Like Douglas Maicon before him, AS Roma will revitalize the career of a fullback once more and this time he hails from London. There are many comparisons to be made between the two fullbacks – both have played instrumental roles in their former clubs’ Champions League victories whilst performing admirably for their national teams when called upon. Thrown under the bus by Jose Mourinho after starring as a pivotal contributor for many years, Cole has everything to prove in Rome. Virtually handed the starting role by Rudi Garcia, his arrival signals something that was lacking in previous seasons on the Roman flank – consistency, and expertise.
Ashley Cole oozes class, experience and the star power to put this Roma side over the top. It is as simple as that – Roma has signed the player that will assist them in their Champions League adventure. The former husband of Cheryl Cole has come to a club which respects him for what he brings to the table and if it all works out, it will be a decision that both parties will come to be thankful for. The Cheryl Cole reference is actually quite a valid point to be made – the Paparazzi will flock; those who are fans of his may tune in and perhaps purchase a shirt or two. It is as much as a marketing motivated signing as it is a positional requirement. Compared to where Roma are coming from, left-back was an urgent concern that needed to be addressed and it could not have been in a better fashion.
Last season the left-back position was exploited by opposing teams who knew they were coming up against either a veteran not in top match condition or a youth with tendencies to venture up the pitch and render his post barren. On his day Federico Balzaretti is one of the top fullbacks in world football. Unfortunately due to injury, he has not played up to the standards he is capable of performing to since 2012. Meanwhile the youngster Dodo has been loaned out to rivals Inter Milan to gain experience, he will play a minor role as he has with Roma, in this case deputizing for fan favourite Yuto Nagatomo. Anyone who took in the vital January clash between Roma and top of the table Juventus can understand why this departure is truly a blessing in disguise.
With all competition eliminated, Cole and Balzaretti will be utilized interchangeably much like Torosidis (he of a fantastic World Cup run) and Maicon along the right side. This works favourably as all of the above mentioned players are in the latter stages of their careers – they will need periods to rest. Romagnoli slots in as the spare having proved himself as the next Roman in line to don the yellow-red shirt and is capable of slotting in at any position along the backline. Roma needs Cole and Cole needs Roma. It’s a win-win situation, one which stands to revive a career wrongly stalled and allow him to soar to greater heights.
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