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.
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.
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.
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.
