Alessandro Florenzi: Why are Arsenal and Spurs tracking the Italian right-back

Arsenal, AS Roma, Opinion, Serie A, Tottenham, Transfer Gossip
By O-Posts Team
Nov 22, 2021
One comment

This week, Alessandro Florenzi has been linked with a move to the Premier League with Arsenal and Tottenham expressing an interest in the Roman.

The North London clubs also face stiff competition from European champions, Barcelona.

Background

Born in Rome, the 24 year-old has come through Roma’s youth academy. He is predominantly a right-sided player and can play as fullback or an outright winger.

He is comfortable playing across the midfield.

Florenzi made his Serie A debut in a 3–1 win against Sampdoria in May 2011, replacing club legend Francesco Totti as a substitute.

He has been a Roma player all his life, however we was sent out on loan to Serie B side Crotone in 2011 to gain some valuable first team experience.

He is now a full Italian international and scored his first goal for senior side in October 2013 versus Armenia.

Alessandro Florenzi ran into the stands to hug his grandmother after scoring a goal in AS Roma’s 2-0 win over Cagliari last September. It was a touching moment - I was outraged when he received a yellow card for this.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Versatility is a key component in Alessandro’s game. He is comfortable playing across the midfield and at right back - perfect if manager Rudi Garcia’s decides to alter the formation in the middle of games. Although it does seem that the he has established himself as Roma’s primary wing back.

He provides pace and energy in attacking areas; which is a big factor as to why he has been selected ahead of Iago Falque and Iturbe in certain games this season.

He has great engine and work ethic; there aren’t many players in the league who work harder than him, the fans absolutely love him.

Florenzi is a player with great technical quality, capable of producing some incredible moments in an instance; for example, that formidable Champions League goal versus Barcelona, which we will come onto later.

Any weaknesses?

His dribbling remains a concern, and his passing is often a little less accurate than it perhaps should be.

WhoScored.com shows Florenzi has averaged just 22.4 passes per game, completing them at a rate of 78.6 per cent.

That Goal

Earlier this season in a Champions League group game versus Barcelona, Florenzi scored an incredible goal from 40 yards out!

He picked the ball up just inside his own half on the sideline, looked up and looped a sumptuous shot over goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to equalise for the Giallorossi.

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