Roma suitor rates England assistant Baldini
Reuters - Friday 01 April 2011, 22:07
ROME - The American leading a consortium
poised to buy AS Roma met England general manager Franco Baldini
on Friday and was so impressed he has sparked media speculation
linking the Italian with a role at the Serie A club.
"I didn't know Franco Baldini. He is someone who really
knows his football. So I like him a lot," Thomas Di Benedetto
was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency after the pair met
in Tuscany as part of his trip to Italy to seal the takeover.
Baldini, an assistant to England coach Fabio Capello, was
previously director of football at Roma.
Vincenzo Montella is now caretaker coach of Roma after
Claudio Ranieri resigned in February but the hierarchy of the
club could change once Di Benedetto's group completes a majority
takeover of the cash-strapped Italian side.
Di Benedetto, who denies there are problems with UEFA over
dual-ownership given he has been part of the group which
controls Liverpool, is returning to the U.S. early after
breaking a tooth at the Tuscan lunch, ANSA added.
Capello and Baldini are due to leave the England job after
Euro 2012.
Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti, a former Roma player, has
said several times he would like to manage the club at some
point.