Massara is out, sporting director leaves after one season
It's official. Frederic Massara and Roma have mutually terminated his contract, ending a single-season spell as sporting director that never really caught fire (1). The timing leaves Gasperini as the dominant voice on the football side while the Friedkins search for a replacement. You go into the biggest match in seven years with the front office in transition.
Gasperini wants Koopmeiners reunion
The manager believes he can revive Teun Koopmeiners in Rome (3). The Dutch midfielder flopped at Juventus but thrived under Gasperini at Atalanta, and a reunion could be on the cards this summer. It makes sense, Gasperini knows exactly how to deploy him, and Roma need depth if Champions League football is secured.
Greenwood race heats up
Roma are among the clubs tracking Mason Greenwood, but a Premier League giant has now stormed into the picture (2). Marseille could demand around £48m, and Manchester United stand to benefit from a sell-on clause. If Roma want him, the price just went up.
Totti tells all: the spoon, De Rossi, and that kick on Balotelli
Francesco Totti has opened up in a wide-ranging interview, revisiting his iconic 'cucchiaio' penalty, his deep friendship with Daniele De Rossi, and the infamous kick on Mario Balotelli in the 2010 Coppa Italia final (4). Pure nostalgia for anyone who lived through that era.
Fan reactions
The Massara news has split the fanbase. Some see it as overdue after a disjointed season in recruitment; others worry about instability right before the most important match in years. Meanwhile, the stadium approval story has given supporters something genuinely hopeful to latch onto, a rare moment of off-pitch progress. Read the discussion here.
