“Ranieri is the people’s coach. One that everyone likes. Let’s hope he can improve and fix things at Roma. Napoli is first, solid, with a coach like Conte who is a certainty. It will be an open game between two excellent teams.” Thus to TuttoMercatoWeb.com the former defender of – among others – Bologna, Palermo and Milan, world champion with the national team in 2006 and today FIFA Agent and FA Intermediary.
First De Rossi, then Juric and now Ranieri. Too many changes for Roma, don’t you think?
“Seen from the outside it means that there are problems. They still haven’t found the key to solving them. Ranieri has done many things in his career, he is linked to Roma like De Rossi was. He knows the environment and has an advantage.”
Scudetto: who are you aiming for?
“On paper, Inter are the strongest, the favourites. I hope for the general spectacle that there are more teams fighting.”
This week there is also Milan-Juve.
“I will be at the stadium. Whoever prevails will also benefit from it for their self-esteem. It will be a test for both. Whoever wins becomes enthusiastic.”
What market do you expect in January?
“As usual the teams will try to fill the weak points with the operations they need. There will be few but targeted things.”
You are also known as a talent spotter. A name to mention?
“I say Diouf. He plays at a professional academy in Senegal where I am lucky enough to have a friendly relationship with the president. I’m ready to bet on this defender from 2006. He won the Africa Cup of Nations, played in the World Cup in Indonesia, is captain of the Under 20 team and is already among the next eligible players to be called up to the senior national team. He will make the fortune of the team that buys him by creating an important capital gain. Several European clubs already like him and are monitoring him for January.”
Parma is chasing salvation this year.
“It’s a young team with quality players. I am very attached to the environment. This year the goal is salvation and then thinking about something more in the coming years, the project is as important as its ownership. It’s important to consolidate in order to grow more and more.”
Another of his former teams, Palermo, disappoints. And Brunori finds little space. Can this team do without its captain?
“In Palermo I left a piece of my heart. The club is important and I hope it returns to Serie A as soon as possible. As a fan I say that Brunori is an added value for the category, in terms of quality there is no question, he has always done very well in Palermo and still has a lot to give. So I hope he returns to scoring goals in the Rosanero shirt soon.”