Francesco Totti has revealed fresh details of his time as a Roma executive under James Pallotta in a new book, describing a period marked by frustration and powerlessness. In his memoir *Oltre*, the club legend detailed how his role deteriorated after he retired from playing in summer 2017: initially sidelined as a figurehead, he found himself confined to the sidelines, stating "I was withering away on the couch". When he moved closer to the technical sphere, he discovered he had no real decision-making authority — or worse, his choices were only accepted if they aligned with senior management's preferences.
Totti's most pointed criticism concerns the handling of manager Eusebio Di Francesco, a former teammate whom Totti respected but sensed was not backed by the club's hierarchy. The tension peaked during discussions over the signing of Javier Pastore from Paris Saint-Germain. At a meeting attended by Mauro Baldissoni, Monchi, Federico Balzaretti and Francesco Vallone, Totti voiced his doubts: "I have nothing against Pastore. But he doesn't fit Di Francesco's system. Where do you put him in the 4-3-3? With his legs, he can't play out wide, he lacks the strength. If you need him for the last pass, fine, but you have to change the system. We need the 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-1-2." Baldissoni responded sharply: "You always see problems, Francesco, you're always against us."
Totti's account reveals deep frustration at this response. He appealed to the directors repeatedly: "Tell the truth. Don't throw our manager into the circus, they'll eat him alive here in Rome." Yet they gave no sign of concern — "as if they were happy", he recalled. He grew suspicious of the boardroom's conduct, noting that executives spoke badly of others during meetings and questioning what they said about him in his absence. "It wasn't a unified management group," he concluded.
Testo Originale / Source Text
“Spuntano altri retroscena del post carriera di Francesco Totti. L'ex capitano giallorosso nel suo nuovo libro 'Oltre' ha parlato anche della sua breve esperienza da dirigente nell'era Pallotta: "Le cose non sono andate benissimo perché, già pochi mesi dopo il ritiro dal calcio giocato, quando ho…”
Read the full article in Italian at Forza Roma.
