Alessandro Romano returns to the Olimpico on Sunday with a different shirt and a larger role than the one he briefly held at Roma. Cagliari are expected to place the 2006-born midfielder at the centre of their response after damaging defeats to Monza and Bologna, while Roma need the same three points for their own position in the table. It is a meeting that brings together a former academy prospect, a coach who wanted to keep him, and a club still weighing the consequences of his sale.
Romano’s previous appearance at the Olimpico lasted only two minutes, at the end of Roma’s match against Sassuolo. He had also made his Serie A debut in Lecce on 6 January, coming on late. His recent international outing against Belgium was far less encouraging, but the Cagliari midfielder has otherwise made a strong start to the campaign and will now have the chance to start against the club that developed him.
Roma’s sale returns to focus
Gian Piero Gasperini had introduced Romano to Serie A and would have preferred not to lose him permanently. The Roma coach has acknowledged that the decision was driven by the club’s financial requirements, describing the departure of a young player in such circumstances as regrettable.
Roma had moved quickly to sign Romano from Swiss side Winterthur in 2022, when former youth-sector director Vincenzo Vergine identified him. The initial fee was €70,000. Romano progressed rapidly through the academy, became a leading figure for the Primavera side and began receiving first-team opportunities.
Daniele De Rossi had brought him into senior training after his breakthrough at youth level, but Gasperini gave him his competitive opening. Following his short first-team appearances, Romano joined Spezia on loan before completing a summer move worth €6 million, with Roma retaining a resale percentage of close to 15 per cent.
There is no buy-back clause in the agreement. His early impact at Cagliari has been convincing enough for Italy to speed up the process needed to secure his international future before Switzerland could call him up.
A midfield meeting with Pisilli
Sunday will also put Romano against Niccolò Pisilli, a close friend despite their distance and rival club colours. The pair have continued to show clear affection publicly, with Romano recently congratulating the Roma midfielder on earning the opportunities he deserved, adding with a laugh that it had taken him a little time.
The friendship will be set aside during a match with substantial importance for both teams. Cagliari need to halt a difficult run after two heavy losses, and Romano is set to lead their midfield. Roma, meanwhile, are chasing a result that would strengthen their league position and perhaps ease some of the lingering doubts around a player they once considered part of their future.
A familiar concern for the Roma academy
Romano’s exit has revived memories of other former Roma youth players who flourished elsewhere, including Davide Frattesi, Riccardo Calafiori, Matteo Politano and Gianluca Scamacca. The club hope it will not become another recurring pattern, and the expected contract extension for Lulli until 2031 is seen as an indication of their intention to protect emerging talent.
Football has always been central to Romano’s family. His father Umberto was a professional player, while his brother Luca also followed the game. Romano’s maturity and reading of play stood out early in his development, helping him rise swiftly through Roma’s ranks before taking a separate path.
At the Olimpico, there will be no personal resentment between Romano and Gasperini. But as Cagliari seek recovery and Roma pursue a needed win, both sides will be aware of the opportunity that once existed inside the Giallorossi academy.
