Roma icon Francesco Totti has weighed in on the search for the club`s next permanent head coach, stating that his preferred candidates, Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri, are unavailable as they have “already signed for other clubs.”
The Giallorossi are looking for a new manager to take over after Claudio Ranieri concludes his interim spell at the end of the 2024-25 season. Ranieri is expected to have input in the selection process.
A number of managers have been linked with the job at the Stadio Olimpico, including Roberto Mancini, Gian Piero Gasperini, Stefano Pioli, Patrick Vieira, Cesc Fabregas, Vincenzo Montella, Roberto De Zerbi, Francesco Farioli, and Nuno Espirito Santo, in addition to Allegri.
Some prospective candidates, such as Fabregas and Vieira, have already indicated they are happy at their current clubs. Ranieri himself has also reportedly ruled out certain names, including Gasperini, for the Roma role.
Totti Believes Conte and Allegri Are Committed Elsewhere
Totti admitted to Sky Sport Italia that he considers Conte and Allegri among the best coaches and would ideally like to see one of them at Roma. However, he is under the impression that they are already secured by other teams for the 2025-26 season.
“They are two coaches who have already signed for other teams, so neither of them,” Totti stated when asked about his preference between the two for the Roma job this summer.
Conte is currently contracted to Napoli until 2027 but has been linked with a return to Juventus. Allegri, recently departed from Juventus, has been rumoured as a potential successor to Conte at Napoli should he leave. Despite these public speculations, Totti maintains his belief that both managers have already finalized deals elsewhere for the upcoming seasons.
Totti humorously added that he was unsure if Roma would appoint an Italian or foreign coach, quipping, “also because all the best coaches have gone.”
He concluded by offering advice to the club`s leadership, stressing the importance of honesty with the fanbase. “I`ve always said, since I was a director, that you should not mess with the fans. We have to be realistic and tell the truth, even if Roma is in 10th place, 15th, first, second,” Totti explained. “People want this, they want to know the truth. When people know the truth, everything becomes easier.”
