Alessandro Florenzi (born 11 March 1991) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a full-back.
Florenzi started his professional club career with Roma in 2011, but spent the 2011âÂÂ12 season on loan with Crotone. Florenzi was appointed as Roma's new captain following the departure of Daniele De Rossi in 2019. He later had spells on loan with Spanish side Valencia, and French side Paris Saint-Germain, winning the Trophée des Champions and the Coupe de France with the latter club during the 2020âÂÂ21 season.
At international level, he was a member of the Italy national under-21 football team that finished second in the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, and also represented the Italy senior side at UEFA Euro 2016 and UEFA Euro 2020, winning the latter tournament.
A product of Roma youth academy, Florenzi made his Serie A debut in a 3âÂÂ1 win against Sampdoria on 22 May 2011, replacing Francesco Totti as a substitute.
During the summer of 2011, Florenzi was sent on loan to Serie B club Crotone. He made his debut on 27 August 2011, scoring their goal in a 2âÂÂ1 home defeat against Livorno. On 22 June 2012, Crotone exercised the option in the loan contract to buy half of the registration rights for â¬250,000. On 6 July, Roma bought back half of the registration rights for â¬1.25 million.
Florenzi made his first appearance of the 2012âÂÂ13 Serie A season as a second-half substitute in the 2âÂÂ2 draw against Catania on 26 August 2012. He made his first start in the 3âÂÂ1 victory against Internazionale the following week, also scoring his first-ever goal for Roma. Florenzi ended his first full season with the Roma first team, making 36 Serie A appearances and scoring three goals. On 31 July 2013, Florenzi scored and assisted a goal in a 3âÂÂ1 over the MLS All-stars in the 2013 MLS All-Star Game, and was named the MLS All-Star Game MVP.
During the 2013âÂÂ14 Serie A season, Florenzi helped guide Roma to a second-place finish and a return to Champions League football for the first time since the 2010âÂÂ11 season. Florenzi also featured in all ten of Roma's victories from the start of the season, a Serie A record, scoring against Livorno, Parma, Bologna and Inter during the run. On 12 January 2014, Florenzi scored a fantastic, bicycle kick goal to open the scoring in Roma's 4âÂÂ0 victory against Genoa. Florenzi played in 36 of Roma's 38 Serie A fixtures during the season.
Florenzi made his first appearance of the 2014âÂÂ15 Serie A season on 30 August 2014 as a second-half substitute in the 2âÂÂ0 victory against Fiorentina. He then started the 0âÂÂ1 away victory against Empoli on 13 September. Florenzi made his Champions League debut as a substitute for the injured Juan Iturbe in the 5âÂÂ1 group stage victory against CSKA Moscow on 17 September. Florenzi scored his first goal of the season as Roma won 2âÂÂ0 against Cagliari, having set up Mattia Destro for the opener.
On 16 September 2015, Florenzi scored the tying goal from 50 yards out against reigning champions, Barcelona when he spotted the goalkeeper at the edge of his box during the group stage of the Champions League, resulting in a 1âÂÂ1 draw. The goal was later named one of the three final nominees for the 2015 FIFA Puskás Award.
On 26 October 2016, Florenzi suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee during Roma's 3âÂÂ1 away win against Sassuolo, causing him to be out for at least four months. On 17 February 2017, Florenzi was ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a further tear of the same ligament in his first week back in training. On 16 September 2017, he made his return in Roma's 3âÂÂ0 home victory over Hellas Verona.
On 30 January 2020, Florenzi was loaned to Valencia CF until 30 June 2020.
On 11 September 2020, Florenzi joined Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain on a season-long loan with an option to buy. He was given the number 24 shirt. Two days later, he made his debut for PSG in a 0âÂÂ1 loss against Marseille. On 2 October 2020, Florenzi scored his first goal at the Parisian club, in a match against Angers that ended in a 6âÂÂ1 victory.
