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Federico Fazio has set his sights on playing for Roma for the rest of his career, while claiming that compatriot Javier Pastore is in his best shape since joining the club.
Fazio has been one of Roma's most-used defenders so far this season, at the start of his fourth full campaign with the club. The Argentine could add to his five league starts of 2019-20 on Sunday, when Roma travel to face Sampdoria - who have recently appointed former Giallorossi manager Claudio Ranieri, a coach under whom Fazio's form vastly improved last season. "Ranieri is a good manager with a lot of experience in football," Fazio told Sky Sport. "He’s arriving at a club who are going through a tough period, but given his experience, he can give them the motivation they need. We wish him well but we’ll greet him after the match: we want to win." Fazio is one of three Argentines in the squad, with the others, Diego Perotti and Javier Pastore, often having to combat fitness problems. But their teammate says both of the attacking midfielders are nearly ready to contribute again. "Diego returned to training last week, little by little he is picking up the pace to get back into the best shape possible. Pastore is always training hard, this is the best shape I’ve seen him in since he arrived." Another player with ties to Roma currently in Argentina is legendary former captain Daniele De Rossi, who is now playing for Boca Juniors. But when asked if he would follow his old teammate to the Argentine club, Fazio, 32, responded by pledging his future to Roma - with whom he signed a contract extension over the summer. "He’s doing well there and we hope they win against River Plate. I don’t know if I’ll finish my career there, I think I’ll finish it at Roma." Should Fazio start on Sunday, he will partner either Gianluca Mancini or Chris Smalling, with Paulo Fonseca yet to finalise his strongest centre-back partnership. However, Fazio says he is happy to play alongside either of them. "Playing right, left, with one player or another makes no difference. Smalling comes from the Premier League, which is different, Mancini is young and still has a lot ahead of him. I get along well with both." After the Sampdoria game, Roma will face Borussia Monchengladbach in the Europa League, a competition which fans have every right to be optimistic about the team's chances in. However, Fazio knows that, if they are to conquer the competition, Roma must take things one step at a time. "It’s a good competition - you can’t underestimate it. There’s already strong teams in it and then you’ll also have teams from the Champions League join. We have to continue calmly and slowly, let’s worry about winning the group first.
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With the curtains finally closed on a rollercoaster transfer market - Gianluca Petrachi's first as Roma sporting director - it's time to recap all the deals that went through.
Roma have made some exciting changes to their squad, bringing in some stars of international quality, while several flops have left the club. Here is Roma's summer activity in full - including deals at youth level. In: 1/7/19 - Leonardo Spinazzola (€29.5m, Juventus) 1/7/19 - Amadou Diawara (€21m, Napoli) 1/7/19 - Felipe Estrella (undisclosed, Ferroviaria) 9/7/19 - Pau Lopez (€23.5m, Real Betis) 17/7/19 - Gianluca Mancini (€2m loan + €13m obligation to buy, Atalanta) 20/7/19 - J0rdan Veretout (€1m loan + €16m obligation to buy, Fiorentina) 29/7/19 - Ruben Providence (€0.5m, PSG) 16/8/19 - Mert Cetin (€3m, Genclerbirligi) 21/8/19 - Davide Zappacosta (loan, Chelsea) 30/8/19 - Chris Smalling (€3m loan, Manchester United) 2/9/19 - Wiktor Plesnierowicz (loan + €0.5m