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See what Florenzi had to say in the interview below...
Alessandro, when will you be back on the pitch?
Alessandro Florenzi: "The knee is making good progress after the cruciate ligament injury. It’s going pretty well and we’re all happy with the way things are going. What we need to do now is take a close look at how the knee stands up to increasing levels of strain."
What do AS Roma mean to you?
"The club is like a second family to me, my second home. Even when I was a young boy, I dreamt of pulling on the shirt for this club one day and I did everything I could to make that dream come true. The fact that I managed it makes me really proud."
Francesco Totti may well retire at the end of the season. Will you take over the captain’s armband from him?
"Who knows, Francesco may carry on playing, and let’s not forget that Daniele De Rossi is currently the vice-captain. He does a really good job – he’s a true leader."
Can Roma win the scudetto again after 16 years?
"We will certainly pull out all the stops to snatch the title away from Juventus, but it’s going to be hard – although we’ve got a good team and are improving all the time."
Do you live in Rome itself?
"Yes, but not in the centre, I live in the outskirts. Rome’s a fantastic city, it’s my home. There’s always something going on here. It’s got everything: history, culture, sport. You can’t help it, with a place like Rome it’s love at first sight [laughs]."
Where does Serie A stand on the global football ladder?
"Our league is well on its way back to the top. That’s what we’re working hard towards in Italy, and I think all clubs have taken this aim on board. Serie A is still not at the level of the English Premier League, but I think that soon we will be able to compete pretty well with the best leagues in the world. Top players are signing new contracts in Italy again, which tells you all you need to know."
Antonio Conte has put Italy back on the map as far as coaching is concerned. Is his style of football the way it should be played?
"Definitely. I’m not surprised that Conte has continued to be successful at Chelsea. He’s a passionate coach and worker, and I personally am delighted that his vision and methods are also working in England. He’s taken Italian football forward: we did pretty well at the Euros in France, and that was mainly down to him. I have the greatest respect for Conte."
You are one of the new generation of Italian players, and an ambassador for the Italian charity “Fondazione Telethon”.
"It’s a responsibility that I gladly take on. When someone calls me an important player who represents the future of Italian football, it makes me proud and delighted. And as far as the charity work is concerned, I’m discovering a whole new world as an ambassador. Helping people who suffer from rare diseases is very rewarding. I’m amazed at their strength, at how they cope every day. They love football too and support me and my team-mates.
"So taking on this role is my way of giving something back and I’ve also become a fan of theirs, which is something that means a lot to me. The role is close to my heart. For me, it’s simply about helping people in the world who are having a bad time of it."
You became a father in the summer with the birth of your daughter. How has that changed your life?
"A lot. Getting together with my future wife and the birth of my daughter are the best things that have ever happened to me. Becoming a father is something special. My wife, my daughter and my entire family are the rocks in my life and I hope that I am for them, too. At least something positive came out of my injury: I’ve been able to spend much more time with my baby daughter Penelope."
Will you still be playing for Roma when you’re 40?
"[Laughs] I don’t know. I take life as it comes. Turning out for Roma is a great honour, especially if, like me, you come from a family who are all Roma fans."
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