Francesco Totti, the legendary former captain of AS Roma, disclosed that both Genoa and Como sought to sign him at the age of 48, seven years after his retirement. This revelation comes from his biography, in which he shares that the clubs approached him in 2024.
Read More
Totti, who spent his entire playing career at Roma, reported via Sky Sport that he declined the offers from both Serie A clubs. At the time, Genoa was coached by Alberto Gilardino, a fellow member of Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning team, while Cesc Fabregas was part of Como's coaching staff. Totti noted the age similarities, stating that he would have been older than both Gilardino and Fabregas by six and eleven years, respectively.
"These aren’t urban legends; it’s the absolute truth. Incredible, but true. Crazy," Totti remarked on the situation. He retired in 2017 with an impressive record of 307 goals in 786 matches for Roma, where he also secured a Serie A title and multiple cups.
Totti recounted how the approach from Genoa directors began with a direct question: "Do you want to take on this new experience or not?" Though he felt tempted, he ultimately chose to stay loyal to Roma. "My head told me I could accept, but my heart said no," he explained, noting that playing for any team other than Roma felt like a betrayal.
Throughout his career, Totti represented Italy at the international level, scoring nine goals in 58 appearances, including winning the 2006 World Cup and the 1996 U21 European Championship.