Alberto Aquilani was just the Prince that never was. The Italian was just the perfect Roman that excelled at AS Roma but then he decided to pitch his tent elsewhere without properly assessing or being ready for it.

There are the sterling ones like the Tottis, the De Rossi and the likes that are consistently up there for the Serie A side. Surely there are the ones that always disappointed in a Giallorossi shirt. Then there is this class of average players. That was where Aquilani was.

For over six years, the Italian had the usual highs and lows. He was there when Roma humbled the super AC Milan side, he was lost in some games, his celebrations were special and he seemed to connect with the Roma fans.

Then the Prince decided to move to England. For titles? A different test? Growth? The questions are endless but it is likely that he is regretting that move as his career went south from then.

Liverpool came and swooped him for a whopping €20 million ahead of the 2009/10 season. The 2005 European Champions had read and seen enough of the central midfielder. He failed colossally, and not even a return to play for Juventus, Milan and Fiorentina could help his ill-fated career. The Prince never matched his average at Roma and till date at 32 years he is still struggling.

After getting frustrated at Anfield, he moved to Fiorentina spent three years before moving to Portugal to play for Sporting. He moved back to Pescara before joining Sassuolo yet nothing. Maybe he should never have left.