Romano Floriani Mussolini

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Romano Floriani Mussolini

| image = 1Ggj7nCdg_600x600_1.jpg

| image_size = 150

| caption =

| full_name = Romano Benito Floriani Mussolini

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|01|27|df=y}}

| birth_place = Rome, Italy

| height = 1.88 m

| position = Right-back, right midfielder

| currentclub = Cremonese
(on loan from Lazio)

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2016

| youthclubs1 = Roma

| youthyears2 = 2016–2022

| youthclubs2 = Lazio

| youthyears3 = 2018

| youthclubs3 = → Vigor Perconti (loan)

| years1 = 2022–

| clubs1 = Lazio

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2023–2024

| clubs2 = → Pescara (loan)

| caps2 = 28

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2024–2025

| clubs3 = → Juve Stabia (loan)

| caps3 = 33

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2025–

| clubs4 = → Cremonese (loan)

| caps4 = 0

| goals4 = 0

| club-update = 15 May 2025

}}

Romano Benito Floriani Mussolini (born 27 January 2003),{{cite web |url=https://forzaitalianfootball.com/2021/02/benito-mussolinis-great-grandson-joins-lazios-primavera/ |title=Benito Mussolini's great-grandson joins Lazio's Primavera |publisher=Forza Italian Football |date=14 September 2014 |access-date=3 February 2021 |archive-date=2 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202232058/https://forzaitalianfootball.com/2021/02/benito-mussolinis-great-grandson-joins-lazios-primavera/ |url-status=live }} also referred to as Mussolini Jr. by Italian media,{{cite web |author= |url=https://www.ilmessaggero.it/sport/calcio/mussolini_lazio_romano_cosa_ha_detto_ultima_ora_3_febbraio_2021-5741535.html |title=Mussolini Jr: "Alla Lazio il mio cognome non pesa, qui sono solo Romano" |publisher=Il Messaggero |language=Italian |date= |access-date=3 February 2021 |archive-date=3 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203081415/https://www.ilmessaggero.it/sport/calcio/mussolini_lazio_romano_cosa_ha_detto_ultima_ora_3_febbraio_2021-5741535.html |url-status=live }} is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a right-back for {{Italian football updater|Cremonese}} club Cremonese, on loan from Lazio.

He is the son of politician Alessandra Mussolini, the grandson of pianist Romano Mussolini and the great-grandson of the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.

Early life

Floriani Mussolini was born in 2003 as the third child of Mauro Floriani and politician Alessandra Mussolini.{{cite web |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-a/2021/02/02/romano-mussolini-lazio-primavera |title=Romano Mussolini, alla Lazio Primavera il figlio di Alessandra | Sky Sport |publisher=Sky Sport |language=Italian |date=3 February 2021 |access-date=3 February 2021 |archive-date=2 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202201126/https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-a/2021/02/02/romano-mussolini-lazio-primavera |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author=Giovanna Tedde |url=https://www.donnaglamour.it/alessandra-mussolini-figli/curiosita/ |title=Chi sono Caterina, Clarissa e Romano, figli di Alessandra Mussolini |publisher=Donna Glamour |language=Italian |date= |access-date=3 February 2021 |archive-date=26 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126161823/https://www.donnaglamour.it/alessandra-mussolini-figli/curiosita/ |url-status=live }} His grandfather, Romano Mussolini, was a pianist, and his great-grandfather was Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.{{cite web|date=3 February 2021|title=Great-grandson of fascist dictator Mussolini joins Lazio's under-19 team|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/02/great-grandson-of-fascist-dictator-benito-mussolini-joins-lazio-under-19-team|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203010534/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/02/great-grandson-of-fascist-dictator-benito-mussolini-joins-lazio-under-19-team|archive-date=3 February 2021|access-date=3 February 2021|work=The Guardian}} His great-aunt is actress Sophia Loren.

