Friedkin set to arrive in Rome as pre-season begins

Lawyer Fabio Federico, representing a property owner in the expropriation procedure for Roma's planned new stadium at Pietralata, says all legal attempts to block the project have been exhausted. Federico told Radio Roma Sound that local residents and associations have already pursued claims before the Regional Administrative Court (TAR) and the Council of State, and those phases are now closed. The stadium construction will proceed, though Federico indicated the timeline may yet be affected by ongoing negotiations over compensation. Federico identified a calculation error in the municipality's expropriation valuation. He explained that the property owner should have been offered the base price plus a 10% premium for voluntary sale, but only the base price was applied in the official documents. In his client's case, this discrepancy amounts to approximately €32,660. Federico noted that this error was flagged in observations submitted to the municipality, with documentation published on the municipality's official website detailing the miscalculation. On contact with Roma or the municipality, Federico stated: "No one has made themselves available." He added that notification came in late July, "at a time of little attention even from the recipients," suggesting the procedure requires careful scrutiny. The Commissioner overseeing the expropriation has already shortened the public tender period specifically to guarantee the construction timeline for the stadium. Federico observed that any delay now depends on whether Roma and the municipality move quickly to reach an agreement with affected property owners. He emphasized: "It is a matter of timing. It is logical that those with an interest in this matter, including Roma Calcio, have needs linked to timescales. It is in the interest of the party that wants to proceed to seek an agreement with those who hold a right, because compensation valuations in expropriation must follow established rules and cannot ignore the particular needs of the affected parties." Federico's communication to the municipality was dated 5 August and, he suggested, could have been resolved "in very brief times." Nearly three weeks later, no response had been received. He concluded that the speed of the procedure now rests with the municipality and Roma, both of which share an interest in accelerating the process.

Lawyer Fabio Federico, representing a resident caught in the expropriation process for Roma's new stadium, said on Radio Roma Sound that the construction project cannot be halted, though the timeline can be affected by how quickly disputes over compensation are resolved. Federico disclosed a calculation error in the municipality's initial valuation of the property being seized. The council failed to apply a 10 per cent uplift for voluntary surrender alongside the base price, resulting in an underpayment of approximately €32,660 in the resident's case. "There is a patent error in the municipality document that we have contested because the amounts that were identified do not actually correspond to what the calculation should have been," Federico said. "Essentially you had to apply the base price plus the 10 per cent uplift for voluntary surrender, instead they applied only the base price without indicating the 10 per cent that is even declared in the document, so it is purely a calculation error that nonetheless undermines the act itself." Federico explained that while the council can correct the error, doing so adds time because the expropriating party must then verify the new calculation is accurate, requiring another 30-day period for the property owner to respond. He signalled the residents will challenge the valuation again under Article 54 of Italian expropriation law, citing the particular value of the property—a two-family villa rather than an apartment—and arguing the parameters used by the council were too summary. The notification was served at the end of July, and the lawyer noted no contact has yet been made by Roma or the municipality. "A 20-day gap has passed and we have received no response," he said. On whether the stadium itself could still be blocked, Federico was direct: "Attempts to halt this project are now exhausted at the moment when both associations of residents and inhabitants appealed first to the administrative court and then to the Council of State. That phase has been surpassed; the expropriation will go ahead. It is a matter of timing." He called on Roma and the administration to reach swift agreement on compensation in the residents' favour, describing the outcome as dependent on "the offer and the willingness of the counterparty to satisfy a right that belongs to the expropriated parties" under expropriation law.

AS Roma have appointed Jacopo Gobbetti as the new head of scouting in a reorganisation of their youth academy structure. Gobbetti arrives from Hellas Verona, where he had worked with Massimo Margiotta. Margiotta, who is now part of Roma's sporting setup, championed Gobbetti's arrival and has integrated him into the club's new youth sector hierarchy. The appointment underscores Roma's commitment to strengthening not only the first team—where the transfer window remains open for new reinforcements to support head coach Gian Piero Gasperini—but also the academy and talent identification systems. Gobbetti's experience at Verona and direct collaboration with Margiotta position him to develop Roma's scouting operations across age groups.