Who is Benito Mussolini’s great grandson? Meet young Lazio star Romano Floriani Mussolini

Carlo Garganese

Updated: 24 Oct 2021 15:41 BST
4 min read

Romano Floriani Mussolini, Lazio, 2021-22 — © ProShots

It is often said that sharing a surname with someone famous, or infamous, can weigh heavily on a young person making his way in life.

This is certainly the case in the world of professional football where we have seen the sons of Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, Sir Alex Ferguson and more try and make it over the years.

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Well, spare a thought for Lazio player Romano Floriani Mussolini.

Is Romano Floriani Mussolini related to Benito Mussolini?

Yes, he is. Romano Floriani Mussolini, or Mussolini Jr as he is also known, is the great grandson of former Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.

Benito Mussolini (pictured below) was the fascist dictator of Italy from 1922 through into World War II and was a key ally of German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler during the conflict. He was executed in 1945.

Mussolini had described the meeting: "The welcome at Munich was fantastic and the Führer was very pleasant. Hitler is an old sentimentalist at heart. When he saw me he had tears in his eyes. He really does like me a lot." pic.twitter.com/YRiyz5bbQ3
— Márcio Silveira de Gébora (@marcusgibbori) October 19, 2021

Romano is the third child of Mauro Floriani and Alessandra Mussolini. Alessandra is the granddaughter of Benito Mussolini and a well-known former right-wing politician herself.

What position does Mussolini play in?

Mussolini is a right back or right midfielder.

How good is Mussolini?

Mussolini is regarded as one of the stars of Lazio’s youth system and has been tipped for a very promising future.

Indeed, so impressive has Mussolini been for Lazio’s Primavera side that he was named in the Lazio senior squad by coach Maurizio Sarri for the Serie A clash at Hellas Verona on October 24.

Mussolini was named on the substitutes’ bench by Sarri for the game at the Stadio Bentegodi.

Prior to this call-up, he had made six appearances for Lazio’s Primavera team this season, contributing one assist. He has been described as being stronger defensively than offensively.

Former Italian dictator Benito Mussolini's great grandson Romano Mussolini has been called-up to Lazio's first-team this weekend

On Wednesday, Lazio suspended their eagle trainer, Juan Bernabè, after he was filmed giving the fascist salute pic.twitter.com/H3HdPyB3vX
— International Champions Cup (@IntChampionsCup) October 23, 2021

Given his surname, Mussolini has been the subject of huge scrutiny not only in Italy but throughout the world.

The fact that he plays for Lazio, whose Ultras have strong neo-fascist links and a history of supporting Benito Mussolini, has only added to the scrutiny.

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Many jokes have been made online about the fact that Mussolini can play as a right-winger, the political side of his great granddad.

However, none of this seems to have affected Romano.

"Here at Lazio, I'm judged only for the way I play and not because my surname is Mussolini," he told Roman daily Il Messaggero back in February.