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Is He Worthy?
Potentially, Aquilani is the ideal player to replace Xabi Alonso.
He has refined feet, an excellent positional sense and he also has
a good shot on goal. The only doubt: his physical condition. Too
often he has been out injured. In any case, he has the personality
to play for a club like Liverpool, even though he will have to
learn to be more consistent.
On The Pitch
Alberto Aquilani is a central midfielder with offensive tendencies,
with good feet (he can use both, even though the right foot is his
favourite). He has also been employed as a classical,
between-the-lines playmaker, but he has shown his best form when
given full control of the midfield.
He's a very dynamic player, he has a good long-range shot (many of
his greatest goals have been efforts from outside the area) but
he’s also good at getting into the area untracked. He makes his
presence felt on the pitch, he has a good temperament, despite his
injuries, he doesn’t exactly fear the physical battle and he has,
like all Italians, a strong positional sense.
He almost never loses his head (even under pressure); this is
demonstrated by relatively low yellow-card count (nine in the
league since playing for Roma) and he has never been sent
off.
Off The Pitch
Aquilani has always been described as a calm and reserved lad.
Hailing from the Roman quarter of Montesacro (where he’s considered
an idol), he doesn’t like to be in the spotlight, he’s a pretty
simple person, very tied to his family (he has a tattoo with the
initials of his closest family members). Then there is his
girlfriend, actress Michela Quattrociocche, who has recently
tattooed the player’s initials on her neck to show her love for
Alberto.
He won’t have problems adjusting to England, even though certainly
Rome was his home. He’s not the type who talks a lot in the
dressing room or on the pitch. In the Eternal City he was very well
liked. Being an intelligent person, he’ll manage to find his space
also in Liverpool…
The Man & The Fans
Despite being just one year younger than Daniele De Rossi, Aquilani
is still considered the boy in the group at Roma. The fans have
always liked him, especially for being a Roman 100 per cent.
Obviously, compared to the likes Totti and De Rossi, the Roman
people’s love for him is different. Aquilani was not considered to
be on their level, but he was still very well seen by the Roma
fans. The phrase most often said to describe him was: “He’s good,
but too often injured…”
Potential
Roma needed to get some money. Few people thought it would be up to
him to pack his bags, especially because he was considered a 'son
of Rome'.
Nevertheless, Liverpool could certainly represent the ideal place
for Aquilani to make a jump in quality. A new environment, a new
coach, and a team that seems to suit his qualities. In Rome, each
time he came on the pitch, he was called on to make the difference;
in Liverpool, he’ll have more time.
Value For Money
The price paid by Liverpool for Aquilani (about £18
million) is good value, because the boy has much room for
improvement and, above all else, was born in 1984.
Roma certainly have done a great deal economically, but if the
player will do well on the pitch, Liverpool will also say that they
have not spent too much.
The boy, on paper, is worth the money spent to bring him to
Anfield.
Expert Opinions
Ubaldo Righetti (former AS Roma player, 1980-1987 and voice of
Roma Channel): “Aquilani has not betrayed Roma, absolutely
not. It was a painful choice, both for the club and the lad. He is
from Rome, he loves Rome and he never would have left, but in life
you have to make choices. Roma need money and the lad needs to have
new experiences. The club has always taken care of him but they had
reached a point where they had to make some decisions.
"I think Aquilani will do great things at Liverpool. English
football is different to Italian football but Aquilani has
characteristics that will allow him to adapt himself well. He just
needs to find the consistency he lacked in Rome. Certainly he will
need to adapt but, knowing him, I know he will do his best. If he
finds continuity, he will do exceptional things at Liverpool.
"He’s going to a team of a very high level, one of the best clubs
in the world, for him it’s a great new opportunity which he has to
take with both hands.”
Attilio Tesser (Aquilani’s coach at Triestina, 2003-04):
“He immediately showed he was not only able to play as a central
midfielder but also in one of the vertices of a diamond formation,
and he immediately showed great temperament. I’d also like to
underline his very positive family environment. His parents are
exceptional people.”
ONE MORE THING...
It’s said that, in the past, Aquilani almost became a Lazio
player.
Here’s what he said in an exclusive interview to
Calcio2000 – November 2007:
“I want to clear up this story about Lazio because it’s been talked
about a lot. As a child I played with Spas Montesacro, my local
team. One day I accompanied a friend of mine to the training,
without even knowing that that team was a satellite club of
Lazio.
"A Lazio observer asked me to train, I did it and, at the end of
the training, they said they wanted to get me. But I did not sign
anything with Lazio, I simply went to training with a friend.
"After refusing to join the Biancocelesti, I waited for a month,
and then Roma proposed me to join their youth ranks. It should be
clear to everyone: I don’t and never will support Lazio in any
way.”
Souce : Goal.com