Rumor Round Up: A De Rossi Reunion & Ausilio for DS

Normally, our rumor round ups revolve heavily around players being linked with a move to or from Roma, but this weekend the rumor mill has been churning out stories about the club's vacant Director of Sport position. The Friedkin Group’s first order of business looks to be the hiring of a sporting director and a new name has emerged today.

De Rossi to Meet with Fienga

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James Pallotta was criticized for many things during his Roma tenure—here’s no denying that—but the straw that broke the camel’s back in the eyes of many Romanisti was the way in which legends Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi ended their playing days at the Olimpico. De Rossi’s sudden forced “retirement” was particularly painful. There was no doubting Totti and De Rossi’s love and allegiance to the club. However, with Pallotta in charge both were, for all intents and purposes, exiled.

However, with the Bostonian’s exit, the door is again open to the club legends. With Totti currently working on building up his own sports agency, a return to a role with Roma doesn’t look to be in the cards. De Rossi, on the other hand, has been linked with various coaching roles around the peninsula since his retirement after a brief playing spell with Boca Juniors.

Now it appears that the Friedkin Group would like to bring De Rossi home. Originally reported by Calciomercato.com, De Rossi will meet with Guido Fienga to discuss potential roles within the club coaching ranks now that TFG is calling the shots. The report speculates that he could be brought on to assist Fonseca with the senior side or join his father Alberto in the youth ranks.

In the past, the senior De Rossi has been rumored to leave the coaching ranks in favor of a more overarching role within the youth system. If true, that could ultimately set up Daniele to assist his father this season while he acquires the necessary coaching licenses to succeed him as the Primavera manager next season.

We’ll ultimately see what comes of De Rossi’s meeting with Fienga, but the ownership change makes his return to the club much more likely.

Roma Courting Ausilio for DS Role

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Just yesterday we reported on the impending hire of Morgan De Sanctis as Roma’s next sporting director. We might have to pump the breaks on that rumor now that Inter Milan looks to be full of internal strife.

After the Nerazzurri’s defeat at the hands of Sevilla in the Europa League final, it’s reported that one of Antonio Conte and DS Piero Ausilio could leave the club. It wouldn't be a complete shock to see Conte leave, but Ausilio has been with the club for fifteen years and could opt to leave if Conte remains on, considering the two are said to have a strained relationship.

Meanwhile, the arrival of Beppe Marotta usurped most of the negotiating power at the club from Ausilio. With this power dynamic in place, Roma are said to be courting Ausilio, who has two years remaining on his current deal, according to Sky Sport.

More clarity will likely arrival once Conte’s future is decided early this week. If Ausilio decides to leave the San Siro, Roma would likely make a hard press for his services.

As romantic as a promotion for MDS would be, considering the love he has from Romanisti, Ausilio provides more guarantees in the role. For a new ownership group like the Friedkin’s having an experienced Serie A hand in place makes Ausilio a very attractive candidate. We’ll definitely keep an eye on Italy’s industrial north as the week begins.