Totti and Roma: talks stall over role and royalties

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."

AS Roma has received formal planning approval for its new stadium at Pietralata following a conference of services concluded today. Rome's mayor Roberto Gualtieri announced the clearance and expressed optimism about the project timeline. He said: "It is a historic day. After four years of work, we only lacked formal approval for the project. Now it is certain, the stadium will be built and will be one of the most beautiful in the world." Gualtieri outlined an accelerated schedule for construction. The groundbreaking is planned for March 2027, with a construction period of two and a half years, potentially allowing the stadium to be ready by the end of 2029—ahead of the original 2031 completion date. The mayor stated: "Now we will begin the tender process. All the conditions are in place to lay the foundation stone in March 2027. The construction site lasts two and a half years, so the stadium could be ready by the end of 2029."

Roma's new stadium at Pietralata has cleared its decisive regulatory hurdle. On the morning of 28 September, the concluding session of the Services Conference took place at 10:30, chaired by Massimo Sessa, extraordinary commissioner for Euro 2032 stadiums. The Conference issued a favourable opinion and Sessa released the single authorization for the stadium's construction, opening the operational phase of the project for Roma. The timeline targets work starting in March 2027, with completion scheduled by 2031. The stadium has been designed not simply as a venue for Roma matches but as an integrated urban structure usable year-round. Sessa emphasized the historical weight of the decision, noting that the project originated in the 1980s under former Roma president Dino Viola. He said: "It is something that began in the 1980s with the former Roma president Dino Viola. Today there is finally certainty that we can do something that benefits the city, the supporters and everyone." He added: "We have the modern vision of a stadium that will be open and alive 365 days a year." On the project's prospects, Sessa stated: "If I am confident? I am optimistic by nature. I believe things must be prepared well so that everything works." Pietralata now enters a new phase, one that will transform the blueprint into Roma's future home stadium.