Fabio Paratici opens up on Fiorentina move, Juventus past, and Premier League lessons
Fabio Paratici has revealed the reasons behind his move to Fiorentina and reflected on his past at Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur, in a wide-ranging interview. The former sporting director, who joined the Viola earlier this year, signed a long-term contract to lead the club's sporting project, convinced by the vision of the late owner Rocco Commisso and the club's modern facilities.
Paratici, who was serving a 30-month suspension from Italian football for his role in the 'Prisma' capital gains case, stated he does not feel guilty of any wrongdoing. He described the sporting trial as an experience where "you cannot defend yourself." He was ultimately banned from Italian football for 30 months, a sanction he is currently serving, though his role at Fiorentina is understood to be in a broader, strategic capacity. He reflected on his successful spell at Juventus, a period he described as being "twenty years ahead of everyone else," and his subsequent move to the Premier League with Tottenham.
His time at Spurs, he said, was an education in a different football culture. "The Premier League is like the NBA," Paratici told Corriere della Sera. "Everything there is perfect, of a higher level. They run more, but above all, the ball moves faster. The training pitches are always perfectly mown and watered." He expressed a desire to implement aspects of that model at Fiorentina, emphasising data and modern scouting methods, while still valuing intuition. "The numbers give me the names of the three best players for the role I'm looking for, then the choice is mine and it also goes by feeling," Paratici explained.
At Fiorentina, Paratici has a long-term vision. He was convinced to join after a meeting with Fiorentina executives Joe Barone and Daniele Pradè in London last December, even though the team had only six points at the time. He was drawn by the ambition of the late owner Rocco Commisso and the potential of the club's new training centre, Viola Park. "I signed a long contract because I want to see ten boys who grew up here reach the first team, and others become professionals anyway," Paratici said. He also expressed a desire to establish a 'B' or Under-23 team to bridge the gap between the academy and the first team.
Regarding the future of on-loan striker Moise Kean, Paratici expressed a strong desire to keep the Juventus-owned player. "I hope to be able to keep him. He has an important release clause, but his value is known across Europe," he said, also highlighting the potential of another loanee, Nicolò Fagioli, whom he described as a "Barcelona-level midfielder playing in Italy." He also firmly dismissed any suggestion that the Commisso family might sell the club following the death of Rocco.
Reflecting on his past, Paratici touched on the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus. While acknowledging the commercial and sporting boost, he suggested the signing had unintended consequences. "The problem was that by scoring a goal a game, Ronaldo made life too easy for his teammates, who had already won a lot," he said, adding that this was a key reason for the coaching change from Massimiliano Allegri to Maurizio Sarri. He praised Allegri's man-management and noted Sarri's initial tactical rigidity before adapting and winning the Scudetto.
Paratici also revealed he was close to joining AC Milan before the move collapsed. He also discussed the need for reform in Italian youth development, calling for a federation-led curriculum focusing on skill development and enjoyment until the age of 12, modelled on the English system, to rebuild the national team.
