Emiliano Viviano launches scathing attack on Roma chief Ranieri over Gasperini

Former Italy goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano has launched a fierce public criticism of Roma sporting director Gianluca Ranieri, questioning his judgement in the appointment of head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The explosive comments were made by Viviano during a live broadcast on the platform Sportium.fun, as reported by Forzaroma.info.

Viviano took direct aim at Ranieri's management, suggesting the executive was either naive or arrogant in believing he could control the veteran manager. "If Mr. Ranieri hired Gasperini and is now surprised by his behaviour, then he hasn't understood a thing," Viviano stated. "Or he was presumptuous and thought he could manage a 67-year-old man."

The core of Viviano's critique centres on the well-documented, strong-willed personality of Gasperini, who has enjoyed significant success at Atalanta but has also had frequent clashes with club hierarchies. "Ranieri is not Jesus Christ," Viviano continued. "To think you can manage Gasperini and that he becomes a little lamb you can impose things on is absurd. You know who Gasperini is, and he has shown it with results over the years where he constantly argued with all the sporting directors. But while he argued, he worked miracles, he developed players from worth zero to 50 million and won the Europa League. If you hire him, you know what he can give you and you accept certain things, otherwise you hire someone more manageable."

The outburst from Viviano, who spent the 2021-22 season as a backup goalkeeper at Roma, sheds public light on the internal tensions that can surround major club appointments. His remarks imply a disconnect between the sporting director's vision for managerial oversight and the reality of working with a coach of Gasperini's stature and temperament. While Gasperini's achievements in Bergamo are undisputed, his tenure was also marked by a very public and prolonged contract dispute with the club's management, a fact Viviano alludes to in his assessment.

This public intervention from a former player is an unusual and damaging episode for Roma's current leadership. It places Ranieri's decision-making and man-management skills under intense scrutiny from the outside, potentially undermining his authority during a critical period for the club. The Giallorossi are reportedly in a phase of squad reconstruction, and such public discord regarding the leadership's strategy is an unwelcome distraction.

For now, there has been no official response from Roma or from Gianluca Ranieri regarding Viviano's pointed comments. The situation leaves the club's management to contend with a narrative of internal conflict as they plan for the future, with the credibility of their operational approach being questioned by a former member of the squad.