Francesco Totti, a guest at the studios of the SashaSports television program in Kuwait, spoke again about Roma: " For me, it's everything, especially Roma as a club, as well as the city. It has given me so much, and I've given so much to it. That's why, as you know, I always say that certain things are done in pairs, not alone."
The Captain didn't want to stir up controversy over his failure to return to the club: "Perhaps we should ask other people to understand the reasons, but I'm not complaining, I'm not recriminating, and I don't want to cause any kind of problem. Absolutely not. Right now, it's normal and right for things to be this way. They're doing well, everything's working, the club is healthy, the city is great, and the team is very strong."
The former number 10 on the contribution experienced players can make to current clubs: " It's clear that players like us, who have been key figures in the world of football for thirty years, can contribute something even from outside the club, because we understand this environment and we know how football works. That's for sure."
Totti explained what Trigoria means to him: “It was my home. I lived there longer than I spent at home. I grew up there and stayed there for over thirty-five years. I arrived when I was twelve. For me, going to Trigoria was like coming home. I never imagined that one day the time would come to leave. But that's also what football is all about: some things come to an end.”
Totti at SashaSports
Francesco Totti spoke about his final match against Genoa in 2017: “It was a historic, special day. Beautiful to experience, but also painful, because it marked the end of a career, the end of a dream. I walked around the stadium and saw everyone, from the youngest to the oldest: they were all crying. I kept walking around the pitch, and it seemed like the lap would never end, so many were the emotions.”
The Captain continued his story of his farewell match: “It's really hard to describe what I felt. When you experience such special and beautiful moments, in the end, you can't find the right words to describe them, to express everything you feel. However, I believe that on that day, many people understood that, unfortunately, the time had come to say goodbye. It was all over . ”
The number 10 returned to his decision to turn down Real Madrid in 2004: "At that moment, I did have some doubts. But in the end, as I've always said, my love for Rome, for the city, and for the club, which I carry in my heart, pushed me to decide to stay. I felt it was the right thing to do, that the best choice was to stay at that team."
The Giallorossi icon remembered Mazzone and Luis Enrique: "I think he was the one who helped me grow the most. Mazzone taught me so many things about football and, above all, he knew how to manage me when I was still very young. He was young at the time and at the beginning of his career. Today we see how strong and important a coach he has become for football."
Francesco Totti explained what it means to grow up and play for Roma: “Everything changes, absolutely everything. As I said before, it's very difficult to live in an environment where everyone expects 100% of you, demands something more than the other players, and looks at you differently .”
The Captain spoke about the responsibilities of wearing the Giallorossi jersey for those who are Roman and Roma fans: "I was lucky because I was the captain and wore the number ten shirt, so I had responsibilities. I'd say they were at least three times greater. Having been born in Rome and having always lived here, I was perfectly familiar with the environment, the dynamics, the movements, and even everything that was said in the corridors. That's why I knew how to behave and how to handle certain situations."
Totti at SashaSports in Kuwait
Francesco Totti spoke about the support of the Giallorossi fans: " What the Roma fans give you, no other fan base can give you. The most important thing is that, at the end of the match, you're already thinking about the next one. The Roma anthem gives you this strength, this belief, and this extra determination to give even more, to take to the field and fight for the Giallorossi colors."
The captain spoke positively about Gasperini's Roma, making a distinction between the former Champions League title and the league: "In the Champions League, you have to be more prepared, have superior physical condition, and an even better equipped team. You have to be ready because you face opponents who are often stronger than you, always competitive, and accustomed to playing at a European level. In Italy, I think Roma have a great chance of achieving very positive results. I think they have the potential to achieve something important."
The number 10 believes Roma needs some reinforcements on the transfer market to compete for the Scudetto: " We probably need one or two signings to strengthen the team and make it a real contender for the Scudetto, a team capable of dreaming of the championship. The club is working very well, the coach is a great one, and the team, in my opinion, is strong. But with three or four top-quality players, we could really make a difference . "
The Giallorossi are flagging their flags over Malen's extraordinary performance, scoring nearly a goal per game: "If he continues like this, it will be good for both him and Roma."
Totti on the matches against the big teams, the ones that inspire excitement: " When you face Fiorentina, Juventus, Milan, or Inter, you feel a special kind of motivation. In these matches, you're even more focused and you try to give everything you have, in every aspect, on the pitch."
The Captain on Spalletti's Juventus: "The team is dealing with a lot of absences. Spalletti has practically never had all the players he would have liked to start. He's never managed to have a full squad. It's therefore difficult to always work with three or four players who may not be 100% fit."
Totti on his relationship with Mido, the national team and Salah
Totti also spoke about Mido and his relationship with him: " He hasn't found his calling, and perhaps things haven't gone as he expected and as he deserved. Every time he stepped on the pitch, however, he always contributed to the team and was a player capable of making the difference. He's an exceptional guy, who has an excellent relationship with all his teammates and deserves everything he's achieved. We had a wonderful relationship. We didn't play together much, but we always got along well: during the week, we had fun and enjoyed each other."
The Captain on Italy and the need to forge a new path after the changes in the technical and managerial structure: "It's a real revolution. There's been a profound change in the Italian national team, with a new coach, a new president, and some new players. The national team's main goal is to return to competing with the world's top teams and be a key player at the next World Cup."
The number 10 also spoke about Salah and his two seasons with the Giallorossi: “He had two excellent seasons in Rome. I think the Giallorossi team was Salah's starting point before his move to Liverpool. He did very well: he was always available, he scored goals and provided assists. The fans loved him because, honestly, he is a truly special and highly regarded person. He was always ready to serve the team and fight for those colors. He had big ambitions and it was natural that, at a certain point, he felt the desire to change teams and take on a new challenge. He was an extraordinary player.”
