Former national team member makes impressive entrance in debut match, mirroring emotive departure performance
The farewell from Berlin was disorderly, causing frustration among Union's teammates. However, for Robin Gosens, the journey back to Italy brought instant gratification. He aided AC Florence in securing a point in his debut match.
Thrust into action mere days after his transfer to AC Florence, Robin Gosens marked his debut with a remarkable performance. The German international, fresh off his departure from Union Berlin, had joined the Italian club hours before the transfer window closed. His explosive goal in stoppage time sealed a 2-2 draw for AC Florence against AC Monza on Sunday evening.
Gosens had spent the previous season with Union Berlin, joining from Inter Milan for a hefty 13 million euros and becoming Union's record signing. Despite his impressive past with Atalanta Bergamo and Inter Milan, Gosens struggled to impress in Berlin, especially during the team's near-relegation fight. Rumors of a transfer had been circulating for months, but his sudden departure during the game against FC St. Pauli (1-0 win) caught many by surprise.
His previous Italian stints included time at Atalanta Bergamo and Inter Milan, making this his third Italian club.
Manager Heldt revealed that Gosens' decision to leave was driven by personal reasons. "He had always expressed his desire to part ways if the opportunity arose," Heldt said of the left-back. "It doesn't make sense to keep a player who isn't fully invested." Khedira, his teammate, expressed his disappointment at the transfer, which was announced less than five hours before the season-opener: "It's a disaster. Even smart people should remember that we're not just footballers, but also human beings."
But for Gosens, the chapter of his Berlin career was over, and he was now back where he felt most at home. In his inaugural game for his new club, Florence found themselves trailing 0-2 early in the third round of Serie A against Milan, courtesy of Djuric's (18') and Daniel Maldini's (32') goals. Kean, another new signing, narrowed the gap just before halftime, and Gosens, who played the entire match, delivered the equalizer in extra time (90+6). Florence is yet to secure their first win of the season.
Juventus Turin, the defending champions, suffered their first draw of the season. A goalless stalemate against AS Roma saw them relinquish the top spot to Inter Milan, who had cruised past Atalanta Bergamo with a 4-0 victory the previous day. Inter, Juventus, Torino FC, and Udinese Calcio now find themselves locked in a four-way tie on seven points each.
The following are the main categories of Gosens' football journey: his time in Berlin, his initial stints in Italy at Atalanta Bergamo and Inter Milan, and his recent return to Italy with AC Florence. After experiencing a challenging period at Union Berlin, Gosens' departure back to his native Italy brought him an immediate boost, as he aided AC Florence in securing a draw in his debut match.
