Fabrizio Lucchesi, former Roma general director during the club's 2000-2001 Serie A title win, has urged the Friedkin Group to find a meaningful role for Francesco Totti within the organisation. Speaking on Retesport this morning, Lucchesi said: "I think that a man like Totti would bring exceptional value to the club that goes beyond image and representation. It would be reductive to slot him into Roma in this role, because Francesco carries experiences and visions. A role should be found that guarantees his belonging but also one to make use of that great storehouse of experience he has. To see a Roma without Totti is inconceivable. As a manager, I would enjoy having a Totti in my company." Lucchesi argued that Roma's current management structure is more credible than the chaos of previous years, with foreign ownership creating a model closer to large industrial groups that delegate to capable managers. He noted that Roma has recently implemented more figures across its structure to develop the club in every area.
Lucchesi drew parallels between Gian Piero Gasperini's relationship with the club and Fabio Capello's management style during his Roma tenure. "I see similarities in both approaches: Capello's Roma and Gasperini's Roma are two teams managed in total autonomy by the coaches," he said. "Gasperini perhaps applies himself more on the pitch; Capello delegated more to his collaborators, but in day-to-day management Fabio controlled everything—he even changed the doormats at Trigoria. They both have this need for everything to revolve around them. Gasperini demands a lot from the squad, the group responds brilliantly, he doesn't have a very long squad and that is the greatest concern I have, but he is certainly deserving of being at the top for the football he expresses." Lucchesi also reflected on new financial regulations in Italian football, noting that Italian Serie A clubs carry €4 billion in debt as of 30 June 2025, a systemic problem requiring sustainable financial management.
Lucchesi revealed a long-standing regret about a failed transfer operation from the summer after Roma's 2001 Scudetto. The club had secured agreements with Parma for both Gianluigi Buffon and Fabio Cannavaro, with Lucchesi present at negotiations in Milan involving Roma president Franco Sensi and Parma's Tanzi. "Buffon and Cannavaro were super available and had accepted the move with great joy," he said. "Roma was highly sought after at the time." However, Juventus intervened, reportedly leveraging other business dealings between the Tanzi and Agnelli families, causing Parma to renege on the agreement. Lucchesi said: "The regret I still have is that with these signings, without taking anything away from those who arrived later, we would have had the strongest squad in the championship for 4-5 years." He recalled being tasked with formalizing the moves and later having to explain the reversal, describing the awkwardness of reporting the situation back to Sensi.
No immediate developments or forthcoming decisions are outlined in the interview.
Story Coverage2 sources on this story
Fabrizio Lucchesi, former Roma general director during the club's 2000–01 Serie A title-winning season, has called for the Friedkin Group to create a meaningful role for Francesco Totti within the organisation. Speaking to Italian media, Lucchesi stressed that Totti suffers deeply from his separation from the club despite choosing to leave, and that his giallorosso blood and extraordinary passion make him invaluable. Lucchesi argued that deploying Totti in a purely representational capacity would be reductive, and that instead Roma should harness his vast experience and vision. "To see a Roma without Totti is inconceivable," he said, adding that as a manager he would welcome having someone of Totti's calibre in his company.
Lucchesi drew parallels between head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and Fabio Capello's management philosophies, identifying both as coaches who operate with total autonomy over their squads. While Gasperini applies himself more directly on the pitch and Capello delegated more to collaborators, both demand that everything revolves around them—Lucchesi noted that Capello even controlled details as minor as changing the doormats at Trigoria. Lucchesi praised Gasperini's demands on the squad and the group's response, though he expressed his greatest concern as the limited size of the playing squad.
Lucchesi also revealed a long-standing regret from summer 2001. Roma had agreed deals with Parma for both Gianluigi Buffon and Fabio Cannavaro, with negotiations concluded in Milan. However, Juventus intervened through dealings between the Tanzi and Agnelli families, forcing Parma to renege. Lucchesi said Roma would have possessed the strongest squad in the championship for four to five years had those signings materialised.
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Testo Originale / Source Text
“Fabrizio Lucchesi, ex direttore generale della Roma campione d’Italia nel 2000-2001 è intervenuto ai microfoni di Retesport questa mattina con uno sguardo sul suo passato giallorosso ma anche al presente della Roma dei Friedkin:
Un tuo personale aneddoto su Francesco Totti:“L’ho rivisto nei giorni…”
Read the full article in Italian at Retesport.
