Official: Tecla Pettenuzzo Signs New Deal Through 2023

With new manager Alessandro Spugna in tow and former manager Betty Bavagnoli now serving as the club's first-ever Head of Women's Football, the future of the Giallorosse is starting to take shape. While Spugna was only introduced to his new squad last week, Bavagnoli has been busy behind the scenes, tweaking last season's Coppa Italia winning side with new signings Benedetta Glionna, Lucia Di Guglielmo—both of whom played for Spugna last season at Empoli—and striker Valeria Pirone, who signed from Sassuolo late last week.

In addition to working the transfer market, Bavagnoli has been extremely busy locking up the core of Roma with new contracts. After inking Vanessa Bernauer and Angelica Soffia to new deals over the past several days, Bavagnoli has put the clamps on another key member of Spugna's new squad.

Moments ago, the club announced that Tecla Pettenuzzo has extended her stay with Roma through June 2023. Pettenuzzo, a 21-year-old center-back, arrived in the capital in the summer of 2019, making 13 appearances (11 starts) during the pandemic-shortened ‘19-’20 season. Pettenuzzo saw her playing time dip with the arrival of star defender Elena Linari, so this new deal is equal parts surprising and exciting.

To her credit, Pettenuzzo took the Linari signing in stride and was quick to point out how much she's learning just from watching Linari in training. Pettenuzzo has the touch, intelligence, and athleticism to play full-back and perhaps even defensive midfield, so it will be interesting to see how and where Spugna sprinkles in the 21-year-old this season.

Regardless of where she plays this season, Pettenuzzo promises to be a big part of Roma for the foreseeable future.