He has a double surname as a result. This was done as an exception to Italian name customs with Italian civil authorities and Roman Catholic Church agreeing to it at his baptism as double surnames were not usually allowed under Italian law at the time of his birth.{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/europe-travel/italy/il-duces-name-is-all-right-for-my-son-t0b68nnjjbw |title=Il Duce's name is all right for my son |work=The Times |url-access=subscription |date=9 October 2003 |access-date=3 February 2021 |archive-date=5 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805065743/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/il-duces-name-is-all-right-for-my-son-t0b68nnjjbw |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.thelocal.it/20161110/landmark-case-means-italian-mums-can-give-children-their-surname |title=Landmark case means Italian mums can give children their surname |publisher=The Local |date=10 November 2016 |access-date=3 February 2021 |archive-date=6 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206151523/https://www.thelocal.it/20161110/landmark-case-means-italian-mums-can-give-children-their-surname |url-status=live }}

Career

Floriani Mussolini started his football career by playing in the youth teams at Roma, before moving to play for Lazio when he was 13.{{cite web |url=https://www.footballscouting.it/lazio/lazio-floriani-mussolini/ |title=Lazio, dalla Roma arriva il 2003 Floriani Mussolini |language=Italian |publisher=Footballscouting.it |date= |access-date=3 February 2021 |archive-date=5 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805065748/https://www.footballscouting.it/lazio/lazio-floriani-mussolini/ |url-status=live }} Whilst at Lazio, he was loaned out in 2018 to amateur club Vigor Perconti.{{cite web |url=https://www.gazzettaregionale.it/under-15-dil/2018/01/03/news/vigor-perconti-dalla-lazio-arriva-floriani-mussolini-55638/ |title=Vigor Perconti: dalla Lazio arriva Floriani Mussolini |publisher=Gazzetta Regionale |language=Italian |date=3 January 2019 |access-date=2 March 2020 |archive-date=1 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401223626/https://www.gazzettaregionale.it/under-15-dil/2018/01/03/news/vigor-perconti-dalla-lazio-arriva-floriani-mussolini-55638/ |url-status=live }} This came after he did not get any game time at Lazio for two years before he made his debut for the under-17s.{{cite web |author=Agenzia ANSA |url=https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/sport/2021/02/02/lazio-il-tecnico-mussolini-nome-non-conta-ha-qualita_16cfd062-1fe8-4578-99a4-201eb23e0f4d.html |title=Lazio: il tecnico "Mussolini? Il nome non conta, ha le qualità" |publisher=ANSA |language=Italian |date= |access-date=3 February 2021 |archive-date=2 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202221406/http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/sport/2021/02/02/lazio-il-tecnico-mussolini-nome-non-conta-ha-qualita_16cfd062-1fe8-4578-99a4-201eb23e0f4d.html |url-status=live }}

When asked if the player's name would limit his playing time, Lazio's youth coach Mauro Bianchessi stated: "The burdensome surname? I’ve never spoken to his parents, and the only thing that matters is whether a player deserves to play. Nothing else." He wears "Floriani M." on the back of his match shirts.{{cite web |url=https://www.dw.com/en/benito-mussolinis-great-grandson-named-in-lazio-squad-for-first-time/a-59611059 |title=Mussolini's great-grandson rides bench for Lazio |first=John |last=Silk |publisher=DW |date=2021-10-24 |access-date=2024-12-06}} In March 2021, he signed a professional senior contract with Lazio until 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11862/12255261/lazio-sign-benito-mussolinis-great-grandson-romano-floriani-mussolini-on-deal-until-2024 |title=Lazio sign Benito Mussolini's great-grandson Romano Floriani Mussolini on deal until 2024 |publisher=Sky Sports |date=24 March 2021 |access-date=26 March 2021 |archive-date=24 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324132513/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11862/12255261/lazio-sign-benito-mussolinis-great-grandson-romano-floriani-mussolini-on-deal-until-2024 |url-status=live }}

He was first called up to Lazio's first team on 24 October 2021, in a Serie A game against Hellas Verona as an unused substitute.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-24|title=Serie A: Mussolini's great-grandson, Romano Floriani Mussolini, in Lazio squad for Verona clash|url=https://www.firstpost.com/sports/serie-a-mussolinis-great-grandson-romano-floriani-mussolini-in-lazio-squad-for-verona-clash-10081811.html|access-date=2021-10-24|website=Firstpost|language=en}}