option to buy, Lech Poznan) 2/9/19 - Nikola Kalinic (€2m loan + €9m option to buy, Atletico Madrid) 2/9/19 - Henrikh Mkhitaryan (€3m loan, Arsenal) Out: 21/6/19 - Ezequiel Ponce (€3m, Spartak Moscow) 26/6/19 - Andrea Romagnoli (€2.5m, Spartak Moscow) 30/6/19 - Kostas Manolas (€36m, Napoli) 30/6/19 - Luca Pellegrini (€22m, Juventus) 26/7/19 - Daniele De Rossi (free, Boca Juniors) 1/7/19 - Jean Freddi Greco (undisclosed, Torino) 1/7/19 - Flavio Bucri (undisclosed, Torino) 1/7/19 - Rezan Corlu (undisclosed, Brondby) 1/7/19 - Andrea Paolelli (released) 2/7/19 - Umar Sadiq (loan, Partizan) 8/7/19 - Stephan El Shaarawy (€16m, Shanghai Shenhua) 10/7/19 - Edoardo Soleri (undisclosed, Padova) 10/7/19 - Andrea Trovato (undisclosed, Frosinone) 11/7/19 - Ivan Marcano (€3m, Porto) 12/7/19 - Zan Celar (loan, Cittadella) 12/7/19 - Gerson (€11.8m, Flamengo) 13/7/19 - Matias Nani (loan, Central Cordoba) 16/7/19 - Lorenzo Di Livio (undisclosed, Catanzaro) 17/7/19 - Daniele Verde (€1m, AEK Athens) 17/7/19 - Salvatore Pezzella (loan, Modena) 17/7/19 - Lorenzo Valeau (loan, Imolese) 17/7/19 - Alessandro Barbarossa (released) 18/7/19 - Stefano Greco (loan, Vibonese) 23/7/19 - Riccardo Cargnelutti (undisclosed, Modena) 29/7/19 - Gianmarco Cangiano (€1.5m, Bologna) 31/7/19 - Alessandro Bordin (undisclosed, Spezia) 1/8/19 - Elio Capradossi (€1m, Spezia) 6/8/19 - Nicolo Buso (undisclosed, Entella) 7/8/19 - Rick Karsdorp (loan, Feyenoord) 7/8/19 - Christian D'Urso (€0.5m, Cittadella) 9/8/19 - Giacomo Molinari (undisclosed, Trapani) 14/8/19 - Lorenzo Crisanto (free, Alessandria) 14/8/19 - Riccardo Cataldi (undisclosed, Trapani) 16/8/19 - Steven Nzonzi (€0.5m loan + €16m option to buy, Galatasaray) 21/8/19 - Emanuele Spinozzi (undisclosed, Pistoiese) 27/8/19 - Ante Coric (€0.4m loan + €6m option to buy, Almeria) 30/8/19 - Robin Olsen (loan, Cagliari) 30/8/19 - Gregoire Defrel (€3m loan + €9m obligation to buy, Sassuolo) 31/8/19 - Keba Coly (loan, Rende) 2/9/19 - Patrik Schick (€3.5m loan + minimum €28m option to buy, RB Leipzig) 2/9/19 - Maxime Gonalons (loan + €4m conditional obligation to buy, Granada) Roma CEO Guido Fienga has confirmed that Franco Baldini has no official role within the club - but still has a close relationship with James Pallotta.
Baldini has drawn the wrath of the fans due to his role in the decision not to offer a new contract to Daniele De Rossi, while he was also cricitised by Francesco Totti upon his departure from the club. Despite few of Baldini's calls proving to be successful, Totti admitted that the final decisions will always be made by the former sporting director. At a meeting for club shareholders at Trigoria, Fienga revealed the extent to which Baldini is involved with the running of the club. "Baldini is a consultant of the majority shareholder," he explained. "He has no role in the governance of the company. "The management of the company is a collective that elaborates the strategies and determines their execution. The definition of the strategies and the decisions of them belong only to the management of this company. "Since I assumed the position of chief executive, starting from the choice of [Claudio] Ranieri, up to the selection process of the new sporting director, passing through the appointment of the new coach, Paulo Fonseca, it all happened through a decision-making process managed and finalised by the management of this company.” Even though he played a big role in assembling the last Roma side to win the Scudetto, Baldini is swiftly losing popularity among the fans - but it appears his influence will continue despite Fienga's comments.
Francesco Totti has confirmed his resignation from his role as a director at Roma, but insisted it was an "arrivederci", not a goodbye.
