Roma to make Sarri approach after getting rejected by Conte — report

AS Roma are apparently back in for Maurizio Sarri. Chelsea’s current head coach had been rumored as an option for the Giallorossi before, but they had their sights set on Antonio Conte. Conte however has made it clear he doesn’t want to take the Roma job at this point.

So, according to Chelsea-oracle Matt Law, Roma have made Sarri their main priority for next season instead.

Roma are currently managed by another ex-Chelsea man, Claudio Ranieri, on an interim basis and while the obvious solution would be to appoint him on a full-time basis, they apparently don’t want to do that.

Unfortunately for them, their first priority, Antonio Conte, publicly stated that he will not be joining.

“I fell in love with Rome each time I visited during my two years as Italy’s coach. At the Olimpico, you feel the passion from a part of this city that lives football with a different kind of intensity. Whoever supports Roma goes out of their minds. It’s a passionate atmosphere that moves you. Today, the conditions aren’t right [to coach Roma]. But I think one day, sooner or later, I will become Roma coach.”

-Antonio Conte; source: Gazzetta dello Sport via Chiesa di Totti

Ouch.

The situation with Sarri is far less clear. A few months ago, it looked like he was on the verge of sacking. While he managed to get Chelsea to finish in the top four and we may yet even win a trophy, he’s been a very divisive figure — not that the club should be expected to cater to the latest whims of the supporters at every turn.

Sarri does appear to retain the backing of the Chelsea decision-makers — the tone of Law’s report certainly underlines that notion — and he has met the minimum expectations for the season, so unless he really wants to go, this rumor seems unlikely to turn into anything more than just that.