Allegri in line to replace Fonseca as Roma boss

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 2 min read

Massimiliano Allegri is being lined up to replace Paulo Fonseca as head coach of Roma if the Giallorossi decide to part ways with their current boss, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.

Roma have had a season of mixed fortunes, as although they are currently fourth in Serie A in the Champions League qualifying positions, they have had a wretched week which has been damaging enough to put Fonseca’s future into question.

At the weekend, they went into the Derby della Capitale against Lazio as favourites, but were completely outplayed by the arch rivals, who won 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico after a double from Luis Alberto and a strike from Ciro Immobile.

Roma only managed one shot on target in the game.

A few days later, they had the opportunity to bounce back with a game in the Coppa Italia against Spezia.

They would lose the fixture 4-2, going down to nine men in the process after the dismissals of Pau Lopez and Gianluca Mancini.

More embarrassingly, however, they would not have progressed to the next round even if they had won, as they would have have been eliminated due to illegally making six substitutions instead of the allocated five.

In the 95th minute, Roma boss Fonseca made a double change, introducing Roger Ibanez and goalkeeper and Daniel Duzato in place of Pedro and Bryan Cristante.

The manner of the defeat, and the embarrassment of the substitute fiasco, has put Fonseca’s job as head coach under threat.

Di Marzio reports that the Portuguese is not in immediate danger of losing his job and will be in charge for Serie A duties this weekend when Roma attempt to gain revenge on Spezia.

However, a bad result in that game could see them appoint Allegri, who is also in the running for the Chelsea job should Frank Lampard be sacked.