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Aleksandar Kolarov has claimed that Roma will soon start to feel the void left by Daniele De Rossi when the captain departs.
Roma confirmed earlier this week that De Rossi would not be offered a new contract despite his 18 years of service to the club, a decision which has enraged supporters, who have been protesting outside the club headquarters today. In an interview with DAZN, Kolarov has revealed his thoughts on the situation of his captain. "I consider Daniele a brother," he said. "The first match I played with Roma was in Bergamo against Atalanta. Sometimes before certain matches captains give a speech, but Daniele always does so and when I heard him talk and the emotion he transmitted I thought to myself how good this guy is. "I’ve been through a lot in my career, but I’ve never seen someone so passionate about a club. "I’m a Red Star supporter and didn’t have the good fortune to spend my entire career there because the ambitions were different. He was lucky enough to play for the club he loves. "We often talked in the dressing room about our careers because I'm almost 34 and in July he will be 36; we have our better years behind us. He said he wanted to finish here, but we all saw what happened. I think in 3 or 4 months when the next season starts, everyone will realise what Daniele De Rossi was for Roma." The pair have a good relationship, with De Rossi stepping in to heal the rift between Kolarov and the Giallorossi supporters earlier in the season - after which, it should be noted, the Serbian's performances have vastly improved. Kolarov also reserved words of praise for Alessandro Florenzi, who will be the next Roman to carry on the spirit of the club following De Rossi's exit in the summer. "He was lucky enough to play with Totti and De Rossi and has had excellent examples, but this also involves huge responsibility because we all know how Totti and De Rossi are considered in Rome," explained Kolarov. "He is a smart guy, he will know how to react in the right way." Want more Roma news on your timeline? Like the new Giallorossi Yorkshire Facebook page!
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Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo has revealed that he would like to stay at the club, despite interest from several European teams.
The 19-year-old has enjoyed a breakout season at Roma, even if his recent form has not been great, and his form has seen the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus hovering. However, Roma are keen to tie him down to an improved deal, and Zaniolo is eager to sign it. "I still have another four years left of my contract, I see myself here in the future," he told Corriere Dello Sport. "Naturally receiving interest from other clubs is pleasing, but I am ready to sign the renewal because I am happy here. I would be happy to stay. "I'm completely focused on these last two games, I don't think of anything else. We have to try to win both, then we'll do our calculations. "The biggest regret? That goal conceded in Genoa that prevented us from winning those three important points." Zaniolo also reserved praise for his captain Daniele De Rossi, who will leave his boyhood club next month after not being offered a contract renewal. "Losing a captain like that and a player like that in the locker room will certainly be heavy. I can only thank him for having welcomed me at Roma like a son, for having treated me like a son both on and off the field. "I won't hide from you that some tears fell after the press conference. Today, Daniele has shown how important he is for this city and this club, he is an absurd player. "I remember he sent me a message even before I arrived at Trigoria, saying, 'Welcome to our family, I am the old man of the house, you are the newcomer and you are one of us.' "Daniele is a leader both on and off the field, as well as a great player and a great person. He is a captain, Roma will lose so much." Daniele De Rossi has confirmed that he will leave Roma at the end of the season.
Roma’s captain will bring an end to his 19-year association with the first team, in which he has become the club’s second leading appearance maker of all-time, behind only his former teammate and friend Francesco Totti. De Rossi, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, inherited the captaincy from Totti in 2017, and has continued to be the beating heart of the Giallorossi midfield. However, soon to turn 36, he has decided that the time is right to finish his Roma career - although he will keep playing elsewhere. His place in Roma history is guaranteed. Grazie, Daniele.
Roma kept the pressure on in the race for a top four place as they won the most difficult of their three remaining games.
