Well, this is awkward.

So apparently I'm now the villain in some bizarre youth football drama that sounds like it was written by someone who's never actually been in a dressing room. Roma - my former club, the place where I spent four and a half years of my life - just put out a statement claiming I walked into their youth team's changing room after Fiorentina beat them 2-1 in the Primavera semi-final and started throwing punches at teenagers.

I'm 25 years old. Do they really think I'm going around hitting kids?

What Actually Happened (According to People Who Were Actually There)

Here's the thing that's driving me absolutely mental about this whole situation. I went into that dressing room to congratulate the Fiorentina lads first - normal stuff, right? Then I popped my head into the Roma room because, despite everything, I still have respect for that club. Four and a half seasons there, man. You don't just forget that.

I wanted to tell the young lads they'd had a good season. That's it. That's literally all I was trying to do.

But then they started with the insults. And not the playful banter kind - the nasty, personal stuff that makes your stomach drop. So I left. Because I'm not an idiot, and I could see where this was heading.

Roma's Version of Events (AKA Pure Fiction)

According to their official statement - and God, the formal language they used makes it sound like I committed war crimes - I "allegedly entered the Primavera team's dressing room after the match and engaged in provocative behaviour towards some of the Giallorossi youth players." Then apparently "two players from the Primavera squad were reportedly physically struck."

They even threw in this line about how "AS Roma cannot but firmly condemn any form of aggressive conduct or behaviour that does not align with the values of sport." Classic corporate speak when you want to sound righteous but don't actually have any proof.

The whole thing reads like they had their lawyers write it while covering their eyes.

Why This Stings More Than It Should

Look, I've been through the wringer with injuries, transfers, loan moves that didn't work out the way anyone hoped. When I joined Roma back in 2018 from Inter for about £4million, I thought I'd found my home. Spent the better part of five years there before Galatasaray came calling with £13.5m in February 2023.

Then Villa happened. Thirty-nine appearances, three goals, and honestly? Some of the most frustrating football of my career. Not because of the club - they were brilliant to me - but because nothing seemed to click the way it should have.

This season started at Atalanta, ended at Fiorentina (13 appearances across all competitions, if you're keeping track). And now this.

The Truth About Dressing Room Politics

Anyone who's played professional football knows how these situations actually work. You don't just walk into a room full of angry teenagers who've just lost a semi-final and start swinging. That's not how any of this works.

But you know what does happen? Kids get emotional after big losses. They say things they probably shouldn't. And sometimes, when a former player shows up trying to be supportive, it gets misinterpreted or blown completely out of proportion.

The fact that Roma felt the need to put out an official statement about this tells you everything you need to know about how desperate they are to control the narrative.

Moving Forward (Because What Else Can You Do?)

I'm not going to pretend this doesn't hurt. Having your former club publicly accuse you of hitting their youth players is the kind of thing that follows you around, even when it's complete nonsense.

But here's what I know: the people who were actually in that room know what happened. The truth has a way of coming out eventually, even when it takes longer than you'd like.

For now, I'm focused on finishing the season with Fiorentina and trying to figure out what comes next. Because at 25, I've still got plenty of football left in me - and hopefully fewer bizarre dressing room controversies.

Though knowing my luck, I probably just jinxed myself.

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External Links

soccer.com

• SOCCER.COM's Shin Guard Guide

adidas.com

• Adidas Football Cleats

prodirectsoccer.com

• Pro:Direct Soccer

puma.com

• PUMA Football Gear

decathlon.co.uk

• Decathlon

How To

How To Pick the Right Protective Gear for Football

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