Alberto Aquilani — watch collection

About Alberto Aquilani’s watch collection

Alberto Aquilani is a former Italian professional footballer whose career took him through some of European football's most recognizable clubs. Born in Rome in 1984, Aquilani came through the AS Roma academy and became a reliable presence in Serie A as a technically gifted central midfielder, known for his passing range and composure on the ball. He earned 38 caps for the Italian national team, representing the Azzurri at major tournaments including Euro 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Beyond Roma, his career included stints at Liverpool, Juventus, Fiorentina, AC Milan, and Sporting CP, before returning to Italy to wind down his playing days. Since retiring as a player, he has moved into coaching, working within Fiorentina's youth development structure.

The Alberto Aquilani watch collection, based on sightings logged here at Watch Paparazzi, points to a man with a clear preference for serious horology over flashy decoration. Aquilani has been photographed wearing the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph reference 5968A-001, a stainless steel sports watch fitted with the brand's immediately recognizable orange tropical rubber strap. The 5968A-001, introduced in 2019, was notable for being one of the few Aquanaut references to house a chronograph complication, powered by the in-house Calibre CH 28-520 C movement with a flyback function. It was also, at the time of release, a rare instance of Patek Philippe offering a complicated sports reference in steel with a rubber strap, which made it both commercially significant and genuinely hard to acquire at retail.

Choosing the 5968A over a more conservative dress watch suggests Aquilani gravitates toward pieces that are built around function without abandoning finishing standards. It is a collector's choice as much as a lifestyle one — the reference sits firmly in the secondary market at a premium, and ownership signals familiarity with the Patek Philippe catalog rather than simply reaching for the most visible name in luxury watchmaking.