Totti would love to return to Roma, but only in a real operational role

Francesco Totti has said he would love to return to Roma, but only in a substantive role rather than a ceremonial one. He spoke in a long, personal interview with Corriere della Sera, timed to coincide with the release of his new book, Oltre, written with Alessandro Alciato, and on the eve of the Champions League clash between Roma and Real Madrid. The legendary number 10 looked back on the most painful and complicated moments of his life. "Tornare alla Roma? Mi piacerebbe molto," he said, adding that Roma "è stata, è e sarà sempre tutto per me" and is "la mia seconda pelle, forse persino la prima."

Totti revisited his retirement, which came at 41. He recalled the day as both the most beautiful and the saddest of his life: "L'inizio parte più bello... Ma dall'altra c'era tanta malinconia, perché finiva la mia carriera." He said he had come close to depression afterwards: "Mi sentivo solo in mezzo al deserto. Mi sembrava che il vuoto mi soffocasse." He also spoke of his strained relationship with Luciano Spalletti, which he described as never fully resolved. "Abbiamo solo fatto una pace insieme," he said. "Ci siamo divertiti, io e lui avevamo un rapporto bellissimo, che andava oltre il calcio." He insisted he had never worked against the coach: "Qualcuno lo ha convinto che io gli remavo contro per mandarlo via. Ma io non l'ho mai fatto." He said Spalletti had made him play "anche con una gamba sola".

Totti described the death of his father, Enzo, during the Covid pandemic as "la fine di tutto". He remembered a father who was "silenzioso, ma forte, educativo", and said: "Quando se ne è andato, mi è mancata l'aria." He also spoke about his son Cristian's health. A check-up revealed a small spot near the brain, and the problem was eventually located in what is called the "acquedotto di Silvio", a channel that carries fluid the brain needs. Totti said doctors had advised an operation to remove the tumour, but the family decided against it: "Era il cervello, non un ginocchio…" He also described his own near-fatal battle with Covid. His oxygen saturation fell to 85 and he developed severe bilateral pneumonia. He spent 11 days with a high fever and was advised by professor Zangrillo to sleep with his chest on the bed to open his lungs. "Ho visto la morte in faccia," he said.

On the club's present, Totti said he had greeted the son of Friedkin in the buvette at the Stadio Olimpico during Roma–Real Madrid, but there had been no conversation. He praised Gian Piero Gasperini: "Di lui ho un'opinione bellissima, è riuscito a far innamorare il popolo giallorosso, a costruire un gruppo unito, solido, che ha voglia di dimostrare e voglia di vincere." Totti also spoke of his bond with the club during the difficult years of the Sensi family. He said that for many months he had not taken his salary so it could go to staff who earned far less than the players. "Il mio rapporto con la Roma è di simbiosi," he said. Asked about his own comeback, he said that at 48 he had considered playing again, with Genoa and Como mentioned, but his heart and head disagreed and he chose to say no. Asked whether he regretted turning down Real Madrid, he replied: "Pentito no, ma un po' di rammarico c'è stato."