Roma is his favorite team; he won the Scudetto with Milan: “It was hard for the Rossoneri to do worse than last season. The Olimpico without a running track would give the Giallorossi 6–7 more points a year. Modric is like Totti, Zanetti, and Maldini”

He’s always run at full speed—it’s no surprise he decided to call it quits at the gym: “I was even running there, and at some point I asked myself, ‘Why are you doing this?’ It didn’t make sense anymore. It was time to listen to myself; over the last two years, I’ve played under conditions that aren’t normal for a professional soccer player. And today, if I could go back, I’d make the same choice. The proof? I was at the stadium for Milan vs. Fiorentina, and I didn’t get that feeling of… um… ‘Man, I wish I were out there on the field.’” But Alessandro Florenzi hasn’t become indifferent to soccer—far from it. In fact, this weekend features his match: on one side, Roma, the team close to his heart, the one where he was born and raised; on the other, Milan, the team where he won the Scudetto and ended his career.

Two snapshots of Florenzi, one for each jersey.

“In a Roma jersey, it’s definitely my debut in 2011—I came on for Totti against Sampdoria. But also the Champions League quarterfinal against Barça—I’ve never experienced a game like that: because of the stadium, because of how perfect we were, because of how the match unfolded. In a Milan jersey, no doubt about it: that afternoon in Sassuolo, when we won the Scudetto—a trophy I’d been missing and an immense source of satisfaction after an extraordinary season.”

Milan vs. Roma: Who has more at stake?

“Milan, because their stated goal is to return to the Champions League, but they can certainly aim for something more. Roma are already coming in as league leaders, they’re playing well, and the numbers are on their side…”

By the way, did you expect Roma to be like this?

“I’ve always thought Roma had a very strong roster, but in a way, seeing them up there is a surprise. It’s not easy to adapt to the style of play and the level of physical conditioning that Gasperini demands in such a short time, and that makes me think there’s room for improvement. We’ll have to see where they stand in March to understand what they can realistically aim for.”

Same goes for Milan: did you expect them to be like this?

“The honest truth? It was really hard to do worse than last year, in every respect. The fact that they have only one competition to focus on and have brought in such a talented and experienced coach helps, and they also had a strong transfer window: they signed top-tier players—Modric above all—and experienced ones. But they also had a solid foundation to build on, because last year’s team was a good one. Then again, there are certain seasons where anything can happen and the results just aren’t on your side, captain…”

In the Scudetto race, would you include both of them? Tell us your ranking.

“Inter and Napoli are tied as favorites. But keep in mind it’s an open race—we’ll have to look at the standings in the spring. If Roma stays up there, they’ll have a say; Milan is focused on just one competition and will definitely stay in the mix; and let’s not forget Juventus, which I think will benefit greatly from the coaching change.”

Speaking of focusing on just one competition: some say that not playing in cup competitions has the opposite effect—it eases the pressure…

“No. I’ve experienced it firsthand, and I disagree. In my opinion, we won the Scudetto with Milan because we were knocked out of the Champions League, which allowed us to train effectively from a physical standpoint. And today, going into a match physically prepared makes all the difference.”

Milan and Roma face the same problem: the center forward.

“At the root of it, there’s always a confidence issue. My experience tells me that when a player lacks confidence, he tends to sabotage himself. But these are different cases: Milan’s center forward is Santi Gimenez; he gets in front of the goal, has plenty of chances, and is just a hair’s breadth away—a grain of sand—from breaking through. At Roma, on the other hand, it’s unclear who the center forward is, and it’s somewhat the same problem Juventus faces. It’s not a trivial role: it’s like the goalkeeper—you have to know who the starter is. The lack of certainty can affect a player’s season.”

In Rome, the atmosphere puts pressure on players: is that an added bonus or a burden?

“Let’s be serious—it’s an added bonus. I get chills just saying it: imagine what the Olimpico would be like without the track. It would bring in at least 6–7 more points per season.”

You’ve played with the all-time greats: can you explain a player like Modric at 40?

“He makes the difference with his mind, with his way of seeing the game, but above all with the way he’s lived it. Modric is like Totti, Maldini, or Zanetti: look at how they’ve taken care of themselves over the years in terms of diet, training, and consistency. Modric isn’t who he is because he started a diet last year, just to be clear… It’s the journey that counts.”

Can you also explain Leao to us? When does he bring out the champion inside him?

“Rafa has his own style; he needs immense confidence. He’ll take that next step when he realizes just how strong he is. And it’s no coincidence that everyone is asking him to take that step, because everyone thinks he’s on the verge of becoming a champion. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be asking him. I hope he does it soon, because he deserves it and because I care about him.”

Gabbia, Bartesaghi, Pisilli, Pellegrini… What’s it like to play while wearing the jersey that shaped you?

“Four special guys to me. Pellegrini is a friend; I’ve watched Pisilli grow up; and I think I was able to give Matteo and Davide something because they were the young ones at Milan and I was the old-timer. Playing for ‘your’ team can give you more, but it comes with both burdens and honors. You feel more pressure than the others, but if you know how to handle it, it becomes fuel and really makes you soar.”

Camarda scored his first goal in Serie A and dedicated it to you.

“A man of his word. Last year I teased him a lot because I saw something in him—he’s a guy with incredible drive. I’d always tell him, ‘Because of what I’m giving you, you have to dedicate your first Serie A goal to me.’ It was a joke, of course—a simple ‘thank you’ for advice like that is enough for me, just as I get from so many young players. But that dedication really made my day. I texted him the other day, after he missed that penalty against Napoli: ‘Just know that I’ll be the one to speak up when things go wrong. When you score your first goal in Serie A, everyone’s a genius.”

Do you see another Florenzi out there?

“No, I don’t see one. Maybe there is one, but he hasn’t caught my eye. But not because I think there isn’t anyone better than me, mind you… I’m talking about someone with my characteristics.”