Roma's new stadium: from executive project to groundbreaking

AS Roma's new stadium project at Pietralata has received final approval following the conclusion of a decision-making conference on 28 September. The second and final session of the conference began at 10:30 and was divided into two parts: a technical review of impact assessments and permits until 11:36, followed from 13:00 onwards by the issuing of the sole commissarial authorisation measure (Pauc). These acts end the discussion and modification phase; the approved project is now complete and fixed, with no further changes to design elements. The stadium will hold just over 60,000 seats, including 3,000 for away supporters, and will feature two green parks, parking for cars, motorcycles, bicycles and scooters, and three pedestrian and cycle bridges. One bridge will cross the railway embankment at Via Livorno; another will connect to the stadium via Via Monti Tiburtini; a third will bypass Piazzale Giovanni Spadolini at the rear exit of Stazione Tiburtina. Public transport improvements include turnstiles to manage access to Stazione Tiburtina, a new entrance to metro line B at Quintiliani, and increased FS train services during matches. The project represents an investment of over one billion euros and aims to regenerate the Pietralata neighbourhood with new public spaces and parks. Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, speaking in the second part of the session, praised the work of the government commissioner for UEFA stadiums 2032, engineer Massimo Sessa. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, in a statement, described the completion of the procedure in just 90 days as concrete proof of institutional teamwork, calling the stadium a strategic infrastructure for Rome and Italy that will strengthen Italy's candidacy for UEFA Euro 2032. Rome Mayor Gualtieri, present at the session as sub-commissioner, said: "It is another historic day for Rome, crowning four years of work by our administration. It is a result that Giallorossi supporters have awaited for decades and a great opportunity for the whole city. It will be a beautiful, modern facility open and used year-round. Its construction will regenerate an entire city district with new public spaces, piazzas and above all two large parks open to citizens. The new stadium that Roma has awaited since the days of Dino Viola is now within reach." Regional commissioner Rocca, in a statement, noted the advancement towards realising an infrastructure that can bring lasting benefits to Rome and Lazio. AS Roma's technical team must now prepare the detailed execution project, work already underway for months. To meet UEFA requirements for the facility to be construction-ready by March 2027, the detailed project must be submitted by the end of January at the latest, with submission expected between Christmas and the end of January.

Francesco Totti marked his 50th birthday on 27 September with a letter published in Il Messaggero, reflecting on a lifetime devoted to AS Roma and the realisation of a childhood dream. Writing from abroad, Totti recalled playing as a child with his brother Riccardo at the Terme di Caracalla, his journey from boy to man in giallorosso, and his captaincy of the club. "I'm satisfied," he wrote. "I fulfilled a dream, my dream, that of a Roman who managed to play only in his city's team, wearing the captain's armband." A central passage addressed his decision not to return to playing. A couple of years ago, Totti explained, he turned down the chance to come back on the pitch. "I was tempted, I admit it, but then the bond with my city, my squad and my people made me say no. And I think in the end I made the right choice. I would perhaps have been selfish, made Francesco happy but disappointed millions of fans." The letter balanced reflection on his achievements—a World Cup in 2006 and, more significantly to him, the Serie A title with Roma in 2001—with personal touches. He joked about his age: "When I blew out the candles for my 50th, I said to myself: Is it really true? To be honest, I don't feel it. Maybe it's because I keep myself in shape with padel and some five-a-side. In my head, though, I always have half, 25." Totti spoke warmly of his three children and noted that passing a mural of himself on via Sibari near the Romulea pitch in Porta Metronia—the neighbourhood of his birth—never fails to move him. "It's a feeling you can't explain. You can only live it. As a Roman and a Romanista."

Walter Sabatini, the former Roma sporting director, has praised the club's start to the season under Gian Piero Gasperini, declaring them genuine contenders for the Serie A title. Speaking to Tuttosport, Sabatini highlighted the strength of the current squad despite a lack of an attacking left winger. "I don't think Roma is suffering from this absence or any other gap in the squad today, because Roma really seems to be a serene candidate to fight all the way for the Scudetto given how they're playing," he said. "There's a formidable cohesion among the players and an unexpected physical condition from players like Paulo Dybala. There are all very positive centrifugal forces in Roma." Sabatini offered a measured assessment of midfielder Rodrigo Mora's impact on the club. "Players must have an impact according to what they are. I think Rodrigo is certainly a talented player, but not yet a talent—he's a player with a very consistent technical repertoire. But now he must test himself in a very tactically difficult league: they control him, they care for him, they mark him. And he must put himself in a position not to be swallowed by the field. Often footballers get swallowed by the field. And this must not happen with Rodrigo Mora," Sabatini explained. He stressed that Manu Koné is a fundamental player for Roma: "He's a central barrier that stops all the possible counterattacks of opponents and puts Roma straight back in attack because he wins many balls. Then now I see he's started to look for the goal and score, which was a limit he had—he never looked for the goal. Now that he's scored two goals in a match will probably ignite a passion... a new passion in him." When asked about accusations from Roma fans that he is a "Laziale" because of his previous work at Lazio, Sabatini rejected the label. "I don't care about it at all," he said. "I worked proudly at Lazio and I've always said so. I owe a lot to Lotito, because working with him for a few years allowed me to re-enter a world that was slipping away from me. After Lazio I went to Palermo and there my work was rewarded by results and the value of the players. I will never renounce the clubs I've worked for and I'm not offended if Roma fans say I'm a Laziale. Of course, I was a Laziale because I love the clubs I work for. And the same happened to me at Lazio. Naturally at Roma I had more time—Roma became the story of my life. All the time I spent at Roma is practically the time of my entire life, even in experiences and feelings outside the field." Sabatini compared Roma's current strength to Como under Andrés Fabregas, crediting Gasperini's tactical identity for Roma's success. "Roma under Gasperini right now is a very strong squad because there's cohesion on the field and a shared vision between coach and squad that produces an exceptional result," he said. Regarding the former Roma manager Daniele De Rossi, now facing difficulties at Genoa with a depleted squad, Sabatini offered no specific advice: "I wouldn't give him any advice because I know he has remarkable inner strength and he will use it, because the only thing a coach can do is resist."