Giannini on Roma: passion, responsibility, and the night Totti became his roommate

Roma's pre-season tour of Britain concluded with a 3–0 defeat to Brighton at the Amex Stadium, marking the final fixture of an intensive preparation cycle that took Gian Piero Gasperini's squad through Cardiff, Newport, and England. The loss came after encouraging signs against Newport but exposed defensive frailties and a need for sharper athletic conditioning as the squad builds towards the 2026–27 campaign. The intensity of Brighton's play and elevated tempo highlighted areas where Roma's match fitness still requires development, a natural consequence of the heavy workload sustained during the early weeks of the British training block. The squad flew back to Italy immediately after the final whistle and returned to Rome yesterday evening. To allow recovery from the accumulated fatigue and to process the tactical lessons from the Amex, Gasperini granted the group two full days of rest. Training resumes on Tuesday afternoon at Trigoria. The next major test arrives on Ferragosto (15 August) in a high-profile friendly against Borussia Dortmund, a fixture intended as a final dress rehearsal before the opening competitive matches of the new season.

Pietro Mezzaroma, a defining figure in Rome's urban development across the second half of the 20th century, died on 4 August at the age of 91. Born in Rome in 1935, Mezzaroma began his career in his father Amerigo's carpentry business before pivoting decisively to residential construction during the 1950s economic boom. With his brothers Gianni and Roberto, he founded Impreme (Imprese Mezzaroma), which became a cornerstone of the capital's property development. After a 1996 family restructuring, he established Pietro Mezzaroma & Figli with his four children—Massimo, Barbara, Valentina, and Alessandra—and continued to shape entire neighbourhoods across Rome. Mezzaroma's work fundamentally altered the city's landscape, from the Torrino and EUR districts to Talenti, Cinecittà, and Dragoncello, as well as San Basilio and Tor Bella Monaca. He was known for direct pragmatism and a visceral connection to Rome's social fabric; Paolo Buzzetti, former president of the Roman builders' association, recalled: "Pietro advised others, including institutional contacts, to be practical, not to get lost in sophisms and flowery language. Few political and financial analyses, and much concrete action: spontaneity and pragmatism was the mix that distinguished him." Mezzaroma also collaborated on architectural projects with Paolo Portoghesi, a towering figure in Italian architecture. In May 1993, Mezzaroma acquired AS Roma alongside Franco Sensi, taking the club from Giuseppe Ciarrapico. He remained co-owner for approximately six months before transferring his shares to Sensi.

Roma's training camp in the UK ended in defeat as they lost a friendly match against Brighton at the American Express Stadium. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the media after the loss, indicating that something was lacking in the team's performance. Lorenzo Pellegrini signed a contract extension through 2027 during this period. Separately, Torino president Urbano Cairo commented on Alessio Cacciamani and Roma's interest in the player, though no transfer details were specified.