Ranieri discusses Massara-Gasperini’s rapport, hints at Totti’s return | OneFootball

Claudio Ranieri, in his new role as Roma’s Senior Advisor, gave an interview to Sky Sport to clarify the club’s direction at this stage of the season.

The Giallorossi executive addressed the hottest topics of debate among fans, starting with Francesco Totti’s possible return to the club.

The former Giallorossi coach began his remarks by saying: “We discussed a three-year program with the owners, in which the coach asked for 15-16 players to rotate. We’re trying to do everything well, but it’s obvious that it’s not possible right away. We’re very happy with what we’re doing.”

Ranieri then commented on Gasperini’s comments after the Udinese match: “Gasperini is a coach chosen together with the club. The desire is to reach the highest possible level, but we know we’re building. At the start of the season, I said we’d have two difficult transfer windows. I didn’t think I’d see these arrivals. This shows how good Gasperini is: he signed Malen and Zaragoza. Vaz was a signing everyone wanted.”

And on the Gasperini-Massara relationship, he explained: “We’re talking about different personalities. Gasperini hammers everyone; that’s his strength. He’s that kind of coach and person. Massara, on the other hand, is a very thoughtful person who takes it very well and tries to do his job. He listens to the coach and senses what the coach can do. And I’m somewhere in between.”

Ranieri’s assessment of the signings of Malen and Zaragoza is this: “Malen has a wealth of experience, a Dutch international. Zaragoza is a player we were missing; he has the ability to beat a man in one-on-one situations, both inside and outside. He’s one of those players who breaks the marking.”

He then clarifies the renewals of Dybala and Pellegrini: “For the club’s survival, we need to lower the wage bill, otherwise we won’t be able to do it. It’s not that the club doesn’t want it, but it needs to be lowered for Fair Play reasons. Based on what they’ve done on the pitch, considering what the coach tells us, and what their demands are, if we have a meeting, great. Otherwise, we’ll say goodbye.”

Ranieri explained how much the Friedkins are looking to the future: “I think the new stadium already clearly demonstrates how committed they are. They hired a coach for three years and their request was: we want to get to the Champions League, stay there, and then there will be a year to win the Scudetto. This is their way of working. We’re building and growing. At the end of the year, we’ll have to see what we’ve done. But I’m referring to bringing in certain players; our coach has asked for 15-16, at a certain level. And in this respect, we—and I’m talking about the club and the coach—are all united.”

And finally, regarding Totti’s reinstatement, he concluded the interview with this: “The club is thinking about it, and I hope Francesco can be truly useful to Roma because he’s part of this club.”