2015 Plumb Images
Ranieri reveals Juve exit was 'due to Cannavaro'
In an interview released to the Italian newspaper Il Corriere dello Sport, the former Chelsea boss analyzed his past spells as an Inter, Roma and Juventus gaffer.
“I split up with Juventus because former CEO Jean-Claude Blanc and Sporting Director Alessio Secco had different views on the transfer market. They wanted to bring in Fabio Cannavaro and I didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, Fabio is a great player and he did a good job at Juventus that year, but he left the club when they were relegated in Serie B after Calciopoli. It was not fair to me and I was sacked with two matches still to be played.”
A few years later, when he was sitting on the Roma’s bench, Ranieri almost won the Serie A title. At the Stadio Olimpico he is also remembered for having won a breath-taking derby against city rivals Lazio following the half-time substitutions of the Giallorossi mainstays Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi, when Roma were down 1-0.
“Francesco [Totti] is an amazing person. He is smart and he knows he’ll have to manage himself as he can’t play always. I was in good terms with him. Daniele [De Rossi] as well is a massive player. I think if he would have left Rome, than he would have won more trophies throughout his career, but I know he won’t agree.”
Despite the 63 year old has been in charge of some of the best European football clubs, he has always struggled to win trophies.
“Sometimes I think I have been the right manager in the wrong places. For example, at Inter I was forced to sell Thiago Motta and Coutinho. I think I am the only manager who had to sell players at Inter.”
