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Totti on turning 50: mentally I'm still 25
·28 September 2026·45d ago

Totti on turning 50: mentally I'm still 25

Source: Forza Roma

Francesco Totti has reflected on his 50th birthday in a lengthy letter to Il Messaggero, expressing pride in his career spent entirely at AS Roma. "I turn around and see my adventure as a young man and then as a man at Roma and I consider myself satisfied," he wrote. "I achieved a dream, my dream—that of a Roman who managed to play only for his city's team, wearing the captain's armband. Few can boast of such a thing. For this reason a couple of years ago I said no to a return to playing."

On reaching the milestone, Totti said: "Yesterday when I blew out the candles for my 50th, I said to myself: But really? If I'm being honest, I don't feel them. It's probably because I keep myself in shape with padel and some five-a-side football. Mentally, though, I always have half of it—25."

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Francesco Totti celebrated his 50th birthday this week, reflecting on nearly three decades spent entirely at AS Roma. In a letter to Il Messaggero, the club's former captain expressed satisfaction with a career devoted solely to his city's team. "I achieved a dream, my dream—that of a Roman who managed to play only for his city's team, wearing the captain's armband. Few can boast of such a thing," he wrote. Despite reaching the milestone, Totti said he does not feel his age. "Mentally, I always have half of it—25," he explained, attributing his youthful mindset to maintaining fitness through padel and five-a-side football.

More than nine years after his retirement on 28 May 2017, Totti's relationship with Roma remains unresolved, according to GialloRossi.net. The outlet describes a bond that has never broken but changed form—from the daily reality of the pitch to something deeper, a symbol forever linked to the city worldwide. Luciano Spalletti emerges as a defining figure in this complicated story, having reinvented Totti tactically and guided him toward the Ballon d'Or, yet also managed his final season, which led to retirement. GialloRossi.net suggests this period remains "a wound that, despite recent rapprochement, still appears not entirely healed."

Recent revelations from Totti's autobiography indicate he has never had a proper face-to-face meeting with the Friedkin Group about an operational return to the club, and reportedly refused a proposal linked to Roma's centenary, having no interest in a representational role. For Roma, the final chapter of Totti's story appears still unwritten.

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

Testo Originale / Source Text

“Francesco Totti con una lunga lettera su Il Messaggero ha ripercorso i suoi 50 anni: "Mi giro e vedo la mia avventura da ragazzino prima e uomo poi nella Roma e mi ritengo soddisfatto. Ho coronato un sogno, il mio sogno, quello di un romano che è riuscito a giocare soltanto nella squadra della sua…”

Read the full article in Italian at Forza Roma.

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