On The Overlap On Tour podcast, former Roma leader Daniele De Rossi gives a heartfelt account of his time at Roma, revealing an unquenchable love for the club and a firm stance on his career choices.
De Rossi opens his article with a deep analysis of the qualities of Roma fans: "In Rome, soccer is closely related to everyone's life. Although they are not the top giants like Real Madrid, Roma fans still value the hard work and loyalty of the players, even if the team has no income. They honor the spirit of struggle of the players, even if you are not Roma, as long as you do your best for the team, they will also give you support."
Referring to his early days as a member of Roma's youth team, De Rossi was overcome with emotion: "I joined Roma's youth camp at the age of 12, when the training environment was far inferior to today's. I used to sit on the bench and watch my teammates struggle. At first, I often sat on the bench and watched my teammates struggle on the field. However, I was never discouraged and knew that I needed to get stronger. By chance, I switched to midfield, a transition that shaped my career forever."
Talking about his journey to the first team, De Rossi was full of emotion: "Under the discerning eye of Coach Capello, I finally got to play for Roma's first team. At first I was a substitute, but I gave my best in every game. In those seasons, although we didn't win the Serie A title, we won a lot of victories, and the fans are still proud of us."
De Rossi reveals how close he came to joining Manchester United and other giants: "During my career, I was close to leaving Roma and preferred Manchester United. Ferguson and Lippi both expressed great interest in me. But after much deliberation, I chose to stay, convinced that this was the place for me to be and that I could maximize my value.
Talking about the Phonegate incident and the 2006 World Cup, De Rossi recalled: "It was a difficult period for Italian soccer, but the support of the fans gave us endless strength. At the World Cup, I was sent off for an elbow and missed a lot of games. Coach Lippi always believed in me and told me that if we reached the final, I would play again. In the end, we won the World Cup as we wanted to and I played in the final."
De Rossi concluded by emphasizing, "During my career at Roma, I have never regretted my decision. Even though I didn't win the Serie A title, the days I spent fighting for the team and the laughter and tears I shared with the fans are the most valuable treasures in my life."
