Roma chart future with youth development, Under-23 squad and €1.3bn stadium project

John Galantic, AS Roma's chief executive, unveiled the Friedkin Group's long-term strategy for the club at the Trentino Sport Festival, centring on economic sustainability, youth development and a new stadium project worth approximately €1.3 billion. Galantic, who has held senior roles at Ferrari and Tod's before joining Roma, described his move to the club as a passion project rooted in the ownership's genuine ambition: "This is not a career choice, I've made my career. This is passion but that's not enough. There has to be the conviction that you can win something. I had that conviction from the ownership, the commitment and the resources to do something great." The stadium project at Pietralata represents the centrepiece of Roma's transformation. Galantic indicated the first stone will be laid in spring 2027, and stressed its critical importance: "In four years the stadium will change everything, it raises revenue and allows us to make a very important sporting and economic leap." He emphasised the design philosophy: "The Olimpico is beautiful and full of memories but it's not made for football. Imagine the Curva Sud more united, it will be massive." This marks the fourth attempt by Roma to build a new ground, but Galantic stressed it is "the first time we've reached this level of authorisation approval." Beyond infrastructure, Galantic outlined three precise pillars for sustainable growth: revitalising the youth academy, establishing an Under-23 team as a bridge between the Primavera and first team, and developing partnerships with Cannes. The goal is to progressively increase home-grown players: "You cannot live off transfer profits. Every year we want to put new players developed in-house to grow and have a sustainable model." On the Friedkin family's low-profile approach, Galantic noted: "They impressed me with their enthusiasm in this project. They are reserved and asked me to speak. For matches they are always inside and you don't make these investments if you don't believe in it. Sometimes silence is golden and it works."

Gian Piero Gasperini is already planning Roma's January window despite the club sitting top of the table with a functioning attack led by Dybala and Malen. Between appearances at the Trento Festival and work at Trigoria, Roma are targeting reinforcements in the attacking department, focusing on players currently struggling for minutes at their clubs. A conversation between CEO Galantic and Gasperini at the festival underscores Roma's philosophy of planning winter moves in advance. Roma's priority remains a quality wide forward, with evaluation also ongoing into a more complete profile like Oosterwolde. Four players already tracked in the summer transfer window remain in the club's sights: Gittens, Leweling, Luiz Henrique and Endrick. The common thread linking them is a shortage of regular playing time. Gittens, a Gasperini favourite, has yet to debut in the Premier League. Leweling plays only sporadic minutes at Stuttgart and was excluded from the initial squad list under new national team coach Klopp. Luiz Henrique remains blocked in Russia by bureaucratic issues that have also cost him national team call-ups. Endrick's situation is the most delicate. Mourinho secured him at Real Madrid over the summer, but the Brazilian has virtually disappeared: just four minutes across La Liga and the Champions League combined. That picture of underuse could shift as soon as November, when UEFA will make decisions on the Settlement Agreement, opening new scenarios potentially favourable to Roma heading into the winter market.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is pressing Roma to strengthen their attacking ranks in the January transfer window, a priority that remained unmet during the summer. At the Festival dello Sport in Trento, CEO John Galantic was asked about a possible January arrival and responded: "Nice question." Gasperini immediately added: "Very nice." While the comment was partly tongue-in-cheek, it underscores the coach's determination to add an attacking winger, a position he had already requested in the summer window. Roma's focus remains on securing an attacking wide player, though the club has also considered a full-back option in Jayden Oosterwolde. Four names dominate the shortlist: Jamie Gittens, Jamie Leweling, Luiz Henrique and Endrick. A common thread links most of them — they are struggling for minutes at their current clubs. Gittens, reportedly among Gasperini's preferred targets, has not yet made a Premier League appearance. Leweling has accumulated only 146 minutes across Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League competition for Stuttgart without starting a match, a lack of game time that also cost him a place in Jürgen Klopp's initial squad list as Germany's new national team coach. Luiz Henrique remains in Russia following bureaucratic obstacles that delayed Roma's pursuit last summer; the Brazilian has also lost ground in the national team setup, making a January reopening of talks less straightforward. Endrick represents a different scenario. The Brazilian was close to Roma in the summer before José Mourinho chose to retain him at Real Madrid. The Portuguese manager had praised him publicly, but has given him only four minutes across league and Champions League fixtures so far. Should his situation remain unchanged, a loan move could become realistic in January. Financial constraints will prove decisive. UEFA's ruling on Roma's Settlement Agreement breach is due in November, and that verdict may constrain the club's negotiating room. Gasperini's technical priority is unmistakable — an attacking wide player — but the scope for converting that request into a concrete deal remains to be determined by the financial outlook.

