The Ex: Leandro Greco on Roma, Verona and Champions League goals

Roma was the team he dreamed of, and the team he would play for, eventually - making 47 appearances in all competitions.

Leandro Greco is now plying his trade at Sudtirol in Serie C but he spent a good portion of his career at Hellas Verona – the club he has made the most appearances for (92).

He is also one of the 42 players to have scored at least one Champions League goal for Roma. His came away to Basel and it ended up being his only one for the Giallorossi.

“And to think I shouldn’t even have been playing that game…” he recalls.

Shall we start from there then?

“Let’s start from there – the highest point of my career. It was 10 years ago in Switzerland, on 3 November 2010. I travelled with the team to Basel for the Champions League match but initially I wasn’t even due to be on the bench – it was going to be [Aleandro] Rosi. Then [Claudio] Ranieri and the coaching staff realised they didn’t have any options in midfield so they chose me. It was a sliding doors moment in my life.”

You came on for Jeremy Menez in the second half.

“That’s right. Jeremy had given us the lead in the first half and I came on when we were 2-1 up and scored the third to make it safe. It finished 3-2 and that win ended up being crucial for us to secure our place in the knockout rounds.”

You scored again four days later in the derby but it was disallowed.

“It felt like there was some sort of special aura about me in that period – everything I tried on the pitch came off! I was stopped short in my tracks while celebrating that goal, though. It’s a shame because it would have been another dream come true, but it turned out all right anyway because we won 2-0.

"We won three derbies that year – two in the league and one in the cup – having won both fixtures the season before as well. Five in a row – not bad!”

The following season, 2011-12, was your last at Roma.

“I guess I wasn’t ready to deal with the pressure at the time. As a Roman and a Romanista, playing for Roma is not always easy. I think you feel a greater sense of responsibility. And the criticism can be hard to take – I’m speaking for myself, of course.”

What annoyed you most?

“There’s no sense of proportion among the fans and local media. The constant highs and lows affect your mood and it’s not good for the dressing-room atmosphere. I guess you need to filter it out but it’s not easy to deal with all the noise.”

You played for Hellas Verona in five seasons and three leagues, across different periods. Do you have any special memories?

“I first went there as a boy then I returned as an adult. The fans are very passionate about the team. I do feel I could have done a little better, especially in my second spell there. We had a great team in 2015-16, with [Gianluca] Pazzini and [Luca] Toni in attack. We got off to a good start too but sadly ended up getting relegated.”

You drew with Roma in the first game that season.

“It’s strange when you play against Roma – so many thoughts and feelings run through your mind. I remember that game clearly because we played really well. I remember thinking we’d go on to have a great season, but ultimately we didn’t.”

There’s another Verona v Roma match on the opening day of Serie A coming up this Saturday.

“I’m curious to see how the season begins. We’ll see how well [Andrea] Pirlo is able to get his ideas across at Juventus. And it’ll be interesting to see how the other teams look after what’s been an unusual close season lasting just over a month.

"In any case, Verona v Roma is a tough one to call. It’s the first game so anything can happen. I’m looking forward to seeing it.”

I realised my dream, as a kid born in the suburbs of Rome - to play for Roma

- Leandro Greco