Alberto Aquilani profile: 10 things you need to know about the Liverpool target

1. In the Eternal City, Italy's capital Rome, a star - Alberto Aquilani - was born on July 7, 1984.

He was a precocious talent and on Roma's books from a very early age. In 2001, however, Premier League big boys Arsenal and Chelsea wrestled Roma for the then 16-year-old's signature.

But the central midfielder, who would become known as 'Il Principino' (the Little Prince) by adoring Roma fans, opted to pen a professional deal with the club he has supported as a child. He joined the first team squad a year later and soon enough made a name for himself.

Here is a compilation showing Aquilani's range of talent, showing the 25-year-old dancing though football matches with the guile and artistry of a Wassily Kandinsky horseman - his silky touches fused with a Howitzer of a shot. Remind you of Xabi Alonso? Hmm.

2. Back in May 2003, when the Little Prince was really little (well, 18) Aquilani made his debut in Serie A. Roma, then managed by now-England coach Fabio Capello, defeated Torino but the club's coaching staff wanted to nurture their special talent carefully.

He was farmed out to Serie B side Triestina for the 2003-04 season. There, in the city at head of the Adriatic Sea, he started most games and gained valuable experience. That season he netted four goals in 41 games.

3. He returned to his alma mater for the 2004-05 season and began to be afforded an increasingly important role in the Roma team.

He truly announced himself on the scene the following year with the below goal in the Roma derby - one of the most bitterly contested in the world. Aquilani's team ran out winners on February 26, 2006 - and broke the record for most consecutive wins in Serie A in the process.

4. Aquilani had won the No8 shirt for keeps by the start of the 2006-07 season but injury ruled him out for most of the campaign.

However the next season he reminded his team and the supporters what they had been missing, scoring two long range goals in the first two matches of the season against Palermo and Siena.

Here is his goal against Palermo:

And here is the scorcher he netted against Siena:

5. Now confident in his place in the Roma team, viewed by the supporters as the natural heir to idol Francisco Totti, further excelled in the Champions League. In March 2008 he helped Roma to victory over the mighty Real Madrid.

Here he is trying to score past the Spanish giants, but being thwarted by first the woodwork and then by Spanish captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

6. With Arsenal sniffing around again in January 2009, Aquilani signed a new contract with Roma in May, which contracted him to the club until 2013. The new deal earned him £3.2m for 2008-09, £3.6m for 2009-10, £3.9m for 2010-11 and £4.5m for the following two campaigns.

It was a sign of his commitment to the club and he said: "I thank president (Rosella) Sensi for giving me the opportunity to continue a dream in my city with the team that belongs in my heart."

7. On the international front Aquilani won 20 Under-21 caps and scored five goals before winning his first full international cap for Italy on November 15, 2006 in a friendly against Turkey. In the Under-21 European Championships in 2007 the playmaker netted twice and was named in the UEFA team of the tournament.

8. At Euro 2008 the Roma wizard was named in the Azzurri's 23-man European Championship squad. He came on as a substitute in Italy's third game of the tournament, a 2-0 victory over France.

He started Italy's quarter-final match against eventual winners Spain, due to the suspensions to Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso. The Italians lost 4-2 in a penalty shootout after 120 goalless minutes.

9. Aquilani struck his first goal for Italy in October 2008, in the World Cup qualifier against Montenegro. Later in the match, after his opponents had equalised, he netted the winner in the 2-1 success.

See it here:

10. To the dismay of many a young Rome lass, Aquilani, who has played well over 100 gamed for his club side and 11 times for Italy so far, is engaged to 20-year-old Italian actress Michela Quattrociocchi.

And here she is: