The situation at AS Roma has reached its most critical point since the Friedkin family took over in 2020. Manager Ivan Juric’s position is precarious, though he remains in charge at least until Thursday’s match against Torino. On Halloween night, fears of another disastrous performance loom large.
Reports from Calciomercato suggest Juric has lost the dressing room. A heated argument between the coach and defender Gianluca Mancini occurred at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, with Mancini refusing to return to the bench after being substituted. Captain Lorenzo Pellegrini also clashed verbally with sporting director Ghisolfi, reportedly displeased with a dressing down.
Even a victory against Torino may not be enough to save Juric’s job. A negative result could lead to immediate action from the club’s leadership.
Contrary to expectations, the Friedkin family has not returned to Rome. Their plane departed from New York but landed in Los Angeles, moving further away from the Italian capital. While no immediate changes are planned, the situation remains delicate.
Potential replacements for Juric include club legend Daniele De Rossi, currently on vacation in New York. However, De Rossi may seek guarantees before accepting, such as having Claudio Ranieri installed as technical director. If De Rossi declines, he might terminate his contract with the club. In that scenario, Ranieri could step in as a caretaker manager. Other options like Massimiliano Allegri, Maurizio Sarri, Roberto Mancini, and Edin Terzic seem unlikely at this stage.
Fan discontent is reaching a boiling point. The Curva Sud is planning an even stronger protest for Thursday’s match than in previous weeks. On Sunday night, a group of ultras confronted players at Termini Station, shouting, “We’ve had enough. Show some courage!” A tense face-to-face encounter ensued with Pellegrini, Mancini, Bryan Cristante, Paulo Dybala, and Leandro Paredes.
