Emanuele Lulli is a 19-year-old full-back who came through the ranks at Trigoria and has been a familiar name around Roma’s youth setup. He caught the eye by starting on the opening day of the 2026-27 season, with current teammates and former Roma greats such as Gianluca Mancini, Bruno Conti and Aldair also taking notice on social media.
That got us wondering: which other academy graduates have started their Roma careers with a first-team start, rather than coming on for a brief cameo?
So, we went digging through the archives…
Riccardo Calafiori – 1 August 2020 – A 3-2 win away at Juventus
Not a bad place to make your first start.
Calafiori lined up at left wing-back against reigning champions Juventus and played 60 minutes, winning the penalty that Diego Perotti converted to put Roma ahead in Turin.
It was a particularly special moment for Calafiori. Less than two years earlier, he had suffered a serious knee injury that threatened to derail his career altogether.
Elio Capradossi – 6 May 2018 – A 1-0 win away at Cagliari
Capradossi had spent the previous season and a half out on loan at Bari in Serie B before getting his chance with the first team.
He started and played 69 minutes as Roma came away from Cagliari with a 1-0 win. Capradossi had been one of the regular faces of the Primavera setup, captaining the side that won the title in 2016, before going on to build a solid career in the lower divisions.
Alessio Romagnoli – 11 December 2012 – A 3-0 home win against Atalanta
This one is a little harder to look back on without a bit of a sigh, given how Romagnoli’s career has unfolded since leaving Roma.
His first-team debut came in the Coppa Italia Round of 16 against Atalanta at the Olimpico. Roma won 3-0 and, at just 17, Romagnoli had his first taste of senior football.
It wouldn’t be long before he was given another opportunity. Just 12 days later, he made his Serie A debut, coming off the bench against Milan.
Mory Bamba – 10 December 2020 – A 3-1 defeat away at CSKA Sofia
With Calafiori injured, Bamba started at wing-back in Bulgaria as Paulo Fonseca gave several Primavera players an opportunity in the Europa League.
The tie was effectively settled as a contest, giving a number of youngsters the chance to experience senior football. Bamba was only 18 at the time and became the youngest foreign-born player to appear for Roma in a UEFA club competition.
It was a tough night for the team, though, with Roma eventually beaten 3-1. Bamba never played for Roma’s first team again.
Federico Viviani – 18 August 2011 – A 1-0 defeat away at Slovan Bratislava
Viviani had come through the academy and captained the Primavera before Luis Enrique handed him his senior debut in the Europa League play-off against Slovan Bratislava.
The 19-year-old started in midfield in Slovakia as Roma lost the first leg 1-0. He was also in the starting XI for the return match a week later.
Gianluca Curci – 19 December 2004 – A 5-1 win at home against Parma
Curci is the only goalkeeper on our list, making his senior Roma debut at 19 against Parma.
He started between the posts as Roma ran riot at the Olimpico, winning 5-1 and giving Curci a memorable introduction to first-team football. It was the beginning of a breakthrough season for the academy graduate, who would go on to become Roma’s first-choice goalkeeper during the second half of the campaign.
Gianluca Galasso – 16 May 2004 – A 0-0 draw away at Sampdoria
Going back another year, we come to perhaps the least familiar name on this list.
Galasso came through Roma’s academy and made his senior debut on the final day of the 2003/04 season, starting at wing-back against Sampdoria.
He played the full 90 minutes as Roma drew 0-0 in Genoa. As it turned out, it was also his only senior appearance for the club.
Alberto Aquilani – 17 December 2002 – A 1-1 draw then win on penalties at home to Triestina
Aquilani needs little introduction to Roma supporters.
The midfielder came through the youth ranks and made his senior debut as a 19-year-old in the Coppa Italia against Triestina. He started in midfield as Roma drew 1-1 at the Olimpico before winning on penalties, by which time he’d been taken off.
Aquilani would go on to establish himself at the top level, eventually moving to Liverpool and earning 38 caps for Italy.
Of course, after Lulli’s impressive opening-day showing, perhaps it’s a little early to get carried away.
Still, if another Primavera player gets the nod from the start for Roma this season, we’ll certainly be paying attention.
So, have we missed anyone? And who do you think will be the next academy graduate to make their mark at the Olimpico?
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