Il Tempo (Biafora) – Gasperini or Sarri for the revolution. Roma wants to start-over with the “magician” from Atalanta or with the Tuscan from Chelsea and leave behind the difficult season that saw the sacking of Eusebio Di Francesco and the departure of Ramon Monchi, in addition to the choice of not to renew the contract to De Rossi. The intention of the Giallorossi hierarchy is to make a clean sweep by cutting many of the dead branches in the team and give new life to the project, which could still focus on the many youngsters in the side. If Sarri were not available, the ideal profile would be Gasperini, who is currently in a Champions League with the Bergamo-based side. Thanks to his work, Atalanta has earned €170 million from the sales of Kessie, Conti, Gagliardini, Cristante, Caldara, Petagna and De Roon over the past two years. Gasperini, who is also being eyed by Milan, could help revive several Roma players, but the transfer market would be focused on finding players suitable for his 3-4-3 formation, which often changes to a 3-4-2-1 or a 3-4-1-2. Gasperini would bring his own unique training methods to Trigoria, where movements and tactics are carried out as if it were an actual match (his training sessions also includes huge amounts of running) as well as a maniacal fascination with his players’ diets — he has also been known to contact his players through WhatsApp to try and motivate them ahead of matches. At Zingonia (Atalanta’s training facility), his sessions have been jokingly described as “deadly” as matches are almost considered a walk in the park compared to his daily training sessions due to the running required on a daily basis. Gasperini relies on Domenico Borelli as his athletic trainer for the team and is obsessed with tactics and movement and is renowned from his high pressing and his demand to recover the ball quickly.
But having said all of this, Gasperini will have to find a way to free himself from his contract with Atalanta, which runs until 2021. He will meet with the club’s president at the beginning of next week to find a gentleman’s agreement on the termination of the relationship. The alternative to Gasp is represented by Sarri, who is set to leave Chelsea after one season and return to Italy. The former Napoli boss has had a lot contact with Baldini in recent months, with the last one coming last Friday in London. Baldini, the adviser of Pallotta, wants the Giallorossi to go for Sarri, who is taking time to reflect. Meanwhile, Juve have placed him high on their wish-list to replace Max Allegri. It will be difficult to see anyone other than one between Sarri and Gasperini at Trigoria this summer, and the final decision could arrive within 10 days.
