Daniele de Rossi has been a one-club man so far in his career – he joined the Roma youth academy in 2000 as a 17-year-old and when asked, continues to rule out a move away from his club even though his contract ends at the end of the 2016-17 campaign. Born in Rome, he is one of the few players in the modern sport who have refused to leave his side for any other. In a recent interview with SI.com, De Rossi claimed that he was never tempted to leave Roma.
The Italian midfielder has been courted by many big name clubs – Real Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea have been some of the few in recent times who’ve tried to lure him away but in vain. In his interview, he explains that the club is part of his identity and leaving is out of the question.
De Rossi seems to be set on the same path as his longtime teammate Francesco Totti. Totti has been a career Roma football player and is scheduled to retire at the end of the 2016-17 season. The midfielder finds much in common between him and Totti – both men feel an intense loyalty to their club that no amount of money, fame or success can supersede.
His loyalty to the club is deeply entwined with his love for the city he was born in. Being a local makes him especially attached to the club he plays for. To him, the fans in the stadium are his friends and family because he shares with them a similar love and passion. They might be strangers but their identity as Romans binds them together.
De Rossi’s refusal to leave Roma has often been labelled as a lack of ambition but he doesn’t see it that way. His ambitions are not tied to just any club that might bring him glory but Roma specifically. They’ve just won 3 Scudetti in the last 90 years and the greater glory for De Rossi would be to win the Serie A with Roma.
Being one of the most well-paid players in the game holds no fascination for him either. He insists that Roma pay him well and more money can never be a motivation for him. He sums up his belief very succinctly when he says, “The one feeling bigger than the pride you feel when you play for Rome is the sadness you feel without Rome.”
Daniele de Rossi is a rare breed of player – the type who value club over wealth and titles.
