Alessio Romagnoli Evokes Memories of Alessandro Nesta as AC Milan Beat Lazio

AC Milan won a second consecutive Serie A match for the first time since February at the San Siro on Tuesday night. Their 2-0 victory over Lazio followed on from last Friday’s 1-0 away win over Sampdoria, meaning successive clean sheets were also ensured.

Alessio Romagnoli was at the heart of this sound defensive display, though he also had an important part to play in possession. It was another convincing all-round performance from the 21-year-old stopper, something that was all the more noteworthy considering it came against the club he is believed to have supported as a boy.

In August 2015, Il Tempo (h/t Football Italia) reported that the player had always been a Lazio supporter. The revelation attracted a great deal of controversy, primarily because the youngster came through the youth academy of the Biancocelesti’s loathed rivals AS Roma.

However, Romagnoli had no problem keeping his purported childhood heroes at bay on Tuesday.

M’Baye Niang caused problems for Lazio’s defence in the early part of the match with his pace and movement. After breaking through the away side’s defensive line his heels seemed to be clipped by Bastos, but referee Davide Massa saw nothing wrong. The Frenchman then worked a good shooting opportunity only to fire a tame effort straight into the hands of Thomas Strakosha.

The visitors threatened with chances of their own, including a strong header from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, but they were caught out by the unerring cool of Milan striker Carlos Bacca.

With the Lazio defence taking up a high position, the 30-year-old managed to break free from inside his own half. And having taken a few touches to get himself into a one-on-one situation, there was absolutely no doubt where the ball was going. True to form, he calmly slotted into the bottom-left corner to give his side the lead in the 37th minute.

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Milan took control briefly following the opening goal. A firm strike from Giacomo Bonaventura almost slipped out of the hands of Strakosha, before Juraj Kucka saw his header disallowed after he made contact with the goalkeeper in the process. After half-time, Niang somehow contrived not to tap a Davide Calabria pass into an unguarded net.

Lazio had introduced Keita Balde Diao at the interval in the hope of adding flair and speed in the final third, but while the Senegalese provided both, he was unable to bring a finishing touch. A superbly timed Gabriel Paletta tackle thwarted him when almost through on goal, while later in the game the 21-year-old prospect fired over the bar.

Vincenzo Montella brought on 18-year-old midfielder Manuel Locatelli and 23-year-old central defender Gustavo Gomez as he sought to secure a clean sheet, and when Niang won and scored a penalty on 74 minutes, the three points were all but confirmed.

Speaking to Mediaset Premium (h/t Football Italia) after the game, the Milan coach commented on his team’s surprisingly defensive style of play:

"

It is difficult to play against Lazio, as they are very physical. We controlled the game by half-time and could’ve finished it off a lot earlier in the second half.

I don’t have a magic wand. The squad still needs to understand me and we must grow together. We still lack the mental freedom to play that champagne football I am looking for. We’ll get there by degrees.

The players need to free their minds and the last two victories will help us to play without so much pressure on us, especially at San Siro.

"

One player who isn’t enduring any difficulties with Montella’s tactics or with the stresses of playing for Milan is Romagnoli, though this is hardly surprising considering how bold he has been off the pitch in the past.

The centre-back, who hails from Anzio in the Lazio region, has been known to drop some not-so-subtle hints about his allegiances during interviews. Speaking to Sport Week (h/t Calciomercato) in May, he said: "Going back to the Olimpico means going back to my favourite stadium. That’s where I hope to finish my career. With which team? I am not going to reveal that, but everyone knows my passion."

And as if words weren’t enough, an image of Romagnoli in a Lazio shirt surfaced online last summer as his departure from Roma loomed on the horizon. In the picture, he wore a mischievous smile, which could be interpreted as brave, foolish or a combination of the two. Predictably, it sparked outrage among fans of his old team.

Some Giallorossi fans decided to vent their anger at the player in a decidedly harrowing manner. Per Goal’s Joe Wright, "Pictures…appeared on Twitter of threatening messages scrawled on the walls of Romagnoli's parents' house in the Italian capital. One read ‘Romagnoli Laziale, your funeral is soon’."

Romagnoli didn’t appear weighed down by the off-field drama last season. And if such threats couldn’t shake him, it was always unlikely that he would be fazed by pulling on a Milan shirt, even against the Biancocelesti.

His performance on Tuesday was a particularly assured one. According to WhoScored.com, he made 33 passes with an impressive completion rate of 81.8 per cent. He also completed one dribble, three tackles, two interceptions and a clearance to earn a positive 7.32 rating.

Tactically, he has become a crucial cog in Montella’s team. This was again on show against Lazio, where his positioning and technical refinement brought a greater level of sophistication to Milan’s buildup play.

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One of the major flaws in the Milan system at present is the lack of a charismatic director at the base of midfield. Yet, while Riccardo Montolivo, who occupies this position, may lack the required flair and imagination, his movement against Lazio freed up Romagnoli to assume the mantle of deep-lying playmaker.

The captain dropped between the centre-backs to form a back three as Montella’s side looked to play out from the back. Not only did this give them numerical superiority against their opponents' front two, but it also pushed Romagnoli into higher and wider areas from where his passing could be more influential.

As a result of Montolivo’s falling back, the young Roman was able to play with greater freedom. And, time and again, he broke layers of defence to find a more advanced team-mate in space between the lines.

Romagnoli’s combination of ability and composure on the ball is reminiscent of the great Alessandro Nesta, a player whose elegant style made him not only one of the most aesthetically pleasing defenders to watch in his pomp but also an effective one in the attacking phase.

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It’s fitting then that Romagnoli wears the same shirt—the No. 13—Nesta wore during his time at Milan. But it’s no coincidence.

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) about his choice of shirt, the Italy under-21 international said: "I was the one who asked for this shirt, because Nesta was my idol. I was thinking about him and not about the idea of adding any extra responsibility."

During his playing career, Nesta established himself as one of the finest centre-backs in the world. In the process, he won one Scudetto with Lazio before picking up two with Milan. Romagnoli would undoubtedly be satisfied to enjoy a similar career, even if it takes a slightly different route.