There is great confusion at Roma. After last week’s turmoil, which included the dismissal of De Rossi, fan protests at the stadium, and the resignation of CEO Lina Souloukou, the American owners of the club have decided to publicly address the situation with an official statement signed by Dan and Ryan Friedkin.
This is essentially an open letter to the fans, aimed at easing tensions and bridging the gaps that have widened in recent days. It is the first time the Friedkins have directly communicated with the Giallorossi fans, who have previously criticized them for their lack of engagement. In yesterday’s statement, the Friedkins publicly put their faces forward for the first time, addressing De Rossi’s dismissal—referred to as “Daniele” in the letter, as one would speak of a mutual friend: “We have deep respect for Daniele, convinced that he will have a successful career as a coach, and perhaps one day he will return to Roma. Parting ways with him was an extremely difficult decision, but we made it with the belief that it is the right path to pursue trophies this season.” The specific reasons for this choice remain unclear, but it can be inferred from the statement that the club’s owners did not believe they could win trophies this season with De Rossi at the helm.
Another key point in the statement to fans involves the Friedkins’ commitment not to lessen their efforts for the growth of the club and team. Just yesterday afternoon, an official announcement from Everton revealed an agreement with the Friedkin Group for the acquisition of a majority stake in the club. The statement included a note from the Group that read: “We are pleased to have reached an agreement to become custodians of this iconic football team. We are focused on securing the necessary approvals to complete the transaction. We look forward to providing stability to the club and sharing our vision for its future, including the completion of the new Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.”
Many in Rome interpreted the news of an imminent commitment to the Premier League as a prelude to a divestment of their interests in Roma, and the Friedkins strongly denied this hypothesis while addressing the Giallorossi fans: “You can rest assured, our commitment in terms of time, resources, and energy towards Roma will not diminish. Our goal is clear: to see Roma consistently competing at the highest levels of European football.”
At the end of the statement, the Friedkins reassured the fans that they greatly appreciate and listen to their opinions and aim to make them proud. The concluding “Forza Roma” seals the attempt at rapprochement, which has been received rather lukewarmly by the fanbase, as they await whether the future will confirm or refute the good intentions of Roma’s owners.
