Opinion: Florenzi fights back to become key part of Roma resurgence

The referee blows the whistle to start the match, and Alessandro Florenzi has that look in his eyes – the look a bird of prey makes when hunting. His body shifts forward, his hands brace towards his chest, the jaw lowers … and immediately he is away, pressuring the opponent.

He’s a player every other team fears – they know he’s a special player, one who rallies his team with his energy and determination.

Yet, when trying to define Florenzi’s style, one is almost at a loss of words. Where to begin: His half-field goal against Barcelona? The dynamic box-to-box presence, the speed down the flank? Or perhaps, the defensive prowess that makes him one of the premier right-backs in Italy?

To focus on one of these qualities would not be incorrect, but it would tell only be a fraction of his story.

Born in Vitinia, on the banks of the River Tiber, the versatile player had a thoroughbred training. First sought out by Bruno Conti, he developed under the eyes of one of the greatest youth coaches in Alberto De Rossi. For Roma’s youth academy, Florenzi featured in every midfield position, in three and four-man formations. Eventually promoted to captain of the Primavera, he led them to win the 2010-11 Scudetto, scoring 15 times. Not too bad for “just a midfielder.”

A loan move south to Crotone did well for Florenzi. It took No. 24 just moments to validate himself with the Squali. A corner kick was bobbled in Livorno’s box, and Florenzi rose to the occasion by heading the ball past the keeper and breaking the deadlock. It was the start of something bigger, when the junior star became a senior player to be reckoned with.

Florenzi’s outstanding performances during that campaign saw Roma recall him, intrigued by his potential. His first goal at the Olimpico for the first team came off a Francesco Totti assist – reacting first when the captain’s blistering shot hit the post.

It was as if he was replying to the captain’s golden years, that he could now begin to share the weight of the club. The rest, as they say, is history.

But recent history hasn’t been kind to “Ale.” He tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in the first quarter of the 2016-17 season, just as the team appeared to be hitting its stride. His teammates were depending on him. Then, five months into rehabilitation (and just weeks away from completing his return), the unthinkable happened – he tore the same ligament in training.

In total, it was 11 grueling months before Florenzi saw professional action again. Threads from Twitter recorded every single day he was out of action; cruel pundits labeled him as finished; fans became anxious, wondering if he would ever really play again – and if so to the same level as before.

The answer, after an encouraging cameo in a friendly against Chapecoense a few days earlier, came against Hellas Verona on a drenched September evening at the Stadio Olimpico. His response was emphatic – Florenzi turned his opponent down the right-hand-flank, and crossed the ball in with his left foot to meet Edin Dzeko at the far post.

He hadn’t missed a beat, and the night concluded in a 3-0 victory.

By the start of November the club had achieved a total of nine clean sheets, with Florenzi playing a heavy hand in that run - playing in defence and attack as his coaches required. His first goal since returning from injury was deadly for Milan – a scissor kick inside the box was the final nail in the coffin in front of the San Siro faithful. He was back.

The coming months will be pivotal for Roma, as they push to qualify for the knockout round of the Champions League, maintain pressure on the league leaders, and start their campaign in the Coppa Italia. With Florenzi’s tenacity and all-round ability, the Giallorossi have an extra weapon in their pursuit of all those targets.

Hawk-eyed toward the future, Alessandro Florenzi is once again ready to take on any and every challenge, in whichever position he commandeers.