Player Focus: Borja Valero - Fiorentina's Midfield Lynchpin

Fiorentina are warming up under the lights at the Artemio Franchi on Monday night when the diminutive figure of David Pizarro pulls up with a muscle injury. ‘Pek’ had been supposed to captain the team in the absence of the injured Manuel Pasqual against visitors Hellas Verona.

Who would coach Vincenzo Montella give the armband to now? There wasn’t much time to make a decision, but the one he made couldn’t have been better. He wrapped the red and white fascia around the left bicep of Borja Valero. It was a great honor. The Spaniard hadn’t captained a team since he’d been in Real Madrid’s youth sector.

As Borja led his players out onto the pitch, he received the applause of the crowd. Present among it following his induction into the FIGC’s Hall of Fame was Fiorentina legend Gabriel Batistuta. The fans in the Curva Fiesole once built a statue for him.

Their affection for Borja is unlikely to manifest itself in that form. He did Instagram a picture of a cappuccino that a Fiorentina supporting barista had made him a couple of months ago. His initials and number appeared in chocolate with a purple giglio, the symbol of Florence, on the froth.

Knowing Borja’s political views, he’d probably consider a statue an extravagance anyway. He’d like to be thought of as no different from regular Fiorentina fans. And he isn’t. The video of his little boy Alvaro cutely singing the club’s anthem entered Borja into their hearts. That’s why it felt right for him to be Fiorentina’s pennant-bearer on Monday night.

He played as though inspired by it. After only five minutes he drifted in from the left, beat Jorginho with a delightful ‘croqueta’ then flashed a shot from outside the box beyond Rafael to give Fiorentina the lead. It didn’t last long, though.

Romulo equalised just 60 seconds later, refusing to celebrate against his former club. Luca Toni, another Viola alumnus and one with a much bigger place in their history, then set up the sprightly Juan Manuel Iturbe to turn things around and put Hellas in vantaggio. But no sooner had they re-started than Borja levelled things up again with another shot from distance, his effort taking a deflection off Domenico Maietta and flying past Rafael.

It was a topsy-turvy rollercoaster ride of a game. There were four goals in 14 minutes. To add some perspective, that has happened only seven times in the history of Serie A, the most recent case being when there were a record equalling five in Milan’s 5-4 win at Pescara in 1992. It was a magnificent spectacle, undoubtedly one of the games of the season so far.

Running this circus was Borja, the ringmaster. He had 137 touches - 51 more than anyone else on his team - and made 6 key passes. Only Antonio Cassano (42) has executed more than him (35) this season, though Borja incidentally has attempted at least 86 more passes in the opposition half than any Serie A player. An assist to add to the five that he’s picked up already in Serie A this campaign - a record bettered only Francesco Totti (6) - wasn’t forthcoming.

A third goal looked like it might, though. Awarded a penalty early in the second half after Bosko Jankovic handled the ball in the area and received a second yellow card, many wondered if Borja would be given the chance to score his first hat-trick. “It didn’t even cross my mind,” he told Marca. He wanted Giuseppe Rossi to take it so he could move even further ahead in the Capocannoniere standings. “I was satisfied with my two,” Borja said.

It was his first doblete since March 9, 2008 when he found the back of the net twice for Mallorca against Recreativo. He’s now scored four in his last five games. Rossi, who made it 4-2 from the spot, has 12 in the league this season.

The understanding Pepito and Borja developed at Villarreal is proving an X-Factor for Fiorentina. No tandem has contributed as many as the 16 goals they have to their team in Serie A in 2013-14. A lot of that’s down to Rossi, granted. But Borja has been outstanding - he received a 9.8 performance rating from WhoScored after Monday’s 4-3 win.

I must admit I have a soft spot for Borja. He was in my Serie A Team of the Year for 2012-13 and when I was recently given a ‘designated hipster choice’ while ranking the Top 50 Players in the World for Josimar, the Norwegian magazine, I opted for him.

He deserves recognition. Borja is a complete midfielder, a todocampista. He doesn’t just pass and dictate the tempo - only Daniele De Rossi (986) and Daniele Conti (972) have attempted more passes than Borja (928) in Serie A this season - he tackles, recovers and now scores. “He’s learned how to shoot from outside the box,” Montella joked.

Were Borja any nationality other than Spanish, he’d be the player around whom a country would build their team. Alas, he has only one cap for La Roja and that was more than two years ago. Does he hold out hope for a place at the World Cup? “To be honest, no. Obviously it would be great but it will be very difficult.”

If he keeps playing this way, he might give Vicente Del Bosque something to think about. Whatever happens, Fiorentina continue to think highly of him. Tied down to 2016 with the option of another year after that, the 28-year-old isn’t going anywhere. Life on the Arno couldn’t be better: “Florence is my place in the world,” he says.

Do you think Borja Valero has become Fiorentina's most important midfielder? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below