Defensive MidfieldItaly20 years oldPlays for Cagliari Calcio
Alessandro Gianni Romano, born on 17 June 2006, is a left-footed defensive midfielder, 185 cm. He plays for Cagliari Calcio. The season is unfolding fast. He scored on his league debut for the club, has been a regular starter early in 2026/27 Serie A, and switched international allegiance to Italy in September 2026. A senior debut against Belgium in the Nations League is imminent.
Romano sits in front of the defence and reads the game from deep. He is defensive-minded first, with a willingness to step in and win duels. On his club debut against Parma he led the team in tackles, winning four of four, and finished the game with a 79th-minute winner. Set-piece work is a clear outlet. Against Inter he took five corners, created one chance, and stayed involved creatively despite a 1-0 loss. He shows composure under pressure and passing is tidy.
Romano came through Winterthur academy before joining Roma’s youth setup in 2022. He progressed through Roma Under 17, Under 18 and U20, described in 2024 as a regular starter deployed in front of defence. He was promoted to Roma’s senior squad in 2025 and made his Serie A debut on 6 January 2026 against Lecce. He moved to his current club in January 2026 for €500k. The numbers show early trust, with high marks for matches started and minutes among Serie A central midfielders.
Media in Italy suggest Roma may regret the terms negotiated when selling the midfielder earlier in the summer. Reports link an initial €5m fee with bonuses up to €6.5m. The value is expected to rise further after his first Italy cap. Contract expires on 30 June 2027.
AS Roma confirmed on 1 July 2026 that Alessandro Romano has joined Cagliari on a loan with an obligation to buy. His listed contract runs to June 2027.
Inter Milan are targeting Cagliari defensive midfielder Alessandro Romano for next season, per Gazzetta.it (1 Oct 2026). His contract runs to June 2027.