“I was born and grew up in Rome,” said Alessandro Florenzi in his written tribute to a retiring Francesco Totti. “Like all the kids in the youth sector at the club, on Sunday I would go to the Stadio Olimpico to watch my heroes in the first team. My first memories of Francesco come from this period: Back then I’d see him in the flesh playing a few metres away from me; he was incredible, a player from a different world.”
Such an initiation for the 26-year-old Roma full-back provided a background and an example to follow that means he is already indispensable for the Giallorossi, his dedication and commitment making him a natural replacement for Daniele De Rossi once the current captain decides to retire. Yet Florenzi has already faced an incredible amount of adversity in a career that started with his debut in May 2011.
After four seasons as a first-team regular, October 2016 saw him tear his anterior cruciate ligament just as the campaign was getting underway. It was as much of a blow to the Italian national side as it was for his club, just months after starting four matches for Antonio Conte in Euro 2016.
If that wasn’t bad enough, the Rome-native was on the verge of a return from that injury in February when he suffered a heart-wrenching relapse while training with the youth team. For a man who – just like the now retired Francesco Totti – thrives on being part of the group, the isolation that the double injury caused must have been the most crushing blow of all. In the end Florenzi managed just eight starts during 2016/17, but support from team-mates helped him to keep battling back.
The defender twisted his knee in training today.
During the very next match, the side all played with his number 24 emblazoned on their shirts, and the entire squad went to visit him following the second ACL tear. "I am a lucky man and a lucky player," Florenzi wrote on social media after that post-surgery surprise. "I’ve realised just how many people love me – and not just Roma fans, who have once again shown me real affection.
#piufortediprima
"I am a lucky man. The love of my wife, my daughter, my family, my friends, my team-mates and everyone at the club spurs me on and makes me stronger,” he continued. “Even stronger. As you know, my knee ligament – which had fully healed – has torn again. But I am ready to show courage and rise to this new challenge.” "I am a lucky man. The love of my wife, my daughter, my family, my friends, my team-mates and everyone at the club spurs me on and makes me stronger,” he continued. “Even stronger. As you know, my knee ligament – which had fully healed – has torn again. But I am ready to show courage and rise to this new challenge.”
Florenzi admitted that his return to action against Hellas Verona earlier this month was “emotional” after all the “sacrifice and work” during his long comeback to fitness, and his performance was consistent with the dedication to the side the full-back always shows. In that match, he made 98 touches – more than any other player in the side – in addition to three shots, one assist and four chances created for team-mates.
It would have been understandable if the Rome-native was tentative on his return to action, but he proved his bravery with an all-action display that included one tackle, two clearances and one blocked shot as his side romped to a 3-0 victory.
💛❤️#RomaVerona
“Florenzi gives us something extra and I’m convinced he will do so in various roles, not just where he played today,” said Coach Eusebio Di Francesco to reporters after the match. “I’ve seen a great deal of character in him – he’s always developing. He’s got that confidence back, which he lost following those injuries.”
A confident, determined and strong Florenzi will be a real asset to the new boss, especially with former Manchester City man Aleksandar Kolarov having already proved his quality on the opposite side at left-back.
Equally happy bombing forward as providing strong defensive cover, the pair can now become a foundation for Roma to build on. But along with Daniele De Rossi, Alessandro Florenzi provides the beating heart for the capital club, and his pain in being away from the side he loves so much last term will only serve to make him more determined to give his all.
