Italian clubs reinforce youth academies with new appointments

AS Roma has appointed former Verona director Massimo Margiotta to lead its youth sector, signing a three‑year contract that runs until 30 June 2029 with an option to extend for two more seasons. Margiotta, a former Serie A striker, spent 2017‑2026 heading Hellas Verona’s academy and is expected to continue Roma’s strategy of investing heavily in its Trigoria training centre.

Bari’s newly appointed director of football Pierpaolo Marino said that six or seven youngsters from the club’s academy will join the first‑team training camp, emphasising the financial effort the club is making on its youth setup. He warned that, despite the investment, the academy has yet to produce many first‑team players, noting that only three youth graduates have featured for the senior side so far.

Both clubs are aiming to strengthen their talent pipelines, with Roma focusing on long‑term development under Margiotta’s guidance, while Bari looks to integrate promising youngsters into the squad in the upcoming season.