New Roma Stadium Approved; Construction to Start in March 2027

AS Roma has received formal approval to build a new stadium at Pietralata. A decisive Services Conference concluded this morning under the chairmanship of Massimo Sessa, the extraordinary commissioner for Euro 2032 stadiums, and issued a favourable opinion and unique authorization for the new facility. The Friedkin Group can now move to the operational phase of the project, with work targeted to begin in March 2027. Roma and the Friedkin Group must now develop a detailed executive project that specifies all the works envisaged and incorporates the requirements that emerged during the Services Conference. The project will then undergo necessary checks and validation before the construction site opens. Public tenders will run in parallel.

AS Roma has announced a decisive step forward in its new stadium project following the conclusion of the decisive Services Conference and the consequent declaration of public utility by Italian authorities. The club issued an official statement calling the development "a fundamental and historic milestone" toward realizing the new facility. The Friedkin family's years of sustained work on the stadium have been rewarded with this approval, which Roma believes positions the club to build its future through "solid and ambitious projects." The declaration of public utility clears a major regulatory hurdle and opens what the club describes as a new phase in delivering a modern, sustainable stadium that will serve not only AS Roma and its supporters but also Rome itself, generating economic opportunities and territorial development benefits for the city. Roma's statement thanked Rome's municipal authorities, the UEFA Euro 2032 commissioner, the Lazio region, the minister for sport and youth, all administrations and bodies involved, and the professionals and collaborators who guided the process. The club added a special acknowledgment to its supporters "who have waited for and backed this project with passion and trust." The statement concluded that the new stadium is "conceived not only as a new home for the club and its fans, but as a heritage asset for Rome, capable of generating new opportunities, contributing to the redevelopment and growth of the territory, and producing lasting benefits for the entire city and its community."

AS Roma has issued an official statement following the conclusion of the decisive Services Conference on the new Pietralata stadium and the resulting declaration of public utility. The club thanked all institutions involved, professionals who worked on the project, and supporters, marking what it described as a fundamental and historic step towards realising the new facility. The Friedkin family's ownership has overseen years of work on the stadium project, which the club says reflects its ambition to build Roma's future on solid and ambitious foundations. Roma has now entered a new phase with the aim of delivering a modern, sustainable stadium befitting the club's history and the city's development. The project is framed not solely as a home for the club and its fans, but as a legacy for Rome capable of generating new opportunities, contributing to urban regeneration, and producing lasting benefits for the entire city and its community. The club's statement read: "The conclusion of the decisive Services Conference, with the consequent declaration of public utility, marks a fundamental and historic step for AS Roma towards the realisation of the new stadium. It is an achievement that rewards years of work, commitment and collaboration, carried forward with determination, vision and continuity by the Friedkin Family." Roma thanked Roma Capitale, the UEFA Euro 2032 Commissioner, the Lazio Region, the Minister for Sport and Young People, and all administrations and bodies involved, alongside the professionals and collaborators who supported the process. The club extended special thanks to supporters "who have awaited and backed this project with passion and trust."

Santiago Castro is preparing for a key phase of his Roma career after the international break, armed with encouragement from Francesco Totti and a fresh Argentina call-up. The 21-year-old Argentine forward has made an immediate impression since joining the club, hitting two posts and building strong rapport with the dressing room, though he has yet to open his account in giallorosso. Castro is now with Argentina, where he has returned following his sole previous call-up in March 2025, during which he did not take the field. His manager Gasperini will hope to deploy him as an additional attacking option alongside Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala, who are considered undroppable. Castro deliberately chose Roma despite knowing the calibre of the competition for places, and the intensity of October's fixture list may provide his breakthrough moment. Last autumn at Bologna, he scored three goals and supplied one assist across a 30-day span at the start of the season, establishing a template for what is possible. He will miss Argentina's friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin in the coming days but will return only three days before Roma's trip to Como alongside fellow squad members Leonardo Balerdi and Matías Soulé. Castro, who was recommended by Totti, faces competition from Lautaro at international level but shows no sign of being daunted by it. The premature nature of his return will limit his recovery time, though the calendar's demands may force Gasperini's hand in rotating his forward line.

