Giaretta emerges as candidate for Roma sporting director role

AS Roma is actively searching for a new sporting director to fill a vacant position. Former Udinese executive Giaretta has reportedly emerged as a candidate for the role. The club is balancing on-field matters with off-field restructuring as it seeks to appoint a replacement. Details of the recruitment process and timeline remain unclear at this stage.

AS Roma is pursuing Giovanni Manna, the sporting director of Serie A champions Napoli, as their primary target to rebuild the club's technical area alongside head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The Friedkin Group has made a formal proposal to Manna worth over one million euros annually, presented after meetings with the ownership and Gasperini themselves. Recent contact between the two clubs has only strengthened Roma's resolve, with Manna remaining the sole objective and no alternative plan currently in place. The critical obstacle is Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis, who has not publicly commented on Roma's approach but has made clear that Manna is not available without a significant fee. De Laurentiis has set an asking price of approximately 10 million euros to release the director—an unusually high sum for a sporting executive. This figure now forces the Friedkin Group to decide how far they are willing to go to secure the profile Gasperini has chosen to oversee Roma's transfer strategy. Manna remains under a long-term contract with Napoli, giving De Laurentiis considerable leverage in negotiations. The substantial financial demand underscores Napoli's valuation of their sporting director and presents a serious test of Roma's commitment to the restructuring plan.

Following Roma's match against Fiorentina, supporters urged defender N'Dicka to remain at the club. The player's response to their appeals was captured on video. N'Dicka's future has become a key concern for Roma during the current transfer window, with the club facing uncertainty over whether the defender will commit his long-term future to the Giallorossi. His potential departure represents one of the most sensitive issues Roma must navigate this season as they look to strengthen their defensive options.