Goals from Alessandro Florenzi, who overcame a personal battle with Cristiano Ronaldo, and Edin Dzeko, back to his sharp shooting best, earned the Giallorossi a 2-0 win over Juventus, reducing the gap with Atalanta back to three points. Here's how all the key figures reacted to the match. Claudio Ranieri to Sky Sport Italia “We must continue believing that anything is possible. "It doesn’t depend on us and we know that perfectly well, but we must get to the end of the season with our conscience clear. “Having been in this position already, and as a local and a fan of this club, I’ve seen life, death and miracles of all sorts. My message is as follows: I’ve travelled around the world and I’ve always established a bond based on loyalty with my players. I demand the utmost from them and there’s mutual respect between us. We have a laugh and a joke, but when we walk out onto the pitch we have to give our all.” On Roma's improvements in defence: “It depends on a lot of things. I don’t want us to press too high up the pitch. We did that twice and Juventus cut us apart really well in two touches. When we protect our four defenders, they feel more secure and the opposition has less space. This is the result of the tactical discussions we have during the week. "It doesn’t mean that we don’t want to attack. At times today we were too frenetic and in the first half we messed up a few passes where we should have shown more calmness.” On whether he could become a club advisor after leaving: “When I was first contacted this was suggested, but I still enjoy coaching and I want to coach. I’m finished here at the end of the year.” Alessandro Florenzi on asroma.com “Now we don’t need to look at the league table any more – we just need to do everything we can in these last two games, just as we did tonight. “We need to give everything we have, trying to win both and then we will see where we are; whether that is the Champions League, the Europa League, or neither. “We know we have not had the season that we wanted to. There are a lot of reasons why we haven’t done as well as we are capable of, from bad luck to mistakes from everyone. “But we need to finish this season without regrets. We need to be able to look each other in the face after the final whistle against Parma knowing that we gave everything and then whatever will be, will be. “We stayed in the game, we knew that it was not going to be easy. “We played to win but equally we did not want to concede. The coach made the right choices, the scoreline shows that. “Cengiz Under’s introduction was vital, I am very happy with what he did – we’ve missed him a lot and this is the player we want to see.” Antonio Mirante on asroma.com “I believe that, aside from the saves and the decisions from the gaffer, we’ve changed a little in our approach to defence. "We’re less exposed and when we have the ball we’re almost always set up well. This restores confidence and then the results start to come in. "We’re working so hard to get fourth place. We know things are complicated but we have the duty to keep going until the end.” On whether he could be number one next year: “The truth is that when I came here at the start of the year I knew my role, but then things changed and obviously it’s great to be able to play. However, it’s not a question of thinking about what I’ll do next year, it’s a question of working hard: my attitude to my job always needs to be perfect. "Despite the fact I knew I’d been brought here as a back-up keeper, I always trained as if I were playing the following Sunday. From this point of view I’m lucky because I’ve got a goalkeeping coach who doesn’t let up and also I genuinely never had the attitude of coming here to Roma to put my feet up.” Steven Nzonzi to Il Romanista "We certainly still believe we can reach the Champions League, there are still two matches before the end and anything can happen. We must work hard and believe in it until the end. There are still six points up for grabs, we must take them and then we will see what happens. On his future: "I am happy at Roma, I'm perfectly at ease. Now it is important to concentrate on the end of the season, reaching our objectives. What matters now is the present." Edin Dzeko on Facebook "Big win, vital three points." Bryan Cristante on Twitter "This team never gives up. Daje Roma!" Roma Women coach Betty Bavagnoli has been named as the Serie A coach of the year for 2018-19.
Bavagnoli was presented with the Panchina d'Oro prize on Saturday, capping off a successful debut season for Roma Women. The Panchina d'Oro award is voted for by all 12 managers of Serie A Femminile clubs, showing that Bavagnoli is well-respected by her peers. The 55-year-old guided Roma to a fourth place finish in the league, as well as the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia, in their first ever season in women's football. Bavagnoli was typically humble upon receiving the award, telling the club's Twitter page: "I am the one here receiving this award, but I wouldn't be here without the help and support of everyone who works with me - everyone at the club, all the players and my coaching staff too. It is because of all of them that I am here now with this prize, so really I share this with all the different components that make up our team. "And, of course, I would like to share it with the fans too, because they have always been right behind us. Thank you to everyone." Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini is the subject of interest from one of Roma's Serie A rivals, who have hatched a plan to tempt the Giallorossi into selling.
