Ranieri Present but Not Shown on Olimpico Screens: The Reason

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has reviewed his opening months at Roma in a question-and-answer exchange with La Gazzetta dello Sport, identifying the most emotionally significant match, the most difficult fixture and the player who most impressed him. Gasperini named Roma's league match against Verona as the most moving experience since his arrival. "I'd say the last league game against Verona, because the feeling of having reached an important milestone, with great satisfaction from the fans," he said. The reference is to Roma's qualification for the Champions League, which Gasperini regards as one of the highest points of his time at the club. When asked about the hardest match, Gasperini acknowledged that every fixture presents difficulties but singled out Roma's away game at Inter Milan last season as the moment of deepest decline: "They're all difficult. The most difficult was when Roma was at its lowest against Inter in Milan last year. But the last one we played was on another level entirely." On players who have surprised him, Gasperini chose Donyell Malen, whose goalscoring impact has exceeded even the coach's expectations. "Certainly the number of goals Malen has scored is something nobody could have imagined," Gasperini said. "The rest have all been very positive surprises." Gasperini has previously teased Malen about the possibility of approaching Gonzalo Higuaín's Serie A record of 36 goals. When asked which player he would have liked to coach during his career, Gasperini gave a single-word answer: "Messi."

Edoardo Bove spoke publicly for the first time since his medical emergency, addressing his past at Roma and his path forward during an appearance at the Festival dello Sport in Trento on 4 October. The former Roma midfielder opened up about the psychological toll of losing his career to sudden illness and his slow return to football, saying: "I have always cultivated the dream of returning to play. Football is a huge passion of mine. I wanted and want to live off this. What does it feel like to be a footballer without football? The sensation is similar to that of a great loss. For external reasons you are forced to face life differently. In this, how we react is important. We can do whatever we want. Football was everything to me in that moment. Now I have arrived at the idea that football is my greatest passion but there is also so much else." Bove's struggles followed his medical emergency during a Fiorentina-Inter match. He recalled: "The truth is I remember nothing from that moment. I woke up in hospital without remembering what happened. I found myself facing a difficulty from nowhere. I was forced to stay away from the pitch and my daily life for a while." He described how watching matches and children play initially caused him distress, leading him to turn to tennis briefly before rediscovering his commitment to football. A forthcoming documentary about his journey, he explained, became therapeutic: "It is an intimate account of my inner journey. If I gave permission for cameras to enter my private life it is to show the difficulties a young man can live through. I don't want to be a model, but it is a way to inspire people who live with difficulties and to give them the strength to look inside themselves and seek help." Bove also reflected on his Roma career and friendships forged at the club. He discussed Jannik Sinner (Cobolli), whom he met competing in tennis tournaments before both pursued football at Roma: "He didn't know how important he was to me. Watching him achieve his dreams, working—it gave me the strength to say 'I can do it too'. He left football for tennis. If you think about it, it is a rather mad choice because in tennis you have less chance of making it." Regarding Roma's finals, Bove said: "The one we won was a great emotion for the city. The one we lost was one of the darkest days of my life. I treasure the lost one more because in the Europa League I was more of a protagonist than in the Conference. The majority of changes happen in the most difficult moments. That defeat was a blow but it allowed me to grow." His Roma idols, he added, were Daniele De Rossi, Radja Nainggolan, and Andrea Pirlo. Bove credited José Mourinho with launching his career at Roma, recalling the moment Mourinho called him into his office to tell him he would be part of the first team. He described his Roma debut in their stadium as "a great emotion" despite it being empty due to the pandemic. He also named the Europa League semi-final against Bayer Leverkusen as unforgettable and mentioned a derby loss as a match he would wish to replay.

Giuseppe Giannini, a Roma legend and former captain, has reflected on his enduring bond with the club and the city, speaking to Sportweek about his most vivid career memories and his status among the fanbase. The midfielder, still known as the 'Prince' by supporters who recognise him in the street, discussed how his life has changed since his playing days. 'Now it's easier to take a walk with my wife,' he said. 'As a player it was impossible to go out with her or my daughters. I lived under lock and key.' Giannini emphasised the symbolic weight of representing Roma and the capital. 'Being a Roma supporter means representing the capital,' he reflected. 'Nobody can say they don't know the capital and, consequently, AS Roma.' The midfielder's most powerful memory centres on the Olimpico stadium itself, where he spent his entire playing career. 'Every time I stepped onto the pitch at the Olimpico wearing the shirt of my beloved team, it really felt like I was touching the sky with a finger,' he said. When fans approach him today, they often exclaim: 'But you are...', and he responds with a laugh: 'Yes, it's me', to which they reply: 'You're the Prince!' Giannini also named Mario Kempes as his childhood idol, citing both his style of play and his distinctive long hair, which Giannini famously wore in the same fashion during his time at Roma.

Mario Hermoso is moving closer to a contract renewal with Roma. The Spanish defender has established himself as a linchpin under Gian Piero Gasperini, demonstrating strong adaptation to the coach's tactical system. The club's management is now turning its attention to his future, with talks and negotiations set to begin in the coming weeks. Hermoso would prefer a two-year extension that would take his contract through to 2029. Roma's policy for players over 30, however, typically involves annual renewals. Both the player and the club are keen to continue together, though the length of any new deal remains to be settled in forthcoming discussions.

Mario Hermoso has become a cornerstone of Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma defence, and the club is already working on a contract renewal with the Spanish defender. Hermoso, who is out of contract on 30 June, shares the club's intention to extend their partnership. The former Atlético Madrid player has impressed through his ability to build play from the back, offensive instinct and aggressive style—qualities that align perfectly with Gasperini's football. Santiago Castro marked a special night by making his Argentina debut, coming on in the second half of a 7–0 victory against Burkina Faso. The Roma striker expressed his emotion at the milestone: "There are moments that stay with you forever. Representing my country is a pride difficult to put into words. As a child I dreamed of this moment, and today I can say it has come true." He added in the mixed zone: "Seeing my family, my pregnant wife… it's an incredible mix of things." Donyell Malen returns to Como aiming to score again, this time to carry Roma to victory. Gasperini continues to push his forward, saying: "No one thought the numbers could be like this. I always tell him what he has done is not enough—someone scored 36 in the past. But if he reaches 30 I am happy." Malen is currently exceeding that benchmark, averaging 1.20 goals per match, on a scoring rate that surpasses the historical records of Higuaín and Immobile.

AS Roma are already working on extending Mario Hermoso's contract, as the Spanish defender has established himself as a key figure both on the pitch and in the dressing room under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Hermoso embodies what Gasperini has called the team's defensive 'gladiators', a core element of the coach's tactical approach. Hermoso's current deal includes an automatic extension that was triggered in June and is set to expire in 2027. However, Roma are keen to keep the defender at the club beyond that date and have initiated fresh negotiations with his representatives to secure his long-term future at the Stadio Olimpico.