Roma director Ghisolfi: “We weren’t prepared for this situation, but Ranieri is the right man”

Roma are currently experiencing a challenging period, having already gone through two managerial changes this season and sitting in 12th place in Serie A with only 13 points after 12 matches. Florent Ghisolfi, the club’s sporting director, recently spoke at the Social Football Summit at the Stadio Olimpico, addressing various aspects of the club’s situation.

Ghisolfi candidly admitted, “I wasn’t ready for what we’re experiencing.” However, he expressed confidence in one crucial aspect: “Claudio Ranieri is the right man to bring results in the short term and beyond.”

Discussing the current situation, Ghisolfi stated, “It’s not an easy period. We need to keep morale high, continue moving forward, work, and pull everyone out of this difficult time. We’re not happy, but we must stay positive and be ready to move on to get out of this challenging moment.”

Regarding Ranieri’s appointment, Ghisolfi was enthusiastic: “For me and the club, it’s a fantastic opportunity to work with him. I knew him; he’s a gentleman, different from what we’re used to. It’s an honor to learn from him and grow alongside him. Ranieri will bring his calmness, serenity, and experience to the club.”

The sporting director also touched on the club’s youth strategy: “The academy is part of the project; it’s very important to us and is central to my mission. We wanted to combine technical stability with Alberto De Rossi heading the academy and add new people like Roberto Trapani as head of academy scouting.”

Ghisolfi revealed a shift in Roma’s transfer market approach: “We’ve modified our market strategy. Today, we prefer to invest in the long term rather than make loans with more experienced players who have heavier contracts. For example, when we acquired Manu Koné with a five-year contract, we amortized the investment over five years, and Koné’s annual cost is lower than that of Renato Sanches.”

Addressing the current difficulties, Ghisolfi said, “It’s hard to be prepared for what we’re experiencing. We must take responsibility and face the situation, still believing in the project. Things can change very quickly. Look at Napoli last year, who changed four coaches, and look at Napoli now.”

On the impact of Ranieri’s arrival, Ghisolfi noted, “He gave a special energy to the team. When he first entered the locker room, we felt his aura. His first speech to the staff was touching. The choice is right, both in the short and long term.”

Finally, speaking about the fans, Ghisolfi expressed, “Every day we wake up and work for our fans. It saddens us to feel the atmosphere of recent days at the stadium, but we completely understand their disappointment. We will try to return to high levels.”

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