As the Serie A season winds down, Roma finds itself at a critical crossroads, with the club's future hanging in the balance. While head coach Gian Piero Gasperini insists on focusing on the present during his press conferences, the reality is that Rome's front office has a mountain of decisions to make—starting with the crucial search for a new sporting director.
The Giallorossi are in a race against time. Gasperini is eagerly awaiting the return of Ryan Friedkin, expected before the upcoming derby, but other clubs aren't waiting around. Atalanta has already made moves by signing Cristiano Giuntoli and preparing to release Tony D'Amico, and now another major Italian club is positioning itself to challenge Roma for the former Nerazzurri director's services.
AC Milan has emerged as a serious contender for D'Amico, with whispers of a major shakeup at Milanello if the Rossoneri fail to secure Champions League qualification for next season. The director, set to be released in June, tops Milan's shortlist to replace Igli Tare—and according to Il Messaggero, he'd be more than happy to accept the Lombard club's offer, despite ongoing discussions with Gasperini.
Meanwhile, Roma's coach is pushing for a revolution in the scouting department. One name on his radar is Michele Fratini, who has been named Italy's best talent scout for two consecutive years—a testament to Gasperini's desire to build for the long term.
The Friedkins, however, have their own vision. The American owners have identified Giovanni Manna as the ideal candidate to lead Roma's sporting direction. But prying him away from Napoli won't be easy. Aurelio De Laurentiis has grown increasingly fond of Manna after his stellar work during the January transfer window, and the Napoli president is prepared to fight to keep him.
Roma could triple Manna's current salary of around €300,000 plus bonuses, but De Laurentiis might simply match the offer. An even bigger obstacle? The release fee, which is reportedly set between €5 million and €10 million. For a club still piecing together its long-term strategy, that's a steep price to pay—but in the high-stakes world of Italian football, every move counts.