Roma Return To The Champions League Sparks Mancini's Anticipation For Debut

Roma’s return to the Champions League next season is confirmed, and Gianluca Mancini is already looking ahead to a long-awaited debut in UEFA’s leading club competition after playing a central role in the team’s strong Serie A campaign.

Daniele De Rossi’s side sealed third place with a 2-0 win against Verona on the final day, ending the league season on 73 points. Roma passed the 70-point mark in Serie A for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign, when Eusebio Di Francesco guided the club into Europe’s top tournament.

Mancini arrived at Roma before the 2019-20 season, yet the defender has not appeared in the Champions League. After the match in Verona [final day], embracing [Bryan] Cristante, I thought about it, Mancini told Sky Sport, reflecting on finally reaching a competition that has remained out of reach.

Roma have guaranteed European football for a 13th straight season, underlining a sustained presence on the continental stage. During this sequence, the Giallorossi have taken part in the Champions League six times, the Europa League six times, and the Conference League once, maintaining regular exposure to high-level opposition.

The club’s most recent Champions League involvement came in 2018-19, when Porto eliminated Roma in the round of 16, one season after Roma reached the semi-finals. The club’s deepest run remains 1983-84, when Liverpool won the final on penalties at the Stadio Olimpico.

Mancini has become one of Roma’s most consistent players, featuring 319 times in all competitions. During these matches, Roma have recorded 100 clean sheets, while Mancini has contributed 23 goals and 11 assists, highlighting influence in both penalty areas during the club’s route back to the Champions League.

Mancini has already begun picturing what the Champions League experience will be like on the pitch. "I imagined the stadiums, a little tune I have never heard in my career. It is beautiful even just to imagine it, I cannot wait to play in the competition."

Roma’s qualification restores the club to the Champions League for the first time since 2017-18, supported by improved league results and consistent European participation. Mancini’s anticipation mirrors the wider squad’s mood as Roma prepare to face elite opposition again at the Stadio Olimpico next season.