Gianluca Mancini to receive career award at Trofeo Maestrelli on May 25

A French striker at AS Roma has been named among 100 under-21 players in contention for the Golden Boy 2026 award. The prize, established by Tuttosport in 2003, recognizes the best young footballer in Europe. Roma's representative arrived at the club last summer from Marseille. The candidate list includes only four Italian players: Reggiani and Inacio (both at Borussia Dortmund), Camarda (Milan, now on loan at Lecce), and Ahanor (Atalanta). Beyond Roma's French attacker, one other foreign player competing in Serie A made the shortlist—Britschgi of Parma. The wider list features prominent young talents including Yamal, Estevao, Zaire-Emery, Alajbegovic (a Bosnian prospect linked with Roma), Mbappé's brother, and Dowman among others. The Golden Boy award has been a prestigious recognition for emerging talent since its inception, typically generating significant attention in European football circles as it identifies players on the cusp of breakthrough seasons at club and international level.

Marquinhos, PSG's Brazilian defender and captain, has spoken about his ongoing affection for AS Roma, where he played during the 2012–13 season before moving to Paris. In an interview with Sky Sport ahead of the Champions League final against Arsenal, Marquinhos confirmed his continued interest in the club: "Always, I follow Roma always. There is Wesley, who is playing and playing really well. He will also come to the national team with us and it always makes me happy to accompany them." Wesley, Roma's current defender, has impressed Marquinhos during their interactions at international level. The PSG captain's remarks highlight his enduring connection to the Giallorossi despite spending over a decade elsewhere. Marquinhos also discussed his time with Carlo Ancelotti's coaching staff, noting that Italian speakers are present in the setup and expressing his hope that Italian fans might support Ancelotti's team at the World Cup. He expressed disappointment at Italy's failure to qualify for the tournament, calling it "a historic national team and a shame."

Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract situation at Roma continues to be a sensitive issue for the club. The midfielder's deal is set to expire, leaving his future uncertain. Al-Hilal, managed by Inzaghi, is reportedly considering a move for Pellegrini as a free agent, viewing the opportunity to acquire him without a transfer fee. Pellegrini remains a key figure in Roma's midfield plans, but the expiring contract creates a window for interested clubs. The potential interest from Saudi Arabia adds another dimension to contract negotiations at the Giallorossi, with the coming months likely to prove decisive in determining whether the Rome-born midfielder extends his stay or moves elsewhere.

AS Roma faces significant disciplinary consequences following the heated Derby della Capitale in Serie A's 37th round. The Sports Judge handed Wesley a one-match suspension for an incident in the second half, ruling him out of Roma's final fixture at Hellas Verona. The Brazilian winger was also fined €10,000 after striking an opponent in the face without causing injury. Nicolò Rovella received identical punishment—one-game ban and €10,000 fine—for his involvement in the same confrontation. The disciplinary blow extends beyond Wesley's absence. Two Roma players entered the warned list following the derby: Mario Hermoso received his ninth yellow card of the season, while Stephan El Shaarawy collected his fourth. Both now join Gianluca Mancini on Roma's caution list, meaning any further booking at Verona would trigger automatic suspension. This creates a significant strategic challenge for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini as Roma prepares for what is described as a crucial final match of the campaign. The disciplinary situation also carries implications for potential sanctions carrying into the next season. The Sports Judge Gerardo Mastrandrea issued the official decisions following the intense encounter.

Roma legend Aldair has unveiled his all-time best eleven for the club during an appearance on Radio Radio, notably leaving himself out of the defensive lineup. The Brazilian icon chose Gianluca Mancini, the current Roma centre-back, as his partner in defence alongside Argentine Walter Samuel. Mancini emerges as the only active Roma player in Aldair's selection, underscoring his standing among the club's greatest defenders across generations. Aldair's team features Alisson in goal and Cafu at right-back, maintaining a strong Brazilian presence in the backline. Vincent Candela occupies the left flank. In midfield, he selected Falcao, Daniele De Rossi, and Cerezo, with De Rossi preferred over celebrated figures such as Giuseppe Giannini and Agostino Di Bartolomei. The attack is composed of Bruno Conti on the right, Gabriel Batistuta as centre-forward, and Francesco Totti completing the line. The selection reflects Aldair's respect for both Roma's storied history and current quality, with Mancini's inclusion representing continuity between the club's legendary past and present squad composition.

AS Roma face mounting injury and suspension concerns ahead of their match at Verona. Ndicka has suffered a second-degree right hamstring injury with a recovery timeline of approximately one month, ruling him out of the Verona fixture and raising doubts about his participation in the World Cup. Wesley is suspended and risks a two-match ban following the derby, forcing head coach Gasperini to restructure the defence. Celik will cover the right flank while Rensch operates on the opposite side, with Ghilardi—recently returned from a season at Hellas Verona—competing to replace Ndicka alongside Mancini and Hermoso. The injury toll extends further into Roma's midfield. Koné missed the derby due to a muscular problem and trained separately as the squad resumed work, with low odds of starting at Bentegodi. Pellegrini remained sidelined from the derby because of inflammation around his biceps scar and is listed as doubtful, though he is determined to feature given World Cup considerations. Venturino also carries injury risk with knee inflammation. Paulo Dybala is confirmed to lead the attack alongside Malen, with Bryan Cristante and Niccolò Pisilli providing midfield stability. If Koné cannot feature, either El Aynaoui or Matías Soulé will step into the lineup.