Ghisolfi: ‘Ranieri right for Roma present and future, change of strategy’ | OneFootball

Roma director of sport Florent Ghisolfi insists Claudio Ranieri is ‘the right choice both for the present and the future’ after the club ‘changed strategy.’

It has been a chaotic 2024 for the Giallorossi, who sacked Jose Mourinho in January, then Daniele De Rossi in September before Ivan Juric lasted under two months.

Now Ranieri has been brought out of retirement to shepherd them to the end of the season, where he is then expected to take on a new directorial role behind the scenes.

“It is not an easy time for us,” confessed Ghisolfi at the Social Football Summit event in Rome today.

“I think that as captains of the ship we need to keep morale high. We must continue moving forward and bringing everyone along with us. It is important to remain positive.”

Ranieri had retired over the summer after taking Cagliari to promotion and then securing their Serie A status, but was tempted to return for the club he has always supported.

“I think this is a fantastic opportunity for me and the whole club. I knew him, but what I am getting to know now is different. He is a great man,” noted Ghisolfi.

“First of all, I think Ranieri will bring his sense of calm to the club. His incredible career needs no presentation. We believe he is the right person to both improve our future and the short-term.

“It is important to be mobile and not immobile. We want to work and build along with Ranieri. We believe the club needs someone like him who knows Italian football well.”

Ghisolfi hints at different Roma approach under Ranieri

VERONA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 03: Florent Ghisolfi of AS Roma during the Serie A match between Verona and AS Roma at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on November 03, 2024 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Much was said at Roma about creating a long-term project and many investments were made over the summer, but their direction seemed to be confused after so many changes.

“The youth academy is an important part of the Roma project. We want to continue building something that will perform even better. There are several projects I cannot reveal yet, but we are considering what other clubs in Italy are doing to unite the first team to the youth sector.”

This could well be setting up a youth team playing as a club side in Serie C, a path already taken by Juventus, Atalanta and Milan.

The January transfer window is coming up and Ghisolfi explains how Roma are moving away from the strategy of the past.

“We changed the strategy we had before. Now we want to invest in the long-term rather than sign players on loan who earn a great deal. We need to lower the average age of the squad.

“The important thing is that when you choose a path, you must persevere down it.”

Fans were furious with the Friedkin family and Ghisolfi after the chaotic moves of the past few months, but Ranieri’s arrival seems to have settled things down a little.

“As I said before, we have to accept our share of the responsibility to continue improving this project. The positive thing is that the club is not moving badly. We realised the owner wants to find a solution, but remains calm anyway, and that is positive.

“Ranieri’s first speech to the squad and staff was very touching. He was the right choice for this club, both for the present and the future.

“In France, we have a saying that describes him as someone sweet and delicate, but who makes sure he is respected when making a decision.”