More statements are coming in the columns of The Messenger by former striker Francesco Totti. The former number 10 goes back to that 28th May 2017: “Once you stop, your view of life changes. Your habits, the pitch, the perception of fun… Now I have other thoughts, I pursue other goals”. Football is no longer at the centre of his life: “Not being part of any team, it becomes secondary. Now I’m just a Roma fan”. And what role would he see himself in, if that were the case, in the club? Totti replies: “I would never be a sporting director, maybe a role like Ibrahimovic or Zanetti, a point of reference. A figure like the technical director. An operational role and not one to be called only when there are problems”. Maybe look elsewhere? Totti says: “Some teams have called me but I’m loyal to Roma. If I were to go and be a director in another club it would be a failure. But for Roma, not for me”.
Then he dwells on one evaluation regarding the current roster of the Giallorossi: “A mix of players, in the end four were bought together. I still don’t understand it. With 70 million I would have made other choices, not two players but at least four or five. Dovbyk? The striker had to be bought and less than 30 million is difficult. But I like Kone. With certain crazy expenses Roma must necessarily get to the Champions League. If you invest 100 million and don’t get there it’s a total failure. And without it, Daniele (De Rossi, ed.) jumps first, he doesn’t get to the end”. On De Rossi: “He’s the lightning rod. And the one who loses is him, but fortunately he knows everything and everyone. At the moment he’s the only one who can be the coach at Roma. But have you seen what they said to him after these first games? Last year is the past, they’ve already forgotten everything. It’s easy to forget, look what happened to me”.
Similar speech about captain Pellegrini: “I love Lorenzo but only the pitch matters. He hasn’t played as he should have lately. And if you have a fan base against you, it’s complicated to play. Totti also spoke about Dybala: “Maximum respect and admiration, I’ve always said that he’s Roma’s strongest player and he needs to be protected. Now let’s see how they’ll handle him”. Closing remarks on his son Cristian and the many criticisms he’s received: “I feel sorry for the boy. It’s unworthy to speak badly of an eighteen-year-old who has his dreams. Cristian has my last name and that’s the problem. Those who speak like that are usually keyboard warriors”.