Coppa Italia draw: Roma could face Verona in round of 16, Juventus in quarter-finals

Tiago Pinto, the former Roma sporting director now at Bournemouth, has given an interview in which he contrasts his current role with his previous experience in Rome. Pinto stated: "I feel more fulfilled here. We have a project that does not change based on results or fan protests." The comments appear directed at Roma's approach during his tenure as director, suggesting the club's strategy shifted in response to on-field performance and supporter reaction. Despite the criticism, Pinto offered praise for Roma's recent achievements. He expressed satisfaction that the club qualified for the Champions League and finished third in Serie A, calling it "very beautiful." He also singled out Massara, Roma's current sporting director, for special recognition, acknowledging that the role at Roma "always suffers." Pinto reflected on his three years in the capital, noting that the experience taught him to manage unpredictable situations and remain calm under pressure, skills he credited with shaping his approach to problem-solving.

Roma's qualification for the Champions League has been welcomed widely, including by Romelu Lukaku, who played for the club in a recent season. Speaking to Sky Sport, the striker expressed his happiness for the achievement. Lukaku said: "Roma in Champions? That's beautiful, I'm happy for the Roma fans because they deserve it. It's a shame for two big sides like Milan and Juve to be out, but the qualified teams deserved it." The qualification marks a significant milestone for the club and its supporters after a period of rebuilding. Lukaku, now at Napoli, spent a single season with Roma but left a positive impression among fans despite the team not winning trophies during his time there. His commentary highlights the broader sentiment that Roma's return to European football's premier competition is a merited achievement and represents progress for the organization. With Champions League football secured, Roma now faces the task of planning for the coming season with renewed expectations and ambitions at a higher competitive level.

Roma has completed the permanent acquisition of Donyell Malen and secured a contract renewal for Hermoso as part of efforts to strengthen the squad under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The club is operating with the ambition and efficiency expected of a Champions League side, moving quickly to finalize key decisions rather than delaying announcements. Both signings represent a commitment to building a competitive foundation for European football. The final piece in this consolidation phase is Paulo Dybala's contract extension. Although not yet official, negotiations are progressing and an agreement is expected soon. Roma is working toward a renewal that would keep Dybala at the club until 2027, giving the Argentine forward another year to compete at the highest level. The renewal has been described as important for the overall project, as it would complete the strengthening of the squad's core before Roma pursues additional reinforcements. Details of the timing and specific terms remain unclear, but a meeting to finalize Dybala's extension is anticipated in the coming days. The club's swift action on Malen and Hermoso signals a new approach under the Friedkin Group ownership, prioritizing clear planning and immediate execution to establish Roma as a genuine Champions League contender.