Gasperini’s future in doubt as Roma coach

Gian Piero Gasperini’s tenure as Roma coach is already under threat as a feud with Claudio Ranieri dominates the lead-up to Saturday’s clash with Atalanta, which could be decisive to the capital club’s hopes of reaching the Champions League.

Last summer, Gasperini left Atalanta after nine hugely successful years to replace Ranieri, now a senior advisor to the billionaire Friedkin family who own the club, and was hailed by his predecessor in the dugout as the “right man” to take one of Italy’s best supported clubs to the top.

But that relationship has fractured as Gasperini, a notoriously spiky character, has publicly criticised Roma’s transfer activity and even suggested that he wasn’t involved in the purchase of some players.

Ranieri insisted before last weekend’s 3-0 thumping of Pisa that Gasperini was consulted for every signing since he arrived in June, and the 74-year-old suggested that he could step aside after the end of the season.

“I’m advisor to the Friedkins, not to Gasperini,” said Ranieri.