De Rossi reveals late-night call with Aquilani after Sassuolo dismissal

What happened

Daniele De Rossi said he spoke with Alberto Aquilani until late at night after Aquilani's dismissal from Sassuolo, calling the timing unfortunate because it came shortly before the two were due to meet. De Rossi made the remarks at Sky's Milan headquarters in Rogoredo, where he was presenting the documentary series "Radici" about Ostiamare, according to Corriere dello Sport.

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De Rossi said he could not discuss matters he did not know about, but confirmed the long conversation with his friend and former Roma teammate. He described Aquilani as one of the most talented coaches of the new generation and predicted he would go on to achieve a great deal. De Rossi also noted that he himself had been through a similar experience at Spal and, above all, at Roma.

The event was primarily a press presentation for the series, which will air on Sky and Now from 19 November. Produced by DDR Media and Damocle, Valerio Mastandrea's company, in collaboration with Sky and directed by Nicola Ravera Rafele, it focuses on Ostiamare and the daily work of a family and ownership involved in everything from stadium planning to the team's shirts, which De Rossi designs himself. The series also covers efforts to improve facilities, invest in the youth sector and restore Ostiamare's central role in the life of the city.

De Rossi linked that youth work to the club's future support, saying he would like to see children of six or seven in the academy become the new ultras. The series, per the report, aims to portray football as a bond with a territory, a chance for growth and a way of building a shared identity, covering not only results but what happens before and after matches. The Corriere dello Sport account also framed the late-night call as an expression of a long friendship dating back to their days together in the Roma shirt.