Francesco Totti at 50: An alphabet of a life in giallorosso

Former Roma midfielder Edoardo Bove, now at Watford, has praised Gian Piero Gasperini's side, saying the team has great potential and is playing at a very high tempo in Serie A. Bove spoke as a guest on Domenica Sportiva, where he presented his documentary "In un Battito", which tells his own story. Bove, born in 2002, said Roma defend by attacking, press high and mark man-to-man. He said he had faced Gasperini when he was in Italy and remembered how difficult it was to play against his teams. Speaking about his own situation, he said he had prepared during a long period away from the game and expected mental difficulties, particularly in his relationship with his heart and its beat. He said the fear of remembering was sometimes present, which made facing everything and undertaking an inner journey important. On his return to the pitch, Bove said he now feels calm, but added that the professionals who helped him overcome everything made the difference. Asked about a possible return to Italy, he said: "Being in England makes me happy, it was a dream. However, I don't hide that I always have one eye on Italy."

A new Roma retro lifestyle shirt, made by Adidas, has been revealed, drawing on the club's traditions and echoing elements already seen on the 2026/27 away kit. The design was first reported by Footy Headlines, and the shirt is set to go on sale soon. The shirt is being presented as part of Roma's build-up to the centenary season. Its base is dark red, crossed at chest height by a wide yellow horizontal band finished with thin cream-coloured edges. Adidas' classic three stripes in cream appear on the shoulders and along the sleeves, while the Adidas Trefoil in yellow sits on the chest. The most striking feature is the historic ASR monogram enclosed within the crest, a symbol Roma used between 1945 and 1949 and which has already been reintroduced on the 2026/27 away shirt. The lifestyle shirt will be available soon.

Gasperini has described his time at Roma as a wonderful story that is only just beginning. Speaking about the club, the head coach said: "My story with Roma is still young, begun a year and a half ago, but it is as wonderful as the previous ones. We hope to continue on this path." He said his aim is to keep following the path the team has taken. On Lazio, Gasperini said: "Surely it is a surprise, but it also represents a value and a recognition for the city. Rome is extraordinary in its enthusiasm for football. Roma always have a full stadium, while Lazio perhaps have other problems." The remarks touch on the Rome derby rivalry and the strength of football support in the capital. On the team's results and the solidity of his group, Gasperini said: "We have been competitive for some months now. Roma have grown a lot, but we had also made a good start last year. Eleven matches are certainly not many, but they are significant for how the team has performed. The atmosphere gives us great fuel to be able to do well." He has been in charge since 2025, and Roma have been competitive for several months under his leadership.

Rodrigo Mora has finally come into his own, cancelling out early doubts within weeks and establishing himself as one of the brightest talents in Gasperini's Roma. Corriere della Sera reports that his rise has exploded recently, overturning the difficulties of his first months and the debate over his transfer cost. His goal against Sassuolo was his third consecutive Serie A goal, following those against Cagliari and Udinese: four goals in total in just 399 minutes, an average of one goal every hundred minutes. He has also been a creative force in the Champions League, providing key assists at Old Trafford against Manchester United and against Real Madrid, while making the most of Dybala's absence to take control of the final third. Behind the breakthrough is Gasperini's total trust. The coach has always believed in the talent of the former Porto player, protecting him when he played less and developing him in the final metres. Mora is now the club's second-highest scorer alongside Pisilli and Soulé, behind only Malen. He has also earned his first call-up to the Portugal senior squad, in what the report describes as the new era after Cristiano Ronaldo. The milestone adds weight to an exciting progression within an ambitious technical and economic project, and the Friedkin Group have a talent of enormous value on their hands, ready to make Giallorossi fans dream. The report's central message is that Mora has gone from a player under scrutiny to one of the most decisive presences in the squad, with a personality and technical freshness that have won over everyone at Trigoria. Corriere della Sera frames his progress as the reward for both the coach's faith and the club's investment, with the young midfielder now taking centre stage with the composure of a natural.

Former Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo has said Mora has around half an hour of energy in him and struggles when the level rises, speaking on Radio Radio Mattino (104.5). Pruzzo said: "Roma go for walks against the smaller teams, like Sassuolo. They could find something more from the market and from the recovery of Dybala, who hasn't played for months. Mora still has about half an hour of energy, and against teams like Sassuolo he goes to town. Then, when the level rises, he struggles more. In these games, however, he manages to excel and is sought out by his team-mates. He can carve out an important role." Pruzzo also revised his view of MATías Hermoso, admitting he had misjudged him. He said: "On Hermoso I have changed my mind: he has rebounded spectacularly, I had got my assessment of him wrong." Pruzzo's remarks came as Roma's form and squad options were being debated across the capital's radio stations, which he described as a phenomenon unmatched elsewhere in Italy. Fellow Radio Radio Mattino pundit Nando Orsi was equally bullish about Roma's title prospects. He said: "At the start of the season I had no doubts about Roma's chances in the Scudetto fight. They are simply confirming the predictions I made a few months ago."

Mario Hermoso has become one of the most surprising symbols of Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical revolution at Roma, having turned from a pure defender into a complete player who combines marking solidity with a striker's instinct. He is now an established starter, has earned the coach's full trust, and the club has moved to work on a renewal that would tie him to the giallorossi for the long term. According to Il Corriere dello Sport, his development is one of the masterpieces of Gasperini's work. Before a decisive meeting in July 2025, Hermoso's future looked uncertain. Since then his approach to the role has changed completely: aggressive and alert when defending, he becomes an extra attacker as soon as he crosses the halfway line. The numbers back this up. He has scored seven goals under Gasperini, three of them so far this season, including the strike that unlocked the match against Sassuolo. That output places him among the best goalscoring defenders in Europe, directly behind names such as van Dijk and Querfeld, and far surpasses what he produced in his years at Atletico Madrid. His impact is considerable, in some ways comparable to what Kolasinac had at Gasperini's Atalanta, but enhanced by superior technical quality and a more pronounced goal sense. In his thirteen starts he has, alongside his tackles and interceptions, made 120 entries into the opposition box and produced close to a thousand touches, a level of involvement no other Roma player matches. Gasperini described him as "cold as a number nine". Il Corriere dello Sport reports that such a high level of performance made it inevitable to address his contract. Now that the deadline tied to the Champions League clause has passed, Roma and the player are reportedly very close to an agreement running until 2029, with an option for 2030. Hermoso would also have accepted a reduction in his salary, following the example of senior players such as Mancini, Cristante, Dybala and Pellegrini. The gesture is a strong signal of both parties' desire to continue together.