Giannini emerges as candidate for Roma youth academy role

Bryan Cristante has become one of the most reliable figures in the Roma side, a silent leader who keeps performing regardless of changes in coaches, teammates or executives. His 373 appearances place him close to legends such as Tancredi, Nela and Conti in the club's all-time list. Corriere dello Sport describes him as the embodiment of the valuable, often unseen work that makes the difference. Gasperini made him captain and has said he does not remember him playing this strongly. Cristante returned straight to the centre of the team after a knee problem. Roma are preparing for a Champions League clash at Old Trafford against Manchester United, and he is expected to lead the side in midfield alongside Marten de Roon. The pairing is described as solid, experienced and ready to guide the team. In the Udine match, Cristante played a huge game, scoring, providing an assist and maintaining a total presence in midfield. Gasperini has made him captain, and the coach's praise underlines how central his role remains as the club prepares for its Champions League fixture in Manchester.

Roma left-back Wesley held a live TikTok session from his hotel room in Manchester, appearing in his Giallorossi kit as he chatted with friends around 10pm Italian time. Among those who joined the stream was Luigi Mastroianni, DJ, artist and television personality known for taking part in Uomini e Donne. Mastroianni, astonished, recognised Wesley only a few minutes after he joined the call and exclaimed: "Ti ho preso al Fantacalcio! Ti ho pagato 90 crediti!" ("I picked you in Fantacalcio! I paid 90 credits for you!"). The two then spent several minutes playing on the platform together. Amid the many "Daje Wes" and "Forza Roma" messages, one of the most popular comments was the ironic "Vai a dormire!" ("Go to sleep!"). England is one hour behind Italy, but the time difference was enough to build further anticipation ahead of Roma's Champions League clash against Manchester United on Tuesday. The live session carried on for some time afterwards, with music, conversation and laughter.

Clément Grenier has revealed that Francesco Totti gave him one of his shirts from his final league match for Roma, as a keepsake from the club legend's farewell. The French midfielder, who was on loan at Roma from January to June 2017, recalled the moment in a video published by Dégaine (by So Foot), nearly ten years on. Grenier was at the club during the last season of Totti's career and the emotional farewell that closed it. His experience at Roma was not an unforgettable one for him personally, but he witnessed at close quarters a historic moment in the history of the giallorossi. "What I have, and will keep forever, is Francesco Totti's shirt, because it was his last shirt, from his last league match and his farewell. He gave me one because I had asked him; he must have kept some, because I think he had made several. But one of his shirts, which was in the dressing room, he had promised me, we had talked about it. And so he kept it, dedicated it to me and gave it to me." Grenier added: "Besides this, he had given all the players a gift with a shirt and a captain's armband that he had signed and dedicated. But this shirt here I think is the most significant and it is symbolic, because it was the last match of his career at Roma, where he is a god down there." Grenier concluded: "To have known him, discussed things with him and still have the chance to talk a little with him, is enormously gratifying. All the gifts he gave us in the last weeks of his career as a player were extraordinary. The moments we shared together are, in short, beautiful memories."