Roma unveil centenary kit with return of historic badge

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."

Former Roma defender Vincent Candela turns 53 today, 24 October, and the club's official social media channels marked the occasion. The French player made 289 appearances for Roma. Roma posted on X: "Uno Scudetto e una Supercoppa Italiana, membro dell'Hall of Fame. Tanti auguri di buon compleanno!" Candela played in the capital between 1997 and 2005, winning the Scudetto and the Supercoppa Italiana during his time at the club and later being inducted into the Hall of Fame. He remained closely attached to the Giallorossi fanbase and chose to continue living in Rome after retiring. The club's post highlighted his Scudetto and Supercoppa Italiana triumphs and his place in the Hall of Fame, underlining the lasting affection between the former defender and the Roma supporters.

FIGC president Giovanni Malagò has said no Roma shareholder or owner has ever proposed he become club president, although he is often asked about it by journalists and friends. Speaking to Il Messaggero, he said he appreciates the new direction at Roma but has always been content with his own path, first at Coni and now at the Federation. Asked whether he would leave the FIGC if Roma called, Malagò was categorical: "Absolutely not. For me there is a sacred principle: carrying out the commitments you have taken on and keeping your word." The interview also touched on Francesco Totti, whom Malagò described as one of the people he is most attached to, "almost a family member". He said he would not comment on Totti's relationship with Roma, but understood how hard it is to accept a purely symbolic role. Any role at the Federation, he added, would have to reflect Totti's abilities. Asked about a possible national team role for Totti, Malagò replied: "I'll think about it, never say never." Malagò was also questioned about his choice of two Lazio symbols, Ciro Immobile and Giuseppe Signori, for the national youth teams, given that he openly describes himself as a Roma fan. He defended his position, saying he does not deny his family's history. His father was a board member and then three-time vice-president of Roma, contributing to two Scudetti under Dino Viola and Franco Sensi. Malagò said he followed the club as a child and sees no reason to hide his allegiance, which he considers hypocritical to conceal. He pointed to Prince William supporting Aston Villa and Barack Obama openly backing the Chicago Bulls as examples. Malagò said many of his closest friends are Lazio fans, as is his partner Elena. However, he said that when holding an institutional post, loyalties must give way to impartiality. He said he called Immobile as soon as the striker retired, considering him the greatest Italian striker of recent years. On Signori, Malagò said he had endured a painful and unjust ordeal. "All the great one-club legends are a heritage of our football," he said.

Manu Koné is getting closer to a return to action for Roma, with his recovery progressing well ahead of the club's trip to Napoli. The midfielder has been sidelined since the Champions League match against Real Madrid on 14 October, when he suffered a muscle injury. He was found to have a first-degree tear of the right hamstring. Roma are short on numbers for the difficult trip to the Maradona, and Gian Piero Gasperini's side are also dealing with a squad reduced to the bare minimum. In the infirmary, there is also encouraging news about Paulo Dybala, who is pushing to speed up his own timetable and is aiming to return already on Tuesday against Cagliari. Koné is expected to be available again between the Champions League match against Manchester United on 3 November and the Serie A fixture against Sassuolo the following weekend. That timeline points to his return coming at the start of November, when Roma face a demanding run of fixtures. Il Messaggero reports in today's edition that Koné is increasingly close to a comeback, and the French midfielder's return is now a step away. Roma will be hoping that the 3 November Champions League tie against Manchester United and the Sassuolo game give Gasperini a fully fit midfielder to call on once again.

Roma will rely on Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora to supply creativity in the attacking third for the big match at the Maradona against Napoli, with Paulo Dybala still sidelined. Soulé has already scored two goals and provided an assist so far this season. Mora, a 19-year-old Portuguese midfielder who arrived for a significant investment, has shown flashes of quality interspersed with some quieter spells, and this fixture represents his first real test of maturity. Their main job will be to play in Donyell Malen, who returns from suspension and remains, in the words of the report, the true talisman of Gasperini's Roma. The Dutch forward goes back to the stadium where, a year ago, he scored a memorable double. Gasperini hopes to have Bryan Cristante available from the start. If he is fit, Cristante could partner Marten de Roon in midfield, allowing Niccolò Pisilli to push forward into the attacking third alongside Soulé. At the back, the starting trio of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso is set to reform. On the flanks, Wesley is confirmed at left-back, while Emanuele Lulli is the favourite to start ahead of Nahuel Molina on the right. The absence of Dybala and the return of Malen give Gasperini a clear shape to work with, but the match will also show how far Soulé and Mora can carry the attacking load on the road to one of the toughest venues in Serie A.

Roma head to Napoli's Stadio Maradona today, 24 October, for a difficult big match with a kickoff at 18:00, and they must do without Svilar, Koné, Pellegrini and Dybala through injury. The club's mood has been lifted by recent contract renewals, and Il Messaggero reports that the eve of the game was marked by the renewal of Emanuele Lulli until 2031. The 19-year-old is preparing for his sixth start, a milestone that at that age only Marquinhos had reached in the giallorosso shirt. Cristante and Malen return as key figures for Roma, and both are expected to lead the team on what promises to be a hot night in Naples. Malen will lead the attack and dreams of repeating the brace he scored at the Maradona a year ago, with Soulé alongside him. Molina will rest ahead of Tuesday's match against Cagliari. The final selection question is the attacking midfield, where Mora is pushing for a place but could make way for the experience and energy of Cristante. Cristante would also be valuable in covering Lobotka, McTominay and Anguissa. At the back, the starting trio of Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso is reassembled. Lulli's rise is the standout detail of the build-up, with his contract running until 2031 and his sixth start coming in the space of a few months. Roma will be relying on Cristante's and Malen's experience to offset a long list of absentees against a Napoli side featuring Lobotka, McTominay and Anguissa.