Alessandro Florenzi gives Roma coach Paulo Fonseca credit for “being very clear with me” ahead of his Valencia move, reveals he turned down Inter and the few dreams he has yet to make come true.
The Italy international joined Valencia on loan in January to get more playing time, as he clashed with coach Paulo Fonseca and did not want to risk losing his place in the Euro 2020 squad.
“I was very proud to wear the Roma armband, as I came after Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi,” he told Sky Sport Italia.
“I can guarantee that nobody will ever be like them, for the rest of Roma history. I learned from them that Roma comes before everything else, so I always respect my role and those of others.
“Fonseca was very clear with me and I think he’s one of the best coaches I ever worked with, but he wants something in the right-back role that I cannot give. He was honest and said: ‘Ale, I don’t know how much playing time you’re going to get for the rest of this season.’
“I cannot deny, it was a heavy blow for me to leave the Trigoria training ground and all the people in it who grew up alongside me, from the kit staff to the physios and the guys behind the bar. They asked if I really was leaving and that moment will remain within me forever.”
Once the six-month loan with Valencia is over, will Florenzi return to Roma or look elsewhere?
“I honestly don’t know. We’ll see. I had always wanted an experience abroad and this opportunity arrived in January, after Fonseca had talked to me about his ideas, so together we made this decision that suited everyone. Roberto Mancini was also very open and said he didn’t mind where I was, as long as I played football.”
Florenzi had been very close to joining Inter over the last couple of years, but was committed to his hometown club.
“I didn’t just turn down Inter, but many other Italian clubs too. The most recent was Inter, when I was set to renew my Roma contract. I knew staying wouldn’t guarantee me the same kind of money, but you cannot replicate the emotion I felt at Roma. They told me to choose with my head, but I went with my heart.
“Every child has his dreams and I have to admit that so far I’ve made almost all of them come true. I wanted to play football, for the club that I supported, to become their captain, to play for Italy, score goals, play in the Champions League.
“The only dreams left are to win something important with my club, with Italy and to participate in the World Cup.”