AS http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roma-c31603 to reach new heights under Thomas De Benedetto leadership - Italian Serie A special
AS Roma have officially become the first Italian team to have fallen into foreign hands after the recent takeover by the American investor, Thomas Di Benedetto. The consortium led by Benedetto took control of almost 70 percent shares of La Maggica for an estimated 71 million Euros. Benedetto, co-owner of the Fenway Sports Group, the parent company of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 FC, is excited to have taken over the Italian outfit.
The ownership change has begun a new era of football in Italy. The Italian football is home to old school norms where it is a tradition to rely on local talent and club ownerships are kept inside Italy. This has created a lack of resources in the Italian club football where large sums are never spent to acquire world class players and local talent is given a chance to prove their worth. The approach cannot be claimed to be totally wrong – it’s to be applauded if anything – but to compete with the likes of Milanese twins, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786, Manchester City and the ever rich Real Madrid for continental glory, smaller clubs need major cash inflow.
La Maggica have been a competitive team in the Italian top flight but major silverware has eluded them for far too long. It can be tagged a case of ‘so close, yet so far’, as the capital club have finished runner-ups a whooping 6 times in the last decade. Their last Scudetto triumph was back in 2000/01, almost a decade ago. One can safely say that I Lupi run out of gas in that crucial final stretch of the league run-in. Subpar squad depth has palyed its part here. The team lacks big names and solely relies on Italian talent. Bar http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-Pizarro-c10581 might beg to differ though.
Totti has been a loyal servant to the club, playing since 1992, while Rossi has been perennial presence in the midfield since 2001. It is time for the Giallorossi to add world class players to their ranks. Home bred footballers would not suffice if they are to take over the Italian first division and compete in the UEFA Champions League.
In Serie A, big names like AC Milan, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan and Juventus FC have been spending millions of Euros in the transfer windows for years now. The approach has worked and the aforementioned teams have produced results as well. The Romans need the same kind of investment to truly join the elite list of clubs.
The Giallorossi ownership change has ignited rumours predicting major changes to the squad at the end of the season – and rightly so. The defence has statistically been one of the worst in the top flight. The Lupi have conceded 47 goals in the 33 games they played in Serie A this season – an embarrassing statistic for a club of Roma’s stature.
The defence needs fortification, a major overhaul. Simon Kjaer, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gianluigi-Buffon-c14833, should the player be made available in the transfer market.
The midfield and forward block will also witness some changes, as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mirko-Vucinic-c26024 would be saying goodbye to the outfit with the arrival of Hernandez at the club. Francesco Totti, however, remains irreplaceable.
Di Benedetto has already revealed his admiration for the legendary Totti. Stefano Okaka will be returning to Rome after a season-long loan spell with AS Bari to partner Er Pupone upfront.
La Maggica, under the new ownership, can flourish to reach highs that have not been witnessed by the Lupi faithful. Thomas Di Benedetto, owing much to his years of experience in the sports industry, knows what it takes for a club to mount great heights.
As the season approaches the end, the players would be looking forward to give out their best performance in order to retain their positions at Roma, but that might be a little too late. The new regime is expected to revamp the entire squad and show positive developments in the upcoming 2011/12 season.
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