Former Roma director Gianluca Petrachi reveals just how close Antonio Conte was to taking the job in 2019 and still feels bitter at his departure. ‘I was robbed.’
Petrachi was the director of sport at the Stadio Olimpico from July 2019 to June 2020, before leaving under a bitter cloud following a falling out with patron Jim Pallotta.
It was straight after taking charge in the summer of 2019 that Petrachi almost convinced Conte to take the Roma job, before he accepted Inter instead.
Nowadays, the tactician is in England with the Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur.
“There are moments where details make the difference,” Petrachi told OCW Sport.
“We could’ve done something more in that moment and we didn’t. A player, a coach, a director, they are all based on empathy and action supporting words makes a difference.
“At that moment, there were plenty of words, but not so much substantial action.”
Petrachi is still furious about the way he was forced to leave Roma, just weeks before the club was sold to the Friedkin family.
“I left Roma prematurely, actually I was robbed of this club. Everyone knows I was fired for just cause, which was never proven, in fact the judge ruled against it.
“I was starting to really get to know the city and I have fond memories of he place, despite my painful departure.
“It was a revolutionary summer in the transfer market, we sold 15 players and signed just as many. Time will tell if I was right to sign Leonardo Spinazzola, Pau Lopez, Henrikh Mkhitaryan or Gonzalo Villar.
“Just look at the defence, it is totally made up of player I signed. I brought in Gianluca Mancini, Chris Smalling and Roger Ibanez, while Jordan Veretout was one of the best midfielders in Serie A this season.”
🔴 Il mancato approdo di #Conte alla #Roma
🗣 #Petrachi spiega cosa è successo
👇 Le dichiarazioni dell’ex ds giallorosso #ASRoma https://t.co/1N8A4Aj4lb— SiamolaRoma.it (@siamo_la_Roma) April 9, 2022