Alessandro Florenzi is an Italian footballer who plays as a midfielder or
as a full-back for Roma and the Italian national team.
Club career = Roma =
A product of Roma youth academy, Florenzi made his Serie A debut in a 3–1
win against Sampdoria on 22 May 2011, replacing Francesco Totti as a
substitute. Crotone
During the summer of 2011, Florenzi was sent on loan to Serie B club Crotone. He
made his debut on 27 August 2011, scoring their goal in a 2–1 home defeat
against Livorno. On 22 June 2012, Crotone excised the option in the loan
contract to buy half of the registration rights for €250,000. However, on 6 July,
Roma bought back half of the registration rights for €1.25 million.
Return to Roma Florenzi made his first appearance of
the 2012–13 Serie A season as a second-half substitute in the 2–2 draw
against Catania on 26 August 2012. He made his first start in the 3–1 victory
against Internazionale the following week, also scoring his first-ever goal
for Roma. Florenzi ended his first full season with the Roma first team, making
36 Serie A appearances and scoring three goals.
During the 2013–14 Serie A season, Florenzi helped guide Roma to a
second-place finish and a return to Champions League football for the first
time since the 2010–11 season. Florenzi also featured in all ten of Roma's
victories from the start of the season, a Serie A record, scoring against
Livorno, Parma, Bologna and Inter during the run. On 12 January 2014, Florenzi
scored a fantastic, bicycle kick goal to open the scoring in Roma's 4–0 victory
against Genoa. Florenzi played in 36 of Roma's 38 Serie A fixtures during the
season. Florenzi made his first appearance of
the 2014–15 Serie A season on 30 August 2014 as a second-half substitute in the
2–0 victory against Fiorentina. He then started the 0–1 away victory against
Empoli on 13 September. Florenzi made his Champions League debut as a
substitute for the injured Juan Iturbe in the 5–1 group stage victory against
CSKA Moscow on 17 September. Florenzi scored his first goal of the season as
Roma won 2–0 against Cagliari, having set up Mattia Destro for the opener.
On 16 September 2015, Florenzi scored the tying goal from 50 yards out against
reigning champions, Barcelona when he spotted the goalkeeper at the edge of
his box during the group stage of the Champions League, resulting in a 1–1
draw. International career
On 14 November 2012, Florenzi made his debut for the senior team under coach
Cesare Prandelli in a friendly match against France.
Florenzi was part of the Italy under-21 squad for the 2013 UEFA European
Under-21 Championship in Israel, as the Azzurrini reached the final, losing to
Spain 4–2. Florenzi's only goal of the tournament came in the 4–0, group stage,
victory over the host nation. On 15 October 2013, Florenzi scored his
first senior goal on his competitive debut in a World Cup qualifying match
against Armenia that ended in a 2–2 draw at the Stadio San Paolo in Naples.
Florenzi was not included in the 30-man preliminary squad named by Cesare
Prandelli for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. On 30 August 2014, new Italy head coach
Antonio Conte named Florenzi in his first squad for the upcoming European
qualifying matches. Style of play
Florenzi is a tenacious, tactically intelligent and well-rounded player who
is extremely versatile. Although he is usually deployed as a central
midfielder, he is a box-to-box player capable of playing anywhere in midfield,
and he has also been deployed as a winger, and as a full-back throughout
his career. Florenzi is a quick, energetic and hard-working player who is
effective at aiding his team both offensively and defensively; when used
in more offensive midfield roles, he has also demonstrated an aptitude for making
offensive runs. He is gifted with good technique, distribution, and crossing
ability, and despite his small stature, he is effective in the air; he is also a
good striker of the ball, and an accurate set-piece taker. Florenzi has
cited Cesc Fàbregas as his role model. Statistics
= Club = As of match played 4 October 2015
= International = As of on 13 October 2015.
= International goals = Scores and results list Italy's goal
tally first. References
External links Alessandro Florenzi career statistics at
Soccerbase Statistics at Italian Footballers'
Association Profile at Lega Calcio website
Profile on the Italian FA website Profile on the A.S. Roma website