Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira tight-lipped on prospect of Roma switch to replace Claudio Ranieri as Genoa near Serie A survival

Vieira's arrival in Liguria came at a crucial time. Genoa were flirting with the relegation zone, but under his guidance, the club has shown renewed tactical discipline and a defensive resilience that has lifted them away from immediate danger.

Vieira addressed the growing speculation about his future during a pre-match press conference where he insisted that his attention remains firmly on securing the club’s Serie A status and is not letting transfer talk derail his mission.

“The future is always a very difficult thing in football. Because we all know that a coach’s life is measured in those 95 minutes,” Vieira said. "The most important thing is to stay focused on our goal, and our goal is to remain in Serie A. We have a new president, we have fans who hope to see Genoa in Serie A next year. Mathematically, nothing has been achieved yet, and until that happens, I don’t want to waste any energy. What I can tell you is that I have absolutely never spoken with any other club.”

Since hanging up his boots in 2016, Vieira has been steadily building his managerial résumé. The former Arsenal and France midfielder started his coaching career in Major League Soccer with New York City FC before taking on roles in Ligue 1 with Nice, and later in the Premier League with Crystal Palace. More recently, he led Strasbourg before taking the reins at Genoa in 2024.

According to Sky Italia, the capital club are weighing up multiple profiles, with Stefano Pioli, Maurizio Sarri, and Vincenzo Montella reportedly among the names being discussed. While Vieira is said to be on that list, sources indicate that he ranks behind the more experienced trio in Roma’s pecking order.

The Rossoblu currently sit 12th in the Serie A standings, with a 14-point cushion above the relegation zone. While safety is not yet confirmed, their current form under Vieira suggests that barring a dramatic collapse, they are well on track to remain in the division. They return to action this Sunday with a trip to Verona - a fixture that could take them another step closer to survival.