Shareholder slams 'useless' Roma

By Football Italia staff

Roma investor Fabio Palma has slammed James Pallotta and Monchi for not attending the club’s shareholder meeting and ‘buying useless, lazy players’.

The pair were notably absent from Friday’s assembly to approve Roma’s budget and in an explosive segment by Palma, the shareholder accused Pallotta’s [pictured] board of not performing well enough and Monchi for wasting money on Javier Pastore and Patrik Schick in particular, while hitting out at the Giallorossi’s policy on young players.

“For the umpteenth time, our dear President has missed the opportunity to come here,” he said.

“Not because his presence invigorates the team but because at least it can bring a little respect to us who represent the Giallorossi fans.

“Football doesn’t exist without us fans and it’s something that’s being forgotten. Directors and players forget that they exist because we exist.

“Without us, the players may not have such good lives. We’re commenting on a budget that’s perhaps too triumphalist.

“I expected better because of last year’s performance. We’re reliant on one result: either we qualify for the Champions League or the doors of tragedy open.

“We made €205m in revenue. Is that not correct? When it’s convenient for you, you veer away from the question.

“The question is always this: we sell our best players, but then we buy other players and frankly I wonder: if a player isn’t good enough for PSG, are they for Roma?

“What’s our policy on young players, since we either sign them for a high price or buy them back?

“Not only do we invest in youth, but then we turn them over to other teams: we don’t get anything out of those players.

“Instead, we sign players for high prices, even those who are older, without results. And if we don’t qualify for the Champions League this season, what happens? Do we sell everyone?

“It would be difficult to get rid of players like Pastore, Nzonzi or Marcano if that happened. We’d have to sell young players instead.

“We’re not Manchester City, we don’t have their revenues. We’ve taken on skilled sporting directors to discover champions.

“I’d have liked to see Monchi here to explain some of his choices. The only thing these players can do is say they’d like to go to Manchester City or Real Madrid.

“We signed Schick, whom everyone described as a champion. We haven’t seen it. Instead, we’ve seen a player who has no desire or even enthusiasm. And we want to build a Roma with these players!

“Why do we give away youth products like Pellegrini and take them back for €10m? Maybe here in Trigoria, there are characters and coaches who are no good.

“Evidently here, we talk a lot about technique and not tactics. We just buy useless, lazy players.”

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