Chapter 4: Morning at Rome

23 May 2012

Today, the streets of Rome appeared livelier than usual, with people discussing the latest newspaper headlines. Many were reading intently, not wanting to miss a single detail. The reason? The announcement from AS Roma, the city's beloved football club.

Gazzetta dello Sport: "Roma Scommette sull'Inglese: Henry Walker è il Nuovo Allenatore" (Roma Bets on the Englishman: Henry Walker is the New Manager)

Corriere dello Sport: "Chi è Walker? L'Ignoto Britannico alla Guida della Roma" (Who is Walker? The Unknown Brit at the Helm of Roma)

Il Messaggero: "La Roma Affida il Suo Futuro a un Mister Senza Esperienza" (Roma Entrusts Its Future to an Inexperienced Manager)

La Repubblica (Rome Edition): "Walker, l'Allenatore Mistero: La Roma Rischia Tutto su un Rookie" (Walker, the Mystery Manager: Roma Bets Everything on a Rookie)

The appointment of the new manager immediately sparked controversy, especially after Luis Enrique's disastrous tenure, which saw Roma lose 16 games in Serie A and finish seventh—the club's worst standing in years.

Critics like Giuseppe Giannini voiced their skepticism: "Serie A isn't a playground for untested foreigners."

Before even setting foot in the club, Henry had already encountered his first major challenge. However, not everyone was against him. The current squad spoke in his favor, and while some fans were doubtful, most adopted a wait-and-see attitude.

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Over the past few days, Henry had wrapped up all his affairs in England. He had no family ties—after his parents' passing, he lost contact with his uncles and other relatives. As for a girlfriend, that was even more unlikely. His coaching career had kept him constantly on the move, leaving no room for relationships.

Today, as he boarded the plane to Italy, the news of his appointment was making waves. But this was expected—he had already agreed to the official announcement with the club executives over the phone.

The flight landed at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport at noon. There was no grand welcome awaiting him—not that he expected one. After all, he had no real fanbase in Rome yet, and the club wasn't the type to stage a fake reception.

That said, his arrival wasn't completely unremarkable. A small delegation from the club, including sporting director Franco Baldini and a few staff members, was there to greet him.

"Welcome to Rome, Henry," Baldini said in accented but fluent English. "I hope the flight was comfortable."

Henry nodded, shaking Baldini's hand firmly. "It was, thank you. I'm ready to get started."

This was merely a courtesy welcome, not an official event. After meeting a few staff members, Henry was soon on his way to the club's training ground.

...

The drive to Trigoria, Roma's training facility, was quiet. Henry spent most of the journey gazing out the window, taking in the sights of the ancient city.

This was his first time in Italy. Compared to Britain, Rome felt much more vibrant during the day, with its lively streets and expressive people.

Unfortunately, Henry wasn't one to admire the scenery. His mind was too focused on the challenge ahead.

Perhaps, one day, if he achieved success, he'd take the time to appreciate the beauty of the city. But not now.

Upon arriving at Trigoria, Henry was immediately impressed. The state-of-the-art facilities were a world apart from the modest setup he had been used to at Southampton. The difference between a European giant and a mid-table club was stark.

Baldini led Henry to the main office, where they were joined by club president Thomas DiBenedetto. The American businessman had taken over the club in 2011 but had yet to see much success. In fact, he was already preparing to step aside, with James Pallotta set to take control. Pallotta had a stronger financial presence and greater involvement in sports investments. But for now, DiBenedetto was still in charge.

Henry wasn't aware of these internal shifts. He only knew that the man in front of him—the short, slightly overweight old man with graying hair—was the reason he was here.

He wasn't sure why DiBenedetto had chosen him or how he had even discovered him. But he was grateful.

"Henry, welcome to Roma," DiBenedetto said in a serious tone. "I'm very excited to see you here. To be honest, I believe you're the right man for this situation. I hope you can prove your talent and lead the club to new heights."

Henry had never been valued so highly by someone of such stature. He was flattered—and relieved. With management's support, many of the challenges ahead would be easier to navigate.

"Thank you, Mr. DiBenedetto. I'm truly grateful for your trust, and I'll do my best to live up to expectations," Henry responded earnestly.

"Good," DiBenedetto nodded. "Because the fans here are passionate. They expect results. And after last season… well, let's just say they aren't in the mood for patience."

This time, his tone was more lighthearted, though the warning was clear.

"I understand, Mr. DiBenedetto," Henry said, his voice steady. "I wouldn't have taken this job if I wasn't ready for the challenge."

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After the introductions, they moved into a meeting room to discuss the club's future direction in detail.

Henry got straight to the point. "In fact, I don't have many concerns about the squad. I'm quite satisfied with the players. But there is one issue—the rumors about the club planning to loan out Bojan Krkić."

His statement took the executives by surprise.

Bojan had been brought in from La Masia under Luis Enrique's recommendation. The deal included a buy-back clause allowing Barcelona to repurchase him for €13 million within two years. If Roma wanted to keep him permanently, they would have to pay an additional €28 million, bringing the total cost to €40 million, including the initial €12 million purchase fee.

Now that Enrique was gone, Roma had no intention of keeping Bojan under such unfavorable terms. The club was already considering offloading him.

Henry's insistence on keeping the young Spaniard puzzled them.

The room fell silent. While the executives had their concerns, no one spoke immediately. They waited for the president's reaction.

DiBenedetto remained quiet, observing the situation, clearly wanting to see how things unfolded.

It was Baldini who finally broke the silence. After all, as the sporting director, it was his role to mediate between the coach, the players, and the executives.

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