Just call him Maximus — at least when he isn’t enjoying another meal at Jeff Ruby’s or taking a nap...

Leonardo Bertone openly declares his admiration of the movie Gladiator and fortunately for FC Cincinnati, Bertone has done a great impression of the fallen Roman general, holding down the central midfield spot for the Orange and Blue this season. 

Bertone has started and played every minute for the Orange and Blue, providing much-needed stability as FCC navigates its inaugural Major League Soccer season.

Despite being only 25 years old, Bertone, a native of Switzerland, appeared in 179 games at BSC Young Boys from 2011 to 2018 before being acquired by FCC in December 2018.

Bertone sat down with FloFC after a recent practice, speaking about his newfound attraction to the Cincinnati Reds and Jeff Ruby dinners. 

FloFC: Maximus huh? You're ready to hit the arena?

Leonardo Bertone: My favorite movie is Gladiator. I like to fight just like the guy in the movie. 

You are having quite a year. How are you adjusting to MLS play?

Good, good, everything is okay. I am adjusting and everything is getting better and better. 

The one constant in the midfield has been you. You are becoming the iron man of the team. How are you adjusting? 

I want to play, not sit. I want to play all the games. I want to stay inside and help the team, that is my challenge.  

You have a lot of games under your belt prior to FCC. With that experience and playing every minute so far for FCC, do you sometimes feel like a veteran?

I think I played a lot of games in Switzerland but not over here. I don’t think I am a veteran, no, I played some games in Europe but not MLS.  I have played a lot of games but no, I don’t consider myself a veteran.  

What was the biggest adjustment from your team in Switzerland to playing for FCC?

I think it has to be the traveling. We always traveled a lot, but in Switzerland it was always in a car but now, it is by airplane always. It is nice, I like to see new places. I am getting used to it. Now it is become more normal. 

Switzerland to Cincy: How did that happen?

I didn’t know I was going to do this move two years ago, but there was the opportunity to come here and the project was nice. The challenge was nice. It was a new team I wasn’t used to so yes, the challenge was nice and I came here. 

 When you are in town, I heard you have become fond of Jeff Ruby’s?

I live downtown so there are a lot of good restaurants. We can go out, eat and drink something. It is a nice place. I like the Banks. Jeff Ruby’s is really nice. I have Kenny [Saief] pay for that one. 

I saw you caught the Reds’ Opening Day game, what did you think?

It was fun. My first game. I had not even watched a game, but it was fun, a lot of fun. I would like to go back if our schedule works out. 

You own the first MLS goal in FCC history, how does that moment in history feel? 

I think for this moment it was nice, but I don’t want to be alone in the history books. I am hoping we can achieve something as a group. For this to happen we have to play better and better.  

I hear you like to nap, is practice wearing you out?

I spend a lot of time for recovery with sleep. Because of the travel I wasn’t used to it so I have to recover a little bit more. I spend a lot of time with my teammates. 

Inaugural season, what does the rest of the year look like?

For me, my motivation coming here was not to take a vacation. I want to continue to get better and better. I think I left my family in Switzerland to come here and show my best.