New Roma coach Aurelio Andreazzoli has reinstated Daniele De Rossi in the first team following the sacking of Zdenek Zeman.
De Rossi had fallen out with Zeman before the coach was relieved of his duties last week, and new boss Andreazzoli wasted little time in declaring De Rossi's importance to the cause.
"De Rossi will be a leader and, if he deserves it, he will play every single game from here to the end of the season," Andreazzoli told reporters.
"Otherwise, he will be treated the same as everyone else.
"De Rossi and Francesco Totti are icons of the locker room. If you raise them up, those below will climb up to be with them. If you knock them down, the others are compressed."
Andreazzoli's first game in charge is against Sampdoria today.
Written by
Paul Gorst
Paul Gorst
