Alessandro Florenzi, a former Roma defender who faced Real Madrid four times during his time at the club, has analysed Roma's upcoming Champions League encounter with the Spanish side and reflected on José Mourinho's imminent return to the Olimpico as Real Madrid's manager. Florenzi played in an era when Roma regularly qualified for the competition's latter stages, confronting a "truly galactic" Real Madrid side featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Luka Modrić. On defending Ronaldo, he said: "Very difficult. A formidable player who has done incredible things in world football." Florenzi praised both Gian Piero Gasperini and Mourinho for their ability to unite squads: "Because they have created united groups that give everything for the team and shirt. They have restored a sense of belonging that had been somewhat lacking in previous years."
Gasperini's tactical approach, Florenzi believes, suits European competition. "Gasperini's style, among Italian teams, is the most European: open, aggressive, one-on-one. At Como a tactically very beautiful match was seen, with interesting touches. I don't think he'll change anything compared to Sunday." He suggested the method could prove taxing over time but backed Gasperini's squad-building: "The plus of Gasperini is precisely this: getting the team as far as possible with a strong base. Then in January something useful could arrive from the market."
Florenzi also reflected on Mourinho's 2018–19 tenure at Roma, when the manager won the Coppa Italia and reached the Europa League final. "There was a lot of respect from both sides. He left an important mark, bringing a trophy and reaching the Europa League final. He created an identity around the squad." On Mourinho's prospect of facing the Roma crowd, Florenzi noted there would be mutual respect. Florenzi revealed Roma had approached him about a return but decided to pursue other plans: "There had been an approach from both sides, but the club postponed it because it had other plans. For me playing at Roma was a dream, but the club had different visions and decided to let me leave."
Florenzi discussed his famous long-range goal against Barcelona, the 2018 Champions League semi-final run, and his admiration for Francesco Totti's approach to the game. On the Barcelona strike, he recalled: "It was the perfect night. The first thing I look at is the ball in line with the post. Then I see Ter Stegen running… and I understood nothing more. So much so that the celebration is not the best." He is currently working towards his coaching qualification, describing it as "a thing in addition," and observes that in Italy the process takes three to four years.
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Roma host Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico in a Champions League fixture marking José Mourinho's return to face his former club. The match represents a significant occasion for Roma, with outlets noting it is the stadium's first major European night in over three years. Gian Piero Gasperini has confirmed Roma will maintain their established tactical identity rather than alter their approach against one of Europe's strongest squads. The club arrives on a run of 14 consecutive results without defeat and has no intention of changing course.
Alessandro Florenzi, the former Roma defender who faced Real Madrid four times during his playing career at the club, has praised both Gasperini and Mourinho for their ability to unite squads and create a sense of belonging. Florenzi assessed Gasperini's European style as "the most European" among Italian teams—open, aggressive and one-on-one—and suggested it will prove effective in European competition without alteration from Roma's recent domestic form. On Mourinho's previous tenure at Roma from 2018–19, Florenzi reflected positively: "He left an important mark, bringing a trophy and reaching the Europa League final. He created an identity around the squad." Florenzi also revealed Roma had approached him about a return, but the club postponed the move due to other plans.
Roma will field Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé and Donyell Malen in attack, with Wesley and Nahuel Molina on the flanks, Manu Koné and Marten de Roon in midfield, and Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso in defence. For both Dybala and Malen, the fixture carries particular resonance: Dybala faced Madrid in the 2017 Champions League final with Juventus and again in 2018 quarter-finals, while Malen came on late in Borussia Dortmund's 2024 Champions League final defeat at Wembley. Gasperini has acknowledged Real Madrid's quality and their array of attacking talent in Mbappé, Bellingham and Vinícius but noted they remain in a bedding-in period following their managerial change.
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Testo Originale / Source Text
“Alessandro Florenzi, ex giallorosso e uno dei protagonisti della Roma in Champions negli ultimi anni, ha rilasciato un’intervista a Il Messaggero in cui ha parlato della sfida Roma‑Real Madrid e del suo rapporto con Mourinho. Di seguito le sue parole.
Con la Roma ha giocato quattro volte contro il…”
Read the full article in Italian at Roma News.
