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Marten De Roon has joined AS Roma and is determined to move past a 2023 incident when he posted a photo with a middle-finger gesture and text mocking the club after Atalanta's victory over the giallorossi. The post drew controversy and a €2,500 fine. In his first interview at Trigoria, De Roon said he had not authorised publication of that post. "I always play around on social media, but on that occasion I overstepped the mark," he explained. "I didn't authorise that post against the giallorossi — it sounds like a lie but it's true. I'm very sorry." He pledged to prove himself on the pitch rather than through words: "Social media is one thing, I want to demonstrate on the field that I am someone who goes beyond that. I will give everything for the shirt and want to repay the trust with facts." De Roon spent nine years at Atalanta under Gasperini, serving as captain, and the coach has now brought him to Roma. The midfielder is excited by his new surroundings. "I'm super happy, it's something very beautiful," he said of Trigoria. "Roma is a great club, the training ground is top level and I'm eager to begin." He is already familiar with the Olimpico but always faced it as an opponent. He relishes the prospect of Champions League football this season: "Last season Roma was in great form, the Olimpico is special, always full and impressive. The fans are very warm and this year we'll play against very strong teams in the Champions League, the atmosphere will be amazing. We must enjoy these evenings and try to achieve great results." De Roon believes he can contribute immediately. He knows Bryan Cristante, Paulo Dybala and Gianluca Mancini from Serie A, and two fellow Dutch players are already at the club: Donyell Malen and Devyne Rensch. "I want to help because I know Gasperini's system very well. There are two Dutch lads: Malen and Rensch. I want to play my part and I've joined a very strong squad," he said. He acknowledged he must now earn the affection of Roma supporters who saw him as an enemy until recently: "Super happy to be here, I can't wait to play in front of you at the Olimpico. I hope to be welcomed in the right way. Daje Roma."

Marten de Roon gave his first interview as a Roma player on 31 August 2026, presenting himself to supporters and discussing his move to the club. Speaking to the official Roma channels, de Roon expressed his contentment with the transfer to what he described as a great society, highlighting the quality of the training centre and his eagerness to begin. He credited head coach Gian Piero Gasperini with developing him during nine years under his management at a previous club, where de Roon served as captain. "He brought me up, we achieved fantastic results together," de Roon said. "I had a very special relationship with him—I always played, and at one point I was his captain. He took us, but especially me, to a high level and I'm very grateful for that. He also called me almost a day ago and we made a quick move: he gave me this opportunity to come here and for that I thank him so much. And then certainly the club and the society too, who wanted me. It's not at all taken for granted and I'm really super happy." De Roon addressed his history of scoring against Roma and occasional social media criticism of the club during his previous career. He acknowledged that he had crossed a line with past posts but provided context for his conduct. "I'm someone who always plays around on social media and always pushes the limits a bit," he explained. "On that occasion I think I overstepped the limit a bit. But there's also an explanation: I manage my social media with two friends. It's the only time—it might sound like a lie, but it's the only time I didn't authorize a post, because I had many interviews after the match. But on that occasion I'm sorry, because I overstepped the limit." Looking ahead to his Roma career, de Roon expressed his ambition to demonstrate his commitment on the pitch. "The social media is a separate thing," he said. "I want to show on the pitch that I'm someone who goes beyond the limit, who gives everything for the shirt. Now I have to repay this trust with facts." He discussed Roma's return to the UEFA Champions League at the Stadio Olimpico, describing the stadium as very special and noting its warm atmosphere. "Every time I've played here I've been very impressed—always full of very warm fans," de Roon said. "Bringing the Champions League back to the Olimpico against very, very strong and beautiful teams will, in my opinion, create a crazy atmosphere. As Roma we must enjoy these evenings and hope, or at least try, to achieve great results." De Roon reflected on the experience already present in Roma's squad, naming Bryan Cristante as someone he knows and who possesses considerable experience, alongside Paulo Dybala, Gianluca Mancini, and others who have been at the club for years. He also noted the presence of fellow Dutch players Donyell Malen and Devyne Rensch. "I'm one who wants to give a hand, especially because I know the manager's style of play very well," he said. "Inside the dressing room I want to play my part, but I've entered a team and a squad that is already very strong." In a final message to supporters, de Roon said: "I'm super happy to be here. I can't wait to play at the Olimpico in front of you, because they told me it's very special and I hope you welcome me in the right way. Daje Roma."

Roma have completed the signings of Marten de Roon and Leonardo Balerdi in a pair of moves designed to add leadership and substance to Gian Piero Gasperini's squad. De Roon arrived from Atalanta after a swift negotiation that took shape over a matter of hours, reuniting the Dutch midfielder with the coach they worked with at Bergamo. The midfielder's transfer has effectively unblocked the departure of Neil El Aynaoui, who is heading to Leipzig on a paid loan with a right of recall. Bareldi joined from Marseille on loan with a right of recapture that can become an obligation if certain appearance targets are reached, in a deal worth approximately €14 million overall. The Argentine defender, born 1999, expressed enthusiasm for the move, revealing that Gasperini had pursued him during his time at Atalanta and that he holds a special affinity with Roma colours rooted in childhood, inspired in part by former idol Fernando Gago. Gasperini has moved to frame De Roon's previous social media exchanges with Roma supporters as normal rivalry dynamics, viewing them as resolved. Both signings bring international experience and charisma to support the head coach's project.