Roma to overhaul youth academy with Margiotta appointment; Conti declines interim role

Zeki Çelik has departed AS Roma following a contract renewal breakdown, announcing his exit on social media. The Turkish defender, who joined Roma under José Mourinho, shared a lengthy farewell message thanking the club, city, and supporters. Çelik reflected on his time in the Giallorossi shirt, saying: "Cari Romanisti, today, in saying goodbye to this great family, I feel emotions difficult to describe. Wearing Roma's shirt, fighting for these colours and taking the field in front of you has been an immense honour and great pride for me. Every day spent at this club helped me grow, both as a player and as a person. We lived unforgettable moments together. I will always carry with me the pride of having contributed to bringing Roma back to the UEFA Champions League." Çelik extended special thanks to former managers José Mourinho, Daniele De Rossi, Ivan Jurić, and Claudio Ranieri for their support and belief in him. He also acknowledged current head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, noting that despite their brief time together, the trust, honesty and respect Gasperini showed him had been deeply meaningful. "Now the moment has arrived to begin a new chapter of my career," Çelik stated. "But I will always carry this club, this city and all of you in my heart. I wish Roma to continue achieving all the success it deserves. Thank you with all my heart for everything."

AS Roma held an internal match against the club's Primavera side at Trigoria under intense Rome heat as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's squad began sharpening their match sharpness. The session took place in the afternoon with high intensity as the first-team players worked to rebuild their connection with competitive football following pre-season preparation. Gasperini oversaw a single training session structured at maximum intensity for the day, with the friendly serving as a practical method for the squad to accumulate match minutes and regain rhythm before upcoming fixtures. The Primavera team, managed by Mattia Scala, provided opposition in what is a routine internal fixture for Roma's development pathway. The club shared footage of the friendly across social media platforms, giving supporters a glimpse of the work being conducted during this phase of preparation.

Roma held a single afternoon training session at Trigoria under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini as the club continues its preparation for the coming season. The squad played a friendly match against the Primavera team at the Fulvio Bernardini facility. Mattia Scala, recently promoted to oversee the Primavera after progressing through Roma's youth academy structure, took charge of the younger side. Roma will spend the night at Trigoria before a demanding double training session tomorrow as Gasperini's preparations intensify. The focus remains on building fitness and sharpness ahead of 24 August, when the new campaign is set to begin.