AS Roma are going through a transitional period in Italy. Having
just appointed Zdenek Zeman as manager after a disappointing seventh place
finish in last season’s Serie A cost Luis Enrique his job and with their great
talisman and captain Francesco Totti’s career winding down to a glittering end,
one man optimises hope from the fans. Exemplifying all things that are
important in Rome – passion, commitment, loyalty – Danielle De Rossi gives the
city reason to be optimistic.
After almost 300 games for Roma at the tender age of just 28
he is already the clubs vice-captain and a firm fan favourite. The midfielder
has many qualities that allow his coaches to deploy him in defensive as well as
attacking positions. Although he averages only a goal every nine games, they are
usually spectacular proving to be worth the wait. However, it is his
versatility and not his goal scoring which is why he is adored from the
terraces inside the Stadio Olimpico. So committed to the midfielder are the
Roma fans that they have nicknamed him Capitan Futuro which translates to
Captain Future.
Although it is not just the Italians in Rome admiring De
Rossi’s talent, as Manchester City’s Roberto Mancini is reportedly keen in
bringing him to the Etihad Stadium this summer. However, unlike so many modern
footballers, De Rossi seems to be controlled by his heart and not his greed and
earlier this year signed a new contract with i Giallorossi to keep him at his
beloved club until 2017.
De Rossi is an equally influential player on the
international stage, scoring one of the decisive penalty kicks that sealed the
Word Cup in 2006. Six years on and he is proving to be an essential part of
Cesare Prandelli’s Italian line-up. Furthermore, it was his swashbuckling
displays in midfield alongside Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio that
propelled Italy into the European Championships final. The Azzurri were however
unfortunate to come up against Spain, possibly the finest team to have ever
played the game, and eventually lost 4-0.
Having achieved so much in his career already, there is one
thing missing from his trophy cabinet. De Rossi still dreams of lifting the
Serie A trophy with Roma after finishing runners-up on five occasions. As he
continues to blossom in Rome it appears more and more likely that if Roma were
to win that trophy, it would be De Rossi who would lift the cup as captain.
“Are you not entertained?” After watching this Roman
gladiator, the answer unquestionably is an emphatic yes.
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