The new sporting director sets the tone in Florence: trust in Vanoli, belief in Kean, and a clear message on responsibility, renewals, and the club’s future.
Determined, direct, and fully aware of the challenge ahead. Fabio Paratici officially presented himself as Fiorentina’s new sporting director at the Viola Park, immediately striking a realistic tone.
“For the next few months we’ll need to keep our heads down and push forward like a tank,” Paratici said. “We must get ourselves out of the current league position first. Everything else will come later.”
Paratici thanked the Commisso family and general manager Alessandro Ferrari for the opportunity, recalling the strong bond he felt with Rocco Commisso, who passed away last month. “He had an incredible empathy for this environment. I wasn’t the one who needed convincing — I had to prove I was worthy of this role.”
After five years in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, Paratici admitted the desire to return to Italy played a key role. “The Premier League is like the NBA of football, but I wanted to compete again in Serie A, and doing it with a club like Fiorentina gave me huge motivation.”
Past, Responsibility, and a Long-Term Vision
Paratici also addressed his past suspension linked to the Juventus capital gains case. “None of us were convicted for artificial player values, but for an accounting principle that had never been used before or since,” he explained. “It was a difficult journey, but it made me a better person.”
Having signed a contract until 2030, Paratici underlined his sense of responsibility toward the city. “I work twenty hours a day thinking about football. My job isn’t just signing players — it’s managing people, understanding players as individuals. Sometimes it’s better to have dinner with a player and know who he is than watch two extra matches.”
For now, however, the focus is clear: survival. “Fiorentina deserve much more than their current position, but we must face reality. We need to be aggressive, determined, and ruthless. Only then can we rebuild.”
Vanoli, the ‘Lion King’, and Key Players
Paratici expressed full confidence in head coach Paolo Vanoli. “He’s energetic, prepared, obsessed with details. I trust him completely. The coach is the ‘Lion King’ of the locker room — it’s his job to motivate and make decisions. This club gives no alibis to anyone.”
On individuals, Paratici didn’t hold back:
- Moise Kean: “He’s the strongest Italian striker around. A 20-goal forward. We just need to put him in the best conditions.”
- Daniele Rugani: “Reliable, experienced, and underrated.”
- Nicolò Fagioli: “A real asset for Italian football. He needs hunger and ambition to be number one.”
Paratici also confirmed that talks will soon begin over renewals for Dodô and Niccolò Fortini, both under contract until 2027.
A New Chapter in Florence
General manager Alessandro Ferrari summed it up clearly: “Paratici is the profile we wanted — experienced, determined, international. With him, we open a new chapter.”
Alongside Paratici, Fiorentina also appoint Lorenzo Giani as head scout and Moreno Zebi to oversee loan operations, reinforcing the club’s technical structure.
The message from Florence is unambiguous: ambition remains, but realism comes first. Survival is the immediate mission — and Paratici has already made it clear there will be no shortcuts.
