Michael Bradley and Roma

Yesterday’s La Repubblica included a nice surprise, an interview with Michael Bradley.  Bradley is a midfielder for Roma, one of Rome’s two soccer teams.  He may be the only American currently playing in Serie A (the Italian first division).  He’s also a regular member of the US national team. 

I’d guess this is the first time the paper has featured him and it’s kind of a big deal in a country that takes soccer as seriously as Italy does.  From what I can tell, he’s doing pretty well.  He’s playing midfield for one of the country’s major clubs, and, if not every game, he has started several.  The hook for the piece is tomorrow’s match between Roma and Lazio, the city’s other first division club.  The fact that this will be Bradley’s first “derby” (game against traditional rivals, usually located close by)  He says he a bit of an “alien” to the event, but is ready.

Roma acquired him during the summer, apparently having been impressed with his play at another Italian team, Chievo of Verona.  Bradley is an excellent player and I doubt Roma would have taken him if they didn’t think he would be an asset.  But their initial consideration may have been helped by the fact that the team was recently bought by a group of American investors (some of whom also have interests in Liverpool FC and the Boston Red Sox).  It’s a complicated game.

[Headline: “Bradley, American model (as in model of car).  ‘You need to open your eyes; US soccer is serious’”]