Former Rome CEO: Working with Mourinho, who is constantly clashing with referees, is like being a firefighter in California

Former Rome CEO Fionga has served in Rome for many years. It was during his tenure that the Red Wolves hired Mourinho as the team's head coach in 2021. Recently, Fenga talked about the former Roma coach in an interview with Sporting Milan.

◉ About working with Mourinho

Fienga said: "Privately, he is very humorous. Being Mourinho's CEO was a huge challenge, but it didn't take long. In his first few games, the team received four red cards, which was the best 'welcome ceremony' for Mourinho's style. I had a good relationship with him, maybe because we didn't work for a long time. I just brought him to Rome and worked together for only a few months, but we still have a lot of connections to this day."

Fienga left Rome in October 2021, only a few months after Mourinho took office. Since then, Fionga has served successfully in Riyadh from September 2023 to December 2024.

"When I decided to leave Rome, Mourinho said to me, 'Finga, there are only two leading wolves in this club, and now one is leaving.' I replied, 'It's a good thing for you.' Because of this, I can maintain a good relationship with him."

"For a CEO, working with a coach who keeps clashing with referees and leagues is like working as a firefighter in California. But Mourinho is very smart and capable. I have a lot to say, but for the sake of our reputation, I can't say it."

◉ Finga also experienced many tricky moments during his tenure in Rome, including the 2019 decision not to renew his contract with De Rossi.

"Two weeks after I took office, I decided to confirm this decision that had been made by the club's senior management: not to renew the contract for De Rossi."

"Two days later, 7,000 people gathered downstairs of my office and they wanted to kill me. I was protected by the police for four months. You can imagine the situation at that time. Later, I continued to manage the club in a completely transparent manner and explained to the fans that our roles were different. Everyone wanted to succeed, but their duty was to be fans, and my duty was to be CEO."