Ranieri sends Roma transfer warning and reveals secret request to Mourinho

ROME, ITALY – MAY 04: Claudio Ranieri, Head Coach of AS Roma looks on prior to the Serie A match between AS Roma and Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico on May 04, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Roma boss Claudio Ranieri says the Giallorossi won’t make ‘too many changes’ over the summer but warns: ‘We can’t afford to get the transfers wrong.’

Roma host Milan at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday in the last home game of the season, but the most pressing questions for Ranieri in a pre-match press conference on Friday were about the club’s future, transfer strategies, and next coach.

One reporter asked whether Roma plan or need to sell a big player in the summer.

“Honestly, you talked about this, not us, within the club,” he replied via Sky Sport.

“The market is open to many scenarios; we’ll try to do our best to give the fans a competitive team. What is important is the core group, the mentality, and everything we’ve built this year. We can’t afford to get the transfers wrong.

“We have two transfer windows, where we’ll be limited. We’ll try to make as few mistakes as possible,” he continued.

“Sometimes the strongest team doesn’t win, but the one that managed to build something does. We played openly against a team that took nine years to build [Atalanta]. We need to improve, but we’ve laid the foundation, and little by little, we’ll build a team that fans can be proud of.”

Ranieri was also asked whether Roma will aim for a different tactical approach.

“We will try our best, following the path set by the players we have, without making too many changes,” he replied.

Ranieri reveals secret request to Mourinho

Ranieri’s contract ends at the end of the season, but he will remain at the club as an advisor and will have his say on the choice of a new coach.

Edoardo Bove, a product of the Roma academy, turns 23 today, and Ranieri revealed he had made a transfer request to Mourinho when the Italian was playing at the Olimpico under the Special One.

“You don’t know this, but I asked Mourinho to have Bove on loan at Cagliari, but he told me he’d stay in Rome,” Ranieri said.

“In the meantime, I wish him all the best and hope he gets everything he desires because he’s a wonderful guy.”

Bove has been out of action since December when he suddenly collapsed on the pitch during a home Fiorentina game against Inter.