Italy U17 Reaches European Championship Final After Penalty Shootout Victory Over Spain

Konstantinos Koulierakis delivered a commanding performance in Greece's Nations League match against Germany, starting and playing the full 90 minutes while keeping a clean sheet. The Roma defender was among the best players on the pitch, containing the physicality of Burkhardt while limiting the pace of Wirtz in a demanding fixture. Koulierakis has featured sparingly for Roma this season, with limited minutes and few opportunities to showcase his form. With the campaign only just underway, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will need contributions from his full squad. The Greece international's display against Germany represents a statement of intent—a reminder that he remains available and ready to claim his place in the team's plans.

Cesc Fabregas has publicly expressed respect for Gian Piero Gasperini ahead of Como's fixture against Roma in one week's time, moving to defuse tension between the two coaches after a heated encounter last season. The Spanish manager addressed the pair's previous conflict at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, where he stated: "I have great respect for him." Last season, Gasperini refused to shake Fabregas's hand after Como's 2–1 home victory, walking directly toward the tunnel in protest at Wesley's expulsion, which the Roma coach deemed dubious. Fabregas had called the gesture "unsporting" at the time, fueling friction between them. The article comes as Roma prepare for their next league match against Como. Gasperini, who took charge of Roma in 2025, is one of the most experienced and strongest coaches in Serie A, presenting a contrasting tactical approach to Fabregas's style. The incident has left some residual effects on their relationship, though Fabregas's recent comments suggest a willingness to move past it. Fabregas acknowledged his own mistakes and emotional nature, saying: "I myself make errors many times; I am still young and often still emotional." He then directed his comments at Gasperini specifically: "I hope that a more experienced coach, if I make a mistake, will tell me. For example Gasperini. I like to listen to people who know more than I do." He also noted that relationships cannot be identical with all colleagues: "You cannot keep the same friendship or relationship with everyone; we are all different."

Santiago Castro and Matías Soulé both earned their senior Argentina caps in a 7–0 friendly victory against Burkina Faso. Castro came close to scoring but struck the crossbar in the closing stages. Speaking to journalists after the match, the former Bologna forward reflected on the occasion with emotion. "I was nervous before the match, but once you get on the pitch you just have to play and be yourself. To be honest it makes me really happy, I feel so many emotions," Castro said. "After everything I've been through and all this time, I'm really happy. But the goal slipped away – the ball hit the crossbar. Lately I've hit quite a few crossbars and posts (laughs), but anyway I'm really happy and I just have to keep going like this." Castro's reference to recent woodwork touches on Roma's Serie A campaign. In the club's third league match against Atalanta, Castro struck the woodwork twice in what proved a narrow victory, with teammate Soulé scoring the decisive late goal. Both players have now made their mark at international level, with Soulé also featuring in the Argentina side against Burkina Faso.

Roma's growth extends far beyond the pitch. The Friedkin Group is executing a comprehensive strategy built on investment, youth development, sustainability and a new stadium at Pietralata designed to fundamentally reshape the club's economic scale, according to CEO John Galantic speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport. Since the Friedkins arrived, the club has invested approximately €1 billion, with a further €1.3 billion allocated to the stadium project. Galantic outlined the club's approach to sustainable development: "We have three projects: renovating youth academies, thanks to people like D'Amico and Margiotta. Then the next growth stage between the Primavera and first team: the Under 23 is essential for us. And finally synergies with our team at Cannes, which is in the richest talent market. Every year we want to put new players developed in-house to grow and have a sustainable model." This strategy is already visible in the development of players like Emanuele Lulli and Niccolò Pisilli, who have become integral to the first team. The true transformation will arrive with the new stadium. Roma aims to lay the foundation stone by March 2027 and estimates that in its first full operational season, the stadium could generate a 245 per cent increase in matchday revenue compared to 2025, without accounting for potential new sponsorships. Galantic stated: "In four years the stadium will change everything, it raises revenue and allows us to make a very important sporting and economic leap. It's a stadium conceived for the fans." He contrasted the new ground with the Stadio Olimpico: "The Olimpico is beautiful and full of memories but it wasn't made for football. We've studied several exciting elements. We imagine the South Stand more united, it will be something special." On the ownership's broader approach, Galantic added: "The Friedkins did it in silence, with facts and with investments. Sometimes silence is golden and it works."

The Friedkin Group has committed €1 billion in investment to Roma's long-term project, centred on a new stadium at Pietralata with a €1.3 billion price tag designed to transform the club's finances and competitiveness. John Galantic, appointed to oversee the expansion, outlined a three-pillar strategy: renovating the youth academy under academy directors D'Amico and Margiotta, establishing an Under-23 team to bridge Primavera and the first squad, and leveraging Roma's partnership with Cannes to identify emerging talent. The club aims to place new academy graduates into the first team annually to create a sustainable model without reliance on pure transfer profits, with academy graduates Emanuele Lulli and Niccolò Pisilli cited as examples of the approach already bearing fruit. The new stadium forms the centrepiece of this expansion. Roma targets laying the foundation stone by March 2027 and projects that the first season of operation will generate a 245% increase in revenue compared to 2025, exclusive of new sponsorship deals. Galantic explained the strategic vision: "We have three projects: renovate the youth academy, thanks to people like D'Amico and Margiotta. Then the next growth phase between Primavera and the first team: we need the Under-23. And finally synergies with the Cannes squad, which is in the richest talent market. Every year we want to place new players developed in-house to grow and have a sustainable model." On the stadium itself, Galantic stated: "In four years the stadium will change everything—it increases revenue and lets us make a very important sporting and economic leap. It's a stadium designed for fans. The Olimpico is beautiful and full of memories but it's not made for football. We've studied various elements and they're enthralling. Imagine the South Curve more united—it will be something special. The Friedkin family has done all this quietly, with facts and investment. Sometimes silence is golden and it works. For Italy, a €1.3 billion investment is a signal to pursue similar projects."

Marten De Roon is preparing for a starting role in the wake of Bryan Cristante's injury, which will keep the Italian midfielder sidelined for approximately three weeks. De Roon, 35, is competing with Niccolò Pisilli for the position; Pisilli has impressed head coach Gian Piero Gasperini with a strong start to the season. The Dutch midfielder and Pisilli possess different characteristics, with De Roon operating as the more conservative option in midfield. Gasperini has consistently backed De Roon since his arrival at Roma, and the midfielder now has the chance to demonstrate why he remains the coach's trusted figure in the middle of the park.