Totti has been a director since he retired from playing in 2017 - a decision that was made by the club rather than himself. However, he is now leaving that position as well, complaining that he was not given enough responsibilities. It means that, for the first time this century, Francesco Totti is no longer employed by AS Roma. At his farewell press conference - at which no other club officials were present - Totti confirmed the reasons for his departure. "It was not my fault because I never had the chance to express myself. I was never involved in a genuine technical project. In the first year, that can happen. In the second, I realised what I wanted to do and we never got together, never helped each other. "They knew my intentions and what I wanted to do, to give so much to this club and this team, but they never wanted me to, in all honesty. They excluded me from every decision. "Everyone knows they made me stop playing. They wanted me to stop. I had a six-year contract already as a director. I started quietly, realising it's a completely different sphere to being on the field. "Many promises were made and they were never kept. They knew what I wanted. Naturally, as time goes on, you judge, you evaluate, as I too have a character and don't just sit there doing what they every now and then ask me to do. "I did it for Roma, but as time wore on, I didn't think it fair to put myself at the disposal of people who never wanted me to be there. "The main focus of certain people has been to remove Romans from Roma. In the end, the truth came out, because they achieved what they wanted. "Over the last eight years, since the Americans came in, they tried in every possible way to shove us to one side. As the years went on, they tried everything they could... It's what they wanted and in the end, they succeeded." Totti also hit out at Franco Baldini, who has been advising James Pallotta on the club's decisions, with his viewpoints often at odds with the will of the fans. "The rapport with Franco Baldini has never existed and never will. If I made this decision, it's only normal that there were misunderstandings, problems within the club. "One of us had to go, I stepped aside because you can't have too many people sticking their oar in and causing chaos. Everyone should do their own job and leave the others to get on with their own work, that'd allow everything to run smoothly. "You can do all the talking you want from Trigoria, but the last word will always come from London. There was no point telling people what was wrong and what needed fixing, as it was a waste of time. Nobody listened, they just listened to the word from London." Another key club figure to bear the brunt of Totti's criticism was Pallotta. "A player can always find an excuse, as when things go badly, he says, 'Oh, there's no president here, nobody who tells us how things really are', and this causes problems for the squad every weekend. In my view, it does damage. "I've said before that the president needs to be present more, because when players, directors and staff see the chief, they stand to attention and work the way they ought to. When the boss isn't there, they start doing what they want." The former captain then gave some insight into what role he would have liked to take on. "If I made this decision, then it means I was unable to do anything. I never felt a part of the project, above all on the technical level. Not to big myself up, but I think I have a good eye to see who is a good player and who isn't. "I don't want to do other things, because this is what I feel that I'm good at. With my experience, and I admit I'll make mistakes, but I can recognise talent in a player." Even though Totti admitted he was not saying goodbye to Roma forever, he confirmed that he will not be returning as long as Pallotta is in charge. "Many things made me think about this. I was never allowed to participate, they called me in to I think 10 meetings over two years. They'd always call me at the last minute, as if they were trying to keep me out. After a while, that starts to really weigh on you. "It shows a lack of respect not for a director, but for a person. I tried to bring something to this club, but I saw the thought process on the other side was different. "If I were to return to Roma, we'd need a new owner. First and foremost. If the new owners believed in me, then that would be great. "What I can say is that I will never hurt Roma. This is far worse than retiring as a player. Leaving Roma is like dying. I feel like it'd be better if I died. "So many have told me over the years that I am too much of a weight on this club. That I get in the way. "I wouldn't return if Baldini left, because what's happened has happened. The vase is broken, it cannot be put together again. They made their choice and if they were going to remove Baldini, they would've done it already. "I have nothing against Pallotta and Baldini. They made their choices and I respect that." One of the main issues Totti had a lack of input in was the appointment of the new coach, Paulo Fonseca. "I never talked about or asked