Speaking after OGC Nice’s draw against Lille OSC (2-2) on Sunday, club president Jean-Pierre Rivère confirmed the departure of sporting director Florent Ghisolfi.

It has been strongly rumoured that Ghisolfi would leave Nice, just 18 months after joining the Riviera club, to join AS Roma.  Roma have been linked with many different sporting directors, including former AS Monaco SD Paul Mitchell, who has been out of work since officially leaving the Principality club last October. However, Ghisolfi, credited for his role in leading Nice back to European football, quickly emerged as the frontrunner.

With Le Gym fully focused on the Ligue 1 season, neither Ghisolfi nor the club have wanted to comment on the departure reports. However, with the season now concluded, Rivère has confirmed the reports in a post-match mixed zone interview, broadcast by France Bleu Azur. 

“Florent Ghisolfi is leaving for AS Roma. We are happy for him. We shared some great moments with him. I really like him on a human level and we wish him all the best,” said Rivère, who then revealed that Le Gym have already drawn up a shortlist of four or five names to replace Ghisolfi. RC Strasbourg Alsace’s Loïc Desiré and Stade Rennais’ Florian Maurice are reported targets.