By Andrea Caropreso
Index
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Roma’s season is worthy of one of the best Oscar-winning screenplays. Rarely has our Serie A witnessed a team that, after three disastrous months, practically stopped losing, clawing back point after point on its direct rivals. In fact, after the draw between Lazio and Juventus, the Giallorossi have their fate in their own hands, and qualifying for the Champions League is now less improbable than the 1% predicted by the mastermind behind this sporting miracle: Claudio Ranieri.
Champions League Money
It’s almost redundant to highlight how important the revenue from participating in the next Champions League would be — but in Roma’s case, it must be said. That’s because the Giallorossi, for several years now (since the Pallotta era), have had a Settlement Agreement in place with UEFA. In simple terms, it’s an agreement in which the club commits to staying within certain preset financial limits to avoid sanctions from UEFA.
As part of Financial Fair Play, Roma must keep the wages of players and staff within a ceiling agreed upon with UEFA’s top officials. These financial targets must be met over a four-year period.
This period runs from 2022 to 2026, during which Roma is expected to align with UEFA’s new financial regulations. These strict rules, imposed not only on the Friedkin-owned club but others too, aim to ensure that the financial gap between profits and losses stays within acceptable margins.
Thus, a long-shot qualification for the next Champions League would be a financial windfall for the club. Around €60 million just for participation, plus potential bonuses for match wins and progression through the group stage. Over recent years, due to their absence from Europe’s top competition, Roma has been forced to close financial gaps by June 30 with player sales for capital gains. A Champions League spot would reduce this risk next summer.
Who Will Be the Coach?
Despite being the director of another masterpiece, Claudio Ranieri has decided to step away from coaching to take on an executive role. The names of his successor are still up in the air — at least officially. The club’s leadership likely already has a plan, but the Champions League factor, previously unaccounted for, might change things.
It’s reasonable to believe that the next coach will want a say in transfer decisions to strengthen the squad. These decisions could become broader if Roma collects a Champions League check instead of one from the Europa League. Last summer, for example, the transfer budget — excluding sales — was only €30 million, which the club invested in Soulé, who only began to shine in the second half of the season. If Champions League revenue arrives, the transfer market approach could shift accordingly.
The Stadium Project
Meanwhile, the Friedkin ownership continues to push forward with plans to build a new stadium. Roma’s new home, according to club plans, is to be located in the Pietralata district. The project has been submitted to the municipality, but further investment — possibly another €100 million — may be required. The Friedkins have already committed over €1 billion, but bureaucratic delays have postponed the final project’s presentation.
The American owners remain committed to investing, but the planned opening for the club’s centenary in 2027 now seems unlikely. Since arriving in the capital, the Friedkins have already invested nearly €1 billion, including recapitalizations, transfer activity, and the club’s acquisition. Now comes the stadium project — but as has happened before, it must face Italy’s notorious bureaucracy, which often clashes with foreign investors’ ambition.
By Andrea Caropreso
