Mancini and Pellegrini prepare for derby with superstitious dinner ritual

France head coach Didier Deschamps has announced his 26-player squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada starting 11 June. AS Roma midfielder Manu Koné has been selected among the nominees. The squad includes several notable inclusions and some high-profile absences, with only four players based in Italian clubs named in the full roster. Koné's inclusion represents recognition of his development at Roma, where he has become an established midfielder. The France squad, led by stars including Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), features a mix of experience and youth as Les Bleus look to build on their strong recent tournament record. The side won the World Cup in 2018 and reached the final in 2022 before losing to Argentina. The squad spans multiple top European clubs, with representation from Paris Saint-Germain (five players), Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and others. Details on Koné's prospects for tournament selection and his role in the final squad remain unclear at this stage.

AS Roma has agreed on the date and time for the upcoming Derby della Capitale against SS Lazio. The club is in negotiations with Paulo Dybala's agent regarding a contract renewal. Donyell Malen has completed his transfer to Roma and is now a Giallorossi player. These developments represent significant progress on multiple fronts for the club as it manages squad matters and prepares for the rivalry fixture. The exact details of the derby scheduling, Dybala's contract terms, and Malen's transfer fee remain unclear.

AS Roma is actively pursuing contract renewals for players whose agreements are set to expire. The club is undertaking intense planning alongside ongoing preparation for upcoming matches. The initiative reflects Roma's focus on squad stability and long-term planning. Details of which specific players are in negotiations remain unclear from the available information.

Gianluca Mancini spoke about Roma's push for Champions League qualification ahead of two crucial final matches. The defender attended the premiere of a documentary about Aldair, a Roma legend, where he addressed the team's ambitions. Mancini emphasized Roma's focus on controlling their own destiny in the title race, stating: "As I have said many times, we think about ourselves. We know that two matches remain, Sunday or Monday, we do not know yet, but there will be an important match, and the next one will be the same. So we are competing based on ourselves, knowing that we must make few mistakes and train hard as we are doing, to arrive at the matches as we are doing." With the derby della Capitale approaching, Roma faces a decisive window in their Champions League bid. The team's success depends on strong performances in their final two fixtures, with minimal room for error. Mancini also paid tribute to Aldair, the Roma defender from an earlier era. He said of the legend: "They told me about him, I was very small, but I saw him in videos and they told me to discover what he was, and he was truly an excellence as a defender, a phenomenon, a great. Then I also got to know him as a person and he is truly a great person. It is nice to be here tonight for him."

Roma secured victory at Parma amid controversy over a late penalty awarded to the Giallorossi, though that decision appears justified. Overshadowed by the awarded penalty was an earlier incident in the first half when Gianluca Mancini was brought down by Lautaro Valenti at 0–0, a contact the defender made first on the ball. VAR reviewed the incident but did not trigger an on-field review for referee Chiffi, who allowed play to continue. Former referee and Mediaset pundit Graziano Cesari sarcastically questioned the decision during analysis on Pressing. He remarked: "We have always heard that kicking an opponent is a penalty, no? Apparently changing the referee designator means it is no longer a penalty. Why does VAR not intervene? I can make a joke about it… Either the video was off, or they fell asleep, or nobody knocked." Cesari's final comment referenced previous controversy involving former designator Gianluca Rocchi, who allegedly signaled VAR officials from studios in Lissone to influence decisions. The missed penalty call drew scrutiny as Roma's win came amid debate over consistency in refereeing decisions this season. Mancini's involvement in the incident and subsequent non-call added a talking point beyond the final whistle, with Cesari's remarks prompting laughter and surprise in the studio.

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.

The Derby della Capitale between Roma and SS Lazio will take place at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, May 17, with a 12 p.m. kick-off, following approval from the local Prefect and the Lega Serie A. The match will run concurrently with other Serie A fixtures in the Champions League race, including Pisa–Napoli, Juventus–Fiorentina, Genoa–Milan, and Como–Parma. Ticket sales have expanded to include the northern sectors of the Tevere stand, which are typically reserved as a buffer zone during derby matches. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini faces a personal challenge in the fixture. His last victory in both matches of a derby double came in 2009, when he managed Genoa and defeated Sampdoria twice (0–1, 3–1). Roma had previously issued a statement saying, "We will defend our fans," underscoring the intensity and security considerations surrounding the clash. The derby announcement concluded weeks of debate and disputes between the clubs and authorities over scheduling.

Ryan Friedkin, the Friedkin Group vice-president, has arrived in Rome and is working on several key matters at Trigoria, including contract extensions for four players whose deals expire soon. Friedkin has signalled openness to renewing the contracts of Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala, with Dybala's agent Carlos Novel set to meet with the club leadership. Both players are expected to accept reduced salaries as part of negotiations; Roma's proposal for Dybala centres on a fixed base of approximately 2 million euros annually, supplemented by performance bonuses tied to goals and appearances. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has pushed for the renewals to ensure both players remain at the club next season. The club is also working on extending Zeki Celik's contract as specifically requested by Gasperini. However, uncertainty surrounds the future of Stephan El Shaarawy, with the club expressing doubts about renewing his deal.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will look to secure back-to-back victories over Lazio in the Derby della Capitale after Roma won the first encounter 1–0 thanks to a Lorenzo Pellegrini goal eight months earlier. The return fixture date has not yet been confirmed. Gasperini's last experience of winning both derbies in a single season came in 2009, when managing Genoa against Sampdoria, securing victories of 0–1 and 3–1 in successive matches. Since then, he has not replicated that achievement. During his time at Inter Milan, Gasperini played only one derby match and lost it in a Supercoppa final against AC Milan. The upcoming week is described as decisive both on and off the pitch for Roma. Qualification for the Champions League remains mathematically possible, though the club's fate is not entirely in their own hands. Roma would require slip-ups from both AC Milan and Juventus to secure European football. Gasperini's exuberant celebrations following recent matches have resonated strongly with supporters, strengthening the relationship between the coach and the fanbase since his arrival.