De Rossi on Roma’s new long-term project: “I can’t stomach the thought that we lost Frattesi and Calafiori.” | OneFootball

Roma boss Daniele De Rossi was asked about the team’s impending summer revolution and the club’s new long-term project with him at the helm.

In his post-match presser following Roma 1-0 Genoa, De Rossi remarked the importance of investing in youth and relying on Primavera talents.

“When you build something with a three-year contract, the most important thing is time. Everyone wants to have strong players, but time must be gained.”

“You can’t create a team of 18 year-olds, but maybe in a few years we would have an asset for the club with very strong players. Those we have must also be valorized, even the Primavera… over the years we lost Frattesi and Calafiori and that’s something I can’t stomach.”

“You don’t necessarily valorize players by bringing them to the first team straight away. Calafiori wasn’t this kind of player at Roma, even though I always told him he would have made a good central defender. Same for Frattesi.”

“There is always a path to follow. I won’t name names, I won’t take players from the U15s, but we should keep an eye on them.”