Lazio signs an agreement until 2024 for Benito Mussolini’s great-grandson Romano Floriani Mussolini
Romano Floriani Mussolini has played for the Lazio U23 “Primavera” in recent weeks and is now making the leap to the first team after declaring his ambition to play in Serie A; Floriani Mussolini: “Here at Lazio I am judged only for how I play and not because my surname is Mussolini”.
Lazio hired Romano Floriani Mussolini, great-grandson of former Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini, with a professional contract until 2024 after impressing for their youth teams.
The 18-year-old right-back has previously played in Lazio’s U23 “Primavera” and in the U18 team, led by former Lazio striker Tommaso Rocchi.
Floriani Mussolini is the son of Benito Mussolini’s granddaughter Alessandra, an Italian politician, television personality and former member of the European Parliament.
He has decided to use both of his surnames, as permitted by Italian state law, and says he is not troubled by his ties to his great-grandfather.
“Here at Lazio I am judged only for the way I play and not because my surname is Mussolini,” he told the Roman newspaper Il Messaggero earlier this month.
The far-right links of Lazio
A minority of Lazio supporters, called “ultras”, have links with the far right. Numerous banners expressing pride for the fascist movement have been waved over the years at the North Curve of the Olympic Stadium, including one that reads “Rome is fascist”.
In 2005 the former player Paolo Di Canio greeted the Fascist fans of Lazio in the Curva Nord after the derby won against Roma. After receiving a ban, Di Canio said: “I am a fascist, not a racist”.
In 2017 some Lazio fans stuck Anne Frank’s anti-Semitic stickers all over the city on a Roma shirt.
Floriani Mussolini is the son of Benito Mussolini’s granddaughter Alessandra, an Italian politician, television personality and former member of the European Parliament.
He has decided to use both of his surnames, as permitted by Italian state law, and says he is not troubled by his ties to his great-grandfather.
“Here at Lazio I am judged only for how I play and not because my surname is Mussolini,” he told the Roman newspaper Il Messaggero.
“I hope I can make my Spring debut one day”.
