Montella becomes leading candidate for Roma job | OneFootball

Intermediaries contacted Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella to know whether he’d be available to join Roma as their new coach, as he’s reportedly the leading candidate to succeed Ivan Juric at the Stadio Olimpico.

I21 – 20010617 – ROME, ITALY : I21-20010617-ROME, ITALY: From right – AS Roma captain Francesco Totti, forward Vincenzo Montella and Argentinian striker Gabriel Omar Batistuta celebrate a goal against AC Parma, on the last matchday of the Italian Serie A soccer championshiop, Sunday 17 June 2001. EPA PHOTO ANSA/ALESSANDRO BIANCHI

The 50-year-old took charge of the Turkey National Team in September 2023 and steered his side to a first-place finish in their EURO 2024 qualifying group before reaching the quarter-finals in the competition last summer.

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He has since remained unbeaten in the following four Nations League fixtures, and with his contract running until 2026, he would be required to pay a penalty to be free to join another team, something he’d be ready to do at one condition.

Montella has one condition to terminate Turkey contract and join Roma

La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Roma contacted Montella through intermediaries as Ryan Friedkin would be particularly enthusiastic about hiring the former Giallorossi player as their new manager.

Montella’s contract with Turkey includes a clause that would force him to pay a penalty corresponding to six months of his €2.2m wage, about €1.1m, to terminate the deal at any moment.

LEIPZIG, GERMANY – JULY 02: Vincenzo Montella, Head Coach of Turkiye, celebrates after the team’s victory in the UEFA EURO 2024 round of 16 match between Austria and Turkiye at Football Stadium Leipzig on July 02, 2024 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

According to the pink newspaper, the former Milan and Fiorentina coach would be willing to trigger such a clause provided that Roma offer him at least €2.5m per season and he’s not considered a caretaker.

The Giallorossi owners are expected to make a final decision about Montella before Turkey’s next fixture in the Nations League, scheduled for 16 November.