Friedkin sells Everton: Roma fans hope for sharper focus on the club

AS Roma have opened ticket sales for their match against Sassuolo on 7 November 2026 at the Olimpico, the final fixture in a nine-match run over 28 days. Sales began at 12:00 on 9 October. The club confirmed: "Tickets are valid for the Roma–Sassuolo match on 7 November 2026 at 20:45. Each supporter may purchase up to four tickets per transaction. All tickets will be issued in digital format only and can be downloaded to a mobile device or the IL MIO POSTO app; no PDF summary files will be sent." Plus subscribers for the 2026–27 season can access a dedicated price for extra tickets in any sector, available only online using their PNR and date of birth. Each Plus subscriber may buy a maximum of two tickets in a single transaction. Plus subscribers gain access to the resale service from 10:00 on 23 October. The user-change service opens at 10:00 on 30 October, and a fee may apply depending on ticket type; only one modification per fiscal seal is permitted.

Sunday's match at the Sinigaglia pits two of world football's wealthiest ownership groups directly against each other. The Como side, controlled by Indonesia's Hartono family, and AS Roma, owned by American businessman Dan Friedkin, have together invested €1.5bn in Italian football. The meeting illustrates how Serie A has opened itself to globalisation, with ownership now spanning Asia and the United States at an unprecedented scale of financial commitment. The Hartono family, whose wealth originates from Djarum—an Indonesian conglomerate producing clove cigarettes—also controls Bank Central Asia, the country's leading credit institution. Forbes estimated the combined fortune of brothers Robert Budi and Michael Bambang at $43.8bn in 2025; Michael died in March at 86. Since 2019, the family has invested €390m into Como through the British holding company Sent Entertainment, transforming the club into a football and business laboratory. Friedkin's wealth stems from Gulf States Toyota, which holds exclusive distribution rights for Japanese vehicles across five American states, generating $14.5bn in annual revenue in 2025. His portfolio has expanded into luxury hotels through Auberge Resorts and film production via Neon, an Oscar-winning studio. Forbes valued Friedkin's personal wealth at $12.5bn. The distance between Kudus, headquarters of the Hartono family's operations, and Houston, seat of the Friedkin Group, spans 16,000 kilometres. This geographical span underscores the globalisation now reshaping Italian football ownership.

Roma are working on multiple transfer targets for the January window beyond Endrick, the Brazilian forward who has caught coach Gian Piero Gasperini's eye. While Endrick is a striker and left-footer who has shown he can operate in a secondary role at Lyon, his arrival may prove redundant given Paulo Dybala's elevated form and Matías Soulé's recent return to top condition — both players already operate in the centre-forward areas where the Brazilian would likely be deployed. Director Tony D'Amico is therefore pursuing alternative options, with initial contact already made on two specific players. The first is Georgian left-winger Kvernadze, a right-footed player with an imposing physical presence, pace and goalscoring ability who could compensate on that flank for the different profile offered by Rodrigo Mora. The second is Ruben van Bommel of PSV, son of the former Milan and Barcelona midfielder and current Belgium coach. Van Bommel, born 2004, was sidelined by a serious injury last season but has since recovered and is back at peak fitness. Van Bommel has scored 2 goals and provided 4 assists, and has already gained early Champions League experience. Roma's recruitment staff view both players as capable of strengthening the squad in areas where tactical balance is needed.