AS Roma’s Journey Under the Friedkin Group: What Everton Can Expect as Takeover Nears Completion

Everton has been on the lookout for new ownership for quite some time, with various potential buyers showing interest but failing to finalize a deal.

 

Among those interested was the Friedkin Group, which had plans to make Everton part of a broader multi-club ownership model.

Initially, it appeared that these plans had fallen through in July, but more recent reports indicate that the Friedkin Group is now poised to complete a takeover of the Merseyside club.

 

This development comes as a significant boost to both manager Sean Dyche and Everton’s loyal supporters, as they aim to rebuild the club after several difficult seasons marred by missteps.

 

Should the Friedkin Group finalize the deal, Everton would join AS Roma as one of the top clubs in their multi-club ownership portfolio.

 

The Friedkin Group’s Acquisition of AS Roma

 

Dan Friedkin, the chairman of the Friedkin Group, successfully led the takeover of AS Roma, one of Italy’s biggest football clubs, in 2020.

 

When confirming the acquisition, Friedkin expressed a deep commitment to the club and the city of Rome.

 

He acknowledged the importance of Roma to the identity of the city and took seriously the responsibility of managing the team.

 

In a statement, Friedkin said: “Our commitment to Roma is total.

 

We will be very present in Rome, a city that holds a special place in our hearts, as we embark on this exciting journey.

 

We recognize we are entrusted with a team that is a vital part of the soul of Rome, and this is a responsibility that we find humbling and will always take very seriously.”

 

Friedkin also emphasized his preference for a long-term investment strategy, stating: “As business owners, we look to identify and back strong management teams and leadership.

 

Guido Fienga has proven to be a great CEO of Roma, and together we have developed an ambitious and disciplined business plan.

 

Our shared vision for the club and the team is to favour a sustained, long-term investment approach rather than quick fixes of questionable durability.”

 

This approach will undoubtedly be welcomed by Everton fans, who are hopeful that the Friedkin Group can help steer their team back to success with a sustainable and forward-looking plan.

 

The Friedkin Group’s Work at AS Roma

 

The Friedkin Group’s track record at AS Roma offers some insight into the potential direction they could take with Everton.

 

When they first took over in the 2020/21 season, they had limited influence on the club’s immediate transfer strategy.

 

Nevertheless, Roma finished seventh in Serie A under Paulo Fonseca and reached the semi-finals of the Europa League.

 

At the end of that season, the Friedkin Group made their first major decision by parting ways with Fonseca and appointing the highly experienced Jose Mourinho as head coach.

 

This marked the beginning of a significant shift at the club, with an £80 million transfer window that included the signing of Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, signaling a change in the age profile and ambitions of the squad.

 

In Mourinho’s first season, 2021/22, Roma won the inaugural UEFA Conference League, a major success for the club, even though they only improved slightly in Serie A, finishing sixth.

Buoyed by their European triumph, Roma bolstered their squad further, bringing in players like Paulo Dybala and Andrea Belotti to strengthen their attack in hopes of pushing for greater success in both the domestic league and Europe.

 

The 2022/23 season saw Roma once again finish sixth in Serie A, though they came close to another European trophy, losing to Sevilla in the Europa League final.

 

Tensions between Mourinho and the ownership began to mount during the 2023/24 campaign as the team’s performance in Serie A showed little improvement.

 

In January 2024, Mourinho was dismissed, and former Roma player Daniele De Rossi was appointed as head coach.

 

De Rossi managed to guide the team to another sixth-place finish in Serie A and a semi-final appearance in the Europa League.

However, despite being backed with significant transfer funds in the summer, his tenure was short-lived.

 

Just four games into the current Serie A season, De Rossi was sacked, leading to discontent among the Roma faithful, who expressed their frustration during a 3-0 victory over Udinese.

 

While the Friedkin Group has brought some success to Roma, including the UEFA Conference League win, their efforts to elevate the club beyond mid-table finishes in Serie A have yet to bear fruit.

 

This experience may offer lessons for their approach with Everton as they look to steer the club towards long-term success.

 

Mourinho’s Criticism of Dan Friedkin

 

Following his dismissal from Roma, Jose Mourinho didn’t hold back in criticizing Dan Friedkin for the decision.

 

 

Speaking to Football.com, Mourinho commented: “The European competitions are about to begin, in particular the Champions League, perhaps the world’s most important competition on the calendar.

 

I won’t be there at these final stages, not because I have already been eliminated, but because I was ‘eliminated’ by someone who knows little about football.”

 

Mourinho continued by reflecting on his dismissal, saying: “That’s life, full of ups and downs, and I’m growing, despite the unexpected and unfair dismissal.

 

But I will return, and with even more enthusiasm and confidence, for these UEFA matches.”

 

Mourinho’s parting words hint at a strained relationship with the Friedkin Group during his time at Roma, but they also underscore his confidence in bouncing back after what he perceived as an unjust decision.

 

As the Friedkin Group edges closer to acquiring Everton, fans and pundits alike will be keen to see how their experience with Roma informs their strategy at Goodison Park.

 

Evertonians will hope for a more sustainable rise, one that avoids the instability that has plagued the Italian club in recent seasons.