Stadium project approved by Lazio Region; Cristante to speak

Tony D'Amico, Roma's sporting director, spoke to DAZN minutes before kickoff against Fiorentina on 24 August. Speaking for the first time in his role, D'Amico said: "It is the first time I am speaking as Roma's sporting director and I am doing so in this stadium. The emotion is considerable." He took up the position on 20 June during an active transfer window and credited head coach Gian Piero Gasperini with easing his integration. The pair had worked together at Atalanta. "With the manager we have lived important years at Atalanta, so he has helped me greatly in my settling in, because I took office on 20 June, right in the middle of the transfer market. His knowledge of football has made things easier for me," D'Amico said. D'Amico acknowledged Fiorentina as a dangerous opponent. "They are certainly a squad with great enthusiasm. They have done excellent business in the market, with major investments. It will be a complicated match; we hope to do our best," he said. On Roma's own market activity with a week remaining, he was cautious about significant departures. "We are certainly vigilant in the market. There is still a week to go. The settlement agreement is known to all. We have constraints we must respect which sometimes force us to change our targets. We will certainly need opportunities to broaden the squad and have a competitive team. As far as departures are concerned, I think it is difficult to imagine one a week from the end of the market," D'Amico explained. When asked about left-wing targets, specifically whether Fofana and Gittens were current options, D'Amico did not address them by name. He reiterated Roma's need to find opportunities within the financial framework set by the settlement agreement that governs the club's spending capacity.

Tony D'Amico spoke publicly as Roma's director for the first time on 24 August, moments before the match against Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico. D'Amico, who took office on 20 June during the transfer window, described the emotional weight of returning to the stadium as a Roma official after his time as an opponent. He highlighted his prior relationship with head coach Gasperini, saying: "With the manager we lived three fantastic years, full of emotions and important results at Atalanta. He helped me greatly in getting settled. The knowledge of his method and his idea of football made things easier for me." On the club's transfer strategy, D'Amico acknowledged the constraints imposed by Roma's UEFA Financial Fair Play settlement agreement. "We have parameters to respect that sometimes make us change objectives and review strategies," he said. He confirmed Roma remain active in the market with one week remaining in the window, but ruled out significant departures: "It's complicated to imagine sales a week before the market closes." D'Amico also indicated openness to further signings if opportunities arise, particularly to strengthen the squad for the league campaign and Champions League competition. When asked about specific targets such as a left winger to suit Gasperini's preferences, and whether players like Gittens and Fofana were current options, D'Amico did not name individuals. Instead, he reiterated: "We are alert on the market. If there are opportunities between now and the end, we will need to broaden the squad for the competitions we face. We will evaluate between now and the end of the market." He emphasised that Fiorentina had made strong signings and conducted quality business, describing them as "a team with great enthusiasm" and predicting a difficult match ahead.

Roma's sporting director spoke for the first time in his role ahead of the club's Serie A opener against Fiorentina on 24 August. D'Amico took charge on 23 June during the transfer window and credited Gasperini with easing his integration after three years working together at Atalanta. "With the manager we lived three fantastic years, full of emotion and important results at Atalanta. So he helped me a lot in settling in because I took charge on 23 June right in the middle of the market, and therefore knowledge of his method and his football made things easier for me," he said. On the coming match, D'Amico expects a difficult encounter. "Fiorentina certainly have great enthusiasm. They've done significant business in the market and have a good manager. It will be a complicated match but we look at ourselves. An environment like this will certainly drive us. It will be a nice match and we hope to give our best." With a week remaining in the window, Roma remain active but face constraints under their UEFA Financial Fair Play settlement agreement. "We have rules to respect that sometimes force us to change targets and review strategies," D'Amico explained. The club will evaluate opportunities to strengthen the squad for the Serie A season and Champions League competition if they arise. When asked about possible departures, D'Amico was dismissive: "I think it's complicated to imagine them a week before the market closes." The sporting director also referenced reports linking the club to left-wing targets and said Roma would remain vigilant for the final week, though he did not confirm specific players or targets.

Roma begin the 2026-27 Serie A season at home to Fiorentina, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini naming Rodrigo Mora in the attacking midfield role behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Matías Soulé drops to the bench. Lulli makes his competitive debut on the right flank in place of Nahuel Molina, who is not at full fitness; Wesley operates on the left. The defence comprises Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, with Mile Svilar in goal. Gasperini's 3-4-1-2 formation pairs Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné in midfield. Fiorentina, managed by Grosso, line up in a 4-3-2-1 with David De Gea in goal and Lautaro Pellegrino as their striker. Roma's substitutes bench includes De Marzi, Koulierakis, Ghilardi, Ziółkowski, El Aynaoui, Pisilli, Vaz, Castro, and Soulé.

Roma opened their 2026–27 Serie A campaign with a 1–0 victory over Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico. Donyell Malen scored in the 26th minute after a swift buildup involving Paulo Dybala, who collected the ball on the right wing and cut inside before finding Malen with a through pass; the forward controlled the ball on his left foot and finished past David De Gea from close range. Gian Piero Gasperini's side dominated the opening period, with Dybala spurning two clear chances before Malen's breakthrough. Roma had a goal disallowed in the 20th minute when Mario Hermoso was ruled offside after heading in from an Evan N'Dicka flick following a corner kick. The home team's aggressive approach set the tone early, with Wesley providing dangerous crosses from the left wing and Rodrigo Mora threatening down the opposite flank—the Portuguese winger's performances boosted his standing in the squad hierarchy ahead of the match. Roma named an unchanged defensive line of Mile Svilar, Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, while Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné anchored midfield. Devyne Rensch was unavailable, and Nahuel Molina was reported unfit, forcing Roma to hand a debut to Daniele Ghilardi at right-back. Hermoso received the only Roma booking, a 39th-minute yellow card for a late challenge on Mastantuono. Referee Marco Marcenaro also showed yellow to Fiorentina's Rolando Fagioli in the 30th minute for a hard foul on Dybala at the edge of the box. Fiorentina fielded a 4–3–2–1 under Fabio Grosso, with De Gea making several saves before Malen's goal. Roma's squad included Neil El Aynaoui, Niccolò Pisilli, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro among substitutes.

Roma take on Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico at 20:45 in the opening fixture of the Serie A season. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has named a 22-man squad for the match, with all new signings included in the selection. The squad omits Lorenzo Pellegrini and Devyne Rensch. In goal, Gasperini has selected Mile Svilar, Giorgio De Marzi, and Pierluigi Gollini. The defence includes Konstantinos Koulierakis, Evan N'Dicka, Nahuel Molina, Mario Hermoso, Gianluca Mancini, Jan Ziółkowski, Wesley, Lulli, and Daniele Ghilardi. Midfield options are Bryan Cristante, Neil El Aynaoui, Manu Koné, Niccolò Pisilli, and Rodrigo Mora. Attacking players named are Santiago Castro, Donyell Malen, Matías Soulé, Paulo Dybala, and Robinio Vaz.