Speaking in an interview with Corriere dello Sport, former Fiorentina and Salernitana coach Paulo Sousa confirmed that he has not heard from the Roma management. Now managing Shabab Al-Ahli in Dubai, Sousa reflected on his experiences and offers his views on current Serie A coaches.
Sousa, 54, began by discussing his time in Italy: “Coming to Italy was fundamental. I had the opportunity to measure myself against champions from whom I learned a lot.” He specifically mentioned Vialli and Baggio as influential figures in his development.
Addressing his own personal growth, Sousa admitted, “I was so fragile that I reacted with impulsiveness, vulnerable, but also human. As I grew, I always gave a lot of weight to the relational aspect, to individual values, to others.”
On current Italian football, Sousa expressed admiration for several coaches: “I see a flourishing of very well-prepared and proactive coaches. Marco Baroni’s Lazio play pleases me immensely. Everyone participates, everyone is involved.”
He also praised Gasperini: “Gasperini, who changes something every year, adding solutions to a game that has long been more than just man-to-man. He’s the one who has influenced Italian football the most in recent times.”
Regarding his time at Fiorentina, Sousa said, “We came so close to doing something extraordinary. The ownership had – let’s say – family distractions, but that remains an extraordinary year, of considerable enhancement of the squad.”
On the Roma rumors, Sousa revealed, “Years ago Franco Baldini [contacted me]. Then nothing more… But here in Dubai they have made huge investments for me, they make me feel good, I want to win with them.”
Finally, Sousa praised José Mourinho: “He changed the history of us Portuguese coaches. The first to understand the evolution of football also in terms of communication. Inimitable.”
