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The 33-year-old will hope to silence the doubters both at home and in Italy, who have suggested he is a spent force, when he faces Manchester City with Roma on Tuesday
Have a browse through Ashley Cole’s Twitter account and you’ll soon come across an advert starring the left-back for his boot sponsor Nike.
As he’s so often done on the pitch, on screen the 33-year-old cuts an uncompromising figure. ‘I’m not done’ is the mantra he repeats in his east London twang, while pointing to the large haul of silverware he’s acquired over the years.
It was, of course, a public relations stunt in December last year, in response to the doubters who claimed his powers had at last deserted him as he was consigned to the Chelsea bench; with Cole morphing into a caricature of a snarling, urban misfit.
It is that public persona – quite how accurate it is of TheRealAC3 (the handle he goes by in the Twittersphere) is open to conjecture – that has followed him for much of his career and why the naysayers were only to happy to see his time at Stamford Bridge end this summer.
They’d have laughed loudly, too, when his England career was brought to a shuddering halt after being overlooked for the World Cup. It’s difficult to remember another player to have won 107 caps with such distinction, treated with such disdain.
Cole handled his exit from Chelsea and England with an impressive and refreshing display of maturity. He applauded the Blues for eight success-laden years, while giving his blessing to Leighton Baines and Luke Shaw in taking over the left-back mantle that had been exclusively his for the best part of 13 years.
It was considered and thoughtful and gave the impression of a man now resistant to the impulsive behaviour that saw him christened ‘Cashley’ for his honest but ill-thought financial revelations in his 2006 autobiography My Defence. His alleged marital infidelities and the incident involving him, a work experience student and an air rifle are stories for another time.
Much has changed in his world. His decision to move to Italy by joining Roma on a free transfer in July has brought with it an opportunity to sample a new culture – another browse of his Twitter page tells of Italian lessons and a trip to the Colosseum.
It also gave him the chance to escape the English press with whom he has endured a much troubled relationship. He admitted as much upon landing in Rome, though he will already have learnt that the Italian media aren’t too far removed from their UK counterparts.
A report in La Repubblica on September 10 claimed Cole has already decided to cut short his stay at the club after failing to settle in. This came shortly after he had cut a lonely figure in a team photo, in which he can be seen stood several yards away from the rest of the squad, prompting another round of social media vilification. It was almost tempting to feel sorry for him.
On the evidence so far, he’s a changed man on the field as much as off it. Supporters expecting to see the buccaneering force of old charging up the left flank have been left disappointed.
One possible factor behind the conservative Cole could well be Roma boss Rudi Garcia’s tactical approach. The Frenchman prefers his right-back to be the most offensive of the two full-backs, with Maicon given the freedom to make marauding runs upfield, leaving the former Chelsea man to remain in position and form a back three during offensive spells.
Regardless, Cole has often been handed ratings of just five and six out of 10 by Italian journalists covering the Giallorossi, who were perhaps expecting the attacking force of years gone by, though Goal Italy’s Renato Maisani believes the problem lies elsewhere.
He said: “Ashley Cole's performances have not been brilliant, but I think the ratings of him are exaggerated.
“He has never once made a serious mistake. Simply he doesn't push regularly down the left wing. Perhaps he's not yet 100 per cent fit and so he conserves his energy.
“Rudi Garcia trusts him and, at least momentarily, there is little chance he will leave in January. However, it's sure that everyone expected more from him.”
Doubts remain, as they often do when a player enters the tail end of his career, though it would surely be too soon to make a cast iron judgement given he is yet to concede a goal in his four Serie A appearances for the club to date.
Cole is again expected to pull on the No.3 jersey when Roma face Manchester City in their Champions League group stage clash at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night. Ironically, he will face former Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard, another player deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge this summer, with the left-back wary of his goal threat.
"If I am selected and Lamps is selected it would be nice," said Cole at the pre-match press conference.
"Everyone knows what Lampard brings to any team - he's a great experienced player who scores goals."
Just don't expect Cole to give him an easy night. He’s not done yet.
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