D'Amico appointment announcement delayed; Atalanta reportedly blocking Roma's move

Valentino Angeloni, head of Fiorentina's youth academy, has publicly distanced himself from a potential move to AS Roma. Speaking at the Serie A Festival in Parma, Angeloni made clear his intention to remain in Florence and focus on his work with the club's leadership. Roma had been searching for a new youth sector director following the departure of Claudio Ranieri and the collapse of an agreement with Massimo Tarantino. Angeloni's rejection eliminates one of the primary candidates on Roma's shortlist, which also included Frara. Despite acknowledging Roma's prestige and his personal connection to the capital—he was born in Rome and played for Roma as a child—Angeloni emphasized his commitment to Fiorentina's project. He stated: "I'm staying in Florence, and that's my wish. The Roma rumours are flattering, of course—I was born in Rome and played as a child at Roma with Anzalone, it's an important club, but so is Fiorentina and I'm focused on what I've done, must do, and will do here. I'm working with Paratici and his entire department on Fiorentina's future. I'm very focused on what I'm doing, I like it very much, in a fantastic environment." The development marks another setback in Roma's efforts to rebuild their youth academy structure after recent managerial transitions.

Tony D'Amico is in Bergamo negotiating the termination of his contract with Atalanta, bringing his move to Roma as sporting director closer. The agreement between D'Amico and the Giallorossi has been delayed by outstanding financial matters with the Nerazzurri, who removed him from his position roughly a week ago and appointed Cristiano Giuntoli as his replacement. Once the resolution is finalized, D'Amico will officially join head coach Gian Piero Gasperini at Trigoria. D'Amico's immediate priorities at Roma include negotiating contract renewals for Çelik, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Paulo Dybala. The club must also address Financial Fair Play compliance and capital gains requirements by 30 June, though the deadline could potentially be extended to 30 June 2027 through agreement with UEFA, allowing Roma to defer certain accounting obligations. This flexibility could help the club avoid selling key squad members during the current transfer window and instead register incoming revenue from Champions League participation in the next financial year. Gasperini's preferred target for recruitment is Mason Greenwood, though additional signings are expected beyond that single acquisition. The incoming sporting director will oversee all these matters alongside the club's broader transfer strategy.

Alberto Aquilani, the former Roma midfielder, is reportedly close to an agreement to become Sassuolo's head coach. According to reports, Aquilani met with Sassuolo's management again recently, with a deal appearing imminent. The 47-year-old, who played for Roma from 2002 to 2009 and later spent time at Sassuolo in 2017, would make the leap to management after managing Catanzaro. Sassuolo views him as the ideal fit to work alongside Fabio Grosso. If the transfer materializes, Aquilani would become the fifth former Roma player or manager Roma will face next season. The others are Eusebio Di Francesco (Lecce, matchday 2), Cristian Chivu (Inter, 20 September), Daniele De Rossi (Genoa, 18 October), and Luciano Spalletti (Juventus, 20 December). Aquilani would face his former club on 8 November at the Stadio Olimpico in what would be his first return as an opposing manager. The fixture list presents an unusual situation for Roma, with the club set to encounter a notable series of familiar faces throughout the 2025–26 campaign. Each match carries potential narrative weight given the connections between these coaches and the Giallorossi.