Roma are looking for the right replacement for sporting director Tiago Pinto and are torn between two different directions – old school pragmatism or data-driven analysis.
The Rossoneri are in a state of flux in the new year, losing both coach Jose Mourinho and sporting director Pinto in the first six weeks of 2024, with the latter set to leave the club after the closure of the January transfer window.
Whilst Daniele De Rossi has already been appointed as Mourinho’s successor, likely on a short-term basis, Roma still need to find the figure who’ll lead them in the transfer window, able to contend with the frustrating Financial Fair Play restrictions that endlessly plague the club.
As detailed by Corriere dello Sport via TMW, Roma owners the Friedkins are now weighing up which direction to follow in the transfer market moving forward, an older school style of pragmatism or a more data-focused style based on algorithms and analysis.
Paul Mitchell is seemingly the first-choice option for the new direction. The 42-year-old Englishman has heaps of experience in scouting and was the Monaco sporting director from June 2020 to October 2023.
Other ideas for this data-focused approach include Christopher Vivell, who worked in the Red Bull system, and Javier Ribalta, who was once chief scout at Juventus and Manchester United.
Should Roma decide to stick with a more traditional approach, they would look to turn to Frederic Massara, who is still highly regarded in Trigoria following his first spell at the club.