Claudio Ranieri, senior advisor of AS Roma, has addressed the club’s potential move for Jadon Sancho, stating that while the Friedkin family would have approved the signing to satisfy the coach, it would have been “economically burdensome.” In an interview with Sky Sport, Ranieri explained that such an operation would have required the sale of a top-tier player first, emphasizing, “We want to keep our valuable players. We are Roma, not a team that doesn’t aspire to qualify for European competitions.”
Regarding the club’s broader project, Ranieri admitted a need for up-and-coming talent, which influenced the decision to appoint a coach with a proven “pedigree in player development” who can extract the best from every individual. He noted this is crucial as the club must eventually comply with Financial Fair Play regulations, stating, “We will have to balance the books.”
Commenting on new manager Gian Piero Gasperini, Ranieri expressed utmost confidence, revealing Gasperini was the Friedkins’ chosen candidate from a prepared list. Dismissing prior talk of animosity, Ranieri said, “When you have him on your side, things change.” He praised Gasperini’s demanding approach, noting the coach “expects maximum effort from himself first, and then from others,” and concluded he is “extremely confident” Gasperini will have a successful season.