According to La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Inter Milan are still interested in Pellegrini. Despite the player's insistence that he wants to stay at Roma for a long time, funds may need to be raised in the summer, putting his future in doubt. The Milanese paper suggests that Inter could offer goalkeeper Ionut Radu to Roma to sweeten a deal. Radu impressed against Roma for loan club Genoa last weekend, and was reportedly close to being involved in the Radja Nainggolan transfer last summer, before Roma ended up with Nicolo Zaniolo and Davide Santon instead. Roma need a new goalkeeper given the disappointing form of Robin Olsen this season, and while some have suggested that Cagliari's Alessio Cragno should be the man to come in, Radu would be an interesting alternative for the club to consider. Radu has played in 31 of Genoa's 36 league games this season, keeping four clean sheets. Want more Roma news on your timeline? Like the new Giallorossi Yorkshire Facebook page! Get up to speed with the latest news on Edin Dzeko, Steven Nzonzi and Rafael Benitez, as all of Friday's rumours involving Roma are gathered in one place.
PSG serious about Dzeko Previous reports have indicated that PSG are willing to offer Edinson Cavani as part of a swap deal with Roma for Edin Dzeko. The Bosnian striker is dissatisfied at not having won any trophies during his time at Roma, and, by his standards, has had a poor season. Now, France Football back up those rumours by claiming that the French giants have already spoken with Dzeko's entourage - although he would move as an alternative to Cavani, not a replacement. Dzeko has just one year left on his contract. Nzonzi to follow Dzeko According to Euro United, Roma's French midfielder Steven Nzonzi could also make the move to PSG given his positive relationship with the Paris club's sporting director Antero Henrique. The Ligue 1 champions would face competition from Arsenal, Marseille and Monaco. Zaniolo renewal postponed Talks over a contract renewal for Nicolo Zaniolo will be held back until after the end of the season, report Sky Sport. The midfielder has suffered a dip in form, and has been linked with Juventus. Torino block Petrachi exit Roma's leading candidate to take over as sporting director, Gianluca Petrachi, will not be allowed to leave Torino until 2020. The club's president, Urbano Cairo, has confirmed he is confident Petrachi will not be leaving him until the end of his contract. Premier League duo in for Primavera forward Manchester City and Brighton are interested in Roma Primavera forward Gianmarco Cangiano, according to Tuttomercatoweb. Cangiano is yet to make his senior debut for the club, but has been called up to matchday squads having excelled in the Primavera this year. Roma want to rebuff the interest from the English duo and improve Cangiano's contract. Benitez could make Serie A return Following Claudio Ranieri's confirmation that he will not stay on as Roma's head coach beyond the expiration of his contract, Calciomercato indicate that Rafael Benitez is now a candidate to take over. Benitez's future at Newcastle is far from certain, and with experience managing Inter and Napoli under his belt, he could be one of the preferable options for the Giallorossi bench. Want more Roma news on your timeline? Like the new Giallorossi Yorkshire Facebook page! Claudio Ranieri has confirmed that he will leave Roma at the end of the season.
Ranieri signed a contract in March which saw him replace Eusebio Di Francesco as Roma's head coach on an interim basis until the end of the campaign. However, with top targets Antonio Conte and Maurizio Sarri both ruling themselves out of the running for the role of permanent manager, some were starting to call for Ranieri to be given the job on a full-time basis. However, the 67-year-old confirmed at his press conference on Friday morning that he will not be staying beyond this season. "I came here in a moment of need for my favourite team," he said. "When this season is over, my job finishes." From nine games so far, Ranieri has guided Roma to four wins, three draws and two defeats. Sampdoria's Marco Giampaolo now looks like the most likely candidate to take over, although the club are also reportedly interested in Shakhtar's Paulo Fonseca and may have an outside chance of landing Jose Mourinho. However, unless there are managerial departures at other clubs, the present options all seem uninspiring. Have a view about Roma that you want to share? Start a discussion by visiting the Giallorossi Yorkshire Q&A page! Ivan Pelizzoli has suggested that Roma should make a move for Cagliari goalkeeper Alessio Cragno.
