El Shaarawy departs Roma after 10 years; derby to be final match before fans

Stephan El Shaarawy's time at AS Roma has come to an end, with his contract expiring on June 30. The Egyptian winger announced his departure following the conclusion of the season. In response, his fiancée Ludovica Pagani shared an emotional tribute on social media, celebrating El Shaarawy's character and commitment to the club. El Shaarawy, born in 1992, has been a significant figure at Roma, and his exit marks the conclusion of a lengthy association with the Giallorossi. Pagani's message emphasized his professionalism and dedication both on and off the pitch, describing him as a rare and humble individual. She wrote: "You are one of those people who deserve so much. Perhaps even more than what you have received. Sometimes things don't go as expected, but I am sure that life will reserve wonderful new chapters for you, because you are a special being and you will have what you deserve... And everyone deserves to know the IMMENSE man you are and how much you have loved and honoured this shirt. Loving you is one of the most beautiful gifts life could give me, champion." Pageni also expressed gratitude to Roma, stating the club "will always be our home." El Shaarawy's departure represents a significant transition for the club as it moves forward into a new era.

AC Milan is evaluating Viktor Behzani, currently sporting director at Toulouse, as a candidate for their own sporting director position. Behzani works for Toulouse, which is part of the RedBird ownership structure that also controls Milan. The RedBird ownership group is impressed with Behzani's work in France, where he has built a strong record in both player sales and talent development. Milan's existing management, including Tare and Massara, are departing, prompting the club's executive search. For AS Roma, this development could prove advantageous. Tony D'Amico, currently sporting director at Atalanta, has been identified as a primary target for Roma's front office. However, D'Amico is also being considered by Milan. If Milan pivots toward Behzani instead, this scenario could clear a path for Roma to pursue D'Amico without competing directly with the Rossoneri. The RedBird group's preference for Behzani, given his role within their wider portfolio of clubs, may influence Milan's final decision. Final selections for both clubs are expected at the end of the season. The interconnected ownership structure across RedBird's various properties means decisions at one club can have ripple effects elsewhere within the group's portfolio.

Roma midfielder Manu Koné has been offered to Atlético Madrid as the club seeks to comply with financial fair play regulations. According to transfer analyst Matteo Moretto, intermediaries have made contact with the Spanish club, but Atlético is not prioritizing Koné and is close to completing the signing of Joao Gomes from Wolverhampton. Koné has been linked with several clubs including Inter, but remains on Roma's list of potential departures to generate revenue. The French midfielder is one of two primary candidates for sale, alongside defender Evan Ndicka, as Roma pursues financial targets under their ownership. Moretto stated: "I can confirm that the Frenchman has been proposed to Atlético. There was contact between intermediaries and the Spanish club, but they think they have closed the arrival of Joao Gomes from Wolverhampton, where only the final bureaucratic details are missing. And Koné is not a priority for them anyway, is not being considered, so I wouldn't pursue this lead now. There are other teams on Koné, then you have to understand what kind of player Roma can sell based on the offers and Gasperini's willingness." Several other clubs remain interested in Koné, and Roma's approach will depend on available offers and head coach Gasperini's tactical preferences.

Stephan El Shaarawy's time at AS Roma has come to an end, with his contract expiring on June 30. The Egyptian winger announced his departure following the conclusion of the season. In response, his fiancée Ludovica Pagani shared an emotional tribute on social media, celebrating El Shaarawy's character and commitment to the club. El Shaarawy, born in 1992, has been a significant figure at Roma, and his exit marks the conclusion of a lengthy association with the Giallorossi. Pagani's message emphasized his professionalism and dedication both on and off the pitch, describing him as a rare and humble individual. She wrote: "You are one of those people who deserve so much. Perhaps even more than what you have received. Sometimes things don't go as expected, but I am sure that life will reserve wonderful new chapters for you, because you are a special being and you will have what you deserve... And everyone deserves to know the IMMENSE man you are and how much you have loved and honoured this shirt. Loving you is one of the most beautiful gifts life could give me, champion." Pageni also expressed gratitude to Roma, stating the club "will always be our home." El Shaarawy's departure represents a significant transition for the club as it moves forward into a new era.

Roma prepare to face rivals Lazio at Stadio Olimpico in the 164th top-flight edition of the Derby della Capitale on Sunday. The Giallorossi arrive in excellent form, having mounted a dramatic comeback against Parma last weekend with goals in the 96th and 101st minutes to secure a 3-2 victory. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, Roma have extended their unbeaten league run to five matches and sit level on points with fourth-placed Milan, with a top-four finish within reach for the first time since 2017/18. They are also chasing their first league double over Lazio since 2015/16 after winning the reverse fixture 1-0. Lazio, by contrast, arrive deflated following a 2-0 Coppa Italia final defeat to Inter on Wednesday and are facing relegation to ninth place or lower if results do not improve. They trail seventh-placed Atalanta by seven points and have won just one of their last five derbies at the Olimpico. Roma boast an 11-game unbeaten run at home in Serie A, including seven clean sheets, while their recent form shows six first-half goals across their last five home league matches. Roma have received positive team news, with Lorenzo Pellegrini and Artem Dovbyk both returning to full training, though Evan Ferguson, Bryan Zaragoza, and Stephan El Shaarawy remain unavailable. Lazio will be without first-choice goalkeeper Ivan Provedel and must serve a suspension for center-back Alessio Romagnoli. Roma are favored to maintain their dominant recent derby record.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini held a pre-match press conference on the eve of the Derby della Capitale against SS Lazio. Roma sit in contention for Champions League qualification with two matches remaining and face a Lazio side that recently lost the Coppa Italia final to Inter. Gasperini emphasized the importance of owner Ryan Friedkin's active presence at the club, stating: "The presence of ownership is fundamental—when everything works better. There are fewer people reporting things; there is the possibility of having direct relationships without intermediaries who, voluntarily or involuntarily, change opinions somewhat. And with ownership especially, decisions are fast." Gasperini addressed several topics affecting the squad's push for the top four. On Paulo Dybala's contract renewal, he expressed optimism that both the club and player are aligned, saying "when there is willingness from both sides, a solution can be found." He highlighted Lorenzo Pellegrini's importance in derby matches, noting the midfielder has recovered from injury and will be assessed before the match. Gasperini also commented on Stephan El Shaarawy's recent departure, saying the player made his decision weeks ago and has Roma's remaining two matches to contribute. The coach reflected on Roma's competitive position, noting that reaching European qualification with numerous injuries represents a strong achievement. He criticized the fixture scheduling for the derby and emphasized the psychological value of a full stadium, stating: "Football is beautiful to play. Let's remove some negative pressure and try to enjoy it a bit."