about money. I asked to be a technical director because I think I am competent at finding good players. I never asked to run everything. "I asked to make the same decisions as everyone else, but if they get a new coach, get players, sell players and don't ask you, then what kind of a technical director am I? "I didn't go to London because they called me two days before and had already struck a deal with the coach. I don't even know if they've chosen a sporting director. "The only coach I ever called and spoke to was Antonio Conte. It is not true that I called or sent a message to [Gian Piero] Gasperini, [Gennaro] Gattuso or [Sinisa] Mihajlovic. It's all fantasy. "So if they act like I made all these calls and was turned down, yet they made one call to Fonseca and he accepted, no. I will not be made to look like a fool. There is zero truth to it. "I thank [CEO Guido] Fienga publicly, as he is the only one in the club who stood up in front of everyone and said if he were in charge, Totti would be the first choice as technical director. He was the only one who ever stood up for me. "The only coach I ever called along with Fienga was Claudio Ranieri. I made a decision the others didn't want and it was done thanks to Fienga. "I also thank Ranieri, as he would've come to Roma for free. He is a real man. We didn't talk about money, the team, he immediately said: 'Tomorrow I will be at Trigoria.' "Roma fans should be thankful to Ranieri and I am so glad the fans did that during Daniele's last game. "Guido Fienga and I called Conte, before Pallotta knew about it. I said the only one who can transform Roma right now is Antonio Conte. He had given us the all-clear, as we saw and talked to him many times, but then there were problems and he changed his mind." Now, Roma look to an uncertain future without Totti or Daniele De Rossi, who was not offered a new contract by the club despite nearly two decades of service - something which angered his former teammate. "I never got involved in the De Rossi decision. I had already told some directors in September that if you think this is Daniele's last season, tell him straight away, not like with me where you told me two rounds from the end. "He is the captain of Roma, he has to be respected. They all said yes, we'll evaluate, we'll consider, he got injured, the results weren't coming, Di Francesco and Monchi left, it all became more complicated. "The problem at Trigoria is they need to be done straight away, not allowing time to pass. People are scared to make decisions. There has to be one person who makes a decision, not 10. "I talked to Daniele as a friend, not as a director. I told him to look forward, look beyond. I was a Roma director, I couldn't say too much, but as a friend I gave him advice that there could be problems on the horizon. "The problems did arrive, just as they did with me. What I don't understand is if they did this because it's what they wanted to do or if they just didn't think about it. "From what I've seen, it's what they have always wanted: to remove the Romans from Roma." Totti then revealed his thoughts on Roma's current predicament. "Fonseca has to find an environment that is relaxed, with a clear path ahead of him. People already admire him for how he put himself at the disposal of the club. From what I've seen, he is a fine coach who can do well and was very impressive at Shakhtar. "I wasn't ever going to change Roma, but at least give a contribution. Many promises were made, very few of them real. As a fan, that disappoints me, because as a fan, I have dreams of seeing Roma compete at the top. "Even if we don't win the Scudetto, we can compete and maybe win a trophy or two. Unfortunately, there are financial problems and they have to be respected. "If we have to sell because this year we are running at a loss of €50-60m, we can't sell youth players and get that amount of money. We have to sell important players. That's how it works. This isn't a surprise to anyone. "If I was the president of Roma and had two icons like Totti and De Rossi, I'd put them in charge of everything. They have ethics, they know everything about what it means to be Roman and Romanista. "Pallotta surrounded himself with the wrong people and he only listens to them. Everyone makes mistakes, but if you make the same mistakes for eight years, you have to ask yourself some questions. Something clearly is going wrong. "Did someone stab me in the back at Trigoria? Yes. I will never name names, but there are people in there who don't want me there. These people are hurting Roma, not doing what is best for the club. "Pallotta isn't there, he doesn't know what's going on, but I do. I know it like the pockets in my jeans. I know everyone from the usher and cleaners to the chiefs. I grew up in there. I know what the problems are, the resources, who is talking badly behind people's backs. "If someone talks behind another person's back to you, then imagine what he says when you're not there. I think Pallotta in Boston only gets a tenth of the real truth reported back to him. "Over the last few weeks, they tried in every