Simone Tiribocchi assessed Roma's prospects and squad makeup in an interview on Retesport, offering a nuanced outlook on the giallorossi's season under Gasperini. He credited Roma's transformation from last season, when they produced little and scored sparingly, into a team that now generates chances and operates fully in line with Gasperini's rhythm and approach. However, Tiribocchi maintains that Inter remain favourites and superior overall, echoing Gasperini's view that Roma lack sufficient depth in the squad. The demands of the Champions League will consume considerable energy, particularly in matches against sides like Real Madrid where rotation is impossible, but Tiribocchi believes Roma can compete in the short term—only if Inter were to falter as they have in recent years could Roma capitalize and challenge for the title. On Roma's attacking pair, Tiribocchi highlighted both Santiago Castro's and Donyell Malen's qualities and suggested they could flourish together. Castro, who recently joined Roma, "deserves a big club," Tiribocchi said, and while he still has room to improve, he "moves well, senses and sees the goal, and is quick over the first few steps." Malen is stronger in his overall play, Tiribocchi noted, though Castro "is perhaps better at linking with the team." Tiribocchi would like to see them paired together "with a trequartista more midfielder-like, such as Pellegrini." On the question of whether Roma fans should realistically expect satisfaction this season, Tiribocchi replied: "If Roma maintains Champions League football, it needs to establish this standard consistently. An important league campaign and Champions League qualification no longer as a surprise could be a further step in the development of Gasperini's project, giving you extra resources to complete the squad with quality additions." Kvernadze was also discussed, with Tiribocchi cautious about his fit: "He plays very wide at Frosinone, but Gasperini wants more central movements and different positioning—you'd need to see if he's more adaptable centrally."

Roma will return to Trigoria on 29 September to resume training under Gian Piero Gasperini ahead of their Serie A fixture against Como on 11 October at the Sinigaglia. The squad has completed a four-day rest period granted by the coaching staff. With 12 players away on international duty, Gasperini is hoping to reintegrate three key players in the coming days: Donyell Malen, Bryan Cristante and Wesley, all of whom have remained in the capital to manage ongoing physical issues during the international break and build back to full fitness for the league's resumption. Paulo Dybala has eschewed the rest period entirely, continuing intensive gym work even on 27 September to maintain his athletic condition. The Roma number 21 has decided against travelling to Argentina for a farewell friendly celebrating Lionel Messi's retirement, prioritising his fitness and focus on the club's campaign. Teammate Nahuel Molina has made the same choice, both players choosing to concentrate entirely on Roma's season rather than accept international invitations during the break.

Mario Hermoso has established himself as an indispensable fixture in Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma defence, ranking second only to Bryan Cristante in minutes played under the manager. The Spanish defender has appeared in 509 of Roma's 540 available minutes—94.2 per cent—and Gasperini has described him as a statue in the position. Hermoso's defensive output backs up his importance. He leads Serie A with 16 interceptions, a remarkable tally achieved through aggressive pressing and constant anticipation that fits seamlessly into Gasperini's tactical system. His discipline is equally striking: he has committed only 3 fouls in Serie A this season, fewer than half the tally of fellow Roma defenders Evan N'Dicka (8 fouls) and Gianluca Mancini (7 fouls). The former Atlético Madrid player has developed into an absolute leader at the club, accompanying offensive actions with progressive passes towards the opposition goal. Squawka's data collection shows Hermoso shares his interception record with Frendurp of Genoa.

Roma will return to Trigoria on 29 September to resume training under Gian Piero Gasperini ahead of their Serie A fixture against Como on 11 October at the Sinigaglia. The squad has completed a four-day rest period granted by the coaching staff. With 12 players away on international duty, Gasperini is hoping to reintegrate three key players in the coming days: Donyell Malen, Bryan Cristante and Wesley, all of whom have remained in the capital to manage ongoing physical issues during the international break and build back to full fitness for the league's resumption. Paulo Dybala has eschewed the rest period entirely, continuing intensive gym work even on 27 September to maintain his athletic condition. The Roma number 21 has decided against travelling to Argentina for a farewell friendly celebrating Lionel Messi's retirement, prioritising his fitness and focus on the club's campaign. Teammate Nahuel Molina has made the same choice, both players choosing to concentrate entirely on Roma's season rather than accept international invitations during the break.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is primed to return to action for Roma after recovering from injury, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini set to lean on him heavily during a congested fixture schedule. Pellegrini was included in the squad list for matches against Torino and Inter but will make his competitive return against Como. His last appearance came on 10 April against Pisa, a gap of nearly six months before Roma's big match at the Sinigaglia on 11 October. The summer transfer window failed to bring in the wide player or attacking reinforcement Gasperini sought, forcing the coach to rely on existing resources to manage the workload ahead. The Roma squad is stretched in attack, with Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé occupying the playmaker positions on the trequarti, bolstered only by the addition of Rodrigo Mora. Pellegrini will have opportunities because of this shortage, particularly across October and November when Roma face a relentless sequence of Serie A and Champions League fixtures. He has shed the captain's armband over the past year but remains a squad leader. With Stephan El Shaarawy's departure, he is certain to serve as vice-captain to Bryan Cristante. Last season, despite some difficulties, Pellegrini was Roma's second-highest scorer with seven goals across Serie A and the Europa League, surpassed only by Donyell Malen, who netted 15 goals and has proved increasingly consistent in front of goal.

