Roma–Lazio Derby: Foro Italico and Ponte Milvio on lockdown as authorities deploy thousands of police

Roma is undergoing significant changes to its technical and medical staff following recent managerial decisions. Riccardo Del Vescovo, who previously worked at the club between 2015 and 2020, has emerged as the leading candidate to become the new head of medical services. His appointment is being seriously considered as part of the broader restructuring process being discussed between coach Gian Piero Gasperini and the Friedkin Group ownership. The club has identified the medical department as a priority area for improvement in its planning for the coming season, with several issues having emerged during the current campaign. While multiple candidates are under consideration for the medical role, the decision is not considered urgent. Separately, the position of youth academy director remains open and could be closely linked to the incoming sporting director appointment, meaning clarity on that front may take additional time. Tarantino, the previous youth academy head, will not be returning to the club. Discussions with him were terminated following the decision to remove Ranieri and Massara from their roles. The overall staff reshuffle reflects Roma's intent to make substantial changes across the technical structure heading into the next season.

Tony D'Amico, the current sporting director at Atalanta, has become one of the leading candidates to lead AS Roma's sporting operations. The Friedkin Group and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini both view D'Amico as an ideal fit, particularly since preferred targets Giuntoli and Manna are unavailable — Giuntoli is close to joining Atalanta and Manna has been retained by Napoli. Gasperini knows D'Amico well from their time together at Genoa and values his work at Atalanta. However, the path to Roma is far from clear. AC Milan remains a serious competitor for D'Amico's services, with sporting director Tare under heavy scrutiny and Giorgio Furlani considering significant changes to the Rossoneri's sporting structure. If D'Amico moves to Milan instead, Roma's alternative target is Sean Sogliano from Verona, who also previously worked with Gasperini at Genoa. Less prominent candidates under consideration include Giaretta from Pafos and Tognozzi currently at Rio Ave. Contacts have reportedly already occurred between D'Amico and both Ryan Friedkin and Gasperini, though details of those discussions remain unclear. D'Amico is expected to separate from Atalanta at the end of the season.

AS Roma are pursuing a strategic shift under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and ownership by the Friedkin Group. The club is moving away from wholesale squad overhauls, instead focusing on contract renewals and reducing the wage bill at Trigoria (Roma's training ground). Ryan Friedkin has committed to remaining involved in Roma's direction. The restructuring reflects a new approach to squad management, balancing player retention with financial sustainability as the club seeks stability under the new coaching regime.

Roma defenders Gianluca Mancini and Lorenzo Pellegrini have been preparing for the upcoming Derby della Capitale by dining out at a well-known fish restaurant owned by Gianni Micalusi. During the meal, both players participated in a superstitious ritual by touching the restaurant owner's belly—a gesture the pair have reportedly performed on multiple occasions before. The players shared a post on social media with the caption "Ready for the derby," signaling their mental preparation for the capital city's biggest match. The derby between Roma and Lazio typically dominates conversation across Rome in the lead-up to the fixture, becoming a primary topic of discussion on social media and among fans and colleagues. This year's edition comes amid some organizational chaos regarding the match's scheduled date and time, with local authorities handling decisions on those details. Nevertheless, the intensity and importance of the Giallorossi's preparation—including these superstitious traditions—underscores how significant the derby remains for the club's players. Such pre-match rituals are common among footballers seeking mental edge or confidence before high-pressure fixtures. Mancini and Pellegrini's repeated visits to the same restaurant and their participation in the touching ritual demonstrate the psychological importance both players place on the contest ahead.

Gianluca Mancini has emphasized Roma's focus as the club enters the final and decisive phase of the season. The defender stressed maximum concentration on the race for Champions League qualification. Mancini's message reflects Roma's commitment to securing a top-four finish in Serie A. The club is in the closing stages of the campaign with the European berth as a key objective for the remainder of the season.

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."