Roma Covet Napoli Director amid Front-Office Overhaul

TL;DR

Roma is considering Napoli's Giovanni Manna as a replacement for director Frederic Massara amid a front-office overhaul. Manna is praised for his successful signings and alignment with coach Gian Piero Gasperini, but is under contract until 2029.

Key points

Roma director Frederic Massara's position is uncertain
Giovanni Manna is the preferred replacement for Massara
Manna has a strong track record in player signings
He is under contract with Napoli until 2029
Roma is also considering other candidates for the role

Mentioned in this story

RomaNapoliFrederic MassaraGiovanni MannaGian Piero GasperiniJuventusAtalantaVerona

Roma Covet Napoli Director amid Front-Office Overhaul

Roma director Frederic Massara wasn’t ousted alongside Claudio Ranieri last week, but his days at the club are numbered, and Napoli exec Giovanni Manna is the ownership’s and Gian Piero Gasperini’s top option to replace him, Corriere dello Sport relays.

The Partenopei official is highly regarded for the way he has combined youth and experience since moving to Campania. He has had a high hit rate and contributed to signing Scott McTominay, Kevin De Bruyne, Alessandro Buongiorno, Rasmus Hojlund, and Alisson Santos, among others. More importantly, the coach believes they’ll be on the same wavelength, which is not the case currently.

In addition, Manna helmed Juventus’ Next Gen squad for a long time, and Roma want to create a second team as well. On the other hand, he’s under contract until 2029. It’ll be arduous to convince Aurelio De Laurentiis to let him go. Their shortlist also comprises Cristiano Giuntoli, Atalanta’s Tony D’Amico, and ’s Sean Sogliano.

Q&A

Who is Giovanni Manna and why is Roma interested in him?

Giovanni Manna is a director at Napoli known for effectively combining youth and experience in player signings, making him a top candidate for Roma's front-office changes.

What challenges does Roma face in hiring Giovanni Manna?

Roma faces the challenge of convincing Napoli's president Aurelio De Laurentiis to release Manna, who is under contract until 2029.

What other candidates are on Roma's shortlist for the director position?

Roma's shortlist includes Cristiano Giuntoli, Tony D’Amico from Atalanta, and Sean Sogliano from Verona.