Roma advance new stadium plans ahead of Services Conference

Daniele De Rossi recalled his most cherished birthday during an interview on his birthday, reflecting on spending his 18th away from friends but proud to wear Roma's Scudetto. The date marked the 2001–02 season, his first year with the first team after progressing through the academy. De Rossi said: "I spent many birthdays in retreat. The one that stands out most is my 18th. My friends were celebrating outside, but I was in retreat with Roma's Scudetto on my chest." De Rossi made his Roma debut on 30 October 2001 against Anderlecht in the Champions League, launching an 18-year association with the club. That debut sparked a love story that defined his career, culminating in his final appearance in the Roma shirt in May 2019 against Parma before a brief spell at Boca Juniors. His early years in the Giallorossi system shaped a player who would become one of the club's most decorated and beloved figures.

Daniele De Rossi, born in 1983, celebrates his 43rd birthday as one of Roma's most authentic and revered figures—a player whose connection to the club transcended his professional ambitions and remains unchanged despite his departure. Across eighteen seasons at the Stadio Olimpico, De Rossi embodied the values Roma represents, serving as captain and leader both on and off the pitch, earning respect not only from the club's supporters but across Italian football. De Rossi left Roma twice without receiving the tributes he deserved, yet the supporters' bond with him never wavered. His stature within the club compares to legendary eras—he could fit seamlessly alongside figures such as Agostino Di Bartolomei or Giuseppe Giannini, just as he did in the Francesco Totti era, without diminishing either legacy. That relationship between player and supporters, forged through authenticity rather than silverware alone, remains unbroken even now, as De Rossi has become the face of Genoa, another club defined by visceral ties between club and community. De Rossi's significance to Roma extends beyond trophies or individual achievements; it represents the intersection of genuine leadership and the passion of the fanbase—a bond that requires no occasion to remember.

AS Roma's new stadium project has moved into a decisive phase with the services conference set to begin on Monday 27 July, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini confirmed. The approval process is advancing rapidly toward clearing the way for the groundbreaking ceremony. Salvini told Radio Roma Sound that the process is now in an advanced state. The services conference represents a critical juncture in securing final approval for the construction project, which has been a long-standing ambition for the club and the city. The confirmation marks tangible progress on one of Roma's most significant infrastructure initiatives, with the formal proceedings now officially underway from 27 July.