Mussolini’s Great-Grandson Shines in Serie A Debut for Cremonese

UPDATE: Romano Floriani Mussolini, the great-grandson of infamous Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, made an electrifying debut in Serie A on August 25, 2023. Coming off the bench, the 22-year-old played a crucial role in Cremonese’s stunning 3-2 victory over Sassuolo, propelling the newly promoted side to the top of the Serie A table with two wins in two matches.

Floriani Mussolini was introduced with just eight minutes remaining in the match and quickly made an impact by earning a penalty. This pivotal moment set the stage for Manuel de Luca to score the decisive goal, sealing the win for Cremonese. The right-back, who is on loan from Lazio, had previously been an unused substitute in Cremonese’s 2-1 victory against AC Milan last week.

In an emotional statement following the match, Floriani Mussolini expressed his elation, saying,

“Too many things happened in too little time. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the night because I’ve always dreamed of making my debut in Serie A. My goal was to make a difference, and I’m happy that I managed to do that.”

Floriani Mussolini wears the number 22 shirt at Cremonese and has ‘Romano’ displayed on his jersey. His journey to this moment has been a winding road; he developed at Lazio but never made a first-team appearance. Instead, he was loaned to Pescara in the 2023-24 season and Juve Stabia in the 2024-25 season.

His time at Juve Stabia was not without controversy; after scoring a goal against Cesena last December, reports emerged that some supporters celebrated with fascist salutes, a claim the club firmly denied. Floriani Mussolini addressed the complexities surrounding his surname, stating, “My surname bothers other people more than me,” as he focused on his commitment to football.

Benito Mussolini, the historical figure from whom Floriani Mussolini descends, founded the National Fascist Party and ruled Italy from 1922 until his overthrow in 1943. His legacy is marred by alliances with Adolf Hitler during World War II, culminating in his capture and execution in 1945.

As Cremonese celebrates their remarkable start to the season, all eyes will be on Floriani Mussolini’s development in the league. Fans are eager to see how he will contribute in upcoming matches and whether he can continue to make headlines on the pitch, separate from his family’s controversial past.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as Romano Floriani Mussolini aims to carve out his own legacy in Italian football.