Former Roma director Sabatini criticizes club’s treatment of legends

Walter Sabatini, former sporting director of AS Roma, has launched a scathing attack on the club’s current management, citing concerning reports about their treatment of club legends and long-time staff members.

In a candid interview with Radio Serie AS, Sabatini didn’t mince words: “I’ve been told unhearable things about De Rossi. Roma’s problem isn’t the squad, but something else entirely. At Trigoria, ‘God is dead,’ and I don’t mean to offend anyone, but I’m referring to a Guccini song. He’s dead because sentiment, respect, and loyalty have been suppressed.”

Sabatini, who served as Roma’s sporting director from 2011 to 2016, revealed disturbing accounts from recent ex-employees. “Those who worked at Roma until a month ago have told me things that I politely describe as disturbing. Collaborators with great history at Roma have been removed abruptly, forcibly. They were only informed of their dismissal without reasons, escorted by security to their offices to collect their belongings because they feared sabotage.”

The former director’s criticism extended to the treatment of club icon Bruno Conti. “When these things happen, there’s no future for a club. Football still thrives on sentiments that are transmitted through osmosis. If that’s the atmosphere, the team will remain barren. I’ll say another thing, which may seem trivial. A man like Bruno Conti, a football legend, not just as a player but the best player of the ’82 World Cup ahead of Maradona, Rummenigge, Falcao, has also been extraordinary as a director. Football owes him so much; he’s taken and guided children to Serie A. 30% of players in the national landscape come from Trigoria. This man is denied entry to the restaurant. It’s an insult to football.”

Sabatini continued, “I don’t know how things are done at Trigoria; there are employees who feel like directors. Denying Bruno Conti entry to the restaurant offends international football, not just Roman. I spoke with Bruno the day before yesterday, and he was very upset and disappointed. I love football and everything that revolves around it; I can’t tolerate this. Conti has produced wealth for Roma; he’s not just a legend recognized worldwide.”

The former director also highlighted the club’s apparent disregard for its homegrown talents: “Players like Scamacca, Aquilani, Frattesi, Politano, Francesco Totti, who was born at Lodigiani but Bruno intercepted and brought to Trigoria, come to mind. We’re talking about football history. I know these issues through people who worked with me and were at Roma until recently. It’s a trend; owners arrive and make decisions about people they don’t even know.”