De Rossi bids emotional farewell as Roma defeat Parma

35-year-old is the club’s second-highest appearance holder as he pulled on the red and yellow shirt for 616th time

ROME: AS Roma beat Parma 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday to end the season in sixth place in Serie A as captain Daniele De Rossi made his final appearance for the club.

Lorenzo Pellegrini gave Roma the lead in the first half but Gervinho looked to have snatched a point with an equaliser inside the final five minutes until Diego Perotti grabbed a late winner.

However, the home side’s slim chances of Champions League qualification ended as Inter Milan, Atalanta and AC Milan recorded wins to finish above them.

Roma’s decision not to offer De Rossi a new contract was met with furious protests from the fans, but a capacity crowd said an emotional farewell to their second-highest appearance holder as he pulled on the red and yellow shirt for 616th and final time.

Roma captain De Rossi to leave club after 18 years

Claudio Ranieri, taking charge of Roma for the last time as caretaker manager, knew that his side needed everything to go their way to climb into the top four but they had to settle for sixth instead, earning them a place in the Europa League second qualifying round next season.

Roma finished with 66 points, three adrift of fourth-placed Inter.

The home side went in front when a botched clearance fell into the path of Pellegrini on the edge of the area and his volleyed finish took a deflection on its way in.

De Rossi was substituted inside the final 10 minutes to a standing ovation as he bowed out 18 years after his senior debut for the club.

Only Francesco Totti has made more appearances for Roma, with 786, than the former Italy international.