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 are preparing a contract renewal for defender Emanuele Lulli that will extend his deal until 2031, with negotiations expected to begin next week. The 2007-born left-back, promoted from the Primavera to the first team, has impressed head coach Gian Piero Gasperini during the summer and the early stages of the season. His current contract expires in June 2027, prompting the club to move swiftly on fresh terms. Lulli will return from international duty with Italy's Under 21 squad, who play a decisive European qualifying match against Poland on Monday in Pescara, before talks commence. The club hold confidence in reaching an agreement quickly, backed by Gasperini's endorsement. According to TMW, the new contract will see his salary rise significantly to nearly one million euros per year.

Roma are preparing to open contract negotiations with defender Emanuele Lulli, whose current deal expires at the end of the season. The young defender has earned increasing prominence in Gian Piero Gasperini's hierarchy this season, prompting the club to act on his breakthrough form. Talks are expected to begin when Lulli returns to the capital following the conclusion of the Italy Under-21 camp he is currently attending. The club's priority is to secure Lulli on fresh terms and protect one of the standout performers in Roma's opening to the 2026-27 campaign. The new contract is taking shape around a salary of approximately one million euros per year, reflecting Roma's commitment to rewarding the 2007-born player's development and tying down a talent who has established himself as one of the season's most impressive young prospects.

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.

Marten de Roon is using the international break to build his physical condition ahead of the Como match, with Bryan Cristante sidelined and likely to miss the Real Madrid fixture. The Dutch midfielder, who alongside Niccolò Pisilli makes up Roma's quartet of specialist central midfielders, has a significant opportunity to impress both on the pitch and with supporters, who gave him a cool reception owing to his history as an Atalanta mainstay. De Roon has been training and sharing his progress on social media with his family. He wrote: "I am gradually getting used to life in Rome", alongside the she-wolf emoji and the giallorossi colours. The arrival comes as Roma prepare for two particularly important fixtures in the coming period, presenting the midfielder with a chance to win over the fanbase and establish himself in Gasperini's plans.

Radio pundit Piero Torri has voiced concern that Bryan Cristante's injury could be more serious than initially thought, and has outlined how he would approach Roma's upcoming fixtures if the midfielder is unavailable. Speaking on Radio Manà Manà Sport Roma (90.9), Torri said: "I'm afraid Cristante's injury may not be a short one. If he's not fit, I wouldn't risk trying to get him back for Real Madrid. I would play de Roon at Como and Pisilli against Real Madrid." Torri also reflected on head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's handling of Paulo Dybala's minutes, saying the manager's approach has shifted his perspective. "What Gasperini said about Dybala struck me—it erased my previous beliefs about his playing time and management. And so far he's been proved right," Torri noted. He suggested Roma should begin discussions about Gasperini's contract intentions, given that the coach's deal will expire at the end of the season. Former Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo, speaking on Radio Radio Mattino (104.5), praised goalkeeper Mile Svilar's importance to the team: "Svilar is a world-class goalkeeper for Roma, I have no doubt about it. If there's a normal goalkeeper, it's easy to lose 3–1. But with him it's different."