way to keep me there, but via third parties. In two years, I never heard directly from Pallotta or Baldini. They have never called me or sent a message directly "What would you think in that situation? Would you feel loved and wanted there? No, if I make mistakes, that's fine, tell me to my face. None of it ever happened. "As far as I am concerned, I was cumbersome for this club. People told me both as a player and a director that I am a burden. It hurt more this time than to leave as a player, because it's like leaving your mother." When asked if he would thank Pallotta for anything, Totti amicably replied: "I thank him for giving me the chance to stay at Roma, to work and learn a different role. I got to know things as a director that otherwise I never would've known. I thank him so much for that. "Let it be clear: I want Pallotta to succeed and I hope he can take Roma back to where they belong, at the top. I hope he can get the right advice and achieve greatness. "I spoke to Pallotta only once, when I retired as a player. I went to London with my wife and Baldini was there. That is literally the only time we spoke face to face about anything. "I never thought after 30 years of Roma that I'd be here saying goodbye to Roma. I never imagined it. "Pallotta needs to understand Roma and the real problems within Trigoria. I hoped to discuss many things with him, but I never got the opportunity. "I don't want anyone thinking I am against Pallotta or want him to fail, because Roma is Roma and the rest is irrelevant. I just hope that from today, he changes tack. "I don't think they realise what they're doing here, because they don't live in the city, experience the TV, the radio, the papers. Being a Roman, understanding what it means to be Roman, is completely different. You have to be here to realise it. "I am sure that the message coming through to Boston is only 1% of the reality. I hope they can realise what they've been doing in removing the Romans from Roma, but evidently that was their choice and what they wanted. "I am not angry, I am not going against Pallotta or Baldini. I am just explaining why I resigned." Another decision where Totti's input was not taken seriously was the decision to sign Javier Pastore instead of Hakim Ziyech last summer, a move which turned out to be a disaster. "I will not name any players out of respect. I returned from vacation the first year that I retired, they asked me for an opinion on a player and I said that at this moment he would not be good for Roma, because Di Francesco plays 4-3-3. He is in another role, he's had a thousand injuries, in my view, you'd need another player. "Other directors said I always complain, that I cause problems, that I create issues. They asked for my opinion. I would've made a different choice and I think it would've been the right one. "I would've chosen an Ajax player." That was one of many decisions that highlighted the clear discord between Di Francesco and Monchi, which irked Totti. "After a Champions League semi-final, you think next year, you must head to the final. But selling players, and I want to defend Di Francesco - although I want to be clear Monchi chose him, not me, I made no decisions - he asked for four or five players who were never signed. "It's too easy to hide, because the truth hurts. The coach may well have made mistakes, but he asked for four or five players and they signed zero." Former Roma defender Aldair has suggested that Roma need to add to their squad if Paulo Fonseca is to be successful at the club.
Fonseca was appointed as Roma's new head coach on Tuesday, after interim boss Claudio Ranieri decided to step aside. The Portuguese tactician arrives from Ukraine, where he led Shakhtar Donetsk to three successive league and cup doubles. The reaction to Fonseca's appointment has been generally positive, and Aldair - who won the Scudetto with Roma in 2001 near the end of an iconic 13-year spell - also believes that the 46-year-old has the potential to do well. "Fonseca is good, Roma have chosen well but now they need strong players," he admitted to Leggo. "Roma have taken the right path, Paulo is prepared, intelligent and ready for the big jump. But he must be supported by the directors and the players. "Roma is a difficult place for a player who comes from abroad, let alone a player. I know it well. "I won the Scudetto when I had practically finished my career. We did it when champions like Cafu, Batistuta and Emerson arrived. That's why I say that Roma, above all, need important and ambitious players as well as a good coach." Aldair also commented on the departure of captain Daniele De Rossi, who is expected to choose the second club of his 18-year career soon, after not being extended by Roma. "I'm sorry for the controversies," reflected the Brazilian. "For him it must not have been easy after so many years. I think he still wants to play though." What they said after De Rossi's farewell: tributes from Dzeko, Nainggolan, Riccardi and more27/5/2019
Yesterday, for the 616th and final time, Daniele De Rossi played for his beloved hometown club - Roma.
