Vincent Candela has reflected on his 30-year friendship with Francesco Totti in an interview marking the Roma legend's 50th birthday. Candela, who played alongside Totti during his time at the club, recalled the moment that defined their era together: "If I close my eyes, the first image that comes to mind is the Scudetto goal against Parma. That day Francesco, as a Roman and Roma supporter, closed a beautiful chapter."
Candela arrived at Roma when Totti was younger and more reserved. "When I came to Rome, he was a bit younger and shy. I was among the first to live in Casal Palocco and I convinced him to come there too. It was an intense period—I had a great relationship with many players, but with Francesco it was special. We had fun on and off the pitch. We often went out on motorbikes for dinner, also with Di Biagio and Petruzzi." The pair never had a serious falling out. "We never argued. There were discussions when we disagreed about something, but always with great respect and admiration."
Candela described Totti's leadership style, particularly when Aldair handed him the captain's armband: "When Aldair gave him the band, Francesco was a bit embarrassed. He was a man of few words, though he observed everything. He was more of a leader on the pitch, where he always demanded the ball, especially in difficult moments." On their shared trophy success, Candela said: "We celebrated the Scudetto for six months, but you can't tell it all. Winning with him and celebrating at the Circus Maximus with all those Roma fans was wonderful. I don't consider the Parma one an assist—it was just a pass and Francesco struck it extraordinarily. The one against Real Madrid, though, that's an assist. I dribbled a few players and he pushed the ball in."
When asked what he wishes for Totti at 50, Candela replied: "A lot of serenity. He always seems happy, but lately he has lived through particular and certainly not easy moments." On a potential return to Roma's hierarchy, he added: "It would be nice to see him back at Roma, especially for the centenary. For Francesco, for the club and for the fans."
Testo Originale / Source Text
“Vincent Candela ha rilasciato una lunga intervista a Il Tempo in occasione dei 50 anni di Francesco Totti, compagno di mille battaglie divenuto poi amico fraterno, prima sul rettangolo verde e oggi su un campo da padel. Di seguito alcune delle sue dichiarazioni:
La prima immagine che le viene in…”
Read the full article in Italian at Roma News.
