Roma shirt history on display at Villa Altieri exhibition

Roma travel to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona to face Napoli in their Serie A 8th-round fixture, with kickoff at 18:00. It is the first time this season that Roma will wear their official third kit, which makes its debut in the match. A curious coincidence surrounds the choice, as Roma have not won at Napoli since 3 March 2018. Until now, Gian Piero Gasperini's side had worn only the traditional yellow-and-red kit and the white second shirt. The third kit is a dark grey design with yellow-and-red details that highlight the Roma crest and the adidas logo. The back of the collar carries the phrase "Lotta con il cuore", a nod to a historic chant from the Roma fans. The last Roma win at Napoli came on 3 March 2018, when Eusebio Di Francesco's side won 4-2. Cengiz Under scored, Edin Dzeko scored a brace and Diego Perotti added a late goal. Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens scored for Napoli. Roma also wore a dark third kit that day, with a dark brown shirt, shorts and socks featuring orange details. That season ended with Roma third in Serie A, behind Juventus and Napoli, and with qualification for the Champions League. Across league and cup competitions that season, Roma recorded 29 wins, 10 draws and 12 defeats.

Roma debut their black third kit of the 2026-27 season today when they travel to face Napoli at the Maradona in the eighth round of Serie A, with kickoff at 18:00. The club announced the change on its social channels, marking the first time this season the team will take the field in the black shirt. Fans have pointed to a precedent in the comments on the club's video. Roma last wore black at the Maradona on 3 March 2018, when they won 2-4 at Napoli. Back then, the giallorossi in black were led by a Dzeko brace, with further goals from Under and Perotti. The night is remembered as a magical one, and it was also the last Roma win in the Neapolitan city. For Roma, the choice of kit and the memory of that 2018 result add a note of optimism to a big-match trip. The contest is the headline fixture of the round and a chance to return to winning ways on the road against one of Serie A's most difficult venues.

FIGC commissioner Giovanni Malagò has openly declared his allegiance to Roma, telling Il Messaggero that he will not hide his love for the club and that he has never been asked to take over the presidency by any shareholder or owner. Asked whether he would accept the Roma presidency given his family's ties to the club, he said: "Nessun azionista o proprietario me l'ha mai proposto. Me lo hanno chiesto spesso per strada, i giornalisti e gli amici. Apprezzo il nuovo corso della Roma. Ma ho sempre risposto di essere felice del mio percorso: prima al Coni, oggi in Federazione." Translated: no shareholder or owner has ever proposed it to him, though journalists and friends have often asked him in the street. He said he appreciates the new direction at Roma, but has always said he is happy with his own path, first at the Coni and today at the Federation. Malagò was also asked whether a call from Roma would make him leave the FIGC. He answered: "Assolutamente no. Per me c'è un principio sacro: portare a termine gli impegni assunti e mantenere la parola data." In English: absolutely not, for him there is a sacred principle, to see through the commitments undertaken and keep his word. The answer closes off any prospect of a move to Trigoria while he remains at the head of Italian football's governing body. On Francesco Totti, Malagò described him as one of the people he is most attached to, almost a relative. He declined to comment on Totti's relationship with Roma, but said he understands how difficult it is to accept a purely symbolic role. "In FIGC bisognerebbe proporgli qualcosa che rispecchi le sue capacità. Ci penso, mai dire mai." Translated: the FIGC would need to offer him something that reflects his abilities. I am thinking about it, never say never. Asked why, as a declared Roma supporter, he chose two Lazio icons, Ciro Immobile and Beppe Signori, for the national youth teams, Malagò defended his family history. His father sat on Roma's board and was vice-president three times, contributing to two Scudetti under Dino Viola and Franco Sensi. As a child he followed the team at the stadium. "Non rinnego la storia della mia famiglia... Trovo ipocrita farlo." He pointed to Prince William supporting Aston Villa and Barack Obama openly backing the Chicago Bulls. Many of his closest friends are Lazio fans, as is his partner Elena, but in an institutional role, he said, allegiances give way to impartiality. He called Immobile after he retired, calling him the greatest Italian striker of recent years, and said Signori had gone through a painful and unjust ordeal. "Tutte le grandi bandiere sono un patrimonio del nostro calcio."