Great-grandson of fascist dictator Mussolini joins Lazio

The great-grandson of fascist, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini has joined SS Lazio's Under-19 side.

Romano Florian Mussolini, or to give him his full name, Romano Maria Benito Mauro Magid Andrea Florian Mussolini, has been developing in the Aquile's youth team for several years, and having impressed at Under-18 level, he has now taken the next step towards becoming a professional footballer.

Mauro Bianchessi, the head of youth development at Lazio, has spoken glowingly of the teenager, praising his hard-working attitude and tipping him to be a future senior star for I Biancocelesti, as cited by La Repubblica.

"He is a truly humble guy, a very hard-worker who never complained, even if he didn't play a minute for two years. I liked him and still like him, he's a late bloomer, long-limbed - and long-limbed players always develop later.

"He's done well first with the Under-17s and then with the Under-18s. In my opinion he is not ready yet but he still has room for growth and a real player can come out.”

Mussolini is a strong defender, standing at 6'1, and at only 18 years of age, there are hopes within the club of him developing into a top player.

But of course, the youngster's presence is bound to cause plenty of controversy - especially when tied to the name SS Lazio. The capital city club has failed to shake their reputation for fascism, with their hardcore 'ultras' known as 'militants'.

“For S.S. Lazio, the name Mussolini is a heavy burden to bear,” explains Il Fatto Quotidiano.

“The northern section of Rome’s Olympic Stadium, with its fascist salutes and racist chants, is wasting no time to assert its fascist character. It’s just a matter of time before someone starts exalting the Duce.”

Lazio supporters have made the news for all the wrong reasons in recent years, most notably in the Rome derby back in 2017, when their supporters littered the stadium and the city with pictures of Holocaust victim Anne Frank wearing an AS Roma jersey.

They were also seen marching in military fashion through Glasgow, making fascist salutes ahead of their Europa League clash with Celtic in 2019. And they provoked further anger during an away game against Milan in 2019, hanging a banner in the city which read 'Honour to Benito Mussolini'.

But Alessandra Mussolini - politician, actress and mother to Romano, has refused to comment on her son's presence at Lazio, saying he doesn't want 'meddling in his private life or choices'.

“I have nothing to comment on”, she told the Adnkronos press agency.

“It’s something I prefer to stay out of. My son wants no sort of meddling in his private life or choices.”