News Focus
- Giuseppe Commisso addresses fans in English following his father’s death in January.
- The club survived relegation despite failing to win any of their first 15 league matches.
- Supporters compare the video style to Donald Trump and artificial intelligence.
- Fabio Grosso is expected to replace Paolo Vanoli as head coach this summer.
- Fans demand the family sell the club after a disappointing season.
ACF Fiorentina’s new president, Giuseppe Commisso, has sparked outrage among supporters after releasing a video message to mark the end of a difficult season. The American-born businessman took control of the Serie A club following the death of his father, Rocco Commisso, who passed away in January after buying the team in 2019.
Commisso junior does not speak Italian, so he recorded his address in English. The clip quickly drew criticism on social media. Many fans questioned whether the speech was generated by artificial intelligence. Others noted his hand movements and speaking style were similar to those of former American President Donald Trump. Some older supporters compared the performance to Silvio Berlusconi’s political speeches when he led AC Milan.
In his message, Commisso praised the appointment of sporting director Fabio Paratici, who joined from Tottenham Hotspur in February. He also thanked head coach Paolo Vanoli for guiding the team to safety. Fiorentina made history by becoming the first side in Serie A to avoid relegation after failing to win any of their opening 15 matches.
Despite this achievement, Vanoli will leave his post when his contract expires. The club is reportedly set to name Fabio Grosso, currently in charge of Sassuolo, as the new manager.
However, the speech contained no apology for the team’s poor performance. This angered fans who had already demanded that the Commisso family sell the club earlier in the year. The lack of remorse left many supporters feeling that the president is out of touch with the club’s passionate fanbase.