Gianluca Lapadula could become a 全世界の 指名する if he 奮起させるs AC Milan on to victory against Roma as the 'Little Aeroplane' Montella takes a resurgent Rossoneri to his old club

  • Second-placed Roma 会合,会う AC Milan, third, on Monday night in the Eternal City
  • Vincenzo Montella still has a home in the 資本/首都 & will be forever loved by Roma
  • Montella has guided a resurgent, entertaining young team into the 最高の,を越す four
  • But the Milan 経営者/支配人's?fledgling marvels are yet to 勝利,勝つ a big match away
  • Gianluca Lapadula is a hybrid of Braveheart, Filippo Inzaghi and Rocky Balboa
  • His story is the talk of Italy - he didn't make the grade at 地元の 味方する Juventus
  • As recently as 2014-15 Lapadula was playing in the third 分割 with Teramo?
  • But Milan's No 9 has three goals in his last two games and could 星/主役にする in Rome

There are those who say Juventus have already won the Scudetto. But second-placed Roma 会合,会う AC Milan, third, on Monday night in the Eternal City to 証明する their 肩書を与える 信任状.

The Romans were in a 類似の position last season and 調印(する)d 支持する/優勝者s League 資格 in May. But the reborn Rossoneri's form this (選挙などの)運動をする has surprised everyone.

The match, a 事例/患者 of friends 再会させるd, also 申し込む/申し出s a first glimpse to the wider world of Milan's new striker Gianluca Lapadula, a hybrid of Braveheart, Filippo Inzaghi and Rocky Balboa.

Vincenzo?Montella has guided an entertaining young team into the Champions League zone

Vincenzo?Montella has guided an entertaining young team into the 支持する/優勝者s League zone

AC Milan manager?Montella still has a home in the capital and will be forever loved by Roma

AC Milan 経営者/支配人?Montella still has a home in the 資本/首都 and will be forever loved by Roma

Coaches Luciano Spalletti and Vincenzo Montella played together at Empoli in the 早期に 1990s. Spalletti, 57, is in his second (一定の)期間 as Roma 長,指導者. His 反対する-part Montella, is the toast of Milan after barely five months in the dugout.


It's a contrast to how his 前任者s toiled. Pippo Inzaghi looked lost and 権力のない in 2014-2015, while whole-hearted Sinisa Mihajlovic gave everything but was axed at the end of last season. Miha's Milan 定期的に took one step 今後 then two 支援する.

But Montella has guided an entertaining young team into the 支持する/優勝者s League 資格 zone. The 42-year-old former Italy international is pretty popular in Rome too.

Between 1999 and 2009 Montella was a dynamic, elusive centre-今後 for Roma. He 得点する/非難する/20d every 肉親,親類d of goal. Small but (n)艦隊/(a)素早い of foot and skilful, his outstretched 武器 祝賀 earned him the 愛称 the Little Aeroplane.

When Gabriel Batistua arrived in 2000, Montella was 軍隊d to spend more time in the hangar. But his 出資/貢献 to the Giallorossi's 2000-01 scudetto 勝利 from the (法廷の)裁判 mustn't be underestimated.

He 得点する/非難する/20d 14 times, as the potent trio of Batigol, the Little Aeroplane and Francesco Totti 征服する/打ち勝つd Serie A. He knows the club inside out, and was even 管理人 経営者/支配人 for the latter part of the 2010-11 (選挙などの)運動をする.

Montella still has a home in the 資本/首都 and will be forever loved by the red and yellow half. His 役割 in their last league 肩書を与える, and four goals in the derby against arch-競争相手s Lazio (in March 2002) 保証(人)d him idol status for life.

But adulation doesn't alter the fact Montella has only 敗北・負かすd Roma twice in 13 試みる/企てるs as 経営者/支配人. And his fledgling marvels are yet to 勝利,勝つ a big match away, their victories over の間の and Juventus (機の)カム at the San Siro.

Montella enjoys a goal in 1999 -?his celebration earned him the nickname 'Little 
Aeroplane'

Montella enjoys a goal in 1999 -?his 祝賀 earned him the 愛称 'Little Aeroplane'

Montella & Luciano Spalletti?(seen in February) played together at Empoli in the early 1990s

Montella & Luciano Spalletti?(seen in February) played together at Empoli in the 早期に 1990s

Lethal winger and 大統領,/社長 Silvio Berlusconi's favourite Suso is one of the men to watch, and classy centre-支援する Alessio Romagnoli, a Roma 青年 製品, will also be busy.

