Former Roma sports director Walter Sabatini admits he tried to hire Marcelo Bielsa for the Giallorossi.

Sabatini says a deal for the former Leeds manager was close.

He recalled to Cronache di Spogliatoio: "I had it in my head to bring Bielsa to Roma, it would have been an excellent idea. We met in Madrid. He arranged to meet me at a house number because we wanted to avoid a public place.

"He found himself sitting on a bench right next to the number he had given me. I sat on the bench and he immediately left. I don't think I've ever seen a passion as much as the one I saw in Marcelo: He knew almost all the Primavera players.

H"e had the map of Trigoria with him to give me directions on how he wanted to arrange the walls inside and also on how to paint them. He demanded, rightly so, that the walls of the changing rooms be painted in Roma's colours. He needed time, a lot of time because he doesn't agree to coach a team if he sees that the players don't metabolize his methods and his principles, even in his life.

"In Rome I was in the middle of ten crossfires and I admit I was scared. I also told him: 'Marcelo, I'm scared because it takes too much time'. It would have been a wonderful choice. I am truly sorry for not having seen the right time to take it. It would have been a huge growth for me too."