On 19 May 2021, Florenzi started for PSG in their 2âÂÂ0 win over Monaco in the 2021 Coupe de France Final. His loan ended on 30 June 2021.
On 21 August 2021, AC Milan announced the signing of Florenzi from Roma on an initial loan deal, with the option to make the transfer permanent. Florenzi signed for the team until 30 June 2022. On First of October, Florenzi underwent surgery to his partially torn medial meniscus in his left knee. He was back on the pitch almost after 2 months against Fiorentina.
He scored his first goal for Milan on 22 December against Empoli in eventual 4âÂÂ2 win, it was also his first goal from a free-kick in Serie A. On 6 April 2022, he underwent a surgery on his left knee to repair the internal meniscus. On 8 May against Verona, he played his first match since the injury, coming on as a substitute and scoring the third in 3âÂÂ1 win for Milan. In total, Florenzi played 30 matches for Milan this season, scoring 2 goals, contributing to the club's 19th Scudetto; it was Florenzi's first Serie A title.
On 1 July 2022, AC Milan announced the signing of Florenzi from Roma on a permanent basis. The defender has signed a contract with the club lasting until 30 June 2025. He suffered a hamstring injury in early September 2022, and was successfully operated by surgeon Lasse Lempainen in Turku, Finland.
On 28 July 2024, during the friendly match Milan-Manchester City, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx in New York City, Florenzi suffered a very serious injury and was stretchered off. Subsequent medical tests revealed a ruptured cruciate ligament and lateral meniscus in his right knee.
On 6 January 2025, Milan won the final of the 2024âÂÂ25 Supercoppa Italiana 3âÂÂ2 against Inter Milan in Riyadh, Florenzi's first time winning the Supercoppa Italiana. On 24 May, he made his final appearance for AC Milan in a 2âÂÂ0 home victory against Monza. He officially left the club on 30 June 2025 upon the expiration of his contract.
On 27 August 2025, Florenzi announced his retirement from professional football.
On 14 November 2012, Florenzi made his debut for the senior team under coach Cesare Prandelli in a friendly match against France. He was part of the Italy under-21 squad for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Israel, as the Azzurrini reached the final in a 4âÂÂ2 loss against Spain. His only goal of the tournament came in the 4âÂÂ0 group stage victory against the host nation.
On 15 October 2013, Florenzi scored his first senior goal on his competitive debut in a World Cup qualifying match against Armenia that ended in a 2âÂÂ2 draw at the Stadio San Paolo in Naples. Florenzi was not included in the 30-man preliminary squad named by Cesare Prandelli for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. On 30 August 2014, new Italy head coach Antonio Conte named Florenzi in his first squad for the upcoming European qualifying matches. On 31 May 2016, he was named to Conte's 23-man Italy squad for UEFA Euro 2016. In June 2021, he was included in Italy's squad for UEFA Euro 2020 by manager Roberto Mancini. On 11 July, Florenzi won the European Championship with Italy following a 3âÂÂ2 penalty shoot-out victory against England at Wembley Stadium in the final, after a 1âÂÂ1 draw in extra-time â where he replaced Emerson Palmieri in the second half.
Florenzi is a tenacious, tactically intelligent and well-rounded player who is extremely versatile. Although initially he was usually deployed as a central midfielder, in the "mezzala" role, he is a box-to-box player capable of playing anywhere in midfield, and he has recently also been deployed as a winger, and even as an attacking full-back or wing-back on either flank throughout his career, although he favours the right side. Florenzi is a quick, energetic and hard-working player who is effective at aiding his team both offensively and defensively due to his pace and stamina; when used in more offensive midfield roles, he has also demonstrated an aptitude for making offensive runs. He is gifted with good technical skills, distribution, and crossing ability, and despite his small stature, he is effective in the air; he is also a good striker of the ball, and an accurate set-piece taker. Florenzi has cited Cesc FÃÂ bregas as his role model.
Paris Saint-Germain
AC Milan
Italy U21
Italy
Individual