Everyone who associates themselves with Roma takes pride in the club’s history of having sons of Rome as the face of the club. We were spoiled for two decades, watching homegrown champions Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi represent the club as true world-class players. Since De Rossi’s retirement, fans have been yearning for the next great Roman.
Lorenzo Pellegrini has shown flashes, but the lows have often overshadowed the highs. We all remember the cautionary tale of Alessandro Florenzi. Next up to try to stake his claim as the next great Roman for Roma is Niccoló Pisilli, who has jumped from number five on last year’s countdown to number two this summer.
He’s an all-around midfielder who seems to be bubbling over with the raw gifts to make it big. Roma has turned down offers to keep him at the club and he may have the perfect manager in place to mold him into a true star in Italy’s capital.
Number Two: Niccolò Pisilli
Age: 21
Position: MF
Shades of: Davide Frattesi, Radja Nainggolan, Nicolo Barella
Who is He?
Pisilli is Roma through and through.
Born in Rome on September 23, 2004, he came through Roma’s youth academy and became one of the club’s highest-regarded prospects. That progression also occurred at the international youth level with the Azzurrini, where Pisilli won the 2023 U-19 European Championships and finished second at the 2023 U-20 World Cup with Italy.
Pisilli made his first-team debut under José Mourinho during the 2023-24 season and then progressed into a first-team regular during the 2024-25 campaign, making 41 appearances—scoring 3 goals and providing an assist. His progression was rewarded by Roma management in February of that season with a contract extension that runs through 2029.
Pisilli has also continued to progress with the Italian national team as he made 19 appearances with the U-21s and eventually earned his first senior cap in October 2024.
What Can He Do?
Pisilli is a dynamic, versatile central midfielder. He excels at carrying the ball through the midfield, especially when he can attack space. His ability to dribble under pressure and retain possession through challenges are valuable assets in Gasperini’s system. Pisilli is a true box-to-box midfielder with a natural instinct for getting into the opposition box and contributing to goals—something he has done consistently throughout his Roma and Italy youth careers and has begun to show as a senior team player (.32 Goals+assists per 90 mins in Serie A).
Pisilli’s best fit is probably as a number 8, but he is tactically versatile and can play in various midfield roles, including as a holding midfielder and a number 10. Pisilli is a good passer and comfortable playing quickly. He also works hard defensively and is comfortable pressing and recovering possession.
What Can He Become?
If Pisilli continues to develop under Gian Piero Gasperini as expected, his ceiling is that of an all-around midfielder like Nicoló Barella. His ceiling appears to be similar to Barella’s, with the potential to be a consistent starter for Roma and Italy and one of the best midfielders in Serie A. At worst, he’s likely a very good rotation player, but he probably grows into a long-term Serie A starter.
As mentioned above, Pisilli has the raw tools needed to excel. He can carry the ball, cover ground, and make late runs from the No. 8 role, ala Davide Frattesi, and has the same instinctive verticality as Nainggolan. But with Gasperini’s tutelage, Pisilli can continue to learn the structure and tactical nuances that will help him truly blossom—when to attack space, when to hold his position, how to press and defend space, how to time runs, and how to be efficient in possession. Honing those skills could turn Pisilli into Roma’s version of Barella and potentially make him the next big-time Roman to don the giallorosso.