Why Alessandro Florenzi Is the 1 Roma Player Juventus Would Love to Sign

AS Roma returned to European football’s top table this term, qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in four seasons. Even so, Francesco Totti believes he firmly belongs among the game’s elite, responding to a press conference question (h/t Guardian Sport) over which teams in Europe would not want him in their starting XI with a terse “few of them.”

Even so, it is hard to imagine which current member of the Giallorossi would best fit into the Juventus team they face this weekend, so strong are the options available to the Turin giants. Totti might struggle to break up the Fernando Llorente-Carlos Tevez partnership which works so well, while even Daniele De Rossi would find space hard to come by in a talent-laden Bianconeri midfield.

The qualities and suitability of Juan Manuel Iturbe were discussed in this previous column, Juve unfortunate to see the winger opt for a move to the capital over the summer. With Gervinho in a similar mould and La Madama even more solid than Rudi Garcia’s men defensively, finding a Roma player she should covet becomes increasingly arduous.

Massimiliano Allegri seems certain to alter Juve’s 3-5-2 shape eventually, preaching the value of flexibility in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport before the campaign began. He told the famous pink paper (h/t FourFourTwo) that he wanted “to be able to switch between two formations, even in the same game.”

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Perhaps it is in that search for versatility that brings us to Alessandro Florenzi, the Roman who has been with the club since childhood. Aside from a season-long loan, he has grown up wearing the Giallorossi shirt, and is visibly proud each time he is called upon to represent his hometown side.

He has proven adept in a number of positions both in attack and midfield, while also playing as a full-back during his time in Serie B with Crotone. No matter where he has been deployed, the 23-year-old has displayed a keen tactical awareness, playing with an intelligence which has always belied his young age.

This term has seen him make just two starts thus far, yet he has proven decisive for Garcia even in that limited playing time. A man-of-the-match performance against Cagliari saw him net one goal and create the other in a 2-0 victory, while this past weekend he followed it up with another goal in a win over Hellas Verona.

His first strike saw him climb into the stands to celebrate with his grandmother; an act Antonio Conte called “a really beautiful gesture,” in an interview with RAI (h/t Football Italia). The Italy coach is well aware of Florenzi’s quality, restoring him to the Azzurri line-up after being unfortunate to miss out on a place at the World Cup.

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There is still room for improvement in his all-round game, with the above image courtesy of Squawka.com highlighting a number of them. His dribbling remains a concern, and his passing is often a little less accurate than it perhaps should be.

Stats site WhoScored.com shows Florenzi has averaged just 22.4 passes per game, completing them at a rate of 78.6 per cent. Yet for all his minor flaws, he remains a thrilling prospect and a player capable of breaking open a game against even the most resolute of opponents.

Excellent whether fielded wide in attack or in a more central role, he weighed in last term with six goals and six assists, a vital member of a side transformed following the arrival of Garcia. "Florenzi plays well whether he starts or comes on as sub,” the coach told reporters this past weekend, per Goal.com. “He puts his strength and talent at the service of the team.”

Like many of Europe’s finest clubs, the Bianconeri would be lucky to call upon a player as gifted and versatile, and he would dovetail perfectly with Allegri’s desire to switch between formations at will. If they could take just one member of the Roma squad, Juventus might just wish to steal Alessandro Florenzi from their title rivals.