AS Roma have reached a mutual agreement to terminate the contract of sporting director Florent Ghisolfi, ending his tenure just one year after his appointment.
The Giallorossi are expected to confirm the departure in the coming days and move swiftly to appoint a familiar face—Frederic Massara—as his replacement.
Why Roma Terminated Ghisolfi’s Contract
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the decision from Roma’s ownership—led by the Friedkin family—came after several mounting issues behind the scenes.
The most notable being a delay in finalizing the contract renewal of goalkeeper Mile Svilar. Roma higher-ups saw the situation as mishandled, and only direct intervention from Claudio Ranieri reportedly helped save the deal.
Ghisolfi’s strained relationships with agents, including those representing Alexis Saelemaekers, also became a source of friction. As well as that, the club’s inability to offload full-back Angelino, which was expected to free up budget space, also reflected poorly on Ghisolfi.
There were further concerns surrounding contract renewals for key Primavera players, with ownership alarmed during a video call that exposed disorganization in the youth system.
In the early hours following that meeting, Roma CFO Lorenzo Vitali informed Ghisolfi that his time at the club was over.
Frederic Massara Set to Return as Roma Sporting Director
Multiple sources, including Gianluca Di Marzio and Matteo Moretto, report that Frederic “Ricky” Massara is the leading candidate to take over the sporting director role. Massara has deep ties with the Giallorossi, having held several key roles at the club between 2011 and 2019.
Massara recently left his post at Stade Rennes and had also been linked with a potential move to Juventus. However, the Giallorossi now appear to be his most likely destination, with several Italian outlets confirming talks are well underway.
Prior to Rennes, Massara played a pivotal role at Milan alongside Paolo Maldini, where he helped build the team that won the 2021-22 Scudetto.
Roma advisor Ranieri sees Massara as someone who can help stabilize the club during this transitional phase.
Gasperini Era Begins at Roma
The news of Ghisolfi’s departure comes as Gian Piero Gasperini prepares to officially begin his reign as Roma head coach, with his introductory press conference scheduled for Tuesday.
Gasperini will work closely with the new sporting director and with Ranieri, who rejected the Italy job in order to stay involved in Roma’s strategic restructuring.
The club’s restructure aims to bring consistency back to a team that has underperformed in recent seasons.
For fans and bettors alike, it’s a fascinating time to follow Roma’s moves in the transfer market. You can keep track of the latest odds and market predictions through the best new betting sites, offering fresh options and bonuses.
