'Roma must increase revenue,' insists their former sporting director Walter Sabatini.
The 61-year old had explained his exit from the club, and stressed the importance of Coach Luciano Spalletti in a long interview.
With the need to increase revenue, what does Sabatini consider to be the problem? Are Roma spending more than they generate?
'Roma must increase revenue,' insists their former sporting director Walter Sabatini.
The 61-year old had explained his exit from the club, and stressed the importance of Coach Luciano Spalletti in a long interview.
With the need to increase revenue, what does Sabatini consider to be the problem? Are Roma spending more than they generate?
"Roma do not live beyond their means," he insisted to Pagine Romanisti. "But I think that they have confided in revenue which then has not worked out and then they pay the consequences.
"We have been without a sponsor for five years, maybe those €40m that could have come in cash would not have made for such a dramatic half of the year for example.
"That €40m to €50m would have been paid by the sponsor. Roma have focused on revenue which then failed to materialise and they’ve had some difficulties, but it is a very relative difficulty since we are talking about Roma. There are metropolitan cities that have earned €150m a year for years and years and years.
"If there is a situation which then would be sorted by maybe selling a player or two, something that would push things forward, I would not see such a situation as dramatic. The problem of Roma is that they must – whatever the gains and regardless of the market – increase revenue and bring them to a level of competitiveness, otherwise we are talking about hot air."
So Roma need to do this before June 30?
"I'm not saying this, I said that maybe selling a player would remedy this situation as it has always been done. In the future the Roma may decide to do it or there will be an increase in revenues since there are a lot of people working towards it.
"Even with knowledge of the facts, we may be able to increase revenues so that these losses can be supported, no longer as a loss, but as costs."
The sporting director endured a difficult relationship with the American owners during his tenure, but what benefits have the foreign investors brought?
"The indisputable merit is that they intervened in a previous situation of Roma which was very difficult, because there was a financial and economic situation, which everyone knows, and they came and made a rescue operation for this club.
"A huge positive is that they took me on as sporting director. I’m joking, but letting me work with great autonomy for many years and participating with passion in a project, an idea of Roma that went forward only by building the important things they did.
"Never mind my own experiences, the constant diatribe that there was between me and the club, as this is a personal matter that has nothing to do with their merits that are there and must be recognised."
Finally, Sabatini went on to discuss the contract situation with veteran players Daniele De Rossi and Francesco Totti.
"De Rossi will almost certainly renew his contract with Roma. Francesco will decide, and when they decide together the situation will move forward, it will depend on his condition and his desire.
"They are all very controlled situations that will not create problems in the future. Daniele, despite the fact that he has had offers, wants to finish his career in Rome and he will decide alone on this."