7th edition of Di Bartolomei Tournament: remembering the Captain with fans, friends and family

The event was held on Thursday 15 May in Trigoria, on the pitch named after the captain of Roma when we won our second league title. There was a large audience in attendance as well as Roma’s Under 12s, who won the tournament, and the Under 13 teams of Pro Roma, Alba 1907 and Fortitudo, the descendants of some of the clubs that went on to found AS Roma. 

Alba-Audace, Fortitudo-Pro Roma and Roman Foot Ball Club were represented in the tifos at the recent derby with an evocative image of Agostino Di Bartolomei. And the banner used on 13 April – donated and entrusted to AS Roma – was laid down at the centre of the pitch with the song “La leva calcistica della classe ‘68” by Francesco De Gregori playing: a very emotional moment for everyone. 

Everyone was visibly moved. There were fans from the Curva Sud, with their chants and smoke bombs, who rose before the trophy ceremony, warming up the atmosphere. There were those who saw and experienced Agostino, the young players and of course those who played on the pitch with him, from his first coach in the youth team Gianfranco Murgia to his team-mates in the Under-19 team such as Cascini, D'Aversa, Di Mario, Gamberoni, Palmieri, Santolamazza and Varano, as well as the former players of the first team Cappelli, Chierico, De Nadai, De Sisti, Faccini, Giannini, Giudo, Liguori, Nela, Peccenini, Righetti, Sulfaro and Tancredi. 

“I bring the greetings of the Friedkin family, which is proud to host this tournament in our training facility,” said the club’s Chief Football Operating Officer, Maurizio Lombardo, at the start of the trophy ceremony. “These young players, who represent the present and the future, must know the values of a great man and captain, Agostino Di Bartolomei. I thank our former players, who are an important part of our family, as well as the fans who with their chants have warmed the atmosphere and brought Agostino back here with us.” 

The trophy ceremony was carried out by Gianluca Mancini, who shared a thought with the audience on behalf of all his team-mates: “Seeing our fans pay tribute to Agostino Di Bartolomei makes me proud of playing for Roma. I didn’t see him play, but what people tell me about him is truly unique. I know that all Roma fans saw him as a role model. When I wear the captain’s armband I feel proud because I think that a man and a player like him wore it too. I always try to honour him and Roma’s other great captains. For the team and the fans.”

The event was also an opportunity to present to the audience the Agostino Di Bartolomei Social and Sports Promotion Association, which was established last year through the initiative of his son Luca, who spoke together with Andrea, Ago's little grandson. President Massimo Pelliccia explained that the Association, thanks to its 100 members and friends, in a matter of a few months raised funds to provide 19 scholarships for needy young people referred by Municipality 7, which is where Di Bartolomei grew up. An important, tangible activity dedicated to Ago to which anyone can contribute. 

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