Gian Piero Gasperini has made wing play central to Roma's football, and the club is working to maximise the impact of their flanks ahead of the league's resumption. Wesley, the Brazilian who has been the most brilliant performer in recent months, is recovering from an ankle distortion near the end of summer training and a subsequent muscle problem, and is using three weeks of focused work at Trigoria while sitting out national team duties to return to peak fitness for the match against Como. On the opposite flank, Nahuel Molina is asserting himself with force. The Argentine returned to Serie A with four years at Atlético Madrid and a World Cup winner's medal in his record, and has integrated quickly into Gasperini's system. He has played against both Torino and Inter, showing versatility as a left winger in the 3-4-2-1 formation, cutting infield onto his stronger foot and coming close to goals while already recording one assist. Beyond the summer transfers, a major surprise for Roma is nineteen-year-old Emanuele Lulli. Though he caught Gasperini's attention in the previous season without being a primary Primavera player, the young right-sided defender has carved out important space through pace and attacking boldness. The club is working to secure him with a meeting scheduled soon between the management and his representative to discuss a contract renewal that expires in June. With Devyne Rensch completing the full-back contingent, Gasperini has all the tools to unlock Roma's flanks.

Gian Piero Gasperini has steered Roma to the top of Serie A after four wins and a draw in his opening matches, accumulating 13 points alongside Inter and Lazio. The coach, who guided Roma to third place and Champions League qualification in the 2025-26 season, has introduced three key innovations that have reshaped the squad's identity. The first centres on the fullback role. Despite having four right-sided options available in Molina, Rensch, Lulli and Wesley, Gasperini has stabilised Wesley on the left flank, instructing him not only to attack but to drift infield to link play with teammates. Gasperini explained the reasoning: "There was an idea to sign a left-footer, but not having one is no problem for me. Like in attack, we can have inverted wingers." The second innovation is Gasperini's ability to reshape the team mid-match without predetermined patterns, including reorganising the defence on tactical impulse. In Roma's clash against Atalanta, he changed two-thirds of the back line to overturn a deficit, saying: "When you go behind you rarely think about changing at the back, but we were struggling and fresh energy there put the ball back in our hands." Beyond the pitch, Gasperini has transformed the handling of the Roman environment—traditionally a source of complex pressure. He has repositioned supporters' enthusiasm as a motivational force, stating: "The city is everything, it motivates and stimulates you. The Olimpico always full is wonderful, it gives you positive pressure." At Trigoria training ground, he has fostered an atmosphere where players want to be: "There is an environment here where you have pleasure in coming. I am in love with this group."

Gian Piero Gasperini is working to revive Roma's attacking threat from the flanks, with Wesley, Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli forming the core of his wide-play strategy as the club emerges from the international break. In Gasperini's system, fullbacks and wingers are consistently among the key elements, tasked with generating pace, width, numerical superiority and offensive presence. After an opening stretch of the season in which some of these players have struggled to reach their best form, the break provides an opportunity to reset this crucial area. Wesley was one of the most incisive performers in Gasperini's system last season, scoring five goals thanks to the freedom to attack from the flank opposite his stronger foot. This year, however, his start has been complicated. A muscle problem forced him to miss international duty, followed by an ankle injury sustained a week before the league campaign began. Those two setbacks prevented him from starting the season at full fitness. Missing out on national team selection due to fatigue has, though, gifted him three weeks of training at Trigoria that could prove invaluable. The goal is clear: to have Wesley at his best for the match against Como. When fit, his accelerations from either flank transform Roma's offensive structure and force opponents into deeper defensive positions. Gasperini is not reliant on Wesley alone. The transfer market has brought him Nahuel Molina, who has returned to Italy after four years with a wealth of additional experience and a World Cup winner's medal. After early substitute appearances, the Argentine has begun to secure regular playing time and was firmly established in the team hierarchy before the international break. Against Torino and Inter, Gasperini deployed him on the left in a 3-4-2-1 formation, exploiting his ability to cut onto his stronger foot and make an impact in the final third—a tactical solution already used with Wesley that could become one of the new Roma's most interesting variants. Molina has already provided an assist and come close to scoring multiple times, a sign that he is quickly absorbing the role's demands. Rather than a mere alternative, he has the potential to become another genuine starter in a zone of the pitch where Gasperini tolerates no passive interpreters. The biggest surprise has come from within. Emanuele Lulli, only nineteen years old, has been among the most-used players in this opening stretch on the right flank. His running ability, personality and willingness to attack space make him an almost natural fit for Gasperini's football. His performances have convinced the club to work on a contract renewal for terms expiring in June, with a meeting with his agent scheduled soon. Devyne Rensch completes the squad as a more balanced and reliable option. Roma has not closed the market with an additional winger the coach wanted, but now possesses a much deeper pool: Wesley, Molina, Lulli and Rensch. Not all have yet reached the same level of fitness or integration, but the principle is clear—Gasperini intends to inflict damage from the flanks once again as his side seeks to regain momentum after the break.