Former Roma captain Alessandro Florenzi moved to Milan on loan with the option to buy at the beginning of this Scudetto campaign after a one-season stay at Paris Saint-Germain, in order to revamp his career, after having been pushed to the sidelines at Stadio Olimpico.
The 30-year-old Giallorossi youth product spent nine years in the Italian capital – sandwiched with a loan stint at Crotone in 2011/12 – before finally continuing his career in the south of Spain with Valencia.
He has now come forward and spoken his mind in an exclusive interview with DAZN (via RomaPress.net) regarding his first experience abroad.
“I grew so much in the last few years. That initial loan move to Valencia really opened up a whole new world to me. I never had an experience abroad and I was blown away by Valencia, so much so that I can’t wait to go back. I’ll never forget my time in Spain and then in France with Paris,” he said.
Florenzi joined Roma as a kid in 2002, rising through the ranks and finally making his first team debut in 2011 against Sampdoria. He replaced his childhood hero and club legend Francesco Totti as a substitute.
“Roma is a part of me so I definitely miss it. It was, is, and will be the club that I have supported since I was a child and the team I gave everything for. The moment I realized that our paths were splitting is when they (the club) said that Roma supporters no longer need heroes.”
“Not long before my farewell, both Totti and De Rossi also left the club, then I understood that it was my turn. I tried to cause as few problems as possible and behave like an exemplary professional. I accepted it and moved on.”
Finally, he revealed that it is ‘difficult’ to face the Giallorossi, now that he’s back playing in Italy.
“I’m glad that I played abroad because I didn’t have to face Roma, but now with Milan, facing them in the league is difficult,” he concluded.
Florenzi made 280 appearances for the capital club, scoring 28 goals in the process. At Milan, he has been welcomed with open arms by Stefano Pioli, who has integrated the EURO 2020 winner well within the Rossoneri ranks.