Roma's Walter Sabatini: Daniele De Rossi has a ferocious motivation
Roma director Walter Sabatini claims that Daniele De Rossi is as motivated as ever, amid reports that he will discuss a new deal with the Italian international.
The midfielder's season was clouded by controversy following his three-match ban for an elbow on Bari's Simone Bentivoglio, and rumours have suggested he is unsettled and looking for an exit, with his current deal expiring in 2012.
However, Sabatini, who is working to shape new coach Luis Enrique's squad ahead of the new season, said the 27-year-old has shown him strong signs he still believes in the club.
"I met De Rossi and he showed me a ferocious motivation," he is quoted as saying by Il Corriere dello Sport.
Sabatini, a former Palermo chief, is expected to resolve issues surrounding De Rossi's contract extension before assessing the renewals of Marco Borriello, Jeremy Menez and Mirko Vucinic.