Cragno has been in fine form for the Sardinian club this year, and is one of the names Roma could target in the summer following Robin Olsen's nightmare campaign. Antonio Mirante has done alright since replacing Olsen as number one, but is expected to be replaced by a younger first choice goalkeeper next year, staying as the experienced backup. Pelizzoli, who kept goal for Roma between 2001 and 2005, has now called on his former club to bring Cragno to the capital. Speaking to Soccer Magazine, Pelizzoli said: "The legacy of Alisson was heavy. As for Olsen, I don't know him, he arrived in Italy and has alternated between games in which he has done very well and games in which he did less well. At Roma you also have to be mentally strong, perhaps he has had some of these pressures straight away and hasn't done very well. "As for Mirante, on the other hand, he is a very good goalkeeper, he has always played in good Serie A teams, with some intervals in Serie B, but let's say he is mainly a Serie A goalkeeper. In fact, for me, Roma did very well to take him as a second choice to give a hand to the first choice, to make him understand the Italian championship. "For next year, if I was at Roma, I would look for a first goalkeeper and give him the keys to Roma. Mirante for me is a great goalkeeper, he could even play, but at a place like Roma I would see other types of keepers, since this year Cragno is doing very well. Someone a little bit younger, perhaps with Mirante behind him." Follow Giallorossi Yorkshire on Twitter! Transfer season is nearly upon us, and the rumours are starting to fly around.
To help you keep up-to-date with anything you might have missed, here is the Roma Rumour Roundup. Roma to target Ilicic According to Gazzetta Dello Sport, Roma will be locked in a two-way battle for Atalanta star Josip Ilicic in the summer. Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini has now moved up the pecking order in the race to become Roma's next coach, after Antonio Conte and Maurizio Sarri both distanced themselves from the job. If Gasperini does move to Roma - which would be unlikely if Atalanta finish the top four - then he will reportedly target 31-year-old attacking midfielder Ilicic, who has scored 11 league goals this season. Napoli are also interested, but are said to be concerned about his age. Wenger a managerial target Joining Gasperini in Roma's list of managerial targets is former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. The veteran coach is admired by James Pallotta's advisor, Franco Baldini, and Corriere Dello Sport believe he could be a candidate to take over on the Roma bench. Alternatively, Laurent Blanc or Shakhtar's Paulo Fonseca are also possibilities. Petrachi meets with Roma One man who could be key in the summer is Gianluca Petrachi, tipped by some to become Roma's next sporting director. Il Romanista claim that the Torino director met with members of the Giallorossi hierarchy earlier this week. Defensive reinforcements Corriere Dello Sport also suggest that Roma will need to raise over €50m in the event of missing out on Champions League, which means Kostas Manolas is likely to be sold. Arsenal and Juventus are interested in the defender, who would prefer to stay in Italy. To replace him, Petrachi could bring Nicolas Nkoulou or Armando Izzo with him from Torino. Sampdoria's Omar Colley and Atalanta's Gianluca Mancini are alternative ideas. Roma in battle for Gomes According to Liverpool Echo, Everton's on-loan Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes is attracting Roma's interest. It could take up to £30m to sign him. Nacho unsettled in Madrid Linked with Roma for an eternity, Spain defender Nacho has decided to finally leave Real Madrid in the summer, having fallen further down the pecking order, claim Marca. Could a move to Roma materialise after all these years? Want more Roma news on your timeline? Like the new Giallorossi Yorkshire Facebook page! |
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