The announcement confirming Tony D’Amico as Roma’s new sporting director has been ready for days, and now that the final details have been settled, it is set to be made official.
D’Amico will sign a three-year contract with the Giallorossi, despite Atalanta president Antonio Percassi’s attempts to prevent the move. In reality, however, he has already been working behind the scenes for several days on Gian Piero Gasperini’s plans to shape the Roma of the future.
Once the UEFA settlement agreement is resolved—a positive development given that it is expected to cost less than €60 million to close—the focus will shift to strengthening the attack, where only Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are considered certain to remain.
On the left, the club’s top priority is West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville. During the Netherlands national team’s pre-World Cup training camp, Malen is expected to discuss the possibility of joining Roma rather than Tottenham with his compatriot. Summerville’s profile is considered the closest match to Ademola Lookman’s, and following West Ham’s relegation, he is widely expected to leave London this summer.
Another factor working in Roma’s favour is that the 24-year-old winger is represented by the same agency as Malen. Further down the shortlist are Christos Tzolis of Club Brugge and Leo Sauer of Feyenoord. Alajbegovic, a player highly rated by former sporting director Frederic Massara—who has recently made an approach for Sauer—also remains on Roma’s radar, but Gasperini if said to want a more polished player.
Meanwhile, Gianluca Scamacca has re-emerged as a target even after Atalanta exercised their option to extend his contract until 2028, but will be more difficult to negotiate for.
Champions League ambitions require Champions League-level preparation. Following the official announcement of a pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund on August 15, additional matches against Brighton and Barcelona are also being explored.
Off the pitch, work continues on the commercial front. The club is searching for a new back-of-shirt sponsor, while the recent training session also marked the evocative return of Barilla ahead of its centenary celebrations.
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