El Shaarawy to Leave Roma at End of Season as Contract Won't Be Renewed

Maurizio Setti, former Verona president, has praised Tony D'Amico—recently appointed to Roma's sporting structure alongside head coach Gian Piero Gasperini—as a capable director with strong player-selection instincts and two decades of football experience. Setti highlighted D'Amico's understated approach and his ability to work harmoniously between ownership and the pitch, noting that D'Amico performed this role effectively at Atalanta, where he acted as a filter between the club's management and technical operations. Setti cautioned that Roma faces a unique challenge in Italian football, stating: "The only spectre he will have to be careful about is Romanità; it is extremely difficult to do football in Rome because there are positive or negative influences." He suggested the club's primary weakness is not strategic incompetence but rather a lack of people driven by genuine passion for results. "Roma is missing not presidents like me, but people who wake up in the morning and would kill to achieve results," Setti said. He also noted that Roma has historically suffered from too many decision-makers without a single daily commander on the pitch to enforce the ownership's vision. Regarding next season, Setti believes Roma could become a serious title contender if the transfer market is handled well, particularly in attack—an area Gasperini will reportedly prioritize. He expressed confidence in D'Amico's recruitment abilities, citing his success bringing players like Donyell Malen to the club.

Mason Greenwood has attracted significant international attention on the transfer market, with AS Roma reported to be among the clubs interested in securing the player. The competition for Greenwood's signature appears intense across multiple leagues. A Fenerbahce presidential candidate questioned the club's ability to pursue such a high-profile target, reportedly stating concerns about spending capacity on top-tier players. Roma's involvement in the Greenwood situation underscores the club's ongoing efforts to strengthen its attacking options during the transfer window. The context of competing bids and financial constraints from rival clubs suggests negotiations remain fluid.

Two candidates competing for the Fenerbahçe presidency have clashed over the club's pursuit of Mason Greenwood. Hakan Safi announced he had secured a financial agreement with the winger, but rival candidate Aziz Yildrim responded skeptically, stating: "For these announced transfers, he would need to put another 200–300 million euros on the table. A total budget of 500 million euros is needed. Fenerbahçe does not have these possibilities. There is a spending limit imposed by UEFA of 60 million. My names? I don't need to make announcements for propaganda. I don't sell dreams, but tell reality." Roma remains interested in Greenwood as a potential signing to strengthen the attacking unit. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini views him as a key target to elevate the squad and compete immediately. However, Roma has not yet submitted an official offer to either the player or Marseille, who currently hold his registration. The French club is demanding €50 million and is not inclined to negotiate discounts at present. The Friedkin Group would need to commit significant resources to meet Gasperini's request. Competition for Greenwood extends beyond Fenerbahçe and Roma. Atlético Madrid has also registered interest in the former Manchester United player, creating a crowded market for his signature.

Roma announced Gian Piero Gasperini as head coach on 6 June 2025, marking the start of his first season in charge. The club achieved Champions League qualification, with El Shaarawy among the goal scorers during the campaign. Gasperini's appointment came following the departure of Claudio Ranieri, who had managed the club in the 2024–25 season. The 'condottiero' (commander) has guided Roma towards European football's elite competition in his inaugural year, fulfilling a key objective for the Friedkin Group ownership.

Stephan El Shaarawy's future remains uncertain after the Roma forward became a free agent on 1 July following his contract expiration. El Shaarawy, who scored the decisive 2–0 goal against Hellas Verona that confirmed Roma's return to the Champions League, has attracted interest from newly promoted Venezia. However, a move to the Venetian club appears difficult to complete at present. El Shaarawy's departure marks the end of his time wearing Roma's number 92 shirt. Several clubs have expressed interest in signing him during the transfer window. Venezia have made him a priority target, but significant obstacles remain in negotiations. Meanwhile, Roma's connection to the transfer market extends to Tommaso Baldanzi, the former Empoli player who joined Genoa in January. Genoa, managed by Daniele De Rossi, is working to retain Baldanzi but seeks a price reduction from the 10 million euros initially agreed with Roma at the time of the original deal. The two clubs are in active discussions to reach a final agreement on Baldanzi's status. Details remain unclear on the timeline for either transaction.

Influencer Ludovica Pagani shared social media content featuring comedic match commentary of a Roma goal against Verona, with Roma player El Shaarawy reacting positively to the moment. The pair were traveling together in Los Angeles, where they filmed the content for TikTok. Pagani captioned the video with "How our summer will sound," suggesting a lighthearted tone to the shared moment. The post highlights the growing intersection between Roma players and social media personalities, demonstrating how match moments are repurposed for entertainment content beyond traditional broadcast channels. El Shaarawy's participation in the video underscores the informal, off-pitch side of modern football culture. Details of the specific Verona match and the context of the goal remain unclear from the available information. The content appears to have been created some time after the actual match was played, given the Los Angeles setting and casual framing of the video.