The former coach added, “When I became the coach of Roma, my son started following football, I saw him proud and I realized that I was beginning to pass onto him what this club means to us.”

Today there was a huge surprise at the Capitol with Daniele De Rossi attending the presentation of Tonino Cagnucci’s new book, ‘The Great Novel of Roma.’ The event sparked great enthusiasm among those present in the room. The volume retraces the history of the yellow-red club, in which the number sixteen played a significant role both as a player and, albeit briefly, as a coach. His presence made the event even more special for the audience, who welcomed him warmly. Below are his words:

“To describe what Roma means to me, there isn’t a single word that can truly capture it without falling into cliché. For each one of us, it’s an integral part of our lives, our emotional sphere and for me, even my professional one. There are squares similar to ours in this visceral passion. For us, it’s something so big that it compels you to write a book, shout it out in the stadium, make a banner if your voice doesn’t reach, or report it in the newspaper. There comes a point when social classes cease to exist, and we all become one family, of equals. I find it delightful that novels are being crafted, where my beautiful picture has been taken and included. Apart from me and Francesco, our years will be broadcast on Youtube. There exists a part of Rome perhaps even more significant; its importance perpetuated, not through the realms of the internet, but through the time-honored tradition of passing down stories. “When did you feel the most Roma-supporter-like? I don’t know, it’s something that comes naturally. Despite how much I cared, the kiss to the jersey became exaggerated, there are other various moments that made me attached to Roma.” The latest, having an American wife and children who are more American than Roman, was when I became the coach of Roma – my son started following football. I saw him being proud, and I realized I was starting to pass on to him what Roma means to us. I hope this remains for the future, regardless of where I will work. I attempted to call my son Agostino, but it wasn’t my turn: Di Bartolomei was a reference, for everything that isn’t being told and that we’re fortunate to know. Those of us on the inside know who is real and who isn’t, for me, the accounts of those who’ve experienced Ago count. Despite never having experienced it, it always led me to think that it would have been wonderful to know about it. I had to run to get here, I may have overestimated myself a bit, and I broke into a sweat. From the outset, I knew I was coming here; I just wanted to keep Tonino in suspense. Tonino is a good soul, a talented writer, and above all, a huge Romanista fan. A person deserving, sometimes I don’t attend these events, but I think Tonino deserves it, once every 16 years. I had wanted to see the derby at the stadium for a while, I was used to being the ball boy, however, I would have liked if it could have remained a thing between myself and my friends, partially it was a matter of public order. Conceived from a remark by Mastandrea a couple of days ago, I bundled up and endured the most severe heat of my life. We’ve only revealed a snippet of that evening, but we have video footage of me entering the stadium and other moments. We haven’t shared these because Bryant passed away, and it didn’t feel right. “One of those moments when we are all the same.”