Gian Piero Gasperini has been handed extensive control over football operations at AS Roma, according to reports from Italy, in a decisive move by owners the Friedkin Group that solidifies the manager's power at the club. The shift follows the recent departure of former senior advisor Claudio Ranieri, with the American ownership now firmly siding with Gasperini in shaping the club's future. A key consequence of this new authority will be the imminent exit of sporting director Ricky Massara, with whom Gasperini has reportedly had a strained working relationship.
Sources indicate that Gasperini's influence will now extend to crucial areas including contract renewals, squad planning, and even the composition of the medical staff. The manager has long held the view that he and the sporting director must work in close harmony, a principle he reiterated publicly. "The sporting director and the coach should work as a pair," Gasperini stated recently, a comment widely interpreted as a signal for change. His direct assessment of a lack of "feeling" with Massara on technical matters appears to have been the final verdict, prompting the club to seek a new sporting director more aligned with the coach's football philosophy.
This consolidation of power marks a significant departure from the previous structure under Ranieri, who was seen as a balancing force between sporting ambition and the club's financial constraints. Gasperini's clear vision for Roma involves evolution rather than revolution. He is believed to have advised the ownership that the current squad does not require a complete overhaul, focusing instead on retaining key players and making targeted reinforcements. Central to this plan is securing the futures of captain Lorenzo Pellegrini and star forward Paulo Dybala, whose contract renewals had been paused under the old regime.
Gasperini has reportedly already submitted to the club a list of players deemed indispensable, those who could be sold, and positions needing strengthening. This level of involvement grants him what is effectively a manager-director hybrid role, a substantial promotion that carries significant responsibility. While this empowers Gasperini to fully imprint his ideas on the project, it also means he will bear the direct consequences should the team's performance falter. The Friedkins' decision places the 66-year-old at the very heart of Roma's strategy as they aim to build a side capable of consistently challenging at the top of Serie A.
