Claudio Ranieri happy to pay fine if De Rossi wears armband

Claudio Ranieri is braced for an emotional match as club icon Daniele De Rossi says goodbye to Roma on Sunday.

Claudio Ranieri said he is happy to pay a fine if departing captain Daniele De Rossi wears a special armband in his farewell match.

De Rossi will leave Roma following its Serie A finale against Parma on Sunday — ending a 19-year association with his hometown team. Roma opted not to renew the 35-year-old's contract and caretaker head coach Ranieri is braced for an emotional game at Stadio Olimpico.

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"De Rossi will play from the first minute with his armband," Ranieri told reporters during his news conference. "He deserves a standing ovation from the entire Olimpico. It must be a party, he has to have a great game.

'Must be a party'

"I hope there's an atmosphere that Daniele deserves. I want to see the stadium filled with love for Daniele. It must be a party for him, for what he did for Roma and how he did it.

"For me, what makes Daniele special is how he manages to convey the passion he has for his shirt through his game. I believe that leaving was a bolt from the blue for him. I don't know if he'll wear a special armband, but I'm happy to pay the fine.

Ranieri: "De Rossi will start against Parma. He'll lead the side out, wearing his armband.

"I hope the stadium will be overflowing with affection for him, for what he's given this club and how he has given it. It must be a celebration."#ASRoma#RomaParmapic.twitter.com/nIqhzJqlVy

— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) May 24, 2019

 

"I'm glad there's a party for Daniele. I'll leave Roma with an open heart, hoping to always see them be great in the future."

Sunday's fixture will also see Ranieri leave after the 67-year-old returned to the club following Eusebio Di Francesco's sacking in March. Roma is sixth and three points adrift of the Champions League places heading into its season finale.

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"I feel like a European coach, so I'll go wherever there's a project that interests me," former Chelsea and Leicester City manager Ranieri said.

'Good group'

"I think this is a good group of players, with a nice mix of young and old. Certainly we expected more from some of the young players, but it's okay. The core of the squad is solid and healthy, and everyone wants to do well. We won’t start from scratch.

"We'll start from a deficit because before we were always in the Champions League, but it won't restart from zero. Instead, we'll start from scratch with a new coach, with his own game and ideas."