Erik ten Hag, former coach of Ajax and Manchester United, sparked rumors about his future after being spotted in Rome this Sunday during the match between Roma, managed until the end of the season by Claudio Ranieri, and Juventus. Free since being dismissed by the English club in October 2024, his presence in the Italian capital didn’t go unnoticed.

The 55-year-old coach arrived in Fiumicino in the morning and checked into a hotel that Roma typically reserves for new signings. According to Italian media, ten Hag was invited by the Friedkin family, owners of the club, to watch the game, though they claim his visit isn’t linked to official negotiations for the next season.

Roma looking for a manager for next season

Despite attempts to downplay his presence, rumors quickly started circulating, as Ranieri will leave at the end of the season and Roma still hasn’t confirmed a replacement. Among the potential candidates are Italians Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Massimiliano Allegri (former Juventus coach), and Stefano Pioli, who is currently at Al-Nassr.

Ranieri, who took over in November, is the third manager for Roma this season after the departures of Daniele De Rossi and Ivan Jurić. Both were dismissed following a poor start to the season that put the team in serious trouble.

A Roma on the rise

Since Ranieri’s arrival, Roma has shown significant improvement. The team went from fighting relegation to battling for European spots, and now they’re just four points away from a Champions League spot with seven games remaining. They haven’t lost in Serie A since December 15 and have picked up seven consecutive wins. However, they were eliminated from both the Coppa Italia by Milan and the Europa League by Athletic Club de Bilbao.