The quiet maestro: Riccardo Romano, the unsung heart of Sassuolo

It is a grey December morning in Modena, and Riccardo Romano arrives at the café with the unhurried ease of a man who has nothing to prove. The 37-year-old, who retired after the 2061/62 season, is out of the game now, but his presence still draws nods from the older patrons—men who remember the days when Sassuolo punched above their weight and Romano was the steady hand in the middle.

You played for seven clubs in a career spanning over two decades. Which chapter do you think of first?

Romano smiles, stirring his espresso slowly. "Sassuolo, without a doubt. It wasn't the biggest or the most glamorous, but it was mine. Seven seasons, over 300 games. I grew up there, in a footballing sense. The people, the rhythm of the town, the way the club wanted to play—it all fit. When I arrived in 2051, I was 25 and still trying to find my identity. By the time I left, I knew exactly who I was as a player."

You won the UEFA Europa Conference League with Lazio in 2044, your first senior honour. What do you remember of that night?

"I was just a kid, barely out of the academy. I didn't play in the final, but I was on the bench, living every moment. The noise, the tension, the explosion at the final whistle. It taught me what it means to win something with a team. That feeling never left me, even when I was playing in less celebrated places."

You were named La Giovane Italia U17 Best Midfielder in 2044. Did that award put pressure on you as a young player?

"Pressure? Maybe a little. But it also gave me belief. I knew I could compete with the best of my generation. At Lazio, though, the path to the first team was blocked by some very good players. I had to go to England to find regular football, and that was the making of me."

You moved to Leicester City in the middle of the 2045/46 season. How difficult was it to adapt to English football?

"Very difficult at first. The pace, the physicality, the weather—everything was different. But it made me tougher. I learned to play with less time on the ball, to be more direct. I scored my first senior goals there, and I'll always be grateful for that. It was a necessary step."

Then came Lille, and then Sassuolo. What did Sassuolo see in you that others didn't?

"I think they understood that I was a player who could connect things—defence to attack, simple passes, intelligent movement. I wasn't a scorer, not a headline-maker. Ten goals in 302 games says it all. But I could make a team tick. Sassuolo needed that, and I needed a home. It was a perfect marriage."

Your time at Sassuolo coincided with the club's rise to continental recognition. What was the atmosphere like during those years?

"Electric. Every season we felt we could do something special. The fans were incredible—they appreciated hard work and loyalty, and I gave them both. We weren't the richest, but we had a soul. I think that's why people still remember that team fondly."

After Sassuolo, you had spells at Fiorentina and Ipswich Town. Did you ever consider returning to Sassuolo before retiring?

"I thought about it, but the timing never worked out. My body was telling me it was time to stop. I gave everything I had to every shirt I wore, but Sassuolo was where my heart was. I'd have loved to finish there, but football doesn't always write the ending you want."

You are now out of the game. Do you miss it?

"Some days, yes. I miss the dressing room, the rhythm of a matchday. But I don't miss the pain, the travel, the constant pressure. I'm enjoying a quieter life now. I watch Sassuolo when I can, and I still get nervous before kick-off. That never goes away."

What do you think of modern football, compared to when you started?

"It's faster, more tactical, more physical. The young players are incredibly well prepared. But sometimes I think we've lost a bit of the romance—the maverick, the unpredictable. Maybe I'm just old-fashioned."

Finally, what would you like your legacy to be?

"I don't think about legacy. I just hope that the people I played with, and the fans who watched me, remember that I gave my best every single day. If they do, that's enough for me."