Ranieri: ‘I respect Italy, but I'm from Roma'
Claudio Ranieri insists that he will no longer comment on his recent talks with the FIGC over the Italy national team head coach job, but has left one final comment: 'I respect Italy, but I'm from Roma.'
Ranieri had been among the early frontrunners to replace Luciano Spalletti as head coach of the Italy national team, but later decided to remain in his current role with Roma, while the FIGC turned to Gennaro Gattuso instead.
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Ranieri has recently finished his duties as head coach of Roma, having taken the team within one point of Champions League qualification, despite being sitting in the bottom half of the table when he took over from Ivan Juric in November.
He has since stepped into a directorship role, and is also serving as a senior advisor to the club's ownership.
Ranieri had an opportunity to discuss his role, his talks with Italy and the appointment of Gian Piero Gasperini as head coach of Roma during Gasp's official unveiling in front of the media on Tuesday.
Click here to read everything Gasperini had to say.
New Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini with Claudio Ranieri and Florent Ghisolfi
Everything Ranieri said about Roma and Gasperini
'I told him I didn't like him,' Ranieri joked when asked what he told Gasperini before deciding to appoint him.
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'I mentioned his name, among the many, to Roma because the club needs a strong personality and a coach who is never satisfied and always wants to improve.
'We've offered him a year to make himself understood and the fans must follow him, as they did when they were behind me. He is an honest and loyal person. I will be a friend, who will stand aside, but also give a hand if he needs it.'
epa12094855 Roma�s coach Claudio Ranieri and Atalanta's coach Gian Piero Gasperini smile as they pose ahead of the Italian Serie A soccer match between Atalanta BC and AS Roma, in Bergamo, Italy, 12 May 2025. EPA-EFE/MICHELE MARAVIGLIA
Ranieri also spoke about the negotiations he had with Gasperini: 'It was all very simple. After my white lie, we were surprised in Florence, and then everything came about in quite a simple way.'
Ranieri also explained what he wants to see from Gasperini during his first season in charge.
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'We've asked him to be Gasperini again here in Rome. I am convinced that the fans will identify with Gasp's game. We asked him to do well, to get to know the place for a year and continue growing. It's a shame about the Champions League that we didn't achieve, but maybe we wouldn't have been ready yet.
'We can have a good journey in the league and in the Europa League, all together and having accepted that we have to swallow a few bitter pills. I told him that Roma supporters want to see the team fight.'
Ranieri: 'I respect Italy, but I'm from Roma'
epa12115313 Roma�s coach Claudio Ranieri greets supporters as he is honored after the Italian Serie A soccer match between AS Roma and AC Milan, in Rome, Italy, 18 May 2025. EPA-EFE/ANGELO CARCONI
Ranieri insists that he will no longer comment on anything to do with the reports linking him with the Italy national team job, but had one final statement to add on the matter.
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'A lot has been said. I won't add anything else. I respect Italy, but I'm from Roma.'
Ranieri then reverted back to topics relating to Roma, and specifically about the appointment of a new sporting director following the news of Florent Ghisolfi's impending departure.
'The club is considering several names for the replacement sporting director. I don't know when new figures will arrive.'
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