Claudio Ranieri leaves Roma after a power struggle with coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who now gains full control of the club’s sporting direction
Roma have confirmed the departure of Claudio Ranieri from his role as senior advisor, bringing an end to weeks of internal tension that ultimately forced the club into a decisive choice.
🚨 AS Roma confirm Claudio Ranieri has left the role as Senior Advisor as his story at the club is now over.
“We believe in our project to be led by Gian Piero Gasperini”, AS Roma confirm. 💛❤️ pic.twitter.com/R7Y9wMvPRC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 24, 2026
The split follows an ongoing rift between Ranieri and current head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who made it clear he no longer wished to work alongside the veteran tactician. The disagreement escalated to a point where reconciliation was no longer possible.
In the end, Roma’s ownership group, led by the Friedkin family, opted to back Gasperini despite their respect for Ranieri. The coach’s firm stance effectively left the club with no alternative but to support his vision moving forward.
In an official statement, Roma expressed gratitude to Ranieri for his contributions, particularly during a challenging period for the club. However, they emphasized a clear direction for the future under Gasperini’s leadership. Ranieri had been serving as a senior advisor since the start of the season, working closely with the club’s hierarchy. His departure also signals further change behind the scenes, with sporting director Frederic Massara who was brought in under Ranieri’s influence also set to leave.
Tensions between Ranieri and Gasperini reportedly extended across multiple areas, including disagreements over transfer strategy, medical decisions, and player management. Their strained relationship became increasingly visible over time.
The breaking point came when Ranieri publicly criticized Gasperini ahead of a match against Pisa, even suggesting the coach had not been his preferred choice. From that moment, the divide deepened beyond repair, with communication between the two virtually nonexistent.
Gasperini now emerges with strengthened authority at Roma, expected to take on a more influential role similar to his previous tenure at Atalanta. Meanwhile, Ranieri could remain involved in football through a potential role with the Italian Football Federation.
