Get to know our new signing, Tommaso Baldanzi!

Here are some things you should know about him…

Background

Tommaso was born in Poggibonsi, in the province of Siena, on 23 March 2003. He shares a birthday with Walter Samuel and ex-Giallorosso player Gonzalo Villar.

Technical profile

Baldanzi is an attacking midfielder, a playmaker, a second striker. He’s left footed and has a low centre of gravity, standing at 170cm tall. One of Tommaso’s biggest strengths lies in his dribbling.

First kicks 

Tommaso had his first kickabout with his grandad, who unfortunately passed away. When talking about his tattoos, he said: “On my right arm I’ve got one of me with the number 10 shirt alongside my grandad. He used to take me to the park to play football when I was little. He’d be proud of me today”. 

Baldanzi’s first football club was Castelfiorentino. To celebrate the first time he made the starting XI in a Serie A match – for Lecce v Empoli – his childhood club posted this photo on their Facebook page:

Career

Despite a young Baldanzi being only eight years old, Empoli saw what he could do and immediately snapped him up.  He came through the youth ranks with the Tuscan club and won the Primavera Scudetto in the 2020-21 season. He was a star player of the tournament, with 16 goals and 12 assists, and was even named MVP of the whole season!

As a natural consequence of his outstanding performances in Primavera, Tommaso landed a spot in the first team under Paolo Zanetti.

He scored six goals in 41 Serie A appearances for Empoli.

Reunited with Pisilli

At Roma, Baldanzi will be reunited with Niccolo Pisilli, one of his team-mates in the Under 20 National Team. Coached by Carmine Nunziata, the Under 20 Azzurri just missed out on winning the World Cup last year, where they were beaten 1-0 by Uruguay in the final.

Dybala, his inspiration

Playmaker, second striker. He shares the same position as Paulo Dybala.

"I admire him,” Baldanzi told DAZN. “He’s a great player and he plays amazingly in my position. On a scale from one to ten, he’s a ten and I’m not even on the scale. He’s my inspiration because we play in a similar way.”

His shirt number

Baldanzi has claimed the number 35 shirt at Roma. “When I arrived with Dionisi [Empoli coach 2020-21] lots of the numbers were already taken so the kit staff gave me that one. I liked it and I’ve always kept it.”

Social media

You can follow Tommaso on Instagram.