Perrotta praises Totti as one of Italy's greatest players alongside Baggio
Opinion·13 June 2026·3h ago

Perrotta praises Totti as one of Italy's greatest players alongside Baggio

Source: Forza Roma

Former Roma midfielder Simone Perrotta participated in a ranking format where he placed teammates across four tiers, ultimately naming Francesco Totti and Zinedine Zidane as the two greatest players he shared the pitch with. Perrotta, who spent nearly a decade at Roma between 2004 and 2013 with over 300 appearances, positioned Totti at the apex alongside Zidane. Other players ranked included Henry in the second tier, Cassano and Del Piero in the third tier, and Pellissier and Amauri in the fourth tier. De Rossi was placed in the third tier.

In explaining his choice, Perrotta offered an extended analysis of Totti's qualities: "I knew you would ask me this, I put him in first place with Zidane. I think he is the strongest player that Italian football has ever produced, along with Roberto Baggio. I had the chance to appreciate him over 10 years. He was a player with incredible tactical intelligence and technically I don't need to say it because he demonstrated it throughout his career. If he wanted to send the ball into a hole from 50 metres, he could do it. Playing with him you realised that you just needed to give him half a metre and either he would turn and shoot at goal, scoring, or he understood he had the defender on him and would serve you first time. This makes you understand that you need technical qualities to do certain things, but if you don't also have tactical intelligence then the quality becomes worthless."

Perrotta modestly placed himself in the lowest tier, stating satisfaction with his career despite believing others ranked were superior to him.

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Testo Originale / Source Text

Machine-scraped Italian — paste into Google Translate for a full read.

L'ex centrocampista giallorosso, costruendo una 'piramide' con alcuni dei suoi ex compagni, ha piazzato l'ex capitano in vetta al fianco di Zidane Redazione 13 giugno - 11:32 Totti-show in Turchia: prima lo scherzo a una turista, poi l'inganno dal gelataio Simone Perrotta, in un'intervista a Cronache di Spogliatoio, ha preso parte al format della 'piramide'. Il gioco consiste nello schierare i suoi ex compagni di squadra in quattro fasce ben distinte: quattro posti in ultima fascia, tre in terza, due in seconda e solo uno al vertice. L'ex centrocampista della Roma, in giallorosso tra il 2004 e il 2013 con oltre 300 presenze e 2 Coppa Italia e 1 Supercoppa vinte, ha schierato Cassano (con cui ha condiviso anche l'esperienza al Bari) in terza fascia. "Parliamo di un talento, ma se immagino chi sono gli altri...", ha detto cauto. Poi è stato il turno di Henry, posizionato in seconda fascia, Pellissier, in quarta, e Del Piero, in terza. Poi su De Rossi: "Fare la griglia è complicato, immagino gli altri... ma mettiamolo in terza fascia". Quarta fascia invece per Amauri, poi è arrivato il momento di occupare la posizione al vertice: Zidane, con annesso aneddoto di orologio regalato a tutti i suoi compagni dal centrocampista francese dopo la vittoria del Pallone d'Oro. Quarta fascia anche per Biehroff, ma poi è arrivato il turno di Francesco Totti. "Sapevo che me lo avreste chiesto, lo metto al primo posto con Zidane. Penso sia il giocatore più forte che il calcio italiano abbia mai espresso, insieme a Roberto Baggio. Ho avuto modo di apprezzarlo in 10 anni, era un giocatore dall'intelligenza tattica incredibile e tecnicamente non devo dirlo io perché l'ha dimostrato in tutta la sua carriera... Se voleva mandare il pallone in un buco da 50 metri, ci riusciva. Giocandoci insieme ti rendevi conto che bastava dargli mezzo metro e o si girava e calciava in porta, facendo gol, o capiva di avere il difensore attaccato e quindi ti serviva di prima. Questo ti fa capire che servono qualità tecniche per fare determinate cose, ma se non hai anche un'intelligenza tattica la qualità poi viene meno". Infine, è stato il suo turno: e Perrotta ha deciso di mettersi in ultima fascia. "Sono molto soddisfatto della carriera che ho fatto. Potevo vincere di più in alcuni momenti, ma poteva andarmi anche peggio. Quelli che avete citato sono sicuramente migliori di me". Caricamento post Instagram... © RIPRODUZIONE RISERVATA Commenta Continua la lettura Calciomercato AS Roma Koné, 'no' all'Atletico Madrid per aspettare il PSG. Arsenal pista concreta e gradita Calciomercato AS Roma Summerville, la Roma ci prova: contatto Ryan Friedkin-West Ham, pronti 30 milioni News AS Roma Da Parma all'Argentina, Dybala lancia dubbi sul futuro: ma il rinnovo è più vicino Calciomercato AS Roma Dybala, dall'Argentina ombre sul futuro: "Non ho ancora deciso, tutto è possibile" News AS Roma Mondiali, a mezzanotte l'esordio del Marocco di El Aynaoui contro il Brasile Commenti Invia Commento Tutti Leggi altri commenti

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