Pellegrini's return adds to Roma's grand tradition of homegrown heroes

He went away a prospect, a talent in need of developing. He returns with that talent now fully flourishing – with senior international honours to show for it – and a chance to establish himself at a club he has known his whole life.

“I’m interested in returning [to Roma],” then-Sassuolo midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini said this summer, during the Under-21 European Championships in Poland. “But I want to return to play - not as a kid from the Primavera.”

That comment came after an extraordinary goal against Denmark, and amid a tournament where many observers identified him as the standout Italian performer.

His performances, and his words, made his ambitions for the next phase of his career clear.

He wanted to return to this new Roma, his Roma, and become an important part of the squad. For a player who made 54 appearances for Sassuolo across two seasons – and scored six goals from midfield last season alone – this was clearly the next step to be made.

Sporting director Monchi, along with the rest of the senior Roma staff, made it clear that they agreed with the 21-year-old. As Pellegrini said when his signing was confirmed: “They have always been in close contact with me. They made me realise how much they wanted me back.”

Now, after serving his apprenticeship at the Mapei Stadium, Pellegrini – born in the capital in 1996 and growing up idolising Daniele Di Rossi – will open a new (old) chapter in his career.

It will be a significant moment. Not only because he will return home, but also because he will restore the number of homegrown talents in the Roma squad to three, following the retirement of the legendary Francesco Totti.

Of course the midfielder is not a replacement for the No. 10 – who could be? – and no-one would suggest otherwise. But statistically at least it is interesting, as Totti’s exit and Pellegrini’s arrival coincide to ensure a local trinity remains in place at Trigoria.

It has been five years since the Totti-De Rossi-Florenzi trio fully emerged, and now Pellegrini replaces the totem in that triumvirate. It is a proud record for the club, a tradition everyone wants to see continue. Since 2003 at least three youth academy graduates have played at least 10 games during a season, a achievement not all clubs can claim.

The two standout members of this group down the years are, obviously, Totti and De Rossi, but over the years there have been many others – Aquilani, Okaka, Rosi, Greco and Florenzi to name just the ones with the most appearances. You could go on: Zotti, D’Agostino, Curci, Cerci, Corvia, Bovo...

The season with the most youth players involved was 2004-05, when eight had their chance under the auspices of Bruno Conti. Of course that was a particularly tormented campaign, with five changes in manager and safety assured only on the penultimate weekend of the campaign at Atalanta.

The homegrown element has been there for much longer, of course. By and large, the flag has been flown by the captain too, and in the last 40 years the club has had many captains that can be classed as both Roman and Romanisti. Di Bartolomei, Giannini, Totti and now De Rossi represent a line of Giallorossi icons to have represented (and led) the club with a passion and loyalty rarely seen elsewhere.

And that is just recently: without even mentioning the likes of Ferraris IV, Guido Masetti, Fulvio Bernardini, Giancarlo De Sisti and so many others who have led the club since its earliest days.

As was written once on a banner in the Curva Sud ahead of a derby: ‘Sons of Roma are captains and icons; this is our advantage and something you will never have.’

It is true then, and remains true now. Now Lorenzo Pellegrini returns, another player integrated – and continuing – a unique story.