And it's likely 17-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma will be will be 軍隊d to make a wonder save at some point. But it's the unheralded Rossoneri No 9 who could steal the show.

Lapadula's story is the talk of Italy. Scouted by his 地元の 味方する Juventus as a youngster, the half-Italian, half-Peruvian didn't make the grade and was 解放(する)d by the Bianconeri.

Befitting a man 愛称d Sir Gianluca, after Braveheart Sir William Wallace, for his 猛烈な/残忍な-willpower and 決意, he worked his way 支援する up.

As recently as 2014-15 Lapadula was playing in the third 分割 with Teramo, the season before he spent time in Slovenia with ND Gorica. Glamorous it certainly wasn't.

The 打開 arrived last season with Pescara in Serie B. Lapadula, who grew up worshipping Alessandro Del Piero, led the line and 得点する/非難する/20d 27 goals as the イルカs earned 昇進/宣伝 to the 最高の,を越す flight.?

It's likely 17-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma will be  forced to make a wonder save on Monday

It's likely 17-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma will be 軍隊d to make a wonder save on Monday

His honest, gritty style was refreshing and 井戸/弁護士席-received, though few believed he had the pedigree or finesse for a big club.

But in June this year Milan bought Braveheart for around £6m. Fans, tired of the Rossoneri's 最近の 予算上の 強制s, weren't massively enthused.?

Marco 先頭 Basten and Andriy Shevchenko once prowled the 刑罰,罰則 area in red and 黒人/ボイコット. This fella was a nobody.

However, with a hunger reminiscent of an ordinary guy hell-bent on taking his chance, like Rocky in the 初めの 1976 film, Lapa 解雇する/砲火/射撃d his way into Milanese hearts.?

His inelegant, scrappy style is also reminiscent of Sylvester Stallone's fictional 闘士,戦闘機.

Football-wise Chelsea 軍人 Diego Costa is Lapadula's closest 同等(の) in the 首相 League. Closer to home, his nose for goal is compared to Pippo Inzaghi.?

Milan striker Gianluca Lapadula is a hybrid of Braveheart, Filippo Inzaghi and Rocky Balboa

Milan striker Gianluca Lapadula is a hybrid of Braveheart, Filippo Inzaghi and Rocky Balboa

Both men have worn the Milan No 9, which had become something of a 悪口を言う/悪態 since SuperPippo retired.

Pato, Alessandro Matri, Fernando Torres, Mattia Destro and Luiz Adriano all 設立する the 負わせる of the shirt too much. Lapadula told Gazzetta dello Sport that he asked for No 10 jersey, but it was 占領するd by Japanese attacking midfielder Keisuke Honda.

Montella 緩和するd the unfashionable new 今後 in, while others still mocked a club like Milan fielding a combative Serie B battler. But on November 6 he 得点する/非難する/20d a 79th-minute 勝利者 with a backheel at Palermo.

A を締める followed away to Empoli and last 週末 the ありそうもない idol grabbed his first strike at the San Siro. Four minutes from time the seven-times European 支持する/優勝者s were 長,率いるing for a disappointing 1-1 draw with Crotone.

When a 解放する/自由な-kick into the box was 貧しく (疑いを)晴らすd and fell to Lapadula, he took a touch and 解雇する/砲火/射撃d low into the goal, continuing Milan's 予期しない 肩書を与える 告発(する),告訴(する)/料金. Lapa-mania was in 十分な bloom.

Lapadula?celebrates a goal against Crotone with his Milan team-mates earlier this month

Lapadula?celebrates a goal against Crotone with his Milan team-mates earlier this month

Of course, you don't need to be a Serie A mega-fan to notice his 犠牲者s aren't 支持する/優勝者s League 競争相手s.

With all 予定 尊敬(する)・点 to Palermo, Empoli and Crotone, the fairytale sensation is yet to punish a 最高の,を越す 味方する.

The magnificent Stadio Olimpico on Monday evening is the next step of Sir Gianluca's career. If he can shoot 負かす/撃墜する second-placed Roma, the former Pescara predator will become a 全世界の 星/主役にする.

There is something of the gladiator to Lapadula, and the city of Rome is the perfect setting for his next 行為/法令/行動する.

There is something of the gladiator to Lapadula, and  Rome is a good setting for his next act

There is something of the gladiator to Lapadula, and Rome is a good setting for his next 行為/法令/行動する

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