Dan and Ryan Friedkin, the owners of AS Roma, have issued a statement to the club’s fans addressing the recent controversial dismissal of manager Daniele De Rossi after just four league matches. The owners acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but defended it as necessary for the club’s ambitions.
In their message, the Friedkins expressed their deep respect for De Rossi and belief in his future success as a coach, even suggesting he may return to Roma one day:
“Football is appreciated globally for its unique beauty. Every match is full of passion, emotions, and unpredictability, and that’s why we love it. But beyond the results on the field, our responsibility as Club owners is to make important decisions that we believe are in Roma’s best interest, even when they are extremely difficult.
The summer transfer campaign marked the beginning of a multi-year strategic project designed to bring Roma back to the top of European football. The development of a new stadium, a key element of this vision, is already underway and will pay homage to the Club’s rich history.
We want to say this: we have deep respect for Daniele, convinced that he will have a successful career as a coach, and maybe one day he will return to Roma. Parting ways with him was a very difficult decision, but we made it with the conviction that it’s the right path to aim for trophies this season.
We remain active investors in the sports sector. We love beautiful football. The potential acquisition of Everton does not change our commitment to Roma in any way. On the contrary, the synergy between the clubs can only bring advantages to Roma. Each club in our portfolio operates independently, and Roma remains at the center of our football ambitions. You can rest assured, our commitment in terms of time, resources, and energy towards Roma will not be reduced. Our goal is clear: to see Roma consistently compete at the highest levels of European football.
To you, extraordinary fans: we recognize the great responsibility entrusted to us in guiding this historic Club. Your constant loyalty is our strength as we continue to work for the future. We appreciate your opinions and want to assure you that we listen to them. You are the soul of the club, and our goal is to make you proud.
Forza Roma,
Dan and Ryan Friedkin”
