So Long, Leonardo Spinazzola

After more than 150 games, seven goals, and 17 assists, Leonardo Spinazzola is poised to leave the Giallorossi. Roma won’t renew the left-back with the nicest Colgate smile in club football, so after July 1st, he’s a free agent. There are rumors Spinazzola might join Roma’s Southern rivals Napoli, who want him to replace Mario Rui, another former Roma player. I’m not gonna lie, it’s gonna be strange to watch Leo in other colors than red and yellow.

Spinazzola’s Roman career started in 2019, so he was definitely part of the ‘old guard’ on the team. He was involved in a (financially strange, but shhh, you never know if FIFA is keeping an eye on this blog) swap deal between Juve and Roma, with Luca Pellegrini also part of the package. Roma got a 26-year-old Italian left-back and international from Juventus, so expectations were high.

Leonardo would play in more than 150 official games for Roma, winning the Conference League, reaching the Europa League final, and winning Euro 2021 with Italy. He suffered a grave injury during that tournament while bossing that left flank and establishing his name as one of Europe’s finest left-backs.... when he was healthy.

Curiously, that last sentence is quintessential Spinazzola. Talentwise, Leonardo was perhaps one of Roma’s best left-backs of all time, next to players like Candela, Tonetto, Kolarov, or Nela. But damn, those injuries sure hurt his career.

Around 2020-2021, Spinazzola was in his prime, and he showcased that during Euro 2021. A dangerous, fast, marauding fullback, making good runs and with a decent cross. It's safe to say Leonardo was never the same after that Achilles injury. Roma thought they’d hit the jackpot, but bad luck struck hard, and we were left with a broken (physical and mental) Spinazzola. His entire 2021-2022 season went down the drain.

Luckily, the next season, he was back in full force and would even play 40 games. We saw some glimpses of the best version of Spinazzola in Mourinho’s 3-5-2/3-4-2-1, but consistently good performances? Not really. And the past season, well... Let’s just say most of Roma’s team was below average, and Spinazzola himself had some troubles. Just like all our other fullbacks, really, no one really stood out.

By the end, Daniele opted for Angelino as the main left-back, mostly because Leonardo had muscle problems, so DDR had no choice. That same Angelino, four years younger than Spinazzola, moved to Roma permanently while Leonardo’s contract expired. I’m guessing the club isn’t too eager to extend the contract of an injury-prone player with a rather hefty salary.

It makes sense to focus on youth, and it comes as no surprise, but still, saying goodbye to a player after five rollercoaster years is not easy. Spinazzola never had a bad influence or wasn’t a pariah in the locker room. He had a nice understanding with the other Italians, like Cristante, Mancini, and Pellegrini. So yeah, I’m a bit sad that he left.

So, how do we grade Leonardo’s career in Rome? Was it a success? A letdown? Something in between? Better than expected? Worse? Could it have been a spectacular career if he was made of adamantium or titanium?

I’m going for the easy answer: it was ‘ok.’ He won a trophy, reached two European finals, and played 30+ games in four of his five seasons at the club. Only his 2021-2022 season was a disappointment, but you can hardly blame Leonardo for his injury—just plain bad luck.

But a successful career in Rome? I beg to differ. Candela won a Scudetto. Nela, too, as well as three Coppe Italia. Kolarov scored many important goals, had a magical left foot, and was rarely injured. Tonetto was part of that amazing Spalletti side between 2006 and 2009.

Spinazzola can brag about a Conference League trophy, but 1) maybe we are giving it too much weight, and 2) he rarely featured in that campaign due to his injury. In Serie A, his best finish was fifth (his maiden season under Fonseca). He also never played CL at Roma. Ironically, his best performances since 2019 are perhaps with the NT in 2021.

Who knows what would have happened if Spinazzola remained on top of his game between 2021 and 2024? I’m sure we would rank him higher on the list, alongside those other players I mentioned. But sadly, it will remain a ‘what if’ for the rest of our Giallorossi lives.

Now watch him win the Scudetto with Conte’s Napoli next year because that’s how former Roma players roll.