Florian Thauvin made his mark in Serie A on Monday during Udinese’s victory against Fiorentina (2-1). Author of the decisive goal, the Frenchman delivered a brilliant performance which won over the Italian press, unanimous in their praise. With a rating of 8 awarded by La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport, Thauvin established himself as the man of the match, confirming that he is still capable of shining at the highest level.
A decisive and inspired Thauvin
“Thauvin puts his signature on Udinese’s victory”writes La Gazzetta dello Sport. The words are strong, but deserved. Described as “pure class” per the newspaper, the 2018 world champion not only scored a superb goal, but also showed remarkable game intelligence. “He observes the spaces, finds the flaws and ends up creating a masterpiece,” underlines daily sporting life.
Its goal is also hailed as a true piece of goldsmith’s work. Placed on the edge of the area, Thauvin perfectly curled a left-footed shot, leaving the opposing goalkeeper helpless. This achievement, beyond its aesthetics, allowed Udinese to secure a precious victory in Florence, ending a complicated series for the club.
A complete service
For the Corriere dello Sport, Thauvin was
“irresistible”. His ability to make himself available to his teammates, to construct the game and to take initiatives impressed observers. “He lights up the game with his vision and his very precise left foot”says the newspaper. This performance was all the more remarkable as the former Marseille player was able to raise his level of play after a lackluster first part of the season.
With his score of 8, Florian Thauvin was named best player of the match by the two main Italian sports newspapers, a rare consensus which underlines the importance of his performance. In detail, his precise passes, his technical mastery and his offensive leadership have been highlighted on several occasions. La Gazzetta also mentions “lucidity and class that make the difference in key moments”.
A rebound at the dawn of 2025
This performance comes at the right time for Thauvin, who seems to be regaining color after a complicated period on an individual level. What if the end of 2024 marked the start of a renewal? Absent from the French team since June 11, 2019, the 2018 world champion could well return to Didier Deschamps’ plans. Pre-summoned last September without being included in the final list, the native of Orléans clearly sent a message to the coach.
The year 2025 could be that of rebirth for Thauvin (31), who seems to have regained the confidence and consistency necessary to become a leading asset again, whether in Serie A or in Blue. Monday, under the Italian spotlight, he proved that he had lost none of his talent, and the transalpine press was not mistaken: the “Francese” is indeed back.