Roma president James Pallotta would like to extend Luciano Spalletti's contract as Roma coach, saying he can guide the Giallorossi to the Serie A title this season.
Spalletti took charge of the Eternal City club for a second time in January and guided them to a third-placed finish. His current deal expires at the end of the season, but Pallotta does not want to see their collaboration end there.
"I spoke with several top managers last December and they all confirmed to me that bringing Spalletti back to Roma would be ideal," the Boston-based businessman told Sky Sport Italia. "We've been playing really well and I would like him to stay here for a long time.
"Luciano believes in this team and knows there is a lot of personality in it -- more than any other side he has coached in the past."
Spalletti was more cautious when asked to comment on Pallotta's interview at the news conference prior to his side's clash with Crotone on Wednesday night, though.
"The president's an exceptional person and he's the type of president I like to have," Spalletti said. "He wants to improve Roma and we can all see the effort he is putting in. To use an American term, he's the kind of guy you'd buy a used car off.
"But this is a conversation that will depend on the work we manage to do together. It's never the case when you are coach at Roma that you can say 'we'll do this for the next two or three years' -- it depends on what happens.
"Our future is now and we will do the best we can with it. It depends on what I am able to demonstrate and if we can carry things forward."
"I have to show I can take us in the right direction."#Spalletti's #RomaCrotone press conference in full ⬇️https://t.co/1NtJTOvB4T pic.twitter.com/svr3SoMKCT
- AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) September 20, 2016
Pallotta is convinced he can, though, and even says Roma can rival Juventus for the title this season.
"At the start of any year in any sport, there is always a favourite to win and Juve have a great side, but then you've still got to play all the matches and at the end of the day we only have to play against them twice," he said. "We respect them, but we are not afraid. The season has only just begun."
Roma go into the midweek round of matches two points adrift of second-placed Juve in the standings, with Napoli a further point ahead at the top of the pile.