Between headline-grabbing suggestions and more concrete leads, the hunt for Roma’s new coach continues to hold sway. After weeks of waiting, rumors and red herrings, the skein seems to be slowly unraveling. If the Klopp dream has been officially denied but continues to inflame the hearts of fans, the name of Nuno Espirito Santo, the Portuguese coach currently at the helm of Nottingham Forest, has emerged strongly in recent hours.
In pole ora c’è il portoghese ex Tottenham
According to reports from Spanish sources and relayed in Italy, Roma has reportedly already initiated contacts with the 74-year-old coach, offering him a two-year contract. Espirito Santo – managed by Gestifute, the same agency as Mourinho – knows well the pressure of the big stages, having coached Porto, Valencia, Wolverhampton and Tottenham in the past.
Not only resume: behind the possible lunge would also be the turbulent situation between Nuño and Nottingham president Evangelos Marinakis, culminating in a blatant spat on the pitch. It is a detail that could facilitate the separation from the English club, where in the meantime Lina Souloukou, former Roma CEO now a Forest manager, has also taken root. It is precisely her presence that could facilitate a dialogue with the Friedkins, with whom relations would remain relaxed after last fall’s farewell.
La filosofia di Ranieri e le similitudini
Another element that plays in Nuno’s favor is his compatibility with the line drawn by Claudio Ranieri. Those who have had him in the team, such as defender Wes Morgan, have pointed out how much the two share a similar approach: focus on the group, pressure management, and tactical pragmatism. Not surprisingly, the two met and respected each other during their respective stints in the Premier League.
Klopp resta una suggestione
Meanwhile, Jürgen Klopp’s name continues to swirl among Roma fans’ dreams. La Stampa’s indiscretion about an alleged “yes” from the German has ignited the imagination of the Giallorossi fans, even leading to a drop in betting odds on his landing in Trigoria. A suggestion that, however, still appears far from reality: Klopp has just taken a prestigious managerial role at Red Bull, with a 15-million-a-season salary, well beyond Roma standards.
I no incassati dalla Roma
Top on Ranieri’s list were the names of Cesc Fabregas, who, however, decided to stay at Como, and Gian Piero Gasperini, whose contacts in recent days, however, did not lead to a white smoke: a renewal with Atalanta is likely for the Dea coach. Farioli, on the other hand, was Ghisolfi’s favorite, but an experience in the Premier or Germany seems more likely for him. Never contacted instead Allegri.
Hutter l’outsider
Among the alternatives, there is also talk in the newspapers today of Adi Hutter, coach of Monaco, a less media profile but highly regarded for his work in Ligue 1. Off the radar instead is Gasperini, close to renewal with Atalanta, while Allegri and Farioli seem destined elsewhere.
While waiting for the official announcement-which should come soon after the end of the championship-the feeling remains that Roma’s new coach may speak with a foreign accent. The sketch sketched by Ranieri and the Friedkins leaves little doubt: international experience, tactical solidity, and the ability to manage the ambition of a square that is no longer satisfied with fading dreams.
Sources: Il Messaggero / Leggo / Il Tempo / Gasport
The article Roma, after ‘no’ now Friedkin looks abroad: Espirito Santo or Hutter for bench comes from Giallorossi.net | AS Roma News, Football and Exclusives.
