even I when I arrived at Roma played as a full-back and improved thanks to Capello. Wesley has fitted in very well at Roma, many Brazilians at Roma settled immediately because the climate and the support are very similar to those in Brazil. Wesley took advantage of this period and had a wonderful season." Mancini drew parallels with his own career transition, recalling how moving from right to left-back under Spalletti transformed his game. He predicted Wesley will continue on the left flank next season but warned that opponents have now studied him closely. Mancini also expressed confidence in head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's ability to guide Roma's next phase, emphasizing the need for experienced signings to strengthen the squad for Champions League football. He suggested Roma should make two or three strategic acquisitions to elevate the team's competitive level in European competition.

Gabriel Batistuta joined AS Roma on June 6, 2000, marking a significant moment for the club and its supporters. The day brought the certainty that what Roma fans had long dreamed of was finally becoming reality. Batistuta's arrival represented an important addition to the squad during that period. The Argentine striker's signing was a major development for the Giallorossi as they looked to strengthen their attacking options.

Rudi Garcia, former AS Roma coach and current Belgium manager, has discussed his relationship with player conduct during an interview with Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad. Garcia revealed he was aware of off-pitch habits among his players but prioritized on-field performance. His comments reflect the pragmatic approach some managers take when balancing discipline with results. The remarks provide insight into Roma's management philosophy during Garcia's tenure, when he oversaw the club's tactical and selection decisions. Details of the full interview remain unclear from the available excerpt.

Former Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo has voiced his main concerns about the club's transfer activity in the coming weeks. Speaking on Radio Radio Mattino, Pruzzo stated: "I am worried about the operations by June 30 more than about renewals. Where do these players who will renew go in due course. We need contacts to arrive at a solution that is as painless as possible." Pruzzo's comments reflect broader anxiety among Roma observers about player departures before the summer transfer window closes on June 30. While contract renewals have been a topic of discussion, the legend's focus is on which established players may leave the club and how the departures are managed to minimise disruption. Roma's squad stability heading into a new season under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini appears to be a key consideration for those monitoring the club's direction. The comments come as part of ongoing debate across Rome's radio stations, where journalists and former players regularly analyse club affairs. Marco Juric also contributed views on Roma's fixture schedule, particularly expressing concern about Champions League group-stage matchups and the need to accumulate points against mid-tier opponents to progress through the competition.