AS Roma showed their grand ambition by appointing Fabio Capello as coach in the summer of 1999. A respectable sixth-placed Serie A finish would arrive in his first season, but this campaign was about gradually assembling the squad which would bring title success the following year.

Among the new arrivals was midfielder Marcos Assunção who became another member of the club's growing Brazilian contingent. He was signed alongside Hidetoshi Nakata and Francesco Antonioli, but it was the former Sampdoria striker Vincenzo Montella who made the most immediate impression with 18 goals in his debut season.