Roma celebrate Champions League return with social media posts; Pellegrini takes aim at third-place finish

Italy's U17 national team advanced to the final of the European Under-17 Championship by defeating Spain 1–1 (4–2 after penalties) on June 4. Coach Franceschini's squad took the lead through a Croci penalty in the 42nd minute, but Spain equalized through Urrestarazu in the 77th minute, forcing a penalty shootout. Goalkeeper Lupo proved decisive in the shootout, saving two spot-kicks after also denying a penalty during regular play, while Rocca converted the winning penalty. Niccolò Pisilli, a current AS Roma midfielder, featured in the squad and expressed his enthusiasm about the achievement. Pisilli commented: "Una grande emozione andare in Champions. Ho sempre seguito Gasperini" (It is a great emotion to qualify for the Champions League. I have always followed Gasperini). His reference to Roma's new head coach Gian Piero Gasperini reflects the midfielder's awareness of his club's recent appointment. Italy will face Belgium in the final on Sunday, June 7 at 19:00. Belgium reached the final by eliminating France. The tournament success offers an encouraging counterpoint to the senior national team's recent disappointments.

Stephan El Shaarawy scored the decisive second goal in Roma's final match against Verona, securing the club's return to the Champions League for the first time in seven years. The Egyptian winger's strike came in his last appearance in giallorossi colors, concluding a decade-long association with the club that began in January 2016. El Shaarawy's goal sparked an emotional celebration as he ran toward the away supporters at the Bentegodi stadium. Remarkably, El Shaarawy had predicted this outcome before the match. According to Sky Sport journalist Angelo Mangiante, the number 92 revealed at the end of Friday's training session that he hoped to close his Roma story with a decisive goal. He told Mangiante: "Mi piacerebbe tanto chiudere questa storia con un gol decisivo" (I would really like to close this story with a decisive goal). His premonition proved accurate, as his finish sealed Roma's return to European football's premier club competition after a seven-year absence. El Shaarawy's departure marks the end of a significant chapter for Roma. The winger's final contribution epitomized his importance to the club during his 10-year tenure, delivering a crucial moment when it mattered most for the Giallorossi's continental aspirations.

AS Roma secured a return to the UEFA Champions League after a seven-year absence following a 2–0 victory against Verona at the Bentegodi stadium. The result triggered celebrations at the airport and at Trigoria, the club's training ground, as supporters and staff marked the significant milestone. The triumph ends a lengthy period outside European football's elite competition for the Giallorossi. Details of the goalscorers remain unclear from the available information, but the victory represents a major achievement in the club's push to re-establish itself among Italy's top-flight contenders.

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.

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.

Roma's announcement of Tony D'Amico as a new staff member continues to be delayed, though an official statement is expected soon. D'Amico remains in Bergamo finalizing the last details with Atalanta. Roma will not be required to pay any release clause to secure the executive, and optimism surrounds the move. Once the official announcement arrives, Roma will request a regulatory waiver to allow D'Amico to begin work immediately, given the workload ahead. D'Amico's first priority will be contract renewals for Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Çelik. The club also aims to complete player departures before the 30 June deadline. Ziolkowski may leave the club, while reports of Inter pursuing Gianluca Mancini have been dismissed. Mancini is keen to remain at Roma and is close to signing a contract extension through 2029. Details remain unclear on the exact timeline for the announcement, though Roma's expectation is that it will arrive within the coming days.

A lighthearted moment at Roma's training ground has captured the attention of the club's fanbase after second-choice goalkeeper Gollini shared a photo on social media showing a religious-style image of defender Mario Hermoso displayed on his locker. The image, accompanied by the caption "Protect me everywhere," has gone viral among Roma supporters, reflecting the high spirits in the squad and Hermoso's growing status within the group. Hermoso has become a focal point of the Roma dressing room in recent months, with his distinctive new hairstyle sparking considerable discussion among fans. The Spanish defender's prominence highlights the positive atmosphere under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini as the team prepares for a crucial match at Verona. The squad's enthusiasm underscores what has been described as a first season that has exceeded expectations for Gasperini's Roma. The timing of Gollini's post comes just days before the decisive Verona fixture, which represents a crucial final step in what Roma's management and supporters hope will be a successful campaign. The light-hearted display of team spirit suggests confidence and unity within the group as they approach this important period of the season.

