Walter Sabatini believes Edin Dzeko was ‘humiliated’ by Paulo Fonseca and reveals why Roma let Ricky Massara leave the club.
Sabatini served as Roma’s sporting director from 2011 to 2016 and brought in Edin Dzeko in the summer of 2015.
The Bosnian was left out of the Roma squad list against Spezia and Hellas Verona due to disagreements with coach Paulo Fonseca. They are reported to have cleared the air before last weekend’s away clash against Juventus.
Walter Sabatini believes Edin Dzeko was ‘humiliated’ by Paulo Fonseca and reveals why Roma let Ricky Massara leave the club.
Sabatini served as Roma’s sporting director from 2011 to 2016 and brought in Edin Dzeko in the summer of 2015.
The Bosnian was left out of the Roma squad list against Spezia and Hellas Verona due to disagreements with coach Paulo Fonseca. They are reported to have cleared the air before last weekend’s away clash against Juventus.
“I didn’t like a few things that happened at Roma lately,” Sabatini told TeleRoma56.
“Dzeko is an exceptional professional, he could never create problems. Consequences were too severe for a locker room dispute, Roma had sold him four times in two years and he always decided to stay.
“Fonseca must have done it to boost his authority in the locker room, but everything must go back to normal now, Roma have important targets to pursue.
“I know the locker room, I know that nothing bad could have happened to lead to such consequences, Dzeko suffered a major humiliation.”
What are his thoughts on Tiago Pinto?
“I don’t know him, I haven’t spoken to him yet. If they chose him, I must think he is the right man for the job. Football clubs are now looking for directors who care about scouting, analysis and stats, he wants to act as the sporting director, a role he’s never covered in his career. He wants to start doing it here, wish him good luck.”
Milan’s sporting director Ricky Massara was a Roma director a few years ago.
“Roma were wrong to let him go,” Sabatini said.
“He is such a nice guy, with great culture and commitment. He arrives in the office at 7.30am and he leaves in the night. I know he was not confirmed because he tried to defend Monchi, a man who made mistakes but managed to take Nicolò Zaniolo. Massara is the Salah of directors, I hope he will win.”