Reports: Petrachi To Become Next Roma Sporting Director?

Several Italian sources - namely Il Tempo, Repubblica, and La Stampa - report that Torino have officially found an agreement to end Gianluca Petrachi’s 10-year stay up North and let him join A.S. Roma in time for the summer transfer window.

The terms under which Roma have compensated Torino for nabbing their sporting director remain unclear, with some sites even speculating that Roma will have to send a few youth players Torino’s way. Nonetheless, it’s widely reported that Petrachi has already begun working on Roma’s summer transfer targets, and will officially join the capital club in his new position this July 1st.

However, this directly conflicts with the soundbite from Torino owner Urbano Cairo this morning. Cairo himself continues to say Petrachi will stay with Torino until the end of his contract in the summer of 2020.

What Does Gianluca Petrachi Bring To Rome?

Well, not childhood-friend Antonio Conte for one.

But Petrachi’s repetoire is built on the same promise as his two predecessors Walter Sabatini and Monchi: to keep the club ticking over on plusvalenze. Petrachi has done this by signing foreign youth talent to make up the bulk of his squads, with the odd sprinkle of ‘next Italian sensation’ mixed into the equation. In that sense, he is closer to Walter Sabatini’s love of South America rather than Monchi’s self-professed love of homegrown talent.

Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images

Nonetheless, Petrachi has flipped over 100 million euros into Torino’s coffers over his decade-long relationship with the Turin club. On the one hand, Torino is self-financed and doesn’t run under the same debts as Roma, so there was far more freedom for Petrachi to negotiate at the price at which he wanted to work. On the other hand, Torino cannot pay the same kind of wage bill as Roma, so those who like transfer news will be interested to see if Petrachi can go bigger in Rome or not.

We’ll undoubtedly have more coverage on Petrachi’s background between now and July, if these country-wide reports prove to be true. But there continue to be denials that Petrachi’s appointment will happen from Torino. And, if you like the actual football on the pitch more than the money off of it, then despite all of this you’ll be hoping that Petrachi (or whoever is Roma’s next DS) can sign talent as well - if not better - than they can sell it.

Claudio Ranieri Won’t Be Roma Coach Next Season

A small update from this morning pre-match press conference, as Claudio Ranieri confirmed he is not in the running to become Roma’s next full-time head coach.

Photo by Paolo Rattini/Getty Images

Ranieri responded to questions over his future this morning twice, repeatedly affirming he only agreed to a short-term job in the capital. “I knew on the day I signed the contract that I was only agreeing to come back to the club I love in a time of need,” Ranieri said in the pre-match buildup to the Juventus game. “For that reason alone, as soon as the season finishes so does my work here.”

That leaves Roma’s management hunting for names like Leonardo Semplici to appoint as Roma’s next coach, with Atalanta’s Gianpiero Gasperini considered a long outside bet.