On 16th April, Thomas DiBenedetto finally bought Roma and in so doing became the 21st president in the history of the Giallorossi – and the first non-Italian (despite having Italian roots). After months of negotiations Thomas DiBenedetto and his group, comprised of James Pallotta, Michael Ruane and Richard D’Amore, all investors from Boston in the United States, and all with connections to Italy, took control of Roma to embark upon a new era.
Following the acquisition, DiBenedetto commented: “Now I want to win like Silvio Berlusconi with AC Milan, in Italy and abroad, but at first we will give more attention to financial fair play.” In fact, the Giallorossi are going through a difficult period and the new group has invested €45M immediately with a further €40M to follow in the next few months. DiBenedetto and his group hold 60% of the club, with Italian bank Unicredit maintaining a 40% shareholding which assured a continued domestic influence.
The new president is set on improving Roma at every level, with a key aim being to strengthen the club’s brand outside the Italian capital. DiBenedetto also expressed surprise when he saw that outside the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, a raft of unofficial merchants sold shirts, scarves and other merchandise bearing the Roma logo, but not endorsed by the club. The American also noted that there were no restaurants or bars inside the stadium itself, resulting in lost revenue. With a new mentality, DiBenedetto wants to address these issues and his intention in many ways is greater than just the Giallorossi – he wants to change the mentality of Italian football itself.
Silvio Berlusconi, speaking in his role as AC Milan supremo rather than Italian Prime Minister, welcomed the new American owner, but with a caveat. “I wish he wins a lot of trophies with Roma, especially for the fans that are very passionate, but he has to forget about making money with football. The golden days are long gone.”
And Berlusconi’s words should be heeded, especially with Roma needing to invest heavily in this summer’s transfer market. DiBenedetto’s first job will be to recruit a new coach. Last year Roma were just minutes from winning the title and Claudio Ranieri, a true Giallorossi fan, was feted as the perfect manager for the capital club. Yet this season was a disaster for Roma.
At the start of March the club were knocked out of the Champions League by Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk, as Mircea Lucescu’s side coasted to victory at the Stadio Olimpico and the Donbass Arena. In the meantime, Ranieri resigned, being replaced by the inexperienced youth team coach and former fan favourite striker Vincenzo Montella.
And while Montella tried his best, after the customary improvement in form that goes hand in hand with a new coach, Roma slumped again, losing at home to Palermo and Juventus, in addition to a crucial Coppa Italia clash with Inter. Despite being publicly backed by the Roma squad, it is difficult to envisage Montella being handed the reigns for next season.
DiBenedetto is keen to bring in an experienced manager to lead Roma’s 2011/12 Serie A charge – and his eyes are fixed on ex-Roma player Carlo Ancelotti. A Roma man through and through, the current Chelsea boss has always maintained that he dreams of managing the Giallorossi and, with the clock ticking on his time at Stamford Bridge, the former AC Milan coach looks the perfect choice for DiBenedetto. In Rome, Ancelotti can set about rebuilding a club with renewed ambitions, but one almost certain to be without Champions League football next season.
Another pressing issue in DiBenedetto’s inbox is the role of Francesco Totti. “Il Capitano”, a Giallorossi legend in the eyes of the club’s fans, is no longer at his best at the age of 35, but has nevertheless been one of the side’s better players this term. And while the new president wants to infuse the side with young talent, Totti is more than a player in Roma. DiBenedetto will not want a struggle against the Curva Sud, the hard core of the Giallorossi fans, so early in his reign.
While Totti then may stay, question marks hang over the heads of several other players. Frenchman Jeremy Menez (attacked by fans after the game against Inter), Marco Borriello (who had trouble with both Ranieri and Montella), and Montenegrin forward Mirko Vucinic (who looks disillusioned after previously excelling with Roma) could all leave. French defender Philippe Mexes, injured until the end of the season, is moving to AC Milan and Roma must also find at least one reliable goalkeeper after the inconsistent displays of Brazilian duo Julio Sergio and Doni.
The task of reviving Roma will not be easy for DiBenedetto and the American’s endurance will be tested to the limit. Giallorossi fans hope the new president does not tire easily.
