Claudio Ranieri is ready to take charge of his first Roma training session in his third stint at the Stadio Olimpico today, and reports in Italy suggest he will use a 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 system against Napoli after the break, starting Mats Hummels.
The 73-year-old returned to the capital on Wednesday after reaching an agreement with club owner Dan Friedkin in London. He was welcomed by over 200 Giallorossi fans at Fiumicino airport.
His Roma side sit 12th in the Serie A table, just four points above the drop zone. Their next opponents after the international break are table leaders Napoli, coached by Antonio Conte.
How Roma could line up under Ranieri
Corriere dello Sport and Sky Sport Italia report that Ranieri will field a 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 formation against the Partenopei. Hummels’ return to the starting XI will be the most significant change from Ivan Juric’s era.
The German centre-back has only played 23 minutes since joining the Giallorossi on a free transfer last summer and didn’t even start when Evan N’dicka was unavailable against Union Saint-Gilloise last week.
The former Borussia Dortmund star is expected to join N’Dicka and Mancini in a three-man defence or form a four-man defence with the addition of Angelino as a left-back.
Alexis Saelemaekers is expected to return to action this month, boosting Ranieri’s options on the right flank, while Lorenzo Pellegrini could be deployed as a left winger in a 4-4-2 system or as a central midfielder in a 3-5-2 formation.
