According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Lulli, a right-back born in 2007, was taken to Wales for training by Gasperini after rising through the youth ranks, and is now expected to join the Roma first team.
Emanuele Lulli, starting from Palestrina, is moving forward, not only sprinting down the right flank but also winning the favor of Gian Piero Gasperini. The coach has always paid special attention to young players, especially during his time at Atalanta. During the training camp in Wales, Gasperini closely monitored the growth of this right-back. In a recent warm-up match against Cardiff, Lulli even assisted Dybala for a consolation goal. Now, given the shortage of wide players and the seemingly imminent completion of Red's transfer, Lulli might secure a spot in the first team.
The First Steps
Lulli, born in 2007, is intelligent, precise, and possesses strong sprinting ability. He plays with little fuss and a serious attitude. Last year, he performed exceptionally well in the Italian youth league, being one of the best players in his position across Italy, with statistics of 2 goals and 8 assists.
Lulli was born and raised about an hour's drive from the capital, and he fell in love with football and everything related to it at an early age. He took his first steps in Palestrina. It was here that a group of children called "The Cursed Ones" began to form, winning trophies and attention with their resilience. The Ciampino Christmas Cup and the Roman Team Championship further solidified their reputation as a "formidable team": beating Lazio 6-1 and Roma 4-0, with impressive results.
After three years of intensive training, he transferred to Tor Tre Teste, even before joining Roma. For the next five years, he consistently maintained a high standard, making it almost impossible not to be noticed. Many pursued him, including Lazio. But Lulli naturally preferred Roma, and he also has a strong Christian faith, with "Jesus is the King" written in his Instagram bio. He progressed from U14 to U15, U16, and his first real highlight came on June 26, 2023, with a championship. That day in San Benedetto del Tronto, Falsini's team defeated Fiorentina 3-2, with Arduini scoring the winning goal, and the team lifted the trophy. In U17, he won another league title, but he didn't play much, with only 5 appearances. Initial doubts were dispelled the following year.
Rising through the U18 ranks, Lulli delivered an impressive performance: 26 matches, 2 goals, and 3 assists. In the playoff final against Torino, he came on as a substitute in the second half and even played in extra time, being quite active. Subsequently, he earned an opportunity to play in the youth league. In October 2024, Falsini gave him his debut against Lecce, and he proved his capabilities. Then, he completely exploded. Federico Guidi, upon his return, noticed him and entrusted him with the right flank. Lulli was also called up to the Italian U19 national team, starting to appear in the media. Gasperini also noticed this five-star rated rising star. The coach also brought several youth team teammates to the training camp in Wales: De Marchi, Mohamed Ba, Nardin, and Panico. Mohamed Ba is awaiting the results of tests for a serious knee injury today.
However, what truly caught Gasperini's eye was Lulli. The coach is already considering bringing him into the first team officially next season. From a physical standpoint, Gasperini believes he is ready. Tactically, there are certainly some details to adjust, but among these young players being evaluated, Lulli is the one he is most satisfied with. If the transfer market brings in two more wing-backs, Lulli could become the fifth full-back, providing support for a season with a large number of matches. In recent years, there have been precedents for youth team wing players making their way into the first team. The most typical example is Ruggeri, who now plays for Atlético Madrid. There are also Palestra and Zortea, who also made their Serie A debuts under Gasperini.
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