Tension boiled over at the final whistle of Parma's match against Roma after the visitors secured a comeback 2–1 victory. Evan Ndicka was visibly angry on the pitch and had to be held back and escorted away by four teammates—Gollini, Tsimikas, Malen, and Cristante—while Mario Hermoso and Gianluca Mancini were also among the most heated Roma players involved in the post-match melee. The confrontation intensified between the benches and drew intervention from Gasperini and his assistant Gritti, who quickly pulled Mancini away from the conflict to prevent disciplinary action. Mancini's removal was particularly critical because he was the only Roma player carrying a yellow-card caution ahead of the upcoming derby against Lazio. The tension appears to have been fueled by aggressive play from Parma's players throughout the match, with notably tough and sometimes excessive challenges. Details remain unclear about the specific grievances between individual players, though conflict emerged between Mancini and Parma's right-back Valeri, described as a Lazio supporter. Roma had initially gone ahead through Donyell Malen but surrendered the lead before fighting back to secure the points in added time.

Donyell Malen scored at 100:02 to give Roma a dramatic late-match victory, clinching three vital points after a stunning second-half comeback. The Dutch winger's goal came only after a VAR review that overturned an initial decision against Roma, leading to heated protests on the pitch. Malen's strike broke the club record for the latest goal scored by Roma in Serie A over the past 20 seasons, surpassing Tammy Abraham's effort at 98:05 against Spezia in February 2022. This victory keeps Roma's hopes alive for securing a Champions League finish. The team scored twice in injury time—with Rensch also finding the net—marking the first occasion in the season that Roma has scored two goals beyond the 90-minute mark in a single match. The comeback underlines Roma's character in adversity, though the controversial circumstances surrounding Malen's goal and the VAR intervention will likely draw discussion. Gasperini responded to criticism surrounding the incident, stating: "Ha ragione, tutta Italia ha visto. Immagini evidenti" (He's right, all of Italy saw it. Clear images). After the match, Dybala, Malen, and Gollini posted on social media describing it as a lively Sunday with friends, highlighting the emotional intensity of the fixture.

Neil El Aynaoui, a Roma player, has been withdrawn from Morocco's upcoming friendly match. The article indicates El Aynaoui was part of Roma's contingent preparing for the next World Cup qualifying campaign while on international duty. Details of the specific reason for his withdrawal remain unclear from the available information. El Aynaoui's absence from the friendly marks another update on Roma players currently involved in international fixtures during the club's preparation period.

A Roma player has spoken positively about his future at the club following Roma's qualification to the Champions League. The player stated that his relationship with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is excellent and that he is content at Roma. Roma's recent achievement in securing Champions League football has created a celebratory atmosphere at the club. The player's comments reflect confidence in the current project under Gasperini's management as Roma looks ahead to competing in European competition.

Neil El Aynaoui expressed his joy following Roma's qualification for the Champions League after the team's victory at Verona. The Moroccan midfielder, who came on during the match, spoke to Rete Sport about the historic achievement and the celebrations that followed, including a gathering of supporters at Fiumicino airport upon the squad's return. El Aynaoui stated: "Yesterday evening was an incredible evening for us, for all the fans. We celebrated after the match. At the airport we found an incredible atmosphere. I think this is the level where Roma must be." On his own season, El Aynaoui acknowledged mixed performances but stressed his commitment to the objective. "This year has been very good for me in some moments, less in others," he said. "The goal was to go to the Champions League. I wanted this strongly from the beginning of my experience here. I gave everything to help the team." He highlighted the physical and tactical demands of Gasperini's system, noting it differs significantly from his previous experience but becomes difficult for opponents to face once players fully understand the approach. Regarding his future amid reported interest from major clubs, El Aynaoui offered reassurance to Roma supporters about his commitment. He praised his relationship with head coach Gasperini, stating: "Very good. I'm very fortunate to be here at Roma. The relationship with the coach is excellent."