Francesco Totti Turned Down Real Madrid’s offer To Stay With Roma
Mar 24, 2017 at 5:18 PM
Italian legend Francesco Totti has revealed that he regrets not playing alongside the Brazilian Ronaldo while also claiming that his status of one- club man came under threat when Spanish giants Real Madrid came calling earlier in his career.
Francesco Totti: "I never thought of quitting but one day I considered leaving Roma to join Real Madrid."
— Real Madrid Info ³⁵ (@RMadridInfo) March 24, 2017
The 40-year-old who has spent his entire professional career at AS Roma, is the most decorated player to represent the club, and has made almost 800 appearances for the Italian giants. He would not have amassed the number of caps if he accepted Real Madrid’s offer, who were keen to make him one of their ‘Galacticos’.
Francesco Totti: "But I couldn't leave out of respect for the fans"
— Real Madrid Info ³⁵ (@RMadridInfo) March 24, 2017
“Many years ago I was really close to Real Madrid, I was pondering to leave Roma to go to Madrid. I was really close. I would never sign for another Italian side out of respect for the people. My regrets are not playing with Ronaldo, the Brazilian one, and not winning the Champions League with Roma”, Totti said, as quoted by Goal.
The Italian who will finish 25 years with the club at the end of the season, is yet to decide on his future. While he has been offered the post of Director of Football at Roma, Totti is not keen to get in coaching immediately.
“I’m thinking about my future, I’ve almost made my decision, but I’ll wait for May or June. I will never become a coach, I don’t like to be one against 30, players are so sly. I have three options for my future: to continue to play on the current pitches [as a Roma player], to become a Roma executive or quit football to do something else. But I could also become an agent, I know football, a little bit.”, the Italian added.