The former Giallorossi goalkeeper lives in Florida and is a building contractor: “Spalletti is a genius, while I never had a relationship with Ranieri.”

When you mention the Colosseum, his eyes light up. “It was the first thing I saw when I arrived in Rome, I was speechless.” Alexander Marangon Doni responds from the United States, where he has lived for years. He moved to Orlando with his family and founded a veritable empire: buildings, houses, shopping centers. His company is called “D32 invest,” like the number he wore between the posts. In fact, when you talk to him about soccer, he lights up. “I don’t follow it much anymore, but I remain a Giallorossi fan.” Doni was Roma’s goalkeeper for six seasons – 150 appearances from 2005 to 2011 – and when he talks about it, he seems to relive those emotions. You can see it in his face. “Spalletti was the best coach I ever had, and I had so many laughs with Totti and De Rossi. As for Ranieri, though, it’s better to forget about him…”

Doni, let’s start with the present. What are you doing today?

“After football, I studied a lot and started a number of businesses. I’ve been living in Florida since 2017, but I travel all over the world. I also have a sports center linked to Roma’s football school, a gym, an athlete management agency, and many businesses in the real estate sector. We have built more than three thousand houses. In addition, I have also opened an amusement park with my former teammate Fabio Simplicio.”

It was said that last year you were close to buying Brescia. How true is that?

“Yes, negotiations had begun. I was part of an investment group and I really liked the idea. But there were some internal dynamics that led us not to conclude the deal. It’s a shame.“

Are you planning to buy other clubs?

”I negotiated the acquisition of clubs in Portugal, Brazil, and Italy with the fund. Some deals went well, and we hope there will be opportunities to do more in the future. Maybe even in your country…”

Let’s move on to memories. When I mention Rome, your expression changes. Did you leave your heart there?

“I consider it home. I fell in love with the city as soon as I saw the Colosseum. Then there’s Roma, the fans, the Olimpico. It’s a dream.”

Spalletti threw you in for the first time in a derby. A baptism of fire.

“It was October 23, 2005, and we drew 1-1. I had never played in the league before, so it was incredible to make my debut in a game like that. I was 26 years old, and everything I had achieved up to that point flashed before my eyes.”

I had a good rapport with Spalletti. Was he the best you ever had?

“Yes. A genius. Luciano is a genuine, straightforward person. He tells you things to your face. It was best not to make him angry, though, because he could even slap you. When he shouted, the walls of Trigoria shook…”

You had fun in those years, though…

“You bet. We had a great group, made up of lots of Brazilians. We still talk often; these are friendships that last a lifetime. Every day, something happened in the locker room. We laughed so much with Totti and De Rossi.”

Any anecdotes about the captain?

“Francesco was phenomenal, both on and off the pitch. Just one look from him was enough to instill confidence in us. He’s a Brazilian at heart, with moves I’ve only seen Ronaldinho and Kakà do, who I played with in the national team. But then we’d go out and it was a non-stop show. One evening, he offered a waiter a thousand euros to walk past the tables, jump into the pool in his underwear, and scream like Tarzan while beating his chest. I still laugh when I think about it.“

From a personal point of view, however, you experienced a particular environment in Rome…

”It’s a wonderful place, but it has its rough edges and flaws. For example, the radio stations. Over the years, I’ve heard a lot of untrue things about myself: they said I caused problems in the locker room, that I wanted to leave, that I wasn’t a serious professional. It was all bullshit. Fortunately, I could count on a wonderful team that always supported me. De Rossi also said this in an interview. He asked them to stop making up false stories…” nbsp;

A lot has been written about Ranieri too…

“I’d rather not talk about it, I don’t have much to say. It was a complicated season for me, I didn’t play much. However, the coach and I never had a relationship.”

Did he make you pay for accepting a call-up to the national team when, in his opinion, you should have stayed in Trigoria to recover?

“I was fine and didn’t feel like turning down the call-up to the national team: the World Cup was coming up in the summer. I came back and no one took me seriously anymore. I was the fourth goalkeeper and trained separately. I was never given an explanation.“

Is it true that you were close to joining Juventus?

”Yes, twice. Once after my first year in Italy, and again after my experience at Liverpool. The Bianconeri were looking for a backup for Buffon, and I would have gone there to compete for the position. In 2006, Barcelona, with Eto’o and Messi, also wanted me. I was one of Brazil’s goalkeepers, so it’s understandable that the big European clubs were interested in me. However, I always wanted to play, and I was really happy in Rome.“

Do you ever go back?

”Less than I would like. My brother Joao lives there, and so does my sister. I would go back to eat a properly made carbonara. I am very attached to the city and its people, and I have fantastic memories.”

What is your relationship with soccer today? You were forced to stop playing due to a heart problem.

“It has changed over time. I had a cardiac arrest and risked my life. Then I started playing again with Botafogo in 2014, but after one season I had to stop again. It was terrible. I remember that for a while I was in denial: I didn’t watch any games, in fact, as soon as I saw soccer on TV, I changed the channel. Today, I don’t follow it much, but I will always be a Giallorossi fan.“

Would you return to soccer?

”In life, never say never. Maybe I’ll do it as an investor, who knows…”