The Argentinian talent arrived in Rome in 2011 and quickly emerged as a central figure in the club’s new direction. Yet two years later, his ascent was interrupted by a high-stakes market decision that reshaped the club’s trajectory.
Enter Coco. On the long road toward another European trophy, Roma reconnects with an old acquaintance: Eric Lamela.
Lamela delivered the decisive goal in extra time during the semi-final, steering his side toward the coveted European final in a story that frames one of his greatest chapters.
In a match that pits the giallorossi against familiar competition, the team and its supporters look ahead to the chance to lift 15 kilos of silver in the final held on Wednesday, May 31 at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.
To reflect on the journey, Roma was instrumental in Lamela’s leap from South America to Europe. The transfer occurred in mid-2011 when River Plate faced relegation to Serie B for the first time in their history, a crisis that threatened to overwhelm the club. The move was a watershed moment, reshaping the future for both clubs and marking a turning point in Lamela’s career.
The 17 million euro investment made by Roma to secure one of the brightest Argentine talents at the dawn of the 2010s breathed new life into River Plate’s status in South American football, breaking a period of stagnation and setting the stage for greater competitive ambitions on the continent and beyond.