Pioli emerges as Ranieri’s favourite candidate for Roma job | OneFootball

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports Stefano Pioli is Claudio Ranieri’s favourite candidate for the Roma job in 2025-26.

Former Milan boss Pioli, now at Al-Nassr, is Ranieri’s favourite candidate to become the new Roma coach in 2025-26, reports La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Pioli is under contract with Al-Nassr until June 2026, but if his team wins the AFC Champions League Elite, his agreement could be automatically extended until 2027. Pioli’s side has already qualified for the Final Eight in the most prestigious Asian club competition.

Pioli emerges as Ranieri’s favourite candidate for Roma job

LECCE, ITALY – MARCH 29: Claudio Ranieri AS Roma head coach during the Serie A match between Lecce and AS Roma at Stadio Via del Mare on March 29, 2025 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Gazzetta clarifies that Pioli does not have an exit clause from Al-Nassr, as previously reported, so if Roma pick the Parma-born coach as their new boss, they must sit down with the Saudi side to negotiate an agreement.

Roma already contacted Pioli when the Giallorossi sacked Daniele De Rossi in September, but the Italian coach was already on the verge of joining Al-Nassr, so the Serie A side picked Ivan Juric instead.

The Croatian tactician was sacked after less than two months at the club and replaced by Ranieri.

The Italian’s contract in the capital expires on June 30, but the 73-year-old will contribute to identifying the ideal candidate for the Roma job for 2025-26.

Source: Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, April 4, 2025, page 21.