Tensions are reportedly simmering behind the scenes at AS Roma, with a visible rift emerging between head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and the club's senior advisor, Claudio Ranieri. The situation came to a head this week when the two key figures allegedly ignored each other during a lunch at the Trigoria training ground, a clear sign of deepening divisions within the Giallorossi camp.

This frosty atmosphere is said to be a direct reaction from Gasperini to comments made by Ranieri in a recent interview. Speaking before Roma's 3-0 victory over Pisa, Ranieri clarified his advisory role, stating his counsel is for the club's ownership, not the coach. More pointedly, he revealed that Gasperini was not his top choice for the managerial position this summer, hinting at a fundamental disagreement in vision from the outset.

While Ranieri praised Gasperini's past achievements with Atalanta and emphasized that the summer's signings had the coach's approval, the damage appears to have been done. Italian media now describes the relationship between the two Italians as one of "great coldness," a concerning dynamic for a club with ambitions of returning to the Champions League.

Complicating matters further is the reported silence from owner Dan Friedkin. While Friedkin is said to value Ranieri's legacy and connection to Roma, he is also reportedly convinced that Gasperini is doing a decent job on the pitch. This stalemate at the ownership level leaves the unresolved tension between coach and advisor hanging over the club, creating an unwanted distraction as the season progresses. For Roma fans hoping for a unified push up the Serie A table, this internal drama is the last thing they want to see.