The former AS Roma CEO describes the dramatic months following the decision not to renew De Rossi`s contract, including thousands of enraged fans and the need for police protection.
Guido Fienga. (Lapresse)
“In Rome, I lived under police escort for four months; they wanted to kill me over Daniele De Rossi`s non-renewal.” Guido Fienga, former CEO of Roma and Al Nassr, now recounts this with a smile, but the memories of those heated days remain vivid. In an interview with the Thriving Minds with Alberto Zandi podcast, he discussed his experiences in the Italian capital and beyond. Fienga explained, “When I was Roma`s CEO, I realized that in life, you might even discover a new vaccine for cancer, and people will be happy, and some will get to know you. But when you are close to people like Totti and Ronaldo, everyone will know you, seek you out, and want you. So, if you`re not super balanced, you risk losing self-control. You become vain and full of ego.”
The Controversial Decision on De Rossi`s Renewal
Notoriety, however, is a double-edged sword. “Two weeks after my appointment, I decided to confirm the ownership`s prior decision not to renew De Rossi`s contract,” the executive explained. “Two days later, there were 7,000 people outside my office who wanted to kill me. I was under police escort for four months. You can imagine the reception I received. Yet, I continued to manage the club with full transparency, explaining to the fans that our roles are different: everyone wants success, but they must be fans, and I must be the CEO.” Fienga, who left Al-Nassr in January, was also a key figure in the transition from the Pallotta era to the Friedkin ownership at Roma. Despite two or three years of immense pressure, he simply did his job.
At the end of his mandate, one of his assistants informed him that a delegation from the Curva Sud – the leaders of the 7,000 people who had threatened him – wanted to give him a gift. He received a Roma emblem with a note thanking him and apologizing. They wrote that while they might not have agreed with some decisions, they understood what he had done and respected him. “When I go to Rome, and people recognize me, they shake my hand; it`s not that common. If you do your job well, people understand,” Fienga noted.
Natural Talent vs. Hard Work: Totti and Cristiano Ronaldo
During his years in Rome, Fienga worked with top players like Totti, and in Saudi Arabia, he also managed Cristiano Ronaldo. “I divide great footballers into two categories,” Fienga explained. “One concerns natural talent, given by God. I had one of these, Francesco Totti. You understand that Totti is different just by how he touches the ball; the ball moves differently with him. He strikes the ball without even looking at the field, and it lands exactly at the striker`s feet. Then there`s Cristiano Ronaldo, who combines talent with hard work. Those who are super talented are often lazy because they know they don`t have to work hard to make a difference, but halfway through their careers, they start to realize it. Totti finished at 40; if you talk to him, he still believes he`s strong enough to play in Serie A. I`m joking, he`s a friend of mine.”
The Challenge of Working with José Mourinho
And so is Mourinho. “Three words to describe him? Super intelligent, skilled in his work, and the third word I can`t say…” the former CEO smiled. “Privately, he`s hilarious. It`s a big challenge to be Mourinho`s CEO, but I wasn`t for long. In one of the first games, we got four red cards; it was quite a welcome to Mourinho`s style. I have a good relationship with him, probably because I didn`t work with him for too long. I only brought him to Roma and worked together for a few months, but we`re still in touch.”
Fienga also revealed an anecdote from his departure: “When I decided to leave Roma, Mou came to me and said, `Guido, there are only two alpha males in this club, and now one is leaving…` And I replied, `Good for you.` That`s why I`ve maintained a good relationship with him. For a CEO, working with a coach who is constantly clashing with referees and the league is like being a firefighter in California. But Mourinho is very intelligent and good. I have many things to say, but I can`t for both our reputations.”
