Daniele De Rossi made one contract demand after replacing Jose Mourinho as details of Roma sacking emerge
They have made one contact demand.
Daniele De Rossi made one contact demand after replacing Jose Mourinho as Roma boss.
On Tuesday, Mourinho was sacked as Roma boss and replaced by the club’s former captain De Rossi.
Mourinho took over in May 2021 and led Roma to the Europa Conference League title in his first season, before reaching the Europa League final the following campaign.
However, Roma are ninth in Serie A this term, five points adrift of the Champions League spots, while last week they were knocked out of the Coppa Italia by rivals Lazio.
Advert
De Rossi, who came through Roma's academy and played 616 times for the first team between 2001 and 2019, will replace Mourinho until the end of the season.
Roma's owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin said: "We believe that the leadership and ambition that have always characterised him can be decisive in chasing the objectives that the team has ahead of it until end of the season.
"We knew the indissoluble bond that unites Daniele to the club, but the enthusiasm with which he immediately accepted this challenge... further convinced us of his ability to be a guide for the players and a proud representative of the values of this club."
According to the Athletic, Mourinho had signalled a desire to hold talks with the Roma bosses over a new deal.
But after a poor run of results, the 60-year-old was reportedly sacked in a 25-minute meeting with De Rossi having already been selected as his interim replacement.
The publication added that De Rossi was so enthusiastic to sign his Roma deal that there were no conditions to his acceptance other than a bonus should the club qualify for the Champions League.
The former midfielder retired in 2020 and has since had one spell as manager - an unsuccessful 17-game tenure at Serie B club SPAL which saw the Italian sacked last February.
De Rossi said: "The emotion of being able to sit on our bench is indescribable, everyone knows what Roma is for me, but the work that awaits all of us has already taken over.
"We have no time, no choice. Being competitive, fighting for our goals and trying to achieve them are the only priorities that my staff and I have given ourselves."
Chris Byfield