Roma won 2-1 against Parma, but the result barely mattered. The night was all about the celebration of De Rossi's career and legacy, which has seen him represent the club with fierce pride and passion over the course of 18 years. There were plenty of tears among the sold out Stadio Olimpico crowd and his teammates, as De Rossi received a beautiful reception from his people. Here is a collection of tributes to De Rossi from after the game. Edin Dzeko on Instagram "Four years spent together, so many shared moments that always united us more, you were clear and strong in the difficult situations. "With your consistency you managed to make the group and squad overcome every difficulty for your beloved shirt and for your city. One moment comes to mind: 10th April last year. I get the penalty, you score it. The proof that with team unity no result is precluded, even the semi-final of the Champions League. "Thank you for everything."
Claudio Ranieri on Il Messaggero "Daniele told me, 'I am happy that I finish together with you this evening'." Radja Nainggolan on Instagram "Today I had a very important match to play. But I had to have a space for you. I wanted to be with you for your last match with Roma. We felt each other today and I can only tell you that with your answer I felt comfortable. I will always have a true friend. I have always held you in high esteem as a player but even more as a man. I send you a big hug."
Alberto Aquilani on Instagram "With this evening, an era closes. I am proud to have been a part of it, even if our paths split too soon. Together we have been through a lot, starting with this photo, when we hoped and dreamed together about the debut in the first team. Good luck for everything, Dani. And yet the wind still blows."
James Pallotta on Twitter "I'd also like to thank the supporters in the stadium for giving Daniele the farewell he so richly deserved last night. After representing the supporters on the pitch for 18 years, the outpouring of love and support from everyone for him was incredible." Roberto Mancini to Il Romanista "De Rossi is like Totti and Bruno Conti. Roma always has many players who manage to play their entire career with that shirt, and when the time comes to leave, it is a bit difficult for both the fans and the player. De Rossi has donated all his career to Roma and that is a very important thing." Erik Lamela to Sky Sport (via ForzaRoma.info) "It is strange to think of Roma without De Rossi. Daniele played for so many years with the same team, representing them like Totti did before. I am a bit sad because I know how much he loves Roma, but I am sure that he will be happy in life. He is a great man. "My first memory of him is when I arrived; he was a point of reference, together with Totti, two great men." Nicolo Zaniolo to Sky Sport (via Calciomercato) "I don't need to describe Daniele as a person and as a player. Today I felt so many emotions and chills for a person so beloved in this great city. I just hope to do half of what he did." Alessio Riccardi on Corriere Dello Sport "Thank you captain! It is all that I can say to you after welcoming me into the locker room. Thanks for always making me feel like part of the team even if I was the youngest. I thank you for every bit of advice given in training, I will take it with me forever. Living so intensely was something incredible. I still can't believe that it all ended yesterday, I wish that game had never ended. You are everything Roma." Roma rumour roundup: Two strikers who could join on frees; who Petrachi would bring from Torino21/5/2019 All of Tuesday's Roma rumours in one place, including updates on two strike targets, Tomas Rincon and Salvatore Sirigu.
Roma trying to sign free agent Kruse Werder Bremen striker Max Kruse, 31, is out of contract at the end of the season, and according to German source Sport1, Roma are one of three clubs interested in signing him. Liverpool and Bayern Munich are the other clubs competing for his signature. Llorente could be offered Italy return Alternatively, Tottenham Hotspur striker Fernando Llorente could be brought to Roma. The 34-year-old previously played in Serie A with Juventus, and the Daily Mirror report that his contract at Spurs will not be extended. Roma are joined by Milan, Valencia and Marseille in their interest. Rincon could be De Rossi replacement With Daniele De Rossi leaving Roma at the end of the season, reinforcements will be needed in midfield, and Calciomercato.it claim that one option is Tomas Rincon. With Torino sporting director Gianluca Petrachi linked with Roma, he could be followed by the Venezuelan player - while potential head coach Gian Piero Gasperini worked with the player at Genoa. However, the website warn that relations with Torino could be frosty if Petrachi does arrive, given that their chairman Urbano Cairo is eager to keep him. Roma think of Celta midfielder One more name that Roma could target is Celta Vigo midfielder Stanislav Lobotka. According to Sky, Real Betis are ready to make an offer for the 24-year-old Slovakian, but Roma have also registered their interest. Midfield suggestions from Italy Perhaps more inspiring names, Corriere Dello Sport says that Roma want to build their future around a midfield of Cagliari's Nicolo Barella and Brescia's Sandro Tonali. Some of the more senior players in the squad could make way for the two arrivals, who would cost in the region of €40m. De Rossi's Boca switch more likely than not One of the clubs where De Rossi could continue his playing career is Boca Juniors, whose sporting director is former Roma defender Nicolas Burdisso. And the Argentine club seem fairly confident of tempting the Giallorossi captain, with sport journalist Roberto Leto rating their chances of signing him at 60%. Petrachi to bring Sirigu As well as Rincon, another Torino player linked with Roma is goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu. Corriere Dello Sport say that Petrachi would like to bring the former PSG man with him. Alternatively, Roma could target current PSG shotstopper Kevin Trapp, who has spent the season on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt and is not part of the plans of the Ligue 1 champions. Massara has two offers It is increasingly likely that current sporting director Ricky Massara will leave Roma at the season's end, and Tuttomercatoweb report that Fiorentina and Bologna will present him with offers.
Claudio Ranieri has hit out at the way Roma were managed in the summer, as the Giallorossi's hopes of sneaking into the top four took a fatal blow with a 0-0 draw at Sassuolo.
While players and management have divided opinion all year in one of the worst seasons in recent memory, Ranieri has been one figure who has been able to unite people, thanks to his humble approach and honest outlook. With the 67-year-old recently confirming he would not be staying as manager on a permanent basis, he took the opportunity after the game to highlight what has gone wrong for the club. “Roma had a fantastic season in 2017-18, but they sold important players, pulling apart the spine of the team that was starting to open up a new era,” Ranieri told Sky Sport Italia. “Out of nowhere, they were sold and some good players arrived, but they needed time to develop. There was blowback because of that, maybe the more experienced players were lacking reference points and didn’t help the new lads to 100 per cent settle in to Roma. “When I arrived, I found the team was really struggling on a psychological level, not physically, as Eusebio [Di Francesco] did a great job here. We beat Juventus last week, but also risked conceding three goals in that game. “My work here was above all psychological, trying to give some self-confidence back to these players who were feeling rock bottom.” The former Leicester City boss then admitted he didn't have the answers for how the club can get back on track next year. “The club has to answer that,” he explained. “There is a good group of players here, it’ll be up to the new coach to evaluate them based on his ideas to see who will be of use and who won’t. “I don’t think they’ll be able to challenge for a Champions League place straight away, but Roma must learn to become a stable figure in Europe and then, if the right season comes along when everything goes your way, you can get back into the Champions League.” Ranieri also criticised the way that the decision not to extend Daniele De Rossi's contract has been handled - echoing the words of Aleksandar Kolarov last week, who said Roma will lose something when the captain is gone. “I don’t want to keep going on over this,” Ranieri continued. “I understand the club wants to do things a certain way, but there are players who must be considered differently to the others and De Rossi should’ve been dealt with in another way. “I would love for there to be a wonderful celebration for Daniele on Sunday at the Olimpico. This is a lad who started at the Roma academy at the age of 11, so he deserves to feel all the love that these fans are capable of. We must be close to Daniele at this moment. “I know full well that Romans feel the pressure more when playing for Roma. I remember when I had to substitute De Rossi and Francesco Totti in a derby because they felt it too much. “Romanisti are visceral, they love Roma beyond all limits. If you play for Roma as a Romanista, you will inevitably give something extra.” 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! 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." |
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