Florenzi: Stadio della Roma an enticing prospect for team and the city

A 'proud' Alessandro Florenzi threw his full support behind the proposed Stadio della Roma project on Monday, at an event to reveal the findings of an impact study into the development.

The study, undertaken by Rome's Sapienza University, revealed the vast economic benefits the proposed Stadio della Roma-Tor di Valle plan will bring to the region - including an additional €18.5 bn in GDP over the next decade, along with a reduction in unemployment and increase in the city's tax revenues.

And Florenzi, who is currently recovering from a knee injury, admitted that the city would benefit hugely from such aspects - just as the team would benefit significantly from having a purpose-built stadium to call its own.

"Today's event is very important, as far as I'm concerned, especially as someone who comes from Rome," Florenzi began by saying. "Seeing a club like Roma working hard on this issue makes me feel very proud.

"First and foremost, this facility will offer many employment opportunities: there are people at home who want to work in order to look after their families. So it all starts from this great standpoint, before we even begin to talk about the economic impact - not only for the football club, but the city as a whole."

Florenzi revealed that the prospect of the 52,500-capacity stadium being full for home games was a huge factor for the players.

"The thing I prize above all is having a passionate crowd at the stadium, where the chanting fans are close to the pitch," he added. "We will certainly be able to do more; we will feel stronger.

"I've been lucky enough to play in stadiums where this has been the case and trust me it's not easy to play against a team where their fans are right on top of you. I've played at Juventus' new stadium in Turin twice for Italy and it's great to have the fans right behind you, so they can drive you forward when you're losing and help you to put in those extra yards to win the game.

"I'm delighted to represent Roma right now as we focus on the Stadio della Roma and I really hope to be able to play there soon. It's a very enticing prospect."

Speaking afterwards to the assembled media, Florenzi was asked about the possibility that he could captain the side out at the new stadium once it is finished.

He deferred, noting that he still expects others to be ahead of him in the pecking order when the time comes.

"I don't know about Francesco [Totti], that's less likely, but if everything progresses as it should, Daniele [De Rossi] will have the chance to walk out at the new stadium as captain," Florenzi noted. "I think that will be great for him and everyone at Roma.

"However, first let's concentrate on building it and then we'll think about that."