Pietro Comuzzo, Fiorentina’s young defensive star, has been called up to the Italian national team by coach Luciano Spalletti for the upcoming Nations League matches against Belgium and France. This marks a remarkable journey for the 20-year-old, who has overcome personal tragedy to reach the pinnacle of Italian football.
In a candid interview from November 2023, Comuzzo shared his emotional journey: “At the beginning of 2023, I lost my mother. It was difficult, but I overcame it thanks to my family: we stayed united and managed to be strong as she would have wanted us to move forward. Then I achieved some satisfaction because I started playing in the Primavera, played two finals in both the Cup and the championship, even if they didn’t go as I wanted. And towards the end of 2023, my journey with the First Team began. There were many ups and downs, but the important thing when these things happen is to find strength, even when it seems there isn’t any, and move forward.”
Comuzzo’s professional debut came in a memorable 3-1 victory against Napoli at the Maradona Stadium on October 8, 2023, making him the first player born in 2005 to debut for Fiorentina in Serie A. Recalling that moment, he said: “When Italiano told me to get ready, I got up and warmed up for 30 seconds. I didn’t even have time to understand what was happening. I entered for those 7-8 minutes, and we even managed to score the third goal. At the time I wasn’t thinking about it, but afterwards I realized what it means to debut at the Maradona with 60,000 people. It’s not a small thing, a unique emotion.”
The young defender’s journey in football began with aspirations different from his current role: “I wanted to be a goalkeeper. They call me soldier, and I’m inspired by Van Dijk.” Comuzzo’s nickname, “Soldier,” stems from his disciplined approach: “They’ve called me that since U16. It’s because of my demeanor, my short haircut, and for always being punctual, precise, and attentive. I try never to slip up and always go as strong as possible. That’s how my nickname was born.”
Reflecting on his national team ambitions, Comuzzo stated: “For me, it’s an honor and a pride to wear it in the sport I love, I always try to give something extra. We always want to be respected wherever we go because we are Italy.”
As Comuzzo prepares for his potential national team debut, he remains grounded and focused on continuous improvement: “I don’t set myself objectives, because through work, you achieve satisfaction. Maybe you don’t know when or what, but sooner or later they come. I just think about working hard every day, the rest will come by itself.” Words of a true soldier indeed.
