July 2025 – After a brief period of rest following the conclusion of the previous season, Claudio Ranieri, serving in his capacity as AS Roma`s Senior Advisor, is set to return to the club`s Trigoria training ground. His return signals the commencement of preparations for the upcoming campaign, working closely alongside the newly appointed head coach, Gian Piero Gasperini. Beyond assisting with pre-season planning and potential transfer negotiations, Ranieri recently offered candid insights into significant football matters, including his reasons for declining the Italian national team managerial role and the sport`s broader social impact.
Collaborating with Gasperini: A Task of Importance
Ranieri, a figure deeply respected within the Roma hierarchy and Italian football at large, confirmed his intention to collaborate closely with Gasperini. Reflecting on the choice of the former Atalanta coach, Ranieri noted, “I am an advisor to the Friedkins, and we hope to do my job well. Gasperini has an important task.” This suggests Ranieri played a role in advocating for Gasperini`s appointment, placing significant trust in his ability to guide the Giallorossi forward. The focus now shifts to building a competitive squad and strategy, with Ranieri`s experience providing a layer of senior counsel.
Explaining the National Team Refusal: The Challenge of Divided Loyalty
One of the notable decisions preceding Gian Piero Gasperini`s arrival at Roma was Ranieri`s widely reported refusal of the opportunity to manage the Italian national team, following Luciano Spalletti`s departure. Addressing this, Ranieri stated with characteristic straightforwardness, “I believe saying no to the national team was difficult for everyone involved, but I couldn`t do two jobs.”
He elaborated on the inherent conflict of interest that his position at Roma presented. Holding a contract with a major club, Ranieri argued, would have compromised the autonomy required by a national team coach. “The national team needs a person free to choose, to call up whoever they want,” he explained. “With me, there would have been too many problems with every call-up, for example, if a player had played 90 minutes and then had to face Roma [with the national team]. In short, it was too much. There needs to be a free man there.” He offered a word of support for Roberto Gattuso, who reportedly took the national team job, acknowledging him as someone who “always tried to do things well” and “knew the national team, fought for it, suffered for it.” It seems the practicalities of football contracts, rather than a lack of desire, dictated his choice – a rather pragmatic, if slightly dry, explanation for foregoing a national dream.
Ranieri also touched upon his recent return to the Roma dugout last season, which saw him steady the ship during a turbulent period. “I didn`t expect the results we achieved,” he admitted. “I arrived at a particular moment. However, thanks precisely to everyone`s help and contribution, we managed to put things right. It was an important outcome for the club, especially for the fans, and also for the players. Now I want to help Roma in this capacity,” he concluded, outlining his continued commitment in his advisory role.
Football as an Antidote: A Stance Against Racism
Beyond the tactical and contractual aspects of the game, Ranieri also used a public appearance alongside Mayor Mimmo Lucano to weigh in on the critical issue of racism. Drawing on his extensive experience in diverse dressing rooms, he observed, “Every team has players of different nationalities, and among us, there has never been any hesitation. There is nothing of what you breathe outside.”
Ranieri positioned sport, and particularly football, as a potential “antidote against racism.” While acknowledging that football operates within a world that has become “unfortunately violent,” he stressed that punitive measures alone are insufficient. “Penalties don`t work on brains,” he asserted, advocating instead for fundamental shifts: “Culture and respect for human dignity are needed.” He connected this to Italy`s own history of emigration, noting that Italians who moved abroad, to places like America or Belgian mines, understand suffering and have “so much to give” in terms of empathy and love – a poignant reminder from a man who has travelled the world through football.