Former Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi has opened up about his career in a recent podcast featuring English football legends Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Jamie Carragher, and Ian Wright. The Italian World Cup winner shared intriguing details about his near-move to Manchester United and his deep connection with Roma.
De Rossi disclosed how close he came to joining the Red Devils: “I was very close, it would have been my first option if I had left Roma. I considered Manchester United the best team in England. I had other opportunities to join other clubs as well.”
He then revealed a surprising encounter during the 2006 World Cup: “In 2006, during the World Cup, I was at the airport when coach Lippi called me and took me to a small room where Ferguson was waiting. Lippi told me: ‘You have to go there.’ I remained silent because Ferguson was there and because I was afraid of Lippi. It was a three-minute chat, nothing serious, but I would have liked to tell Ferguson ‘I want to come.'”
Despite the missed opportunity abroad, De Rossi’s love for Roma remained unwavering. He explained his deep-rooted connection to his hometown club: “I always wanted to play for this team; every child born in this city has this dream. Sometimes it happens, and then you have to make a choice: if you’re lucky enough, you can choose whether to go to a better club or stay here. I made my decision, which was wrong from a football perspective, but it worked out well for me. I have no regrets.”
De Rossi also touched on the unique pressures of playing in Rome: “It’s the love for this club, the way we are. If I were a chef, I’d be the same way. If I cooked carbonara and there wasn’t enough guanciale, I’d be angry,” he joked. “Football is very important for Italians, especially in Rome. We know we’re not Real Madrid, and many fans accept not winning trophies for a season. They love a player’s loyalty, the effort on the field even if you’re not from Rome.”
Reflecting on his time with the national team, De Rossi shared his thoughts on the 2006 World Cup and the Calciopoli scandal: “It was something ugly, although the players had nothing to do with it. We were very united. When we arrived in Germany, the Italian fans living there didn’t care about this scandal. They were all with us, filled every stadium, and helped us a lot, pushing us to the final.”
He concluded with a candid admission about his red card in the tournament: “I was stupid though. I was sent off in the second game for an elbow. I didn’t enjoy the whole journey, praying to have another chance, to play in the final. Lippi loved me, he talked to me even though deep down he was angry. I was sure he would give me another opportunity if we reached the final despite the mistake I had made. Even his assistant told me that if we reached the final, I would play, and that’s what happened.”