On 3 August 2023, Lazio announced to have loaned him to Serie C club Pescara, a team coached by former Biancazzurri boss Zdeněk Zeman.{{cite press release|url=https://www.sslazio.it/it/news/comunicati/romano-floriani-mussolini-ceduto-a-titolo-temporaneo|publisher=Lazio|language=it|date=3 August 2023|access-date=22 August 2023|title=ROMANO FLORIANI MUSSOLINI CEDUTO A TITOLO TEMPORANEO}}

On 5 July 2024, he joined Serie B side Juve Stabia on loan.{{cite press release|url=https://www.sslazio.it/it/news/comunicati/floriani-mussolini-alla-juve-stabia|publisher=Lazio|language=it|date=5 July 2024|access-date=17 July 2024|title=FLORIANI MUSSOLINI ALLA JUVE STABIA}}{{cite press release|url=https://www.ssjuvestabia.it/blog/s-s-juve-stabia-ufficiale-larrivo-di-floriani-mussolini/|publisher=Juve Stabia|language=it|date=5 July 2024|access-date=17 July 2024|title=FLORIANI MUSSOLINI ALLA JUVE STABIA}} Later that year, on 22 December, he scored his first goal in a 1–0 victory over Cesena.{{cite web |url=https://www.ilmessaggero.it/en/romano_floriani_mussolini_scores_first_professional_goal_for_juve_stabia-8555135.html |title=Romano Floriani Mussolini Scores First Professional Goal for Juve Stabia |publisher=Il Messaggero |date=22 December 2024 }} During the goal celebration, the stadium announcer called out his first name, "Romano", seven times, with fans responding by chanting "Mussolini" and giving fascist salutes.{{Cite news |last=Kingston |first=Kington |date=23 December 2024 |title=Italian football fans salute Mussolini’s goal-scoring great-grandson |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/italian-football-fans-salute-mussolinis-goal-scoring-great-grandson-lb7hftvzz |access-date=23 December 2024 |work=The Times}}{{cite news |last1=Kassam |first1=Ashifa |title=Juve Stabia fans appear to celebrate goal by Mussolini’s great-grandson with fascist salutes |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/dec/24/juve-stabia-cesena-romano-floriani-mussolini-investigation-fascist-salutes |work=The Guardian |date=24 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241224124650/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/dec/24/juve-stabia-cesena-romano-floriani-mussolini-investigation-fascist-salutes |archive-date=24 December 2024 |url-status=live |language=en}}

On 14 July 2025, he moved on a new loan to Serie A club Cremonese, with an option to buy.{{cite web|publisher=US Cremonese|url=https://uscremonese.it/romano-floriani-mussolini-e-un-nuovo-giocatore-della-cremonese/|title=Romano Floriani Mussolini è un nuovo giocatore della Cremonese|trans-title=Romano Floriani Mussolini is a new Cremonese player|date=14 July 2025|access-date=14 July 2025|language=it}}

Personal life

Floriani Mussolini gained attention after appearing on television with his mother on Ballando con le Stelle.{{cite web|date=26 August 2014|title=Chi è Romano Floriani Mussolini della Lazio: caratteristiche|url=https://www.minutidirecupero.it/mussolini-lazio-caratteristiche.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228131924/https://www.minutidirecupero.it/mussolini-lazio-caratteristiche.html|archive-date=28 February 2021|access-date=3 February 2021|publisher=Minutidirecupero.it|language=Italian}} Despite his surname and lineage, Floriani Mussolini stated he has no interest in politics.{{cite web|date=2 February 2021|title=Un Mussolini en la cantera de la Lazio|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/liga-italiana/2021/02/02/6019944422601d7f138b4605.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202210741/https://www.marca.com/futbol/liga-italiana/2021/02/02/6019944422601d7f138b4605.html|archive-date=2 February 2021|access-date=3 February 2021|publisher=Marca|language=Spanish}} He was educated at St. George's British International School in Rome, and signed for Lazio whilst still studying.