Margiotta backs youth development through merit; Giannini hails Totti as Roma's greatest

Roma are preparing a concrete new attempt to sign Endrick in the January transfer window, with head coach Gasperini and sporting director D'Amico maintaining their interest in the Brazilian. The 2006-born forward is struggling for playing time at Real Madrid, despite comments from José Mourinho, and Roma see an opportunity to revive their pursuit. AC Milan, who attempted to bring Endrick to the club in the summer, also remain in contention for his signature. Meanwhile, Roma are advancing contract negotiations with defender Emanuele Lulli, whose performances at the start of the season have impressed the club. Lulli is set for a contract extension through to 2031, with his salary rising significantly to nearly €1 million per year.

AS Roma have been working on a move for Real Madrid forward Endrick over the last few months, with increasingly positive signals that a deal could materialise in January. Sporting director Tony D'Amico is driving the initiative, and crucially, Endrick has already given his approval to join the Giallorossi, viewing a Roma move as an opportunity to regain prominence after his time in Madrid. Endrick's father is also supportive of the transfer, particularly given that his Brazilian teammate Wesley is performing well at Roma. The player has confided to close friends that a switch to the Giallorossi is a genuine possibility. AC Milan have also attempted to recruit Endrick, but Roma are ahead in the race, having already held initial talks with the player and his representatives. A forthcoming fixture between Roma and Real Madrid could provide a suitable moment for both parties to advance discussions further on the deal.

Massimo Margiotta, appointed head of Roma's youth academy on 9 July 2026, has outlined his vision for the club's historically prominent youth development programme in his first months in the role. The 49-year-old, who previously worked in youth football at Vicenza and Verona, described taking charge as joining a top club with a youth structure that has always been a flagship operation. He credited his previous working relationship with Roma's sporting director Tony D'Amico at Verona as instrumental in the move to the capital. Margiotta acknowledged the weight of inheriting the legacy of figures including Bruno Conti and Alberto De Rossi in youth development. "It's a big responsibility," he said. "Bruno will always be one of the most important figures in the history of this youth department — he did something revolutionary and unique. Beyond wishing him well, I've built a good relationship with him over sixteen years. And Mister De Rossi is a person of value whom I've come to know over time. Replacing two people of this stature is a big responsibility, but it motivates me to create something beautiful as was done in the past." Margiotta distinguished between youth academy leadership and first-team management: "The main difference lies in the relationship with time and results. In the first team, results must be immediate — you build your path through results. In youth football, the true winning path is measured over time. The boys have years to become great, and our job is to accompany them while respecting each phase of their growth: age, school, family, physical, mental and psychological development. Results matter, but must always fit into a broader project of training and growth. Essentially, you're raising children who aren't yours but whom you must bring into the world of adults." One of Margiotta's early decisions was appointing Mattia Scala as Primavera coach, citing his thirteen seasons in Roma's youth structure and demonstrated quality. "His choice also represents a broader principle," Margiotta explained. "We want our youth academy to be a place where talent emerges in all roles, not just among players. Coaches and professionals must be able to grow through a meritocratic path, founded on quality, passion, competence and a sense of belonging." Margiotta described his proximity to head coach Gian Piero Gasperini as a continuous learning opportunity. "It means having an enormous opportunity for growth every day. Gasperini built an important part of his development in youth football, and I believe that makes it even more valuable to observe his work up close. Seeing him train, understanding how he reads players, what he demands, how he develops talent and how he guides young players towards senior football represents a continuous lesson for me." Margiotta's playing career, which ended after a spell at Barletta, preceded his entry into youth development following a call from Paolo Cristallini at Vicenza, where he spent five years as youth academy head before joining Verona in 2017 under Maurizio Setti. He expressed pride in Roma's regional talent pipeline. "In our territory there are a series of realities that operate significantly and are known across Italy. Though I worked in the North for many years, I've established and cultivated various relationships with Roman clubs, seeking to bring players through. I know well the value of these amateur teams and how important they are to our work."

Gian Piero Gasperini has reflected on his time at Roma following an appearance at the Trento Sports Festival organised by La Gazzetta dello Sport. Speaking after a series of questions about the last season, the head coach identified the final league match against Verona as the occasion that moved him most since arriving at the club. "I'd say the last league match against Verona," he explained, "because there was a sense of having reached an important milestone and with great satisfaction from the fans." When asked about his most difficult match, Gasperini pointed to Roma's trip to Inter Milan last season as the moment when the team's form dipped most sharply, though he suggested the most recent fixture represented a different level of challenge altogether. His greatest surprise, however, has come from Donyell Malen's goal tally. "Malen surprised me, certainly the number of goals he scored was something no one could have imagined," Gasperini said. "For the rest there have been lots of very positive surprises." The coach also fielded a lighthearted question about a player he would have liked to manage but never had the opportunity. When asked about Lionel Messi, Gasperini laughed rather than answer directly.

Gian Piero Gasperini spoke at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, hosted by La Gazzetta dello Sport, reflecting on his time at Roma. In an exchange on the club's social media channels, he was asked about defining moments from the previous season and fielded questions on several topics. When asked which match had moved him most since taking charge, Gasperini said: "I would say the last league match against Verona, because there was the feeling of having reached an important milestone and with great satisfaction from the supporters." On the season's most difficult encounter, Gasperini pointed to Roma's trip to Milan to face Inter last season as the period when the club's form dipped most severely. "However, the last match we played was on another level entirely," he added. The coach was also quizzed on which player had surprised him most. He highlighted Donyell Malen's goal tally as unexpected: "The number of goals from Malen was something no one could have imagined. For the rest, they have all been very positive surprises." When asked which player he had always wanted to manage but never had the chance to, Gasperini responded with humour to a question about Lionel Messi, laughing at the suggestion. The remarks came amid reports that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina had declined to travel to Messi's farewell international event.

Gian Piero Gasperini spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport about his time at Roma, reflecting on the matches, moments and players that have defined his tenure so far. The most emotionally rewarding fixture, he said, was the recent league match against Verona. "The sensation was of having reached an important milestone, with great satisfaction," Gasperini explained. When asked about his most difficult match, Gasperini pointed to Roma's performance against Inter last season as a period when the team struggled, though he suggested a more recent fixture had presented fresh challenges. On the bright side, the Roma manager identified Donyell Malen's goal tally as the season's major surprise. "It was something nobody could have imagined," Gasperini said of Malen's output. "For the rest, they have all been very positive surprises." Closing the interview, Gasperini was asked which player he would have liked to manage but never had the chance to work with. His answer was unequivocal: Messi. The exchange drew smiles from the interviewer, with Gasperini's reply captured in a video clip shared by the outlet.