​Who said you’re born a Roman? For more information, contact Bryan Cristante (assuming you have his home address) at the door. He’s 31, and over the past eight years he has spent countless hours sprinting across the pitch in the Giallorossi jersey, fully immersed in the heart of the capital. Born in Friuli and raised in Milan, the Roma midfielder has absorbed the Eternal City’s customs and traditions, and a few of its characteristic expressions as well. “I confess: ‘mortaci tua’ has become a catchphrase,” he explains with a charming smile in a lengthy interview with Sportweek for La Gazzetta dello Sport. “It comes out on so many occasions, I can’t help it. Now I’m on automatic.”
Reflecting on the pivotal moments of his career, Cristante points to two Cup finals as defining. The first was the Conference Cup final, which Roma won against Feyenoord, a triumph he recalls with pride. The second, the Europa League final, ended in a defeat to Sevilla on penalties. He also highlights the most recent dramatic close of the season: the final matchday in Verona, where the team clinched a return to the Champions League. That milestone, he notes, had been long yearned for by the club, the players, and the fans alike.
Rome, he continues, is a city you fall in love with instantly. From the moment you arrive, its beauty captures you, and the stadium adds an extra layer of electricity. He’s not the first to feel the pull of Roma’s energy; the anthem, set to the tune of Venditti’s song, gives him goosebumps. The city’s magic, however, comes with its challenges. It demands a great deal, and while it offers warmth, enthusiasm, and passion, those same forces can morph into pressure and stress when results don’t come. That duality is the other side of the coin.
Maintaining balance is essential in Rome, where elation can quickly flip to despair; one day you’re a champion, the next you’re a loser, and that volatility can undermine an entire season. Cristante says that, this season, whether the team won or lost, they learned to reset after every game and to focus immediately on the next match.
Being captain of a club that bears the name of such a vast city is, to him, an honor. He is proud, alongside Pellegrini and Mancini, to nurture a sense of belonging in the younger generation—a belonging that runs deeply through the club and its devoted supporters. The influence of the manager has been transformative for the entire squad. Jose Mourinho has grounded the team in a clear path to victory, instilling a winning mentality and a tangible ambition to triumph. Under his leadership, the team has enjoyed two remarkable seasons: one Cup win and another final decided on penalties. He also praises coach Gasperini, recognizing his strength and the impact he has had since the first year in such a demanding club. Cristante notes that he was fortunate to work with Gasperini previously at Atalanta, and that his trust in following the coach’s lead has proven right in this challenging environment.
As for the reasons behind Roma’s ongoing SEO appeal and the broader narrative of his career, Cristante emphasizes a blend of personal growth, club ambition, and the enduring connection with the city’s fans. The Roma experience is about more than trophies; it is about belonging, resilience, and a shared sense of purpose that binds players to a fan base that lives and breathes every match. In Cristante’s view, the journey continues to be defined by the balance between the city’s relentless expectations and the team’s steadfast drive to meet them, a dynamic that keeps both players and supporters invested in Roma’s pursuit of greatness.