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Totti and Roma: talks stall over role and royalties
·28 September 2026·45d ago

Totti and Roma: talks stall over role and royalties

Source: Roma News

Negotiations to bring Francesco Totti back to AS Roma have broken down despite contact over recent months. The most recent meeting between Roma and Totti's representatives occurred less than a month ago, with Roma represented by new chief executive John Galantic. The talks involved three separate occasions on which Roma sought to establish conditions for Totti's return, but the parties have not reached agreement on two key issues: the precise nature and weight of any executive role he would hold, and an outstanding financial matter regarding his name and legacy.

Totti has signalled willingness to rejoin the club but is unwilling to accept a purely representational position. He aspires to a more substantial executive role, particularly as Roma approaches its centenary in 2027. However, the commercial dispute has emerged as a significant barrier. Since Totti's retirement from football, Roma has continued to sell personalised shirts bearing his name and the number 10 without paying him royalties. According to Repubblica, approximately 15,000 such shirts were sold in the 2025–26 season alone, with the total across the period since 2018 reaching several hundred thousand units.

The path forward requires two steps: first, a settlement of the royalty question over shirt sales; only then can substantive discussion of Totti's potential role take place. Both parties must find common ground on whether his involvement extends beyond symbolic representation ahead of the centenary celebration.

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Story Coverage2 sources on this story

Francesco Totti's return to AS Roma remains blocked by an unresolved financial dispute, with negotiations between the club and the former captain's representatives having stalled despite three separate meetings in recent months. The most recent talks occurred less than a month ago, with new chief executive John Galantic representing Roma. Two key issues have prevented agreement: the precise nature and scope of any executive role Totti would hold, and a commercial disagreement over shirt royalties.

Since Totti's retirement from playing in 2018, Roma has continued selling shirts bearing his name and number 10 without paying him royalties. According to the outlets, approximately 15,000 such shirts were sold in the 2025–26 season alone, with the cumulative total from 2018 to the present running to several hundred thousand units. Totti has signalled willingness to rejoin the club but refuses to accept a purely representational position, instead aspiring to a more substantial executive role as Roma approaches its centenary in 2027. However, the commercial dispute has emerged as the significant barrier blocking progress.

Both parties must first resolve the royalty question surrounding past and future shirt sales before substantive discussion of Totti's potential role can take place. Without clarity on how merchandise revenue will be handled, the club and the former number 10 have been unable to move forward.

AI synthesis of all sources below — always check the originals.

Testo Originale / Source Text

“Nonostante i contatti avvenuti negli ultimi mesi, le parti non sono riuscite a trovare un’intesa per riportare Francesco Totti all’interno del club. L’ultimo confronto sarebbe avvenuto meno di un mese fa, con la Roma rappresentata dal nuovo amministratore delegato John Galantic. La distanza…”

Read the full article in Italian at Roma News.

Read original on Roma News →

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