Former Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini has praised current Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique in an interview with *AS*, recalling how he brought the Spanish coach to the Italian capital from Barcelona B. However, the infamous “Totti incident” ultimately cost Enrique dearly during his tenure.
Sabatini revealed that it was Dario Canovi who first recommended Enrique to him. “He came to Rome specifically to talk about Luis Enrique. He said Enrique wanted to experience coaching abroad and leave Barcelona B. Canovi emphasized that while Enrique was emotionally tied to Barcelona, Italy was attractive because it offered a chance to start with a first team. I sent my assistants to watch his team, and they returned impressed and excited by the style of play.”
“I called a friend to gather all of Enrique’s press conference transcripts. He was coaching Barcelona B at the time, so media exposure was limited, but we dug up a lot. After reading everything, one statement stood out to me. That way of thinking piqued my interest.”
“I went to Barcelona and we met at his home. I didn’t hesitate. That meeting confirmed all my expectations about this excellent coach. I returned to Rome and called him to offer a contract. Fortunately, he accepted and arrived in Rome a few days later. I have always been proud of that decision because it was revolutionary at the time. In Italian football, it was unique—hard to put into words.”
**The Totti Incident**
However, the revolution quickly hit a snag as results didn’t follow. In one early match during his Roma tenure, Enrique began “digging his own grave.” In the summer of 2011, the coach dared to bench Francesco Totti, favoring younger players who had impressed him more in training. Roma subsequently lost the first leg of their Europa League qualifier away to Slovan Bratislava and were eventually eliminated.
Sabatini explained: “Luis Enrique has his own football philosophy, and he is someone who truly sticks to his principles. He made some very tough, very radical decisions, especially in that Europa League match with Totti and other key players. He sidelined them to give opportunities to the youngsters who had impressed him during preseason.”
“In Rome, whoever touches Totti commits a cardinal sin—it’s basically over. Luis Enrique knew perfectly well that putting Totti in that position would be digging a hole for himself. But even so, he was unwilling to betray his principles for personal gain or relationships. He is extremely principled, which is rare and incredible. I really admire him.”
“Luis Enrique coming to Roma was a good thing—I’m not talking about results. In terms of results, he was unlucky. But he brought a new work culture, something revolutionary. You know? Core players like Daniele De Rossi would come to me and say, ‘He talks so much in training that I feel like I never knew how to play before.'”
