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7h agoTotti on his retirement, his children and a light-hearted exchange with Gasperini at book launch
Francesco Totti presented his new autobiography, "Oltre", at the Teatro Brancaccio in Rome, an evening of memories, emotion and a surprise appearance from Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Totti described his retirement from football as a painful and forced farewell that still weighs on him, saying: "I died, in a certain sense. It was a forced moment, a forced farewell. One I did not want and did not feel. I knew that sooner or later it would come, because everything has a beginning and an end. But for me it was painful, different from how I had imagined it. I could not understand what was happening, I felt lost." He admitted that he still thinks often about death: "Yes, it's true. I'm still afraid today. Not of leaving football any more, but of death. I think about it often, it's a thought that hangs over me."
The former captain was visibly moved when he spoke about his father, Enzo, who he said was the centre of everything. Totti also spoke openly about the difficulties he has faced with his children in recent years. He said: "I don't have an idyllic relationship with them, but I hope that as they grow up they will understand where the truth lies. There have been friction, clashes and separations that I did not accept but pretended to accept. What matters is returning to how we were before."
The mood lifted when Gasperini joined the evening by video link and was greeted with a long round of applause from the audience. Totti thanked him straight away: "Thank you, boss, you brought us back to the Champions League. You gave us the chance to relive those magical nights that Roma should see and play in. Rome deserves that stage, and thanks to you we are back there." Gasperini recalled the atmosphere of the recent night against Real Madrid: "The most beautiful spectacle the other evening was the stadium. It was a good match, but seeing so much enthusiasm in this city was something exciting. I'm sorry I can't take part directly tonight, but I wanted to take part in some way."
There were also jokes. Referring ironically to the controversy that arose months ago after a dinner between the two men, Totti asked: "Did he ask if he could come along, or not?" Gasperini replied: "Who, me? There was no need." Totti shot back: "Otherwise tomorrow we won't see you on the Roma bench." Gasperini said: "We'll have the dinner again anyway." Totti agreed: "Absolutely, whenever you want. Tonight read the book, boss, you've got nothing else to do." Totti also said he would try to attend the match at the Olimpico against Slovan Bratislava: "Alright, if I can find tickets I'll come."
On a possible return to the club, Totti sounded a note of bitterness: "Usually when you meet, the meeting takes place between two people, not alone. In seven or eight years it has never happened, they have never called me. It seems that on the other side they don't have the same thinking, the same idea. They have other ideas about life, thinking and work. But that's fine, I accept it gladly." He added: "Either things are done together, or they aren't done. If on the other side you aren't willing or don't share my thinking, let's stop there. I hope the Friedkins go as far as possible, and they have chosen a great coach. I stay behind the scenes, but for Roma I am always there." Fans chanted "You are Roma" in response, and Totti closed the discussion with a line in keeping with the book's title: "That's enough, we won't go beyond that."
