Roma continue Champions celebrations; Pisilli describes thrilling night; Dybala contract renewal awaited

Roma held a final squad meeting at their Trigoria training ground, where head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and three senior players addressed the staff after securing Champions League qualification. Bryan Cristante, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Gianluca Mancini spoke to celebrate the achievement and reflect on the season. Cristante emphasized the team's unity: "We came together when we needed to, we brought home a major objective and we must continue on this path to make it our standard." Pellegrini praised the collective effort: "This year has been really beautiful, we've been chasing this qualification for a while and yesterday we did it, even though it seemed difficult along the way but we always believed in it and it seems you did too, if we're here today to celebrate and congratulate each other all together. So thank you very much to you." Mancini reflected on the significance of the achievement, stating: "Celebrating, rejoicing, bringing Roma to the Champions League after many years is a source of pride because we all know this shirt has important value. Seeing you here happy, you too, for this achievement makes it even more important. And nothing, next year we play Champions League, now we rest and forza Roma." Roma has returned to Europe's elite club competition after a lengthy absence, marking a notable shift in the club's fortunes under current leadership.

Saud Abdulhamid, a former AS Roma defender currently on loan at Lens, has been unable to join Saudi Arabia's national team for World Cup preparations after a serious incident in Amsterdam. Both his car and passport were stolen during his stay in the Dutch city, complicating his travel plans to link up with the national squad. Abdulhamid represented Roma as a left-back before his move to the French club. The timing of the theft is particularly unfortunate, occurring just days before Saudi Arabia's World Cup campaign. The incident has forced the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to intervene and accelerate necessary administrative procedures. The Saudi Federation released a statement addressing the situation: "The Federation is following the investigation carefully and cooperating with the competent authorities to allow the player to join the national team as soon as possible." Officials are working to expedite the issuance of a replacement passport through the Dutch authorities. Details remain unclear on whether the stolen vehicle was recovered or when Abdulhamid will be cleared to travel.

AS Roma have qualified for the Champions League after seven years away from European football's top competition, finishing third in the Serie A table. The club's return to the Champions League represents a significant achievement following a period outside Europe's elite club competition. A vignette by Michele from Oman accompanies the news.

Roma midfielder Niccolò Pisilli has been selected for Italy's upcoming friendly matches in June. The call-up comes as Roma celebrates its recent qualification for the Champions League. Pisilli joins fellow player Venturino in the Italy squad for the international fixtures. The selection represents recognition of Pisilli's performances and continues a positive period for Roma, with the club now preparing for European football's top competition alongside managing international commitments for its players.

Italy interim coach Baldini has named a youthful squad for two friendly internationals against Luxembourg (3 June) and Greece (7 June), with an average age of just 20 years and 6 months. The squad prioritises emerging talent following Italy's World Cup qualification failure and the earlier defeat in Zenica. Two AS Roma players have been included: Niccolò Pisilli and Lorenzo Venturino, the only Giallorossi selected for the fixtures. The call-up underscores a new direction for the national team under Baldini's interim stewardship. The most experienced player in the squad is 27-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma, currently at Manchester City. The wide pool of young talent includes players from major European clubs, with representation from Atalanta, Milan, Fiorentina, Borussia Dortmund, and Juventus among others. The selection reflects an attempt to rebuild squad depth and identify future internationals ahead of upcoming campaigns. Pisilli and Venturino's inclusion represents recognition of their development at Roma. The remainder of the squad spans multiple positions across goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards, with several players based abroad in Serie A and top European leagues.

Niccolò Pisilli was honored with the Premio Arancio at an Italian sports press union event, where he spoke about Roma's return to the Champions League and his development as a midfielder. The Roma centrocampist, celebrating the club's qualification secured the previous day, received the award from Marco Tardelli, the 1982 World Cup winner. Pisilli praised head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's impact on the squad, saying: "It was very important. He brought his ideas, his personality. We were good at following him, and especially in the second half of the season, I believe we managed to implement his ideas best. We understood the concepts better and also played good football for many matches. His history speaks for itself. He has improved so many players, so many young people. I always followed him in every training session and, training session after training session, I grew and managed to carve out my own space." Pisilli credited Roma's consistency throughout the season for securing Champions League football, noting the team remained in contention despite occasional setbacks. Tardelli jokingly remarked on the midfielder's maturity and composure, saying he saw similarities to his younger self. Pisilli also emphasized the honor of representing Italy, expressing hope for future World Cup participation. He identified Roma's 2–1 loss to Parma as a particularly difficult moment, yet highlighted the squad's resilience in bouncing back and ultimately achieving their goal.

AS Roma has officially secured Champions League qualification for the first time in seven years following a victory at Verona. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is now preparing for a significant summer transfer window, with the Friedkin Group reportedly allocating over €100 million to strengthen the squad for European competition. The club's primary targets include attackers Greenwood and Nusa, while a deal for Brazilian right-back Dodò from Fiorentina is under negotiation, with a fee expected between €15 and €20 million. With Champions League football secured, Roma's ambitions have shifted toward building a squad capable of competing at Europe's elite level. Gasperini has made clear his expectations for recruitment across multiple positions, particularly in attack and defence. Negotiations with Fiorentina's Paratici are ongoing for Dodò, and speculation has circulated on social media after the defender engaged with Roma's social accounts. Meanwhile, contract discussions continue regarding Paulo Dybala's future. His agent Carlos Novel visited Trigoria to discuss a renewal, with the club expressing confidence in reaching an agreement. After a standout performance with two assists in the Verona match, Dybala posted on social media: "An intense season, full of emotions, difficult moments and great joys. Proud of the group, the work done together and of achieving an important objective like qualifying for the Champions League. As I said yesterday, Roma should never make news for being in the Champions League… but for now let's enjoy this moment, because we deserved it. Thank you to the fans for always being there. Your support really makes the difference. Forza Roma."

Paulo Dybala has posted a message on social media celebrating Roma's qualification for the Champions League this season. The Argentine forward reflected on an intense campaign marked by difficult moments and significant joy, expressing pride in the squad and the work done collectively to achieve Champions League football. He stated: "An intense season, full of emotions, difficult moments and great joys. Proud of the group, the work done together and of having achieved an important objective like Champions League qualification. As I said yesterday, Roma should never make news for being in the Champions League… but in the meantime let's enjoy this moment, because we deserve it. Thank you to the fans for always being there, in every moment. Your support makes a real difference. Forza Roma." Dybala's contract with Roma is set to expire on 30 June, though reports suggest a renewal with the club is close. His message comes amid celebrations across the Roma squad following the confirmation of European football's top competition for next season. The achievement represents a significant turnaround for the Giallorossi and marks an important milestone for the club's ambitions.

The article discusses Alexis Saelemaekers' contrasting moments: celebrating against Dybala and scoring an ineffective goal against Cagliari. Saelemaekers' Milan side currently sits below Roma in the standings and has been eliminated from Champions League contention. The piece reflects on Roma's positioning and the broader challenge ahead for the club's ownership under the Friedkin Group as the season concludes. Details of specific match circumstances and strategic implications